WD's G-Technology G-Drive Mobile SSD R-Series Lights-Up Data Transfers At 560MB/s Over USB-C

Western Digital has tossed a new portable storage solution onto the market that photography pros and amateurs alike will appreciate if they are working with large file sizes. The drive is marketed by G-Technology and is called the G-Drive mobile SSD R-Series. The portable drive is aimed primarily at professional photographers, enabling them to offload high-resolution photos and 4K video at 560 MB/s over the USB-C interface.

G-Technology says that the fast 560MB/s transfer speed is enough to allow content creators to work with large files in real time. The "R" in the name stands for rugged, because it doesn't matter how fast a drive is or how much space it offers for you content if it breaks easily and you lose everything. The G-Drive mobile SSD R-Series boats an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, and in testing, it survived a drop of 3-meters onto a carpeted concrete floor. It also survived 1,000 pounds of crush pressure. That means if you accidentally step on your laptop bag and the drive gets underfoot, it won't break. Buyers will get a 5-year limited warranty and the it will be available at select G-Technology retailers globally in capacities up to 2TB.

"Larger and more powerful cameras breed larger file sizes and that has brought about an important need for equally large and powerful storage solutions," says Brian Matiash, G-Technology G-Team ambassador. "I need to know that my drives will not only keep up with the growing demands of my photo and video workflows, but also ensure that they can endure the environmental rigors of wherever my work takes me."

The 2TB flavor will cost $699.95, the 1TB will be $379.95, and the 500GB version will be priced at $199.95. All the company is saying now with regards to availability is that the SSDs will launch "this year”.