With the discharge of the Rugged SSD Pro5, LaCie turns into one of many very first to launch a Thunderbolt 5 machine. We bought one in our studio and we check it out with the most recent Macs.

This new pro-level transportable storage machine was first proven off at CES 2025. Happily, it was solely a short while earlier than it went up for order.

Apple was fast on the uptake of Thunderbolt 5 as the most recent MacBook Pro and Mac mini assist the stand. We had one of many latter available to check this out with.

We a excessive quantity of video and photograph technology, we’re at all times on the lookout for new and various storage media. And Seagate-owned LaCie has at all times been on the highest of our record.

It is at present accessible in each 2TB and 4TB flavors and proper now, we have been testing out the 2TB mannequin.

LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD overview: A well-known design

A person holding a small, rectangular, blue external hard drive with a connected cable against a plain background.
LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD overview: The SSD is small and transportable

Out of the field, er, gate, this seems like another LaCie Rugged drive. Whereas LaCie has launched a number of type elements over time, the Rugged line has at all times stored a well-recognized design

They used to seem like a steel field with a rubber bumper across the edge. Beginning with the final technology, they advanced to make the most of NVMe media and are actually completely coated in silicone with no seen steel.

Two hands holding colorful, rectangular hard drives; one is orange and the other is blue, both with embossed brand logos.
LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD overview: Evaluating the USB-C Rugged SSD to the brand new Rugged Pro5 SSD

Actually, whenever you evaluate it to the last-gen USB-C or Thunderbolt 4 mannequin, it is mainly equivalent besides in a brand new blue shade. We’re keen on the enduring orange, particularly because the blue is extra more likely to present mud.

You have bought the LaCie brand on the highest, with rounded edges that matches properly into the palm of your hand. The underside has your serial quantity and regulatory particulars and “Designed by Neil Poulton” stamped into.

Two hands holding an orange and a blue portable hard drive horizontally, showing USB-C ports on a white background.
LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD overview: The ports look the identical, however the previous one is USB-C whereas the brand new one is Thunderbolt 5, and is extra proof against water

Although it seems the identical — sans shade change — it is a little more sturdy than earlier than. The resistance has elevated from IP67 to IP68.

Moreover, it is nonetheless in a position to stand up to drops from as much as three meters and might be even run over by a automobile at as much as 2 tons. We will verify we didn’t check that final one!

With IP rankings, the primary quantity represents solids whereas the second is for liquid.

A purple rectangular hard drive rests on birch logs with textured bark in soft lighting.
LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD overview: That is simply a drive you’d really feel protected taking into the sector or to class

So, IP67 guarantees to cease all mud ingress and might be dropped into water as much as a meter deep and be okay. IP68 might be in a meter of water for as much as half-hour and nonetheless come out unscathed and dealing correctly.

We will verify we have put LaCie drives by the wringer over time with out problem. That powerful shell

provides you the sense of sturdiness.

We have by no means used it, however LaCie additionally continues to supply its rescue information restoration service. Whenever you get the drive, you obtain 5 years included ought to something go mistaken and also you want help getting your information again.

Hands holding a blue external hard drive and two Thunderbolt 5 cables against a neutral background.
LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD overview: The newest drive from LaCie is a straightforward win for individuals who want pace

In fact, a licensed Thunderbolt 5 cable is included within the field. It measures in at .3m, or roughly a foot.

LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD overview: Pace & efficiency

Let’s discuss pace.

As we talked about, we’re testing the LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD with the most recent M4 Professional Mac mini. It has a number of Thunderbolt 5 ports, as does the latest-generation MacBook Professionals.

Thunderbolt 5 can also be backwards appropriate, so if in case you have an older mannequin, it’ll nonetheless work. Simply at slower speeds.

LaCie, in its lab testing with best circumstances, bought numbers of 6,700MBps and 5,300MBps for learn and write speeds respectively. It is by no means actually potential to hit these max numbers in the true world, however the speeds have been nonetheless spectacular.

