Is this the best portable SSD for photographers? I put the Crucial X10 Pro to the test

Crucial is well known for its computer components, including memory and storage, so it makes sense that any portable SSD from the company will match the reliability I’ve seen in other Crucial components over the years.

In fact, on a recent PC build, my new machine is full of Crucial parts, including the RAM and cooling system. Over the years, many of the computers I’ve built or used have contained Crucial parts, and they’ve always been a solid company to rely on for dependable performance.

Taking a look at the Crucial X10, the first thing to note is just how small and compact it is. It’s been designed to be as portable as possible while offering maximum storage capacity. What’s more, it also delivers exceptional speed, with a 2100 MB/s maximum read rate and a 2000 MB/s maximum write speed.

It’s available in a variety of capacities: 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB. This gives plenty of flexibility, especially for creative content like video and images, which can quickly eat up space.

While the small drive is not fully waterproof, it is IP65 rated, which means it will withstand far more than most, although I wouldn’t submerge it in water.

When it comes to use, the small size, speed, and capacity make it an ideal option if you’re a video editor, photographer, or anyone needing reliable, compact storage that can easily slip into a side pocket.

The first thing you notice about the Crucial X10 is just how small and compact it is. It will fit into any small pocket in your kit bag without issue. Like many portable SSDs of this style, its compact nature means it could easily be misplaced, so it’s good to see that Crucial has added a small lanyard loop in one corner so you can tether it to a bag.

When it comes to ports and connections, there is only a single USB-C port on one end. Otherwise, the design is exceptionally simple, with just a hard plastic outer and no rubber feet or other decorative elements. There are two grooves on the bottom and some printed information, but otherwise it’s very minimalistic.

Overall, I like the design and build of this small SSD. One small omission is the lack of a status LED anywhere on the body, so there’s no indicator to show whether it’s plugged in, connected correctly, or actively transferring files. You can, of course, check via your desktop or mobile device, but I always like a status light for quick reassurance.

In terms of size, it measures 65 x 50 x 10 mm, with the device itself weighing 39 g and the USB-C to USB-C cable adding 15 g for a total of 54 g.

As mentioned, the drive has an IP65 rating, making it rugged and resistant to dust and water splashes.

A major point of this portable SSD is just how small it is. Despite being one of the smallest SSDs on the market, it offers super-fast transfer speeds thanks to the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface, enabling up to 20 Gb/s transfer rates.

It’s worth noting that this top speed applies to PCs. If you’re using a Mac, you’ll see speeds limited to USB 3.2 Gen 2 (around 10 Gb/s). Crucial does offer a Mac-specific version for those who need maximum Mac performance.

Because it utilises that USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface, it offers sequential read speeds up to 2100 MB/s and write speeds up to 2000 MB/s, making it an excellent option for photographers and videographers.

Surprisingly, despite its tiny size, the 1TB version I’m reviewing is just the starting point. There are also 2TB and 4TB options, making this one of the smallest yet largest-capacity portable SSDs on the market, something only a company like Crucial could achieve.

Getting started is simple. The drive comes pre-formatted in the exFAT file format, meaning it works instantly with Mac, PC, and Linux systems without reformatting.

Having recently invested in a PC, I tested it on both Mac and PC. Benchmark tests showed roughly double the speed on the PC compared to the Mac.

On the Mac, it’s perfectly capable of editing HD and 4K video without issue. I edited a short piece in Final Cut Pro X and was impressed by the speed. Despite its size, it handled the heat of video editing well, although for very long productions, I might prefer a larger drive.

Switching to the PC unlocked the full speed of the drive. Transfer rates more than doubled compared with the Mac, making it a very viable option for editing 8K and high-bitrate video. Working in DaVinci Resolve, I was impressed by how quickly files entered the timeline and how responsive editing felt. Write speeds were consistently fast, and the drive handled heat well with no noticeable throttling.

Benchmark tests confirmed these results. The Crucial X10 reached read speeds of 1986 MB/s and write speeds of 1700 MB/s, making it one of the fastest mini portable SSDs I’ve tested.

By the end of the test, I was impressed with the Crucial X10 Pro portable SSD. It might not look like much with its simple hard plastic casing, but through the test it proved durable, surviving life in my camera bag and repeated knocks. In use the performance was consistant both on Mac and PC systems, staying close to its maximum transfer rates on PC during benchmarks.

In real-world use, formatted in exFAT, it worked superbly—editing video on a Mac in Final Cut Pro X and handling DaVinci Resolve on the PC without issue.

While I initially had reservations about such a small drive handling sustained workloads without overheating, I was impressed by its heat dissipation and saw no evidence of thermal throttling.

If there’s one negative, it’s the lack of a status light. Even when plugged in, there’s no visual confirmation of power or activity, which can make it tricky to know if it’s safe to unplug.

However, in every other respect, this is an exceptional drive: robust, small, fast, and offering huge capacity for a very reasonable price. If you need a compact, durable SSD for field work or travel, I highly recommend the Crucial X10.