Crucial X8 1TB Portable SSD review - Introduction

Crucial X8 1TB Portable SSD  NVMe USB 3.2 Gen2
1050 MB/s with a portable NVMe USB SSD

We review the Crucial X8 SSD (1TB). This, by far, among the faster portable storage to date as it is NVMe based, combined with the DNA of NMVe it can reach 1050 MB/sec over USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type C). The SSD is among the faster portable storage units released and a first for Crucial. Based on NVMe technology combined with the DNA of QLC NAND it can reach numbers over that USB port that are staggering. The storage solution is durable, sturdy and just looks really slick. The X8 indeed makes use of QLC NAND, and that will have an effect on write performance. But we'll check that out in our review of course. The X8 has a USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2) which means it connects on a 10Gb/s (1250 MB/sec) USB link. 

Offered in a 500GB and 1 TB model with the 500GB version currently costing $119.95 and the 1TB version costing $164.95 on Crucial's website. The standard connection is USB-C and Crucial ships the drive with a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C to Type-C (10Gbps) cable in the box. However, to allow for wider compatibility there's also a USB 3.2 Gen1/USB 3.0 Type-C to USB-A adapter included. 

Capacity	Part Number	Box Contents	Sequential Read
1TB	CT1000X8SSD9	Crucial X8 Portable SSD Type-C to Type-C USB cable (10Gb/s) Type-C to USB-A adapter (5Gb/s) Multilingual Quick-Start Guide	1,050 MB/s
500GB	CT500X8SSD9

Inside the X8 you will spot the same technology that the Crucial P1 offers, but the unit obviously has been further refined and tweaked for the more typical workloads an external storage unit should have. Inbetween the P1 and USB you'll need some sort of interconnect, so Crucial opted an  NVMe bridge chip fabricated by ASMedia, the AS 2362. The unit does not have any IP certification, so we do not think it's water-proof.  However, the shell is super strong and sturdy made out of a combination of aluminum and plastic. The X8 comes with a three-year limited warranty. For this review, we test the 1TB version. Well, have a peek with the help of a photo first and then head onwards into the review.