Disk speed test interface displaying write speed of 3983.2 MB/s and read speed of 4757.2 MB/s, in a forest background.
LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD overview: Blackmagic Disk Pace Check outcomes for the Rugged Pro5 SSD

Blackmagic gave us speeds of 4,757MBps learn and three,983MBps for write. Once we ran AmorphousDiskMark with default settings of 5 passes of 1 GB and 4 exams.

Benchmarking software results show Seagate SSD read and write speeds in megabytes per second. Background features tall trees.
LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD overview: Our AnamorphousDiskMark outcomes for the Rugged Pro5 SSD

At peak, it really surpassed LaCie’s speeds, yielding 7,012MBps and 5,451MBps on the learn and write. However, as a totally enclosed drive, these numbers do not final lengthy.

The numbers dipped down in the direction of the top of the AmorphousDiskMark check. We additionally transferred a big 100GB file to the SSD.

This took a complete of 52 seconds to switch, which is strikingly quick. Even so, that averages to only one,923MBps over the course of the entire switch.

Different Thunderbolt 5 SSDs will doubtless in a position to supply larger sustained speeds and enormous file transfers if they’re all steel, as it’ll assist maintain the warmth down.

Close-up of a laptop with a Thunderbolt cable connected, next to a blue external hard drive on a white surface.
LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD overview: We additionally examined it with our Thunderbolt 4 MacBook Professional

Only for enjoyable, we additionally examined this Thunderbolt 5 SSD on our M3 Max MacBook Professional which is simply outfitted with Thunderbolt 4. BlackMagic gave us 2,954MBps for the learn pace and a pair of,566MBps for the write pace.

As you possibly can see, it is nonetheless a quick drive however the Thunderbolt 5 interface positively affords larger efficiency.

Personally, we’re OK with that dip in sustained efficiency for the added sturdiness and design.

LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD overview: Must you purchase it?

We geek out about about storage gadgets in all probability greater than your common consumer. We have been utilizing LaCie drives for ages.

There are these vivid reminiscences we’ve got, that are many years previous at this level, of heading into the Apple Retailer — which at that time was a two-hour drive away. You would be assured to see the Geniuses strolling round holding the raft-looking LaCie Rugged drives.

Person pointing at a stack of five orange external hard drives with two black drives on top.
LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD overview: We have collected fairly a number of LaCie drives over time

It wasn’t lengthy earlier than we purchased our personal, adopted by many subsequent ones. We have fairly the gathering now that reveals the development within the LaCie Rugged design.

Frankly, we solely have superficial issues with the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5. Nothing associated to efficiency.

We might like to see further colorways, together with deliver again the eye-catching orange that LaCie is understood for. The included Thunderbolt 5 cable additionally is not color-matched like LaCie normally does.

Tablet with colorful app icons on screen next to a connected blue external hard drive marked 'LaCie'.
LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD overview: It really works with the Information app on iPad too, simply not at full pace

We’ve got a pile of vibrant orange Sort-C cables from all our different LaCie drives. Is it an excessive amount of for a customized blue or orange one to be included right here too?

Once more — these aren’t actual complaints and would not preclude us from buying the drive. However with strong efficiency, assist, and sturdiness, it is laborious to search out issues to criticize.

Blue rugged SSD and its packaging box on a white surface with a blurred background.
LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD overview: The field of the 2TB LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD

As Apple creatives, it ticks all of the bins we’d like. It is eye catching, dependable, and quick.

There aren’t loads of thunderbolt 5 drives in the marketplace, so if you would like the most recent and best, it is price trying out. Particularly whenever you’re taking a look at transportable fashions.

LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD overview: Professionals

  • Smooth, sturdy, iconic design

  • IP68 resistance to water, mud, and drops

  • Tremendous quick Thunderbolt 5 connection for the most recent Macs

  • 5 years of knowledge restoration service included

  • One of many very first to be launched

LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD overview: Cons

LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD score: 5 out of 5

LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD overview: The place to purchase

Order the LaCie Rugged Pro5 SSD from B&H starting at $329 for the 2TB mannequin.


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