INTRODUCTION

   The leaps made in the computer industry never cease to amaze me and even though this is true for most things including graphics cards, motherboards and CPUs there's no denying that storage is also something that has advanced a lot, even compared to just 10-15 years ago. This of course applies both in terms of capacity and performance and holds true for every type of storage media out there from hard and solid state drives to USB flash drives and memory/flash cards. I mean, who would had thought that in 2023 we could carry in our back pockets’ tiny portable SSDs with capacities up to and even exceeding 8TB? Crucial late last year updated their X8 portable SSD line to include a 4TB variant and since it's the only one i have yet to test from that said line this is what I’ll be doing today.

   We are an industry leader in innovative memory and storage solutions transforming how the world uses information to enrich life for all. With a relentless focus on our customers, technology leadership, and manufacturing and operational excellence, Micron delivers a rich portfolio of high-performance DRAM, NAND and NOR memory and storage products through our Micron® and Crucial® brands. Every day, the innovations that our people create fuel the data economy, enabling advances in artificial intelligence and 5G applications that unleash opportunities — from the data center to the intelligent edge and across the client and mobile user experience. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), visit micron.com.

   The Crucial X8 Portable SSD is currently available in 1/2/4TB capacities and features a compact anodized aluminum enclosure with rubber pads on both sides which according to the manufacturer is temperature-proof, vibration-proof and shock-proof from a height of up to 7.5 feet. Under the hood of the X8 4TB variant we find the SM2251-17 (U17) native UFD controller by Phison together with Micron's 176-layer (N48R) 3D QLC NAND flash. The SM2251-17 is a DRAM-less NAND flash controller that features Phison's 4th Generation LDPC ECC protection and unlike other similar solutions in the market it does not require a bridge controller thus allowing it to achieve up to 56% higher electrical efficiency (something which previous X8 variants did have - i don't know however if the entire line has since been updated). Just like in the past Crucial covers the entire X8 line of USB 3.2 Gen 2 portable SSD with a 3-year limited warranty.