The Asus AS1000 TUF Gaming Plus is an interesting portable SSD.
On the one hand, despite its support for USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps), it is not new—Western Digital had the similarly specced WD Black P50 almost over four years ago.
On the other, at the street price of just $135 for 1TB, or less than half the cost of the WD counterpart, the AS1000 Plus itself is a deal. Not happy with 1TB? You can easily replace the internal SSD with another.
Here’s the bottom line: If you’re looking for a 20Gbps USB portable SSD for your gaming rig, be it a computer or a console, that delivers on performance, among other things, the Asus TUF Gaming Plus is an excellent option. Consider one today!
Asus AS1000 TUF Gaming Plus: A solid and versatile portable drive for gamers
If the name rings a bell, the TUF notion means the portable SSD is part of Asus’s TUF gaming family, which includes Wi-Fi routers, such as the TUF-AX5400.
And the AS1000 looks the part. It comes with a fully metal casing that houses an NVMe SSD on the inside. The whole package is IP68-rated, meaning the drive can handle the elements and a bit of roughhousing.
A rugged NVMe enclosure
What’s really interesting about the AS1000 TUF Gaming Plus is the fact that you can easily open the casing via four hex screws on the underside—the bottom two are covered by the specs label that can be removed relatively easily.
Now, you can change the internal SSD with any NVMe SSD of your choice, including those of shorter lengths. In other words, the drive is a rugged NVMe M.2 enclosure. (Needless to say, Asus’s warranty only applies to the included SSD.)
Of course, you can always use it as you get it: a 1TB USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 portable drive. As such, the Asus AS1000 TUF Gaming Plus is frill-free. It has no hardware encryption, which is the case for most portable SSDs made for gamers, and it only comes with a USB-C cable. You’ll need a converter or a USB-A to USB-C cable to use it with a USB-A port.
Out of the box, the drive, like usual, is formatted in the exFAT file system to work with any hosts. Addtionally, it includes a license for NTI Backup Now EZ software for Windows users.
Then, there’s a little TUF SSD Dashboard software that shows the internal drive’s status and condition. Neither is consequential or even interesting, considering the free alternatives.
Overall, other than the IP68 rating and easy serviceability, Asus’s TUFF Gaming Plus is very similar to the WD Black P50. The table below shows their hardware specs.
Asus TUF Gaming Plus vs. WD Black P50: Hardware specifications
 |
 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Asus TUF Gaming Plus Portable SSD | Western Digital WD Black P50 | |
| Capacity | 1TB (AS1000 Plus) 2TB (AS2000 Plus) |
500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB |
| Internal Storage | PCIe Gen 4 4×4 NVMe SSD | |
| Product Color | Black | |
| Dimensions | 116.22 x 55.65 x 15.3 mm | 118. x 61.9 x 13.9 mm |
| Weight | 155 gram | 119.06 gram |
| Ruggedness | IP68 | No IP rating |
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps) USB Type-C |
|
| Compatibility (peripheral standards) |
Thunderbolt 3 (and later) USB4 (all) USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 USB 2.0 |
|
| Hardware Encryption | None | |
| Power Usage | USB bus-powered via a USB-C or USB-A port |
|
| Package Content | Portable SSD USB-C cable |
Portable SSD USB-C cable USB-A to USB-C cable |
| OS Support | Windows: Windows 7 or later, macOS: 10.6.x or later, Xbox and PlayStation Game Consoles |
|
| Mobile Device Support | No | |
| Warranty | 5-year | |
| Costs | Current pricing on Amazon | |
As noted in the table, the two drives are very similar and can work interchangeably. You can also open the WD Black to change its internal drive, but the process is much harder since that wasn’t the intended use case.
Asus AS1000 TUF Gaming Plus: Excellent performance
I tested and used the Asus AS1000 TUF Gaming Plus for a couple of days, with the included internal NVMe SSD, and was happy with it.
The drive performed well—it’s the fastest USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 to date—and never became hot, even during extended operation.
It also proved to be tough. I left it in a sink full of water overnight—it sank—and tossed it around on our hardwood floors quite a bit, and it survived intact.
It’s also worth noting that after I opened the case, changed the internal drive, and put everything back, the drive still worked without issues.
Pros
Excellent performance with friendly pricing and a 5-year warranty
Rugged design with easy access to the internal drive
Compatible with all USB (and USB-C Thunderbolt) standards
Cons
No USB-A to USB-C cable or converter is included
No support for Android or iOS
Conclusion
The Asus TUF Gaming Plus lineup, presented by the AS1000, is a straightforward and super-fast portable SSD. Its friendly pricing, the fact that you can quickly service the internal SSD, and its straightforward design make it one of the best external storage devices for general storage or gaming needs. Consider one today!
