The Silicon Power DS72 portable SSD stick looks like a thumb drive and works like one, too. However, it has the performance of a portable SSD. Most importantly, it comes with both USB-A and USB-C connectivity to work with virtually all modern host devices.
Here’s the bottom line: While the design could use some improvement, the Silicon Power DS72 is an excellent portable storage device for those on the go. Its convenient design and fast performance make it totally worth the current friendly street pricing, which starts at $35 for 250GB. Get one today!
Silicon Power DS72: A thumb drive that’s a portable SSD
The Silicon Power DS72 has little to impress from the look. It appears like a typical thumb drive with a USB-A connector on one end. However, when you look at its other end, things start to get interesting—that’s where you’ll find a USB-C connector.
In case you’re wondering, you can use one connector at a time, but having both in a single package means you can plug the drive in any existing computer (or mobile device) without the need for a converter. That’s the key difference between it and most other thumb drives.
The second difference is in performance. We’ll get there soon. But first, let’s explore the dual-connector design a bit further.
Convenient yet, at times, problematic
From the pictures below, you’ll note that each of the DS72’s ends is covered with a lid. This lid is helpful—it keeps the connector safe from the elements and potential abuse (such as drops or dust).
To use the drive’s connectors, whichever it is, you’ll need to open the lid, which is not removable, and push it 90 degrees or more to the side. Now, it gets in the way.
Specifically, it makes it hard to plug the drive into a tight USB port, such as one at the back of a desktop with many existing devices connected to the adjacent ports. In fact, with a tablet with a protective case, the lid makes it hard to fully insert the drive into the USB port.
If you could detach these lids completely, the Silicon Power DS72 would be much easier to use. However, you’d risk losing the lids themselves.
During my trial, I had some trouble connecting the Silicon Power DS72 to some test machines. At some USB ports, the spring-loaded tendency of the lids could slowly push the drive out.
It took some getting used to, but eventually, I figured out how to make things work, and after a few days, I grew to be content with the drive’s imperfect design.
Silicon Power DS72: Hardware specifications
| Silicon Power DS72 Portable SSD | |
| Capacity | 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Internal Storage | PCIe Gen 4 4×4 NVMe SSD |
| Product Color | Black |
| Dimensions | 80.95 x 21.3 x 10.4mm |
| Weight | 15.6g |
| Copy Speed | 1050 MB/s (read) 850 MB/s (write) |
| Interface | USB Type-CÂ / Type-A |
| 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 |
| Security | None |
| Power Usage | USB bus-powered via a USB-C or USB-A port |
| Package Content | DS72 Portable SSD (thumb size) |
| OS Support | Windows: Windows XP or later, macOS: 10.3.x or later, Linux: Linux 2.6.x or later, Mobile: Android OS 6.0 / iOS 13 or later |
| Warranty | 5-year |
| US Street Price | Starting at $35 (250GB) Buy now! |
exFAT formatted, no bundled software
Out of the box, the Silicon Power DS72 is formatted in the exFAT file system, allowing it to work with any platform interchangeably.
Specifically, you can use it with a Mac and then move to a Windows computer after a pass on an Android. That, plus the dual USB-A and USB-C ports, means you can copy or back up data at will.
The DS72 has no hardware encryption or bundled software. That’s not a huge deal considering you can apply OS-based encryption and backup functions to it. In this case, reformatting might be necessary, such as when you want to use it with a Mac’s Time Machine.
Silicon Power DS72: Excellent overall performance
I tested and used a 1TB Silicon Power DS72 intensively for almost a week and was happy with it. Aside from the minor issue with the lids, as mentioned above, the portable SSD worked flawlessly.
It proved to be an excellent drive for servicing computers that need data or system recovery. In this case, you only need one drive instead of two, each with a USB-A or USB-C port.
Most importantly, its performance was consistently fast, matching Silicon Power’s claim, even when I copied a large amount of data (over 100GB) in a sitting. The drive performed the same regardless of the connector being use, out of the two.
While not the fastest USB 3.2 Gen 2 I’ve seen, the Silicon Power DS72 proved to be more than fast enough for its purposes. In fact, its performance was excellent for a thumb drive-like SSD, as shown in the charts above.
Like most SSD-based portable drives, the DS72 became a little warm during prolonged operation. However, it never got hot enough to cause concern.
Pros
Compact design with integrated USB-A and USB-C connectors; excellent performance
Compatible with all USB (and USB-C Thunderbolt) standards
Affordable with a 5-year warranty
Cons
Non-removable port lids can be in the way when connecting to some USB ports.
Conclusion
The Silicon Power DS72 Portable SSD Stick is not earth-shattering. None of its characteristics, from the fast NVMe SSD-class performance to the convenient design, is individually noteworthy. However, it has a great combination of those, and that makes a meaningful difference.
If you’re looking for a portable storage device that you can use with any device easily for data transferring or, in my case, system repair, it’ll make an excellent investment. It has the versatility, performance, and storage space to ensure you won’t need a secondary drive. Get one today!
