Today, our Kingston XS1000 Review will feature the company’s pocket-sized SSD. It is a storage solution designed for creators seeking a reliable drive performing as fast as 1050 MB/s. Plus, you can choose between 1TB and 2TB capacities.
Aside from superior speeds and large capacities, it is the smallest SSD you can find. What other factors make it an excellent external SSD? Let us discuss all the details you need to know in this Kingston XS1000 Review.
Kingston XS1000 Packaging
Kingston XS1000 Review – Design and Functionality
We removed the product from the package before testing it for this Kingston XS1000 Review. Its size was the first thing we immediately noticed since it was tiny, measuring only 7cm long and 3cm wide. This design makes it the ideal companion for on-the-go users who need a lightweight storage solution with a massive capacity.
One of its ends houses the USB-C port and an activity LED. The top portion features the Kingston logo, while the bottom has an information sticker. You will find details about its serial number, capacity, and more.
The SSD we used for this Kingston XS1000 Review is the red version, which has a shiny and bright finish. You can also choose the black model for a more classic appearance.
This SSD uses a Silicon Motion SM2320 controller and a 3D TLC NAND, which Kingston did not specify. It is also preformatted in the exFAT format, ensuring compatibility with Windows, Mac, Linux, and ChromeOS.
The XS1000 is an NVMe SSD, delivering better performance than the SATA interface.
With its simplicity and compatibility with most systems, this SSD is suitable for on-the-go use. Connecting it with different devices will not be a problem since it also works with legacy devices.
Key Features of the Kingston XS1000
What makes the XS1000 better than other external SSDs? Aside from the compact and portable design, what else does it offer? Our review will discuss all its primary features to help you determine if this external SSD is worth purchasing.
Maximum Potential
This SSD is sleek, compact, and weighs below 29g. You can also choose from black and red versions. Its form and size allow it to easily fit into your pocket, letting you take essential files on the go.
Consistent Backup Solution
During our tests in this Kingston XS1000 Review, the SSD can seamlessly store and transfer large files without interruptions. And the best part? You can take it everywhere with you!
Higher Storage Capacity for Seamless Expansion
Kingston offers the XS1000 in two capacities: 1 TB and 2 TB. With massive storage space, you can seamlessly expand your digital library.
Supports USB 3.2 Gen 2
USB 3.2 Gen 2 allows the XS1000 to perform as fast as 1050 MB/s. It is also backwards-compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 1 for smooth connectivity with legacy devices.
Award-winning Design
One of the distinct features that we have mentioned in this Kingston XS1000 Review is its compact design. With its excellent size and portability, the company received the Red Dot Design Award for this product this year.
This streamlined external storage is conveniently pocket-sized, making all your files readily accessible. Also, its versatility and compatibility with old and new devices make it one of the best external SSDs today.
Specifications
Hands-on with the Kingston XS1000
The XS1000 is a highly convenient plug-and-play external SSD designed for easy use. Upon connecting it to a USB port, our computer instantly recognized the drive, making setup quick and hassle-free. Its simplicity is a strong point, allowing users to get started right away without any complicated installations.
For devices that only have USB-C ports, the drive remains versatile by supporting adapters or a USB-C to USB-C cable for seamless connectivity.
In our testing for this Kingston XS1000 review, the SSD performed reliably across a variety of tasks. Whether transferring large files or running demanding applications, it consistently delivered strong performance.
The results were especially noticeable when connected via a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, where the XS1000 exhibited swift and efficient data transfer rates. Its overall speed and reliability make it a strong contender among other external SSDs, particularly in the mid-tier range.
We were particularly impressed with how well the XS1000 handled file transfers. Moving large amounts of test data was completed in minimal time, with the drive outperforming many external storage options in its category.
While there are faster drives on the market, the XS1000’s performance remains highly competitive, delivering speeds that exceed what many users expect from an external SSD, particularly when compared to slower options.
The XS1000 isn’t just about file transfers. We also used it for gaming, testing its capabilities with a range of processor-demanding games. To our surprise, the external SSD performed exceptionally well when running games directly from the drive.
Even when pushing the limits with modern titles, the XS1000 kept pace, offering smooth gameplay with no noticeable delays or slowdowns, which is a testament to its design and efficiency.
For our gaming tests, we ran two scenarios: one at the lowest settings and another with additional graphics features enabled. In both cases, the XS1000 performed similarly to a high-end SATA SSD, showing that it can handle gaming workloads effectively.
Even when connected through an outdated USB 3.0 port, the drive maintained impressive performance, with no major drop-offs in speed or gaming experience.
We also compared the XS1000 to an internal PCIe 4.0 SSD, which typically offers much higher transfer speeds. While the internal drive did have an edge in raw speed, the XS1000’s performance remained close enough that, in real-world gaming, the difference was negligible.
In fact, we observed only a slight variance in frame rates, with the XS1000 actually providing a small 1 FPS advantage in certain scenarios.
This consistency in performance, especially during gaming, makes the XS1000 a reliable choice for users who need both portability and speed. It handled various modern games with ease, offering a smooth gaming experience without any noticeable performance constraints.
For those looking to run games from an external drive, the XS1000 is more than capable of meeting everyday gaming needs.
The Kingston XS1000 is a well-rounded external SSD that delivers impressive speed and reliability for both data transfers and gaming.
While an internal SSD may still be preferable for games with the most demanding requirements, the XS1000 holds its own in most scenarios, making it a strong choice for anyone seeking a high-performance external storage solution.
Kingston XS1000 Review Summary
The Kingston XS1000 stands out as a highly portable and efficient external SSD, offering a solid balance between speed, capacity, and convenience. Its pocket-sized design and lightweight build make it ideal for on-the-go users, while its capacities of 1TB and 2TB provide ample storage for large files and digital libraries.
The SSD’s strong performance is evident in its ability to handle large file transfers and demanding tasks with ease. It consistently delivers fast data transfer speeds, particularly when connected to a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, making it competitive with other mid-tier external drives. Its plug-and-play simplicity, combined with broad system compatibility, ensures a hassle-free experience across various devices.
In addition to file transfers, the XS1000 excels in gaming performance, rivaling internal SSDs in many scenarios. Whether running processor-heavy games or multitasking, the drive maintained smooth gameplay without noticeable slowdowns or lag, even when connected via an older USB 3.0 port.
The Kingston XS1000 is a versatile and reliable external SSD that meets the needs of creators, gamers, and everyday users alike. Its compact size, high-speed performance, and ease of use make it a top choice for those seeking a dependable external storage solution.
