ADATA DashDrive Durable HD720 1TB External HDD Review

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External hard drives have long been a staple for backing up and taking data with us. With that said, the long lineup of external solutions from ADATA too has been a staple in the market for solid capacity at an affordable price. The latest solution in the lab today comes in the form of the IP68 tested DashDrive Durable HD720.

The HD720 as mentioned above is one of the latest solutions from ADATA available in your choice of three colors and three capacity options. These range from 500GB to 1 and 2TB solutions along with Black, Blue, and Yellow color options. Diving a little deeper the HD720 has been IP68 certified for water, shock and dust resistance while also being a bus-powered solution with integrated USB 3.0 cable.

Compatibility of the HD720 includes Windows XP through 10 along with OS X 10.6 and Linux Kernel 2.6+. MSRP of the ADATA HD720 in the tested 1TB capacity is set at $109.99 with a three-year warranty.

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Our sample came in its retail form. The top right carries capacity information while the bottom right houses marketing information.

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The scope of delivery includes a quick start guide and the drive itself. Like many external solutions from ADATA, the HD720 utilizes a wraparound cable to keep it secure when not in use.

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A closer look at the drive shows the rubberized exterior of the drive. The center portion that is colored black in the above image has almost a velvet feel to it.

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Sliding over to testing, we have the HD720 on par with many of the 1TB solutions tested previously. Results came in at 121 MB/s read and 117 MB/s write.

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As far as price/performance was concerned with the HD720, this solution landed towards the top at 82% but was the lowest of all 1TB drives, apart from the LaCie Fuel.

The HD720 like many solutions we have seen in the past from ADATA encompass large capacity at a budget-friendly price point. The build quality of the durable lineup is just that, rock solid and tested to military specifications IP68 for dust, water and shock. In testing, I had no issues with the build quality of the ADATA and in fact, rather enjoyed the mix of rubber for grip and the velvet for feel and looks.

The performance of the HD720 was on par with most external hard drives we have tested, where we reached 121 MB/s read and 117 MB/s write. Price/performance put this drives towards the upper middle of the pack but at the bottom of the 1TB drives. This would surely be increased if the price were lowered but as it sits still a solid solution.

Overall, if you are one that travels a bit and need the durability this solution offer, there is no doubt in my mind the HD720 will deliver and at a solid price point for those on a budget.

Tyler's Test System Specifications

• Motherboard: ASUS Z97-A - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• CPU: Intel Core i7 4770K - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Cooler: Corsair H100i GTX - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Memory: Patriot Viper 3 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3 1600 - Buy from Amazon
• Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Storage: Intel 730 480GB - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Case: Corsair Obsidian 750D - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower 750W - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• OS: Microsoft Windows 10 - Buy from Amazon