Kingston launches USB-C XS2000 external SSD with IP55 certification and speeds faster than any SATA III drive

(Update #2: Kingston has reached out to us clarifying the 1000 MB/s and 2000 MB/s transfer rates. In order to attain 2000 MB/s transfer rates, users must connect the XS2000 to a USB-C port that is compatible with 3.2 Gen. 2x2 speeds and not just 3.2 Gen. 2. Otherwise, transfer rates may top out at opnly 1000 MB/s. Most Thunderbolt ports do not support the 3.2 Gen. 2x2 standard and are instead limited to 3.2 Gen. 2 like our Maingear laptop used for this article. Leave it to the ever-expanding USB-C standards to make something as simple as a USB-C stick more confusing than it needs to be.)

(Update: Amazon has now listed the 500 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB options for $99, $159, and $284 USD, respectively.)

After having recently launched the NV1 series of M.2 NVMe SSDs, Kingston is now ready to make available a new external SSD powered by USB called the XS2000 in 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB capacities.

The Kingston XS2000 external drive is different from most other USB thumb drives by being IP55 certified to withstand water and dust. Thus, the drive should be more resistant to the elements to better protect your saved data.

The IP55 certification entails a slightly larger size and weight, however. When compared to the 1 TB Patriot Supersonic Rage Prime, the XS2000 is heavier (29 g vs. 9 g) and a bit larger as shown by our pictures below. Even so, the drive remain pocket-friendly and easy to carry. The retail box even comes with a removable rubber case to protect against drops similar to the removable cases included with many smartphones.

Kingston sent us a 1 TB XS2000 unit for our impressions and benchmarks. While the packaging boasts "up to 2000 MB/s" when connected to a USB-C 3.2 Gen. 2 port, we're only able to record up to 1000 MB/s onwhen connected to our 11th gen Intel Tiger Lake-H Maingear Vector Pro gaming laptop via Thunderbolt 4. Users will have to ensure that the host USB-C port supports 3.2 Gen. 2x2 and not just 3.2 Gen. 2x1 in order to achieve the advertised 2000 MB/s transfer rates.

Availability begins later this week with a five-year limited warranty as standard.

XS2000 Portable SSD Features and Specifications:

• USB 3.2 Gen. 2x2 interface
• 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB capacities
• Up to 2000 MB/s read and 2000 MB/s write
• 69.54 x 32.58 x 13.5 mm
• 28.9 g
• 0 C to 40 C operating temperature
• -20 C to 85 C storage temperature
• Compatible with Windows 10, 8.1, Mac OS 10.14.x+, Linux 2.6.x, Chrome OS