Hard disk drives in the 1TB to 2TB range are being superseded by solid-state drives, but there’s still a niche to be found for them.
Seagate Backup Plus Slim Review | Bottom Lineįor simple, compact, and portable external storage, few products can approach the Seagate Backup Plus Slim’s value. However, the high price of 2TB SSDs makes the version of the Backup Plus Slim in that capacity a much better value. In the 1TB range, purchasing an SSD and an external enclosure might be worth it if you’re looking for speedier data transfer. With solid-state drives coming down in price, it’s hard to say whether the Backup Plus Slim’s price-to-performance ratio is attractive.
I estimate you’d never run into issues with overheating, even with constant use. The aluminum that makes up the top and bottom of the case also works as a superb heatsink. With large file transfers, you’ll find that the drive tops out at around 125-130MBps, which is respectable for a unit with these specifications. In testing, the Backup Plus Slim actually performed a bit better than its bluesheet suggests: For regular, everyday data storage, they’ll meet the requirements of almost any user.
However, for the price, they do exactly what’s expected of them. These are typical laptop HDDs with a 128MB cache. The Seagate Backup Plus Slim uses the following hard drives:īoth of these drives spin at 5,400 RPM and have a Data Transfer Rate of 140MB/s. Seagate Backup Plus Slim Review | Performance Luckily, Seagate does include a USB-A to USB-C adapter with the drive, so you don’t have to worry about purchasing one separately. However, it would have been convenient and great futureproofing if it utilized USB-C. This does make the drive USB 3.0 compatible, which is fast enough that the Backup Plus Slim doesn’t saturate it before hitting its top speed. One negative about the design of the Backup Plus Slim is that it utilizes a USB Micro B port for data transmission. It’s small enough at 115 x 78 x 12mm to toss into a purse, backpack, or even your pocket, and light enough at 126g to not be a burden while carrying it. It’s not much larger than the 2.5-inch drive inside it, making it one of the most portable external hard drives you can buy. The Backup Plus Slim, like its name suggests, is very small. However, if you’re looking to use and carry a hard drive in a particularly hazardous environment, you may want to look to products that are designed to be more impact resistant.
It’s an understated, yet attractive design, and one that holds up well to the hazards of travel. The drive is trimmed in plastic, but the metal cover is sturdy enough to add some protection to the top and bottom. The drive is available in 1TB ( $52.49, Amazon) and 2TB ( $67.99, Amazon) models, and comes in either a brushed or black aluminum finish. The latest refresh of the Seagate Backup Plus Slim (STHN1000402) is similar to previous models.