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ASUS TUF Gaming AS2000 Plus Portable SSD: speed, toughness and fit
A 2 TB portable NVMe SSD with USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 at up to 20 Gbps, IP68 and MIL-STD-810H toughness, and an aluminium chassis. What the specs mean.
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The ASUS TUF Gaming AS2000 Plus is a 2 TB portable solid-state drive that connects over USB-C. It combines a fast NVMe drive inside a rugged, water-resistant body, so you can carry games, project files and backups between a PC, laptop, phone or console.
What USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 means
The drive uses a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface, which ASUS says delivers file transfers of up to 20 Gbps. Gen 2x2 uses two 10 Gbps lanes together. The listing quotes speeds of up to 2000MB/s. Real speeds depend on the port you plug it into: a port that does not support Gen 2x2 will connect, but at a lower speed. Many computers have slower USB-C ports, so check yours.
Inside the enclosure is an M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD, the same type of drive used inside many laptops and desktops, which is why a portable drive can be so much quicker than a traditional external hard disk.
IP68 and MIL-STD-810H
The silicone rubber exterior meets two standards. IP68 is an ingress-protection code: the "6" means dust-tight, and the "8" means it can withstand immersion in water under conditions set by the manufacturer. MIL-STD-810H is a US military test standard, and ASUS says the drive meets its drop-resistance requirements. These standards are useful for a drive that travels in bags. Check the manual for the exact conditions, and keep the USB-C port dry when plugging in.
Cooling
Fast SSDs generate heat, and heat can lead drives to slow down to protect themselves. ASUS uses an aluminium alloy chassis with a thermal pad that moves heat from the SSD to the casing. The brand says this helps keep data transfers stable and supports a longer SSD lifespan.
Software
A copy of NTI Backup Now EZ is bundled for backing up files. There is also an SSD Dashboard, which shows details such as SSD temperature and storage status.
Compatibility
The drive comes with a USB-C cable and ASUS lists compatibility with PCs, laptops, mobile devices and the latest gaming consoles. Check that your own device has a suitable USB-C port, and whether it can read the drive's file system. Consoles may limit which games can run from external storage.
Size and weight
The listing doesn't give dimensions, but it gives a weight of 0.3 lb (about 135 g), light enough for a pocket or bag.
Who it suits
It suits people who move large files regularly, such as creators, gamers who want a portable library and anyone who works in rough conditions.
What to check before you buy
- Port speed: check whether your computer has a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port, and use the included cable to get the best speeds.
- Real-world speed: quoted speeds are maximums, and results depend on the host device and file sizes.
- Console and phone support: check your device's manual on external drives.
- Capacity: this model is listed at 2 TB. Think about how much space your files and games need.
- Backups: an SSD is one copy of your files. Keep a second copy of important data.
The short version
- A 2 TB portable NVMe SSD with a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface, up to 20 Gbps.
- IP68 water and dust resistance and MIL-STD-810H drop resistance, per ASUS.
- Aluminium alloy chassis with a thermal pad for cooling.
- Includes a USB-C cable, NTI Backup Now EZ and an SSD Dashboard.
- Weighs about 0.3 lb.
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