Light, compact, high speed and large capacity are what TEAMGROUP PD20M offers to content creators.

The mobile storage market is increasingly saturated with products that compete fiercely in terms of speed, durability and capacity, in addition to convenient design. In that context, TEAMGROUP PD20M stands out by focusing on solving a specific problem: expanding storage space for high-quality video recording needs, especially Apple ProRes format with iPhone. The difference of PD20M in the market is its full compatibility with the MagSafe ecosystem. TEAMGROUP exclusively developed the PD20M Mag Portable SSD model with Taiwan utility patent number M656809.

In the portable storage race using the USB 3.2 Gen2x2 protocol with 20 Gbps bandwidth, TEAMGROUP PD20M follows a completely different strategy compared to many competitors. Instead of focusing on universal features such as military-grade durability or dust and water resistance, TEAMGROUP PD20M is MagSafe compatible and has an attractive selling price. The price of PD20M is about 20-30 USD lower than competitors with similar performance, making it the top choice if you just need to expand high-speed storage space for ProRes video.

Highly portable design

The TEAMGROUP PD20M is designed to be a portable storage device that feels like a natural part of your smartphone. With dimensions of only 70(L) x 62(W) x 8.2(H) mm and an ultra-light weight of 40 grams, the PD20M is one of the lightest and thinnest portable SSDs on the market. To put that in perspective, the 8.2 mm thickness of the TEAMGROUP PD20M is even thinner than the iPhone 15, ensuring that when attached to the phone, it does not create a bulky or cumbersome feeling.

In terms of materials and finishing, the PD20M has a titanium gray shell that gives it a luxurious look, in harmony with the design language of Apple products. Migovi could not find information about the outer shell material of the product, but it feels like it is plastic. Regardless of the material, the overall feeling that the PD20M brings is high-end and sturdy. There is a small but important detail: the back of the PD20M (the part that comes into contact with the back of the smartphone) is covered with a soft rubber layer. This coating has 2 functions: increasing grip with the phone and, more importantly, protecting the glass back of the phone from scratches when in contact. The edges of the PD20M are softly rounded, not only creating a comfortable grip but also helping users easily operate the phone without hurting their hands, even when the SSD is mounted on the back.

MagSafe

The highlight and difference between TEAMGROUP PD20M and other portable SSD options is the MagSafe compatible magnet system. According to the company, the magnetic attraction of PD20M is over 800g, enough for the SSD to stick firmly to the phone even when moving, shaking or using, filming. Practical experience shows that this mechanism helps simplify the way of working. Attaching and removing PD20M only requires 1 quick operation, completely eliminating cumbersome accessories such as clips, mounts or tear tape (velcro).

The TEAMGROUP PD20M comes with a flat, flexible USB-C to USB-C cable. This design has the advantage of thin plugs, helping the cable lie more neatly and flat when connecting the SSD and the phone. However, the cable is a bit long, it could be shorter or more compact. The excess cable is easy to hurt the hand when holding the phone horizontally to film.

USB 3.2 Gen2x2

The TEAMGROUP PD20M Mag Portable SSD uses the USB 3.2 Gen2x2 protocol with a USB Type-C connector. This connection standard uses two simultaneous 10 Gbps data transmission lanes, achieving a theoretical maximum bandwidth of 20 Gbps. However, to fully exploit the power of USB 3.2 Gen2x2, it is necessary that the device at both ends must support it. This is both a strength and a weakness.

USB 3.2 Gen2x2 is not a mandatory standard, but an optional standard, which is why very few manufacturers are willing to integrate it. The reason is simple: unnecessary costs. When the PD20M is connected to the more popular but lower-bandwidth USB Type-C ports, its speed will be limited to the maximum of that port. For example, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, although using a USB-C port, only support the USB 3.2 Gen2 standard (also known as USB 3.1 Gen2), with a maximum bandwidth of 10 Gbps. Similarly, when connected to Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 ports, the PD20M also only operates in USB 10 Gbps compatibility mode.

If you use it with an iPhone, you will only get 50% of the performance of the TEAMGROUP PD20M. However, the speed of about 1000 MBps is still fast enough for the tasks for which the product is designed. You can completely record ProRes 4K 60 fps video directly to the TEAMGROUP PD20M without any difficulty. Then, you can connect the PD20M to a computer with USB 3.2 Gen2x2 to take advantage of the 20 Gbps bandwidth and perform post-production directly, skipping the step of copying and transferring data.

Test configuration

• CPU: Intel Core i7-14700K
• Mainboard: ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z790 DARK HERO
• RAM: CORSAIR DOMINATOR TITANIUM DDR5-6000 32 GB x 2
• Cooler: Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 ATMOS
• SSD: TEAMGROUP T-FORCE Z540 2 TB
• VGA: Intel Arc B580 Limited Edition
• PSU: CORSAIR RM1200x SHIFT
• Case: Lian Li O11 DYNAMIC EVO XL Black
• OS: Windows 11 24H2

TEAMGROUP PD20M Performance

Tested with CrystalDiskMark 9.0.1 software, TEAMGROUP PD20M has sequential read and write speeds of 2022 MBps and 1767 MBps respectively. The temperature when performing continuous read and write operations is highest at 56 degrees Celsius, maintained stable (room temperature 27 degrees Celsius). This temperature threshold is not too high, the outer surface of PD20M feels just slightly warmer. In CrystalDiskInfo 9.7.2 software, TEAMGROUP PD20M Mag Portable SSD 1 TB is codenamed TEAM TPSEG2001T, running firmware X0206AM0, fully supporting the necessary features for a modern SSD model. These features include: SMART (self-monitoring, analysis and reporting), NCQ (Native Command Queuing), TRIM (optimizing data deletion) and UASP (USB Attached SCSI Protocol - protocol to increase data transfer speed via USB).

Testing with AJA System Test, Migovi set the resolution option 4K UHD 3840 x 2160, file size 16 GB, encoding type ProRes. The results returned from AJA System Test showed read and write speeds of 1807 MBps and 1569 MBps, or 684 fps and 594 fps, respectively.

The TEAMGROUP PD20M's pseudo-SLC buffer capacity is around 60 GB. Beyond this, the PD20M's write speed drops to around 350 MBps. If you regularly shoot ProRes 422 HQ, each minute of video will be around 5.5 GB, which means that after about 10 minutes of continuous shooting, the SLC buffer will almost be full. Keep this number in mind so you can optimize your shooting time without being slowed down by a full buffer and reduced speed.

Conclude

The TEAMGROUP PD20M Mag Portable SSD has a big advantage in price, while providing performance on par with competitors in the 20 Gbps segment. The PD20M is compact, lightweight and feels good to use. Apple MagSafe compatibility is a plus, allowing for quick and simple installation and you can even use it with Android smartphones thanks to the metal ring accessories. The performance of the TEAMGROUP PD20M is quite good for normal use, unless you regularly shoot ProRes for long periods of time, then you need to care about the pSLC of the SSD.

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