ASUS TUF Gaming AS1000 Plus 1 TB Portable SSD: features, specs and who it suits

The ASUS TUF Gaming AS1000 Plus is a 1 TB portable solid-state drive that connects over USB-C. It is built for people who move large files around, such as game libraries, video projects or backups, and who want a drive that can survive being carried in a bag.

Speed: what 20 Gbps means

ASUS pairs an M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD inside with a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface, which it rates at up to 20 Gbps for file transfers, or up to 2000MB/s. Gen 2x2 uses two lanes of 10 Gbps each, and typically doubles the ceiling of the more common USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports.

There is one important detail: to reach those speeds, the computer's port must also support USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. On a slower port the drive still works, but it runs at the speed of that port. Real-world speeds also depend on the files being moved, since many small files copy more slowly than a few large ones.

Built to take knocks

The exterior is high-grade silicone rubber. ASUS says it meets the MIL-STD-810H standard for drop resistance and the IP68 standard for water and dust resistance. MIL-STD-810H is a US military test series, and the listing marks the drop claim with a footnote, so read ASUS's own test conditions for the details. In an IP code, the 6 indicates dust-tight and the 8 indicates protection against continuous immersion under conditions set by the manufacturer. Follow the manual on how the port should be kept clean and dry.

Keeping it cool

Fast NVMe drives produce heat, and sustained transfers can make a small enclosure warm. This drive has an aluminium alloy chassis and a thermal pad to draw heat from the SSD into the body. ASUS says this supports stable data transfer and a longer SSD lifespan.

Software

The drive comes with NTI Backup Now EZ, a backup tool, and the ASUS SSD Dashboard, which shows parameters such as the drive's temperature and storage status. Both are optional; the drive also works as ordinary storage that you drag files to.

Compatibility

The box includes a USB-C cable. ASUS lists compatibility with PCs, laptops, mobile devices and the latest gaming consoles. USB-C is common on all of these, though some devices only support certain functions through the port, so check your device's manual for external storage support. The drive weighs 0.3 lb (about 140 g), light enough to carry in a pocket.

Who it suits

It suits creators who carry projects between machines, gamers who want extra storage for a console or laptop, and anyone who wants a backup drive more durable than a standard external hard drive.

What to check before you buy

• Your ports: check whether your computer has USB 3.2 Gen 2x2; otherwise the drive runs slower.
• Device support: confirm your console or phone accepts external SSDs in the format the drive is supplied in.
• Capacity: 1 TB suits a game library or a few video projects, but check against your needs.
• Formatting: you may need to format the drive for your system, as the manual describes.
• Backups: keep important files in more than one place, since any single drive can fail.
• Cable: keep the supplied cable, as a low-quality one can limit speed.

The short version

• A 1 TB portable NVMe SSD with a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 connection.
• ASUS rates it at up to 20 Gbps (up to 2000MB/s).
• Silicone shell meeting MIL-STD-810H drop resistance and IP68 water and dust resistance.
• Aluminium chassis and thermal pad for cooling.
• Includes a USB-C cable, NTI Backup Now EZ and the SSD Dashboard.

Bloiq is reader-supported. Some links may earn us a commission; it never affects what we write. How we make money.