The Lowdown
Whether you are a photographer, videographer, content creator, graphic designer, or gamer, speed and reliability are critical. If you are already in the market for drives as fast as USB 3.2 Gen 2, the new PNY RP60 Portable SSD is in the same price range, completely compatible, and will be twice as fast when used with USB 3.2 Gen 2×2.
Overall
Pros
- It’s so fast that we will need to upgrade to take full advantage of its speed
- It’s small and lightweight
- IP65 Water and Dust Resistance
Cons
- The cover for the USB Type-C port can’t be fully closed after initial opening
Although USB Type-A is sticking around for backward compatibility, Type-C is clearly the way forward. This is especially true with new Apple and Android devices, which now use USB-C, and with all new laptops and desktops adopting it as the standard. With today’s more powerful computers facilitating more intensive work with larger files, increased speed is essential. Once again, PNY rises to the challenge with the new PNY RP60 Portable SSD, available in capacities of 1 TB and 2 TB. In this review, we look at the 2 TB model.
Design and Build Quality
The first thing that you notice when you pick up the PNY RP60 Portable SSD is how lightweight it feels. This is not surprising, as it only weighs less than 2oz (54.8g). Although lightweight, the RP60 is engineered and tested to protect your data against water and dust (IP65) and accidental drops (up to 3m/9.8’). At 3.83” high by 2.36” wide and 0.49” thick, it is small, but not the smallest of these drive types.
The unit is covered in a rubber finish that is textured on the front and smooth on all other sides. The top right corner features an “On-the-go loop” intended for clipping onto pockets, backpacks, or camera bags. The unit does not have an activity light.
The unit’s aesthetic design is subtle and, although completely inoffensive, does not stand out in any way. I have a few minor issues with the physical design of the RP60. The textured rubber finish on the front seems to attract and capture dust in its grooves. I am not fond of the seam that runs around the outer edges of the drive, but most annoying is the cover for the USB Type-C port on the bottom.
The cover is made of rubber and is attached to the drive body with a rubber strap. To access the port, pry open the cover, which then hangs by this strap. While the included 20Gbps cable is attached, this is not an issue, but when you try and replace the cover, the left side, where the strand attaches, it remains protruding. This happened the first time that I opened the port cover.
What’s in the Box
- 2TB PNY RP60 Portable SSD
- 20Gbps USB-C 3.2 to USB-C 3.2 Cable
- Acronis True Image Data Protection Software (Must register drive to download)
Technology
In recent reviews, I tested the PNY PRO Elite V3 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Flash Drive and the PNY PRO Elite V3 USB Type-C Flash Drive and found both to be excellent.
The PNY RP60 Portable SSD utilizes the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface and is capable of achieving transfer speeds of 2000 MB/s for Sequential Read and 1800 MB/s for Sequential Write. In case we are all so numb to the numbers, the RP60 achieves speeds that are twice that of the fastest external drives currently on the market (that do not feature the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface). In the simplest terms, USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps) is twice as fast as its predecessor, USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps).
Speed
Even compared to the quick PNY PRO Elite V3 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Flash Drive and the PNY PRO Elite V3 USB Type-C Flash Drive, the RP60 makes some serious claims in terms of speed, “with read speeds up to 2000MB/s and write speeds up to 1800MB/s.“
To test these claims, I again used the popular open-source application, CrystalDiskMark, which allows me to compare the read and write speeds of various drives. Again, without getting too detailed with the technical specifications, it is important to note that the type of port used with each drive greatly affects the results. In other words, you must use a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port to take full advantage of the faster drives.
My ASUS ZenBook has a USB 3.0 port and a 3.1 controller. This does not allow for the full performance of the RP60 and posted times in the range of 1035MB/s read and 993 MB/s write. This makes sense considering the infrastructure of my laptop. In fact, I tried the newest laptop in the house, and it performed essentially the same.
The fact is that the PNY RP60 Portable SSD employs the latest version of the USB Type-C standard, and there are limited machines out there that can take full advantage of its improved speed. Why spend the money on an improvement that you can’t take advantage of now? That depends on the type of user you are.
I buy with longevity in mind and know that my next machine will have the specifications required to make this drive sing, so I consider it a good investment. If you do not upgrade your equipment regularly, you may be fine purchasing drives that are less capable but for less money.
What Devices Support USB 3.2 Gen 2×2?
There are a variety of motherboards and laptops that have implemented USB 3.2 Gen 2×2. Here is a short list of hosts with at least one USB 3.2 Gen 2×2:
| Manufacturer | Model/Type |
| ASUS | PRIME Z390-A Motherboard |
| ASUS | PRIME Z590-A Motherboard |
| GIGABYTE | Z590 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard |
| GIGABYTE | GC-USB 3.2 GEN2X2 PCIe Expansion Card |
| MSI | X299 PRO Motherboard |
| MSI | MPG Z590 GAMING CARBON WIFI Motherboard |
| MSI | Z490 MPG Gaming Edge (WiFi) Motherboard |
| MSI | Z590 MPG Gaming Edge WiFi Intel Motherboard |
| MSI | TRX40 Pro WiFi AMD Motherboard |
| DELL | Inspiron 15 5515 15.6″ Laptop Computer AMD |
| DELL | Inspiron 15 5510 15.6″ Laptop Computer Intel |
| ABLECONN | PEX-UB159 PCIe Expansion Card |
| ORICO | PE20-1C PCIe Expansion Card |
(From the Kingston Technology website)
Compatibility
The PNY RP60 Portable SSD is fully compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 and backward compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2×1, USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 2.0, and USB 1.1. This means that the RP60 is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Apple iPhone 15, 16, and 17 models, iPad and iPad Pro, Android phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and gaming consoles.
However, to achieve maximum advertised speeds, please make sure your computer or host device is certified to support the 20 Gb/s USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 connection. Apple devices, including those with Thunderbolt/USB4, do not support 20 Gb/s USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 and will be limited to 10 Gb/s USB 3.2 Gen 2.
Software
Purchasers of the RP60 who register their products with PNY can download the Acronis True Image Data Protection software (available for PC and Mac) to help backup and recover all their important data. The application limits access to the backup and protection functions only. Users can upgrade to the full version starting at $49.99 for a single machine with no cloud storage.
Product Specifications
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2×2; Backwards compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2×1, USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 |
| Form Factor | Portable |
| Included Accessories | USB Type-C to Type-C Cable |
| PERFORMANCE (MAX SEQUENTIAL READ/WRITE) | |
| 1TB | 2,000 MB/s (Read) 1,800 MB/s (Write) |
| 2TB | 2,000 MB/s (Read) 1,800 MB/s (Write) |
| ENVIRONMENTAL | |
| Durability | IP65 Water and Dust Resistance |
| Drop Resistance | Up to 3m/9.8 ft |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C ~ 70°C |
| Storage Temperature | -40°C ~ 85°C |
| Certifications | CE, FCC, EMC, ROHS, REACH, UKCA |
| COMPATIBILITY | |
| Operating Systems | Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista™, Windows XP™, Mac OS X, Linux kernel 2.4.10 |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | |
| Service & Support | 3-Year Limited Warranty or TBW |
PNY also provided another new cutting-edge drive for review, the 256GB PNY microSD Express U3 V30 A1 microSDXC Flash Memory Card. microSD cards are used in a wide range of devices, including action cameras, drones, and handheld gaming consoles. PNY specifically lists the Nintendo Switch 2 as a targeted compatible device, as it supports microSD Express.
When used with compatible microSD Express host devices, PNY claims speeds of up to 890MB/s read and up to 810MB/s write, achieving performance up to 4.4 times faster than standard UHS-I microSDs.
Other significant features include engineering to maximize cooling efficiency through heat dissipation and adaptive thermal technology, an A1 App Performance rating that delivers faster app launch and performance, and a lifetime limited warranty with PNY Photo Recovery software included.
Similar to the RP60, there are not many devices currently on the market that can take advantage of the impressive new transfer speeds, and much in the same way, I recommend futureproofing your purchase, as this card is in the same price range as lesser products.
The 256GB PNY microSD Express U3 V30 A1 microSDXC Flash Memory Card retails for $61.99 and is available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including Amazon and B&H Photo, both of which are selling at the reduced price of $59.99.
As computers continue to become faster and applications enable consumers to work with ever larger files, technologies such as USB adapt and advance. The recent upgrade to USB 3.2 Gen 2 is now growing to USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 and doubling the achievable read and write speeds. Whether you are a photographer, videographer, content creator, graphic designer, or gamer, speed and reliability are critical. If you are already in the market for drives as fast as USB 3.2 Gen 2, the new PNY RP60 Portable SSD is in the same price range, completely compatible, and will be twice as fast when used with USB 3.2 Gen 2×2.
Pricing for the PNY RP60 Portable SSD is $102.99 for the 1TB and $169.99 for the 2TB. It is available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including Amazon and B&H Photo, both of which are selling it at the reduced price of $154.99.
Source: Manufacturer-supplied review sample
What I Like: It’s so fast that we will need to upgrade to take full advantage of its speed; It’s small and lightweight; IP65 Water and Dust Resistance
What Needs Improvement: The cover for the USB Type-C port can’t be fully closed after initial opening