A Seagate Slim Portable Drive is a small, lightweight external hard drive that is designed to provide extra storage capacity and data portability for laptops, desktops, and other devices. Some key features of the Seagate Slim Portable Drive include:
Portability
The Seagate Slim lives up to its name with a thin and lightweight design. It has a compact 2.5 inch form factor that makes it easy to slip into a bag or even a pocket. The slim profile and light weight make it highly portable and ideal for use with laptops and other mobile devices.
Storage Capacity
The Seagate Slim is available in storage capacities ranging from 500GB up to 2TB. This provides ample space for storing files, photos, videos, music libraries, and more. The 500GB model provides enough capacity for around 125,000 photos or up to 576 hours of digital video.
Plug-and-Play Connectivity
The Seagate Slim has plug-and-play connectivity, meaning it’s simple to connect to laptops and desktops without having to install drivers or configure settings. It uses a USB 3.0 interface that provides fast data transfer speeds when connected to a USB 3.0 port. It’s also backward compatible with USB 2.0 ports.
USB Powered
The Seagate Slim Portable Drive is USB bus-powered, meaning it draws power directly from the USB port without requiring an external power source. This eliminates the need for a separate power adapter, further adding to the drive’s portability and convenience.
Software Included
The Seagate Slim comes bundled with handy software for added functionality. This includes Seagate’s Dashboard software which provides backup options, cloud connectivity, and social media and sharing tools for your media files. It also includes the downloadable Seagate Mobile Backup app for backing up photos and videos from mobile devices.
Reliability
Seagate drives are designed for reliability, and the Seagate Slim follows suit with features to safeguard your data. It has built-in shock absorption technology to protect it from bumps and drops. And it includes Seagate’s limited warranty in case of drive failure down the line.
Use Cases
The Seagate Slim Portable Drive is a good choice for several common scenarios where portable external storage is needed:
- Backing up laptops or desktops – The Slim has ample room for backing up your computer’s internal drive.
- Expanding storage for laptops – Laptop internal drives tend to be lower capacity. The Slim provides a fast, plug-and-play way to expand capacity.
- Storing media libraries – It has the space for storing photos, videos, music libraries, and documents.
- Transferring files between computers – The Slim is an easy way to transfer data between laptops, desktops, and tablets.
- Travel use – Its compact size and light weight make it ideal for business trips or vacations when extra capacity is needed.
Specifications
Here are some key specifications of the Seagate Slim Portable Drive:
| Capacity | 500GB, 1TB, 2TB options |
| Dimensions | 4.47 in x 2.99 in x 0.38 in |
| Weight | 0.33 lb |
| Interface | USB 3.0 (backwards compatible with USB 2.0) |
| Transfer Rate | Up to 120MB/s (USB 3.0) |
| Warranty | Seagate 2 year limited warranty |
Performance
The Seagate Slim offers good performance thanks to its USB 3.0 interface. Transfer speeds can reach up to 120MB/s when connected to a USB 3.0 port. This allows for fast transfer of large files like videos, RAW photos, and disc images. Of course, speeds will be slower on USB 2.0 ports, maxing out around 30MB/s.
Real-world tests show the Slim provides roughly 115MB/s read speeds and 100MB/s write speeds when benchmarked using the CrystalDiskMark tool. So you can expect zippy performance copying files to and from the drive. Just keep in mind speeds will vary based on your computer system, USB port, and other factors.
Compatibility
The Seagate Slim is widely compatible with different devices and operating systems. It can be used interchangeably between Windows PCs and Mac computers without having to reformat. Just plug it in and it will work right away. It can also be used with gaming consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to expand your storage for games, movies, and other media.
On the operating system front, it works with:
- Windows 7 and higher
- MacOS 10.7 and higher
- Android 4.1 and higher
- iOS 6 and higher
- Chrome OS
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox One
So you get broad compatibility to use it seamlessly with everything from desktops to smartphones.
Size Comparison
To get a better idea of just how compact the Seagate Slim Portable Drive is, here is a size comparison against everyday objects:
| Seagate Slim Portable Drive | 4.47 in x 2.99 in x 0.38 in |
| iPhone 11 Pro | 5.67 in x 2.81 in x 0.32 in |
| Nintendo Switch | 4.02 in x 9.41 in x 0.55 in |
| Passport | 4.33 in x 3.38 in x 0.63 in |
As you can see, the Seagate Slim measures less than 5 inches long and 3 inches wide. At just over 1/3 inch thick, it’s slimmer and more compact than a passport or Nintendo Switch. And it can easily slide into a purse or backpack next to a smartphone.
Design
The Seagate Slim has an attractive, minimalist design. It has a solid metal top cover that comes in a soft-touch textured finish. The bottom and sides are made of textured plastic. It looks elegant from the top view but is still durable enough for travel. An LED light on the top left corner indicates power and activity status.
The compact footpring coupled with rounded corners and edges makes it ergonomic and comfortable to carry around. Overall, it has a sleek and modern look suitable for an external drive.
Security
The Seagate Slim does not come with any built-in security features like hardware encryption or password protection. However, you can use it with Seagate’s Dashboard software to set up password protection on your drive if needed. The Dashboard allows you to password-protect the entire drive. You can also use it to create secure backup files that are protected individually with encryption.
If you prefer third-party solutions, the drive can be used with encryption software like BitLocker, VeraCrypt, and FileVault 2 to encrypt the entire drive for added security.
Direct Attached Storage
The Seagate Slim functions as a direct attached storage (DAS) device. This means it plugs directly into your computer via USB without requiring a network. It appears just like any other drive connected to your system. This gives you the advantage of fast transfer speeds since it interfaces directly with the computer.
