INTRODUCTION

    Portable SSDs may lag behind internal M.2 PCIe models in terms of read & write performance, but they still represent a much faster and larger capacity option compared to the majority of USB flash drives out in the market today. Yes, portable SSDs might be larger compared to regular USB flash drives but with speeds and capacities many times over. the somewhat small difference in size shouldn't really matter that much for most people out there. In late 2021 KIOXIA unveiled their EXCERIA PLUS Portable SSD line and even though it's now 2024 some of you did ask for me to test it out and well, I did.

    KIOXIA Europe GmbH (formerly Toshiba Memory Europe GmbH) is the European based subsidiary of KIOXIA Corporation, a leading worldwide supplier of flash memory and solid state drives (SSDs). From the invention of flash memory to today's breakthrough BiCS FLASH 3D technology, KIOXIA continues to pioneer cutting-edge memory solutions and services that enrich people's lives and expand society's horizons. The company's innovative 3D flash memory technology, BiCS FLASH, is shaping the future of storage in high-density applications, including advanced smartphones, PCs, SSDs, automotive and data centers.

    The EXCERIA PLUS 1TB portable SSD by KIOXIA is currently available in 3 capacities (500GB/1TB/2TB) and features a shock-resistant (MIL-STD-810H 516.8 procedure IV compliant) aluminum enclosure. Inside the thick aluminum enclosure of the EXCERIA PLUS we find the EXCERIA M.2 PCIe 3x4 model (also released back in 2021) which is based on a customized version of the quad-channel (16 CE) PHISON PS5012-E12C controller which KIOXIA has paired with their very own 96-layer BiCS 3D TLC NAND and a 1GB DDR4 module. The PS5012-E12C NAND controller by PHISON comes ready technologies such as SLC caching, StrongECC, SmartRefresh, SmartFlush, low density parity check, end-to-end data protection, thermal monitoring, AES-256 encryption and support for ONFi 2.3/3.0/3.2/4.0 and TCG Pyrite/OPAL. KIOXIA covers the EXCERIA PLUS line of portable SSDs with a 3-year limited warranty and offers password protection for your sensitive data via their SSD utility software.