Huawei eKitStor Shield 200: New external SSD is fast, rugged and offers up to 4TB of capacity

Online retailers like Amazon carry a huge selection of portable storage solutions for smartphones and other devices. While some of these products focus on small dimensions, others offer fast transfer speeds that traditional spinning hard drives can’t achieve.

Huawei has introduced a new external SSD called the Kunling eKitStor Shield 200, which is now available in China. This external drive utilizes flash storage and thus offers fast transfer speeds, but it’s also designed to withstand demanding conditions thanks to a rugged case.

The Huawei SSD connects via USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 and USB Type-C, with advertised data speeds of up to 2GB/s. This should be quick enough to quickly transfer videos or photos to and from the SSD. Needless to say, the Kunling eKitStor Shield 200 has to be hooked up to a compatible device in order to achieve these numbers. Additionally, Huawei advertises hardware encryption.

According to the manufacturer, the external SSD also comes with a reinforced metal case with a rubber coating. Huawei states that it should survive drops from a height of roughly 10 feet, and it can also be run over by vehicles weighing up to 2 tons. Thanks to an IP67 rating, the solid-state drive is protected against dust and water. The Kunling eKitStor Shield 200 itself weighs about 6.3 oz, measures 4.3 x 2.8 x 0.75 inches and consumers 6 watts of power. The new Huawei SSD is listed for prices starting at $106 for the 1TB variant, the 2TB version costs the equivalent of $192. The 4TB model doesn't seem to be available just yet.