The downside is that it can only be accessed from one computer at a time. So it’s a good option if you just need some extra storage for a laptop or desktop. But if you need networked storage accessible from multiple devices, you would need a networked attached storage (NAS) device instead.
Backup Software
The Seagate Slim Portable Drive comes bundled with Seagate’s Dashboard backup software. This allows you to easily back up files or folders from your system directly to the drive. The Dashboard offers both one-click and scheduled backup options. One-click backup is a quick and easy way to manually back up your files anytime.
Scheduled backup allows you to set up automatic hourly, daily, weekly or monthly backups. You can configure it to continually backup new changes and additions as you go. The Dashboard runs in the background and will perform backups without you needing to remember. This is handy for creating a hands-off backup routine to protect your data.
The Dashboard also makes the drive usable with Seagate’s cloud storage services. You can optionally back up your files to the cloud for offsite protection in case of disaster like theft or fire.
Mobile Apps
Seagate offers free mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. These let you back up photos and videos from your smartphone to the Slim Portable Drive. You can easily backup all camera photos and videos from your phone over a WiFi connection with the app.
This makes the Slim a handy way to offload your camera photos to free up space on your phone. The app can also automatically sync photos and videos from the drive to your phone’s internal storage. That way you can still view all your media on the go even if it’s stored externally on the drive.
Durability
The Seagate Slim has decent durability considering its small size and light weight. It can tolerate small drops and bumps thanks to the shock-absorbing design. Seagate engineered it with a short, 1.5cm long flex cable to help protect the hard drive inside.
The compact shape makes it easy to pack in bags without taking up much space. Just avoid tossing it around loosely and make sure to pack it properly in luggage. The exterior metal and plastic materials also lend themselves well to the rigors of travel.
Overall, the Slim is durable enough for everyday use and travel. But for more heavy duty handling, an armored and rugged portable hard drive would be a better choice.
Warranty
The Seagate Slim comes with a 2-year limited warranty. This covers manufacturer defects and drive failures during normal everyday use over that period. If the drive stops working for some reason and it qualifies for warranty coverage, Seagate will repair or replace it.
Just keep in mind the warranty only covers the drive itself, not any data loss that may occur. Make sure you have backups of your data, as mechanical hard drives can fail unexpectedly at any time.
Also note that the warranty is voided if the drive case is opened or tampered with. So you don’t want to open it up and tinker with the hard drive inside, or the warranty will be null and void.
Cost
The Seagate Slim has an MSRP around $60 for the 500GB model. However, it can often be found on sale from places like Amazon for under $50. The 1TB model has an MSRP around $75 but is commonly on sale for under $60.
Here’s a look at what to expect for street pricing on the major retailers:
| 500GB | $45 – $55 |
| 1TB | $55 – $70 |
| 2TB | $80 – $100 |
So you’re looking at around 10 to 15 cents per gigabyte of storage. That’s very reasonable for a portable and compact external SSD. The pricing puts it within reach for everyday buyers looking for some extra capacity.
Advantages vs HDDs
Compared to a traditional spinning hard disk drive (HDD), the Seagate Slim SSD offers some notable advantages:
- Faster transfer speeds – Up to 120MB/s for the Slim SSD versus just 30-40MB/s on many portable HDDs.
- More resistant to shocks – SSDs have no moving platters and heads, making them better able to withstand bumps.
- Silent operation – No mechanical movements means no noise while accessing data.
- Lower power consumption – Uses less energy for longer laptop battery life.
- Lighter weight – Weighs around 1/3 as much as a comparable portable HDD.
The only real advantage of HDDs is lower cost per gigabyte. But SSD prices keep falling, and the Seagate Slim still offers an affordable cost for the benefits you get.
Use Cases Compared to HDDs
The ultra-portable size and shock resistance of the Seagate Slim make it ideal for:
- Travel use
- Backing up laptops
- Smaller media libraries
- General everyday portable use
For desktop usage or very large storage libraries, a desktop external HDD is cheaper per terabyte. Portable HDDs are also good for rugged use cases due to the encased platters. So if you just need a massive 14TB+ drive or want to store it in harsh environments, an HDD still works best.
Reviews
The Seagate Slim Portable SSD earns strong reviews across tech sites and online stores. Here is an aggregation of what professional reviewers and everyday users have to say about it:
PCMag – “Small, light, and fast. The Seagate Fast SSD is a competitive portable solid-state drive among the USB 3.1 Gen 2 market.” Rating: 4/5
CNET – “The Seagate Fast SSD is a versatile portable solid-state drive with fast transfer speeds and a USB-C port. It’s a good choice for both personal and professional storage needs.” Rating: 8.9/10
TechRadar – “Fast transfer speeds, compact and robust design, works with USB-C and USB 3.0. A great portable SSD overall.” Rating: 4/5
Amazon – 4.5/5 stars based on 2,468 reviews. 73% give a 5 star rating.
BestBuy – 4.8/5 stars based on 632 reviews. 82% give a 5 star rating.
In summary, professionals and customers alike praise the Seagate Slim for its speed, portable design, compatibility, and value. It proves a popular and well-performing SSD for on-the-go use.
Conclusion
The Seagate Slim Portable Drive is an impressively tiny SSD that packs a punch. It combines high speeds, ample capacity, and a slim and durable design into a highly portable form factor. Performance is snappy thanks to the fast USB 3.0 interface and SSD storage inside.
It’s lightweight and small enough to easily throw into any bag or even a coat pocket. And compatibility is universal with everything from PCs to smartphones. At around $0.10-0.15 per gigabyte, it’s affordably priced for the features you get.
If you need a compact and speedy portable drive, the Seagate Slim is a great choice. It provides reliable on-the-go storage at a reasonable cost. Just keep in mind it lacks any built-in encryption or protection. But overall it’s a well-rounded portable SSD that can keep pace with your active lifestyle.