There’s no false advertising here—Seagate’s Ultra Compact SSD truly lives up to its name. Roughly the size of a USB thumb drive, this tiny powerhouse offers the speed and functionality of a solid-state drive while maintaining the form factor of your average flash stick. But don’t let its size fool you—this is no outdated USB relic.
Design-wise, the drive is sleek and modern, measuring just 2.75 inches in length and weighing under an ounce. It’s easy to slip into your pocket or backpack, and thanks to a single-piece aluminium shell (35% recycled, for the eco-conscious), it’s more durable than it looks.
Rated IP54 for dust and water resistance and drop-tested up to three metres, it’s a rugged little unit. That said, while Seagate includes a silicone jacket for extra protection, most users will probably prefer to stick with just the end cap—it’s less bulky and arguably better for heat management.
The Ultra Compact SSD connects via USB-C and boasts speeds of up to 1,000 MB/s. In real-world performance tests, though, it doesn’t quite top the charts. Write speeds landed at around 512 MB/s and mixed-file reads at 570 MB/s—respectable, especially considering its size, but still a step behind top-tier portable SSDs.
The Seagate Ultra Compact SSD benchmark results live up to the hype. In CrystalDiskMark’s SEQ1M Q8T1 test, which pushes the drive to its max with large, sustained file transfers, the SSD clocked in at 1030.81MB/s read and 991.98MB/s write—pretty much right on the money with Seagate’s claimed 1000MB/s speeds.
So if you’re using this drive to move big video files, game installs, or project folders, you’re getting the top-tier speeds the packaging promises.
The drive holds up nicely even in more everyday scenarios, like launching apps or moving smaller files. In the SEQ1M Q1T1 test, which is more reflective of typical user behaviour, it pulled off 788.82MB/s read and 915.63MB/s write.
That means this little SSD isn’t just fast in theory, it’s snappy in real life too. It packs a punch and makes a strong case as a go-to portable storage solution for something this tiny.
This is for those who value size and portability over raw speed.
Seagate sweetens the deal with added services: a 6-month Dropbox Backup Plan, a 6-month Mylio Photos subscription, and its Rescue Data Recovery Services—something you’ll hopefully never need, but it’s nice to have that peace of mind.
Where the drive falters a bit is in pricing. Retailing at $100 for the 1TB and $180 for the 2TB model (with occasional discounts bringing them down to $80 and $145), the Ultra Compact SSD sits in a mid-tier price bracket. It’s not the most cost-efficient option, especially if you’re chasing top speeds, but you’re paying for portability, build quality, and those handy extras.
The Seagate Ultra Compact SSD is a refined, stylish storage solution that bridges the gap between flash drives and external SSDs. While performance purists might look elsewhere, casual users and travellers looking for reliable, pocketable storage will find plenty to like.