Quality portable storage at budget-friendly prices
Crucial is the consumer division of Micron Technology, one of the world's largest memory manufacturers. They make the actual NAND flash chips used in many SSDs, including some competitors' drives. When you buy Crucial, you're getting components from the source.
Their portable SSDs offer excellent value for Mac users who don't need maximum ruggedness or Thunderbolt speeds. The X10 Pro and X9 Pro are my recommendations for budget-conscious buyers.
The Crucial X10 Pro is rated at 2100MB/s, but here's what Crucial doesn't emphasize: that speed requires USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, which most Macs don't have.
Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, M4) use USB 3.2 Gen 2, which maxes out at 10Gbps. In practice, you'll see around 1000MB/s on a Mac, not 2100MB/s.
This is still plenty fast for backups and file transfers. Just don't expect the headline speeds unless you have a rare PC with USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports.
Crucial's flagship portable SSD. Fast USB 3.2 speeds with hardware encryption and a 5-year warranty. The best balance of price, speed, and features.
More affordable than the X10 Pro with slightly slower speeds. Same IP55 rating and encryption. Great entry point if the X10 Pro is overkill for your needs.
Same drive as the X9 Pro but ships pre-formatted for Mac (APFS). Saves you the reformatting step. Cosmetically identical, sometimes priced slightly higher.
Entry-level portable SSD. Slower than the Pro models but still much faster than a hard drive. No IP rating, basic plastic housing.
Crucial offers better value. OWC offers better ruggedness and true Thunderbolt speeds. See my detailed comparison to decide.
Compare Crucial vs OWCChoose OWC if you need: Thunderbolt speeds (2800MB/s real-world on Mac), IP67 waterproofing (submersible, not just splash-resistant), or US-based Mac-specific tech support.