The New LaCie Rugged SSD4 Solid State Drive: Ultra-Fast Speed, Exceptional Durability for Unmatched Performance

A revolutionary mobile storage solution: The LaCie Rugged SSD4 solid state drive is a revolutionary mobile storage solution, combining ultra-fast speed with exceptional durability. This drive features data read capabilities of up to 4000 MB/s, in addition to its drop resistance from a height of approximately 10 feet, making it the ideal companion for professionals and adventurers alike. The LaCie Rugged SSD4 is compatible with a wide range of devices, including personal computers, tablets, and smartphones.

Legacy of Durability: LaCie Rugged Series

The LaCie Rugged series has long been a pioneer in the design of durable external hard drives. Two decades ago, designer Neil Poulton revolutionized this field by introducing this iconic series, known for its distinctive orange frame that offers unparalleled data protection from shocks and drops.

Launch and Availability of LaCie Rugged SSD4

Today, Seagate continues this legacy by launching an improved version of the LaCie Rugged Mini SSD, which comes with minor design adjustments and substantial improvements in data transfer speeds. This new drive is now known as LaCie Rugged SSD4, and it is available for purchase starting today in multiple storage capacities: 1TB at $134.99, 2TB at $249.99, and 4TB at $479.99 (the 500MB option has been discontinued).

Design and Performance: A Quantum Leap

Design improvements in the LaCie Rugged SSD4 include a sleek brushed aluminum finish and a centralized USB-C port, enhancing its aesthetics and functionality. This drive now supports impressive data transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps, with read speeds of up to 4000 MB/s and write speeds of up to 3000 MB/s. Compared to the older model, LaCie Rugged Mini SSD, which featured a slightly off-center USB-C port and a softer aluminum finish, and maximum read speeds of up to 2000 MB/s, the LaCie Rugged SSD4 represents a quantum leap in performance and design.

Performance in Practical Use

Although the new LaCie Rugged SSD4 drive does not reach the speeds of the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5, unveiled earlier this year at CES, which offers impressive read and write speeds of 6700 MB/s and 5300 MB/s respectively, the Rugged SSD4, when connected to an iPhone with a USB-C port, is fast enough to efficiently record ProRes 4K footage at 120 frames per second.

Durability and Resistance to External Factors

The LaCie Rugged SSD4 also, just like its previous version, has an IP54 dust and splash resistance rating. This means it is protected against dust ingress in quantities that may affect operation, and is resistant to light splashes and scattered water, but does not offer full protection against submersion in water. Furthermore, the iconic orange frame provides robust protection against drops from a height of approximately 10 feet, enhancing its reliability in harsh working environments, while emphasizing the need for careful handling to avoid accidental damage.