TEAMGROUP PD20 Portable SSD Review

The TEAMGROUP PD20 offers excellent value for reliable, portable storage for most consumers seeking a balanced drive.

The TEAMGROUP PD20 Mini External SSD is designed for users who need reliable, portable storage, making it ideal for professionals, travelers, or anyone seeking a compact and durable solution for quick file transfers and backups. In such a crowded market, where most portable SSDs offer sufficient performance for everyday consumer use, the fundamental deciding factors often come down to cost and reliability—so let’s see if the PD20 delivers on both fronts.

Performance-wise, the TEAMGROUP claims read speeds of up to 2,000MB/s for the PD20, which positions it well within the upper segment of portable SSDs. This potential performance pushes the speed limit of portable SSDs, so it should easily handle tasks like transferring large video files, quickly backing up essential data, and even some gaming directly off the drive. It does all this via a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C interface, meaning it’s ready out of the box for modern devices like laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

As soon as you pick up the PD20 Mini External SSD, it’s clear that it’s all about portability and durability. At just 75 x 34 x 15.2 mm and weighing only 22 grams, it’s small enough to fit comfortably in your pocket—perfect for anyone on the go. Plus, the built-in hanging hole lets you clip it to a keychain or backpack, adding an extra layer of convenience for easy access wherever you are.

Despite its compact size, the PD20 doesn’t skimp on toughness. Its aluminum casing gives it a solid, premium feel, and its IP54 rating makes it resistant to dust and water splashes, so it’s ready for everyday bumps and more rugged adventures.

Another nice touch is the silicone cover protecting the USB-C port, which helps keep dust and moisture out. This little detail can make a big difference, especially if you use it in less-than-ideal environments. The sleek, matte black finish also looks good and helps to avoid fingerprints.

The TEAMGROUP PD20 is available in capacities of 1TB and 2TB (with a 4TB model set for release soon), priced at $89 and $148, respectively (Amazon affiliate link). It also comes with a 5-year limited warranty.

TEAMGROUP PD20 Specifications

TEAMGROUP PD20 Performance

We will benchmark the TEAMGROUP PD20 against several USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 external drives for performance comparisons:

• Lexar Armor 700
• Lexar SL600
• Crucial X10 Pro
• Samsung T9

First up is the usual BlackMagic Disk Speed test, which gauges the real-world performance of external SSDs.

Here, the PD20 performed competitively in both write (1,633.5MB/s) and read (1,800.7MB/s) speeds, slightly outperforming the Samsung T9 in both categories but falling short compared to the Lexar SL600, which achieved the highest read (1,890.5MB/s) and write (1,728.3MB/s) speeds.

IOMeter 1 Thread

The next test is the Single-Threaded IOMeter test, which examines sequential and random read/write performance under a lighter load. The speeds here will be close to those in the BlackMagic test on the Sequential 2MB read and write portions, but we should see some differences in the 4-threaded portion.

The PD20 showed solid sequential performance, especially in reads (1,799.88MB/s), leading the competition. However, its random write performance (1,359.07MB/s) was slightly behind the top performers but still ahead of the Crucial X10 Pro. This means the PD20 is great for tasks like large file transfers, but it might be a bit slower when handling random data access compared to higher-end models (though in everyday use, the difference would probably be hardly noticeable).

IOMeter 4 Thread

Our final performance test is the 4 Thread IOMeter test, which better simulates multitasking or heavier workloads. The Seagate Game Drive again showed subpar performance compared to the other tested drives.

Here, the PD20 didn’t scale well in multi-threaded tasks, particularly in random 2MB writes (807.55MB/s), lagging behind other drives like the Lexar SL600 and Armor 700, which showed almost double the speed. However, its random 4K write performance (63,640 IOPS) was impressive and ahead of the Lexar Armor 700, indicating solid small file handling under heavier workloads. The PD20 seems more optimized for lighter multitasking and small file operations than sustained heavy multi-threaded tasks, which may limit its appeal for power users.

Conclusion

The TEAMGROUP PD20 Mini External SSD is a solid contender in the portable storage market, especially for users seeking a lightweight and compact solution highlighted by a protective silicone port cover. Performance-wise, it offers competitive read and write speeds, hitting 1,800.7MB/s for reads and 1,633.5MB/s for writes, placing it above the Samsung T9 but behind the Lexar SL600. However, regarding multi-threaded performance, the PD20 struggles to keep pace with some competitors, particularly in random 2MB writes, where it significantly lags behind models like the Lexar Armor 700 and SL600.

Regarding pricing, the PD20 stands out as one of the more affordable options, with the 1TB model priced at $89 and the 2TB at $148. In comparison, the Lexar SL660, which offers slightly better performance, is $100 for 1TB, while the Crucial X10 Pro costs $113 for 1TB and $205 for 2TB. The Samsung T9 is the most expensive, priced at $135 for 1TB and $230 for 2TB. Given that most consumers won’t notice significant performance differences in everyday tasks like file transfers, backups, or light gaming, the choice often comes down to price and portability. This makes the PD20 a practical option for budget-conscious users who need a durable, on-the-go storage solution.

Ultimately, the PD20 offers excellent value for reliable and portable storage. While power users might prefer to invest in higher-end performance, the PD20 is an appealing option for most consumers seeking a well-balanced mix of cost, durability, and convenience.

TEAMGROUP PD20 Mini External SSD

PD20 at Amazon (affiliate link)

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