The PNY Duo Link V3 external SSD includes both a USB-C and a USB-A connector. That means the flash drive can plug into a recent Mac, iPad or iPhone, but can also go into a smart TV or other accessory that lacks a USB-C port — no adapter needed.
And it’s quick, with data transfers at up to 800MB/s. Capacities go up to 2 terabytes.
I put the affordable SSD through a series of real-world tests. Here’s what I found.
PNY Duo Link V3 review
External SSDs that plug into your Mac are a simple way to add capacity at a price well below what Apple charges for built-in storage. And while ones with USB-C are the best option for Mac, iPad and iPhone, many other computers and home electronics still support only the older, clunkier USB-A. That requires an adapter.
But the PNY Duo Link V3 has a USB-C connector on one end and a USB-A connector on the other in a metal swivel design. It’s ready to go into whatever device you need it to, like older PCs, no adapter needed.
The SSD does double duty: both additional storage and also a way to easily move files around. Apple offers iCloud to handle these jobs, but a physical drive is more private and secure, and doesn’t require an internet connection.
Easily store & transfer sophisticated data across devices with the versatile dual Type-A & Type-C️ connectors — ideal for on-the-go advanced tech users.
- USB-C and USB-A
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 for fast file transfers
- Small, metal outer casing
- Not Thunderbolt/USB4
Table of contents: PNY Duo Link V3 review
- Two portable SSDs in one
- Ready for all your computers
- Speedy SSD performance
- PNY Duo Link V3 review: Final thoughts
- Pricing
Two portable SSDs in one
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The PNY Duo Link V3 is a thumb-size drive with a USB-C connector on one end and a USB-A connector on the other. It’s a simple design, and the traditional one for drives of this type because it works.
It’s such a simple advantage it’s easy to overlook: no cables are needed, which isn’t true for some rival portable SSDs. Just plug this peripheral in and it’s ready to go.
The unit measures 3.1 inches by 0.7 inches by 0.4 inches, and weighs a mere 1.5 ounces. Small enough to attach to your keys. It’s also slim enough that I can plug it into the USB-C port in a MacBook and there’s room to plug a cable in the port next to it.
PNY included a swiveling cover so that one of the Duo Link V3’s connectors gets some protection. However, when carrying the SSD around, the other connector is always exposed. A port cover should have been included — one of my very few criticisms of the product.
But don’t think that means it’s fragile. If you’re unfamiliar with PNY, you might think the product uses a cheap plastic casing. Nothing of the sort. It’s completely sheathed in metal, and feels very solid — it survived me standing on it. I mostly want a connector cover to keep lint and grit out of the connectors.
Ready for all your computers
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
I tested the PNY Duo Link V3’s USB-C connector with all my Apple computers — even my iPhone — and it performed beautifully.
Then I plugged it into legacy devices with USB-A ports. My Roku smart TV could read it, no problem. I dug out an old Windows PC and it also was immediately able to access the contents of the drive.
I didn’t expect any problems as the drive is formatted in ExFAT, a format intended for Windows, macOS and more.
Speedy SSD performance
PNY promises up to 1000 MBps read and up to 800MBps write. For you experts, that’s USB 3.2 Gen 2. I tested real-world performance, of course.
Copying a 10GB test file to the SSD, data moved at the promised 800MBps. Copying data off went a bit slower: about 500 MBps.
For real-world results, this is quite impressive. The only drives I know of that run faster use USB4 or Thunderbolt and cost about 3X as much.
PNY Duo Link V3 review: Final thoughts
Image: PNY
Portable SSDs make sense for so many reasons. They’re far cheaper than built-in storage, can be used with multiple devices, and let you very quickly transfer huge files between your computers. This one from PNY is ready for all three jobs. It’s very affordable, tough enough to ride around in a backpack between classes, and is fast enough to easily handle hefty files. Plus, it holds up to 2 terabytes despite its svelte size.
★★★★☆
As good as this SSD is — and it’s very good — professionals for whom time is money might consider going with an even faster portable SSD