An external SSD to back up computers and mobile devices
The Synology BeeDrive (starts at $99.99; $169.99 for 2TB as tested) is an external solid-state drive on a mission. At a glance, the BeeDrive resembles any number of other highly portable external SSDs, but when combined with Synology’s BeeDrive software, it enables you to smoothly and routinely back up files from your computer or mobile device and sync files between devices. Our extensive performance testing shows that BeeDrive is not fast for general SSD storage, though, making it best as a dedicated backup hub. If you need a speedier general-purpose external SSD, you’ll want to check out the Editors’ Choice-winning Crucial X9 Pro. Design: On the Surface, a Typical Ultraportable External SSD
Taiwan-based Synology has made its name selling multi-bay network attached storage (NAS) devices, mostly RAID arrays such as the Editors’ Choice-winning Synology DiskStation DS1522+. The BeeDrive and the concurrently released Synology BeeStation are simplified outgrowths of that ethos, designed as personal devices that are alternatives to subscription-based cloud storage. The BeeStation desktop unit contains a single 4TB Synology hard drive, while the much smaller BeeDrive provides the portability that the BeeStation and NAS solutions lack.
The all-black BeeDrive has a stylish look with a square frame, gently curving top and sides, and rounded corners. A status light faces upward at one corner. The BeeDrive measures 0.6 by 2.6 by 2.6 inches (HWD) and weighs just 1.5 ounces. The Synology logo is imprinted on the top, and drive information and certifications are on the bottom.
The one ruggedness feature Synology notes is that the BeeDrive is impervious to drops up to 2 meters (6 feet, 7 inches) onto a carpeted concrete floor. The drive lacks native encryption, though Windows users can encypt the BeeDrive using BitLocker. A USB-C port is in the middle of one side; the BeeDrive has a USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface with a maximum rated throughput speed of 1,050MBps.
Synology sells the BeeDrive in three capacities, ranging from 1TB to 4TB. Some SSD makers add an extra premium for their highest-capacity units; it is good that with the BeeDrive, the higher its capacity, the lower its cost per gigabyte.Using the BeeDrive: Backup, Sync, and Transfer Options Galore
In a pinch, the BeeDrive—which comes preformatted in exFAT for compatibility with Windows, macOS, Linux, iPadOS, and iOS—can be used as a normal external SSD simply by plugging it into a device’s USB port. (The BeeDrive comes with a USB-C-to-USB-C cable and a C-to-A adapter.) However, that isn’t using this SSD to its best advantage. With the installation of Synology’s BeeDrive software and setting up a free Synology account, the drive turns into something more than a mere SSD: your personal backup hub.
