Kingston XS2000 Portable SSD review

The Kingston XS2000 is a high-speed external Solid State Drive (SSD) designed for photographers, videographers, and content creators who require quick and reliable data storage and transfer. The drive is ultra-small, yet as it utilises the latest technology both in the solid-state storage medium and connectivity, it offers exceptional read/write speeds up to 2000MB/s. This speed, while not essential for handling large files like 8K videos and high-resolution images, will save you a considerable amount of time compared with traditional HDDs, which are more likely to have transfer speeds of between 50-100MB/s.

Available in capacities up to 4TB, it’s perfect for extensive media libraries. The XS2000 stands out with its compact, durable design, including water and dust resistance, suited for both photography and videography, especially in challenging environments.

The XS2000 boasts a sleek, compact design, emphasising portability without sacrificing durability. In fact, when it comes to size and capacity, this is one of the smallest and lightest weight hard drives out there. However, despite the compact size, its metal and plastic casing provides a sturdy feel, while the rubber sleeve adds extra protection.

When it comes to weight and size, the XS2000 weighs in at just 28.9g, and it measures 69 x 32 x 14mm; it’s incredibly portable. The build quality suits frequent use, balancing aesthetics with functionality. Due to that lightweight design, it can easily be velcroed to the back of a laptop monitor for neatness when out in the field, dangled, although not advisable, from the USB cable, or more securely placed on a work surface when in use. Ultimately, due to the size and weight, it’s easy to use wherever you are, and if your camera or other device is capable of recognising external storage, this is a great solution.

The Kingston XS2000 Portable SSD is packed with features that cater to the needs of photographers and videographers. Firstly, it boasts lightning-fast transfer speeds of up to 2000MB/s, ensuring quick handling of large files. This is a crucial factor for those dealing with high-resolution images or extensive video footage when downloading after a shoot. Additionally, it offers high-capacity storage options, with models ranging up to 4TB, providing ample space for extensive media libraries or as a working drive for editing.

Its compact, pocket-sized form factor is a standout feature, offering excellent portability without compromising on performance. This makes the XS2000 an ideal solution for photographers and videographers who need to travel light and want an easily transportable storage solution. Although this is an expensive option, size and weight also make it easy to post if you need to send videos or files in a physical form to clients.

Durability is another key aspect of the XS2000, underscored by its IP55 rating for water and dust resistance. This rating ensures the drive can withstand challenging environmental conditions, making it a great choice for outdoor shoots where you may need to back up your files. Additionally, the drive is equipped with a shockproof design, further enhanced by a protective rubber sleeve, safeguarding it against all common drops and impacts.

Throughout the test, the drive was used with a variety of PC systems, such as a MacBook Pro M1 16″ and M2 MacBook Air. For all devices, dependent on the file format of the drive, the compatibility and performance of the small drive were excellent.

As soon as the drive is plugged in, the drive quickly appears on the Mac OS desktop and is ready to use.

When it comes to the XS2000 performance, it delivers on its promise of high-speed data transfer, with all image and video files transferring quickly from the CFExpress or SD card readers through the MacBook to the drive. This speed is a significant advantage for handling large files and means that less time is taken waiting for cards to clear than when using high-capacity HDD drives, which I usually rely on.

Coupled with the speed, the rugged build was able to provide plenty of protection and survived being thrown into a kit bag side pocket as well as dropped several times without any issues.

In the speed tests using the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test, the drive highlighted its performance with the following results:

Read:
Write:

On first looking at and handling the Kingston XS2000 SSD, you are instantly hit with how small and light the drive is, especially considering its capacity. Then, once you start to use the drive and see the speeds, there really is very little not to like other than the price, but then you are getting what you are paying for.

When it comes to a portable storage solution for photography and videography, it certainly hits the mark, with the capacity meeting the demands for the larger capacity models to hold plenty of video and image files. At the same time, the speed is a major asset, with the transfer rate enabling you to download files quickly and without having to wait for extended times; it also means that this drive is fast enough to be used as a working drive for image and video editing.

Really, considering what you are getting and the size and speed of the drive, there really is very little not to like. If you need a fast, lightweight hard drive that can stand up to a few more knocks than most, then the XS2000 is a perfect choice.