Buffalo Reveals Tiny 1TB SSD: A Pocket-Sized Marvel

Buffalo has unveiled a new 1TB SSD that is possibly the smallest we've ever seen.

Its compact form factor is akin to a USB dongle, and it weighs less than 5 grams!

Let's delve into the finer details of this remarkable tiny SSD.

Once plugged in, you can almost forget about this SSD, much like a receiver. However, don't be deceived by its size. Despite its small form, this SSD boasts an MIL-STD-810H 512.8 rating, ensuring its durability through extended usage.

Buffalo even suggests it can be used with a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 to expand your game storage.

Buffalo 1TB Tiny SSD: Pricing & Availability

Unfortunately, the Buffalo SSD-PST51.0U3-BA isn't globally available. Its sale is limited to East Asian markets, with a price tag of ¥16,880, approximately $113 in the US.

The SSD is set to be released by late November, and the 250GB and 500GB models are already on sale and in stock. According to its official Amazon listing, the Buffalo 1TB SSD will be released on November 19, 2023.

However, you can purchase the SSD internationally, but keep in mind that there may be additional import taxes and delivery charges for international orders.

Availability in your region may vary. The 250GB version of the Buffalo SSD starts at ¥5980, which converts to roughly $40 in the US.

The World’s Smallest SSD: How Fast Is It?

Buffalo's tiny SSD boasts read speeds of 600MB/s and write speeds of 500MB/s, according to CrystalDiskMark (CDM) testing.

While it doesn't match the speeds of the fastest external SSDs available, it surpasses the rates of many external hard drives.

For comparison, the 2TB model of the SanDisk Professional PRO-G40 SSD, one of the fastest at the time of writing, reaches speeds of over 3,150MB/s for reads and 2,700MB/s for writes.

The Kingston XS2000, another tiny SSD available today, achieved speeds of 1,062MB/s for reads and 999MB/s for writes via CDM testing.

However, it's nearly five times heavier than Buffalo's device and measures 13 x 32 x 67mm.

In contrast, when it comes to hard drives, the SanDisk Professional G-DRIVE Desktop can achieve speeds of up to 280MB/s.

Indeed, the minuscule size of Buffalo's SSD is perhaps more attractive than its data transfer speeds, making it one of the best portable SSDs available today. If you happen to reside in the right part of the world, that is.