WD My Passport 5TB vs Seagate Backup Plus Portable 5TB

WD My Passport 5TB wins — The WD My Passport is the safer buy

Scores: WD My Passport 5TB 7.1/10 · Seagate Backup Plus Portable 5TB 6.5/10

The WD My Passport is the safer buy. WD's reliability track record at this capacity is slightly better, and the included WD Backup software is more capable than Seagate's. The Seagate is often $10–$20 cheaper and works fine for simple drag-and-drop backup.

Spec-by-spec comparison

WD My Passport 5TBSeagate Backup Plus Portable 5TB
Capacity5TB5TB
InterfaceUSB 3.0 (USB-A)USB 3.0 (USB-A)
Recording TechSMRSMR
Sustained Read Speed~130 MB/s~125 MB/s
Warranty2 years2 years
Hardware Encryption256-bit AES256-bit AES

WD My Passport 5TB

What works

  • WD Backup software is more capable
  • Slightly better reliability data historically
  • Clean, compact design

What doesn't

  • SMR technology limits random write speed
  • Two-year warranty is standard but short for backup drives
  • No drop protection beyond basic enclosure

Seagate Backup Plus Portable 5TB

What works

  • Usually $10–$20 cheaper
  • Available in matching desktop Drive Hub model
  • Widely compatible across Windows and macOS

What doesn't

  • Seagate Toolkit less polished than WD Backup
  • Historical reliability slightly lower in Backblaze data
  • Same SMR limitations

Bottom line

Our pick: WD My Passport 5TB.

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