A hands-on test that finds the X9 Pro a compact, rugged, encrypted all-rounder with no significant shortcomings.
Crucial X9 Pro
The Crucial X9 Pro has a critic score of 88 out of 100 from 8 professional reviews, including PCMag Australia, Android Central and ServeTheHome. 8 of 8 recommend it, and scores range from 83 (Tech Advisor) to 90 (PCMag Australia). 1 of the scores are printed by the outlets and 7 are our estimates from the review text. Most praised: speed (5 of 8); portability (3 of 8). It ranks #1 of the 5 portable ssds we score.
Our verdict
8 professional reviewers tested the Crucial X9 Pro, and 8 recommend it. Most praised: speed and portability.
The catch: The included cable is short and there is no USB-A adapter.
7 of these 8 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text and corrected for the known tendency of estimates to run high.
We earn a commission if you buy through this link. It never changes a score.
What do critics say about the Crucial X9 Pro?
A deal article in which the writer reports using the X9 Pro and measuring near-rated speeds.
Benchmarks show the X9 Pro is very competitive for a 10Gbps drive, beating the Samsung T7 Shield in most tests.
A Best Buy review calling the X9 Pro a cracking, rugged and cheap external SSD with sequential speeds that max out USB 3.2 Gen 2, with only modest random performance.
After a week with the 2TB model, the reviewer found it ultra-portable, cool-running and decent in speed, and a great budget pick especially for Mac users, though not the fastest.
Praised as a very compact, high-capacity, well-priced portable SSD with quality NAND, encryption and a long warranty.
A strong, durable drive that is a no-brainer in the US.
Named the best portable SSD in a buying guide after benchmark testing.
Scores are converted to 0–100. "est." means the outlet gave no number, so we estimated one from its verdict. How we score
What critics praise most
What critics dislike most
No clear pattern.
Not sure about the Crucial X9 Pro?
Common questions
Is the Crucial X9 Pro worth it?
Most critics think so: 8 of 8 recommend it. The included cable is short and there is no USB-A adapter.
Do critics agree about the Crucial X9 Pro?
Agreement is high: scores range from 83 (Tech Advisor) to 90 (PCMag Australia), a spread of 7 points across 8 reviews. Reviewers broadly agree.
What is the best alternative to the Crucial X9 Pro?
The Samsung T9 (critic score 85), best for creators.