There is no doubt that SSDs have really taken the game when it comes to modern drive solutions. The speeds that come with them are far greater than that of a spinning drive. However, they don’t always last as long. Some find their SSD lasting only three to five years and that’s it, time to clone to a new option. However, Verbatim has found a way to extend the life out of an SSD, allowing it to stretch to ten or more years of life. Perfect for those looking to protect their data.
It does come with a number of catches to consider though. For one, it seems to be limited to 128GB and only available in Japan. It also can only be written once, like you would an optical disc, and can only be done so from Windows 10 or 11 machines with special software (the drive can be read as read-only by any machine that supports exFAT though). This limits the number of writes to the drive, which is one of the biggest contributors to an SSD’s lifespan. Thus, the drive should be able to last a long time as long as it isn’t stored in harsh conditions.
So this is absolutely limited to a certain type of user. Likely someone looking to achieve specific information for as long as possible. While also being able to take advantage of SSD speeds. It comes with a ten-year warranty that protects the replacement of the drive in the case of failure (but not data). So it won’t save you from data loss if it happens, but it does add some faith in the longevity of the product.
There is no mention by Verbatim if the drive will be offered outside of Japan, but it likely will happen in the near future if it proves to be successful. There is also no price information yet either.
Now if only the longevity of SSDs can be improved upon across the board vs having to rely on a limited-write solution such as this. It would be nice to finally have something that can last decades vs years. It would make personal backups for everyone a whole lot easier.
