Crucial X9 Pro and X10 Pro Portable SSDs Review: The Fastest and Smallest External Drives I’ve Ever Used

Micron recently added two new solid-state drives to its lineup, the Crucial X9 Pro and X10 Pro. These drives are small, sturdy, and very fast; they are available in 1, 2, and 4TB capacities. We have the X9 Pro 2TB and X10 Pro 2 TB models for this review.

The Crucial X9 Pro has a silver anodized aluminum case, while the Crucial X10 Pro has a black anodized aluminum case.

Internally, they are essentially identical. The difference between the two models is the interface, with the X9 Pro using a USB 3.2 Gen 2 and the X10 Pro using a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2.

The Crucial X9 Pro can read and write up to 1050MB/s, and the X10 Pro is capable of twice that speed (2100MB/s). The X9 Pro is intended for performance-oriented general use with files and photos, while the Crucial X10 Pro is aimed at the video production market.

It is important to remember that full performance can only be achieved on USB-C host devices. Both drives are backward compatible through USB-A adapters.

The Crucial X9 Pro is backward compatible with 5 Gb/s USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB 3.1 Gen 1/USB 3.0), while the Crucial X10 Pro is backward compatible with 10 Gb/s USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB 3.1 Gen 2/USB 3.1) and 5 Gb/s USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB 3.1 Gen 1/USB 3.0). Unfortunately, Crucial doesn’t include a USB-C to USB-A adapter for backward compatibility.

The drives are compact and lightweight, only 0.3″ deep by 2.6″ wide by 2″ high, and a mere 1.5 ounces. Both drives are constructed of anodized aluminum with a rubber base. The Crucial X9 Pro has a silver finish, while the Crucial X10 Pro is black. Both drives are designed with an integrated lanyard hole, which includes a drive activity light.

Both drives come preformatted as exFAT and are ready to connect to your host Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPad, Xbox, or PlayStation system.

The drives are rugged and have a water and dust resistance of IP55 and a drop-proof durability of up to 7.5′. You can keep your data private with password protection and 256-bit AES hardware encryption.

Both drives work with Bitlocker To Go on Windows and FileVault on the macOS. Crucial will also launch a Portable SSD Utility application for Windows and macOS in September 2023.

As a bonus, you’ll get one month of the Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps plan free when you purchase and register either drive. Both drives ship with a USB-C cable and a limited 5-year manufacturer warranty.

Are these Crucial X9 Pro and X10 Pro drives as good as they sound? Yes, in so many ways. Although I did not perform an extensive read/write speed comparison, I can confirm that these are the fastest external drives I have ever used.

As a frequent video editor and producer, I have quite a few external drives of varying ages, technology, and interfaces. Even compared with my most recent purchases from brands such as Western Digital and LaCie, the Crucial drives are in a different league.

As far as the difference between the two models, it is true that to take advantage of the doubled increase in speed of the X10 Pro, the host machine needs to use the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface, which, even though it has been available for some time now is somewhat slow to be adopted by many manufacturers.

I recently moved my office, which involved relocating about twenty large capacity drives that contain past projects. It is always interesting to note how far the development of storage media has come, from these huge, heavy, hot, and temperamental bricks to these tiny drives, smaller than a pack of cards that generate almost no heat.

These older drives were near the top of the performance scale for their times, and I have never regretted buying the best tool I can afford. Buying with compatibility with your next computer in mind may make sense.

If you are looking for a very fast, compact, and durable external drive, the Crucial X9 Pro and Crucial X10 Pro are excellent choices. They are attractively priced, and I found no faults with their design or use.

The Crucial X9 Pro Portable SSDs start at $69.99, and the Crucial X10 Pro Portable SSDs start at $107.99; they are available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB directly from the Manufacturer (X9 Pro, X10 Pro) and other retailers, including B&H Photo (X9 Pro, X10 Pro), and Amazon (X9 Pro, X10 Pro).

Source: Manufacturer supplied review samples

What I Like: Impressive read/write speeds; Rugged construction; Water and dust resistance of IP55 and drop-proof durability of up to 7.5′; Small and lightweight

What Needs Improvement: It would be beneficial to include a USB-C to USB-A adapter for backward compatibility