A trifecta of speed, durability, and affordability
The ADATA SD810 ($89.99 for 1TB as tested) is a small and inexpensive external solid-state drive, but don’t let its size and affordability fool you: It’s highly rugged and offers excellent storage performance, too. To get the most out of this SSD, you will need a computer that supports the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 standard—you can add an expansion card to a desktop PC to achieve compatibility. Assuming you have Gen 2×2, the SD810 is an excellent, cost-effective drive and an easy pick as a PCMag Editors‘ Choice winner. (And even if you only have access to USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity, you’ll still find it a fine value.)Design: Impervious to Dust and Water
With the same basic form factor as the ADATA SE800 (which is slightly larger) and the ADATA Elite SE880, the SD810 is lightweight and highly portable. It measures 0.5 by 1.7 by 2.9 inches (HWD) and weighs 1.5 ounces.
The SD810’s brushed aluminum case, which comes in glossy black („Obsidian Black“) or silver-gray („Meteorite Silver“), contains an M.2 Type-2242 solid-state drive, formatted as exFAT by default. (The drive is easily reformatted and is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux, as well as Xbox One and PS5 consoles.) Rubber ends protect the unit from dust and water; you simply remove the tabbed end to expose the USB-C port and an LED activity light.
The SD810 is the heir apparent to the ADATA Elite SE880, a Gen 2×2 SSD with which it shares the same basic feature set. When we tested the SE880, it came in just 500GB and 1TB capacities, but has since added 2TB and 4TB models.
The SE880 lacks the tethered, rubberized port cover found on the ADATA SE800; with the SD810 it has been restored, enabling it to achieve an ingress protection rating of IP68. This tells us it’s certified to be both dustproof (complete protection against sand, dirt, and dust) and waterproof to a depth of 3 feet for up to 30 minutes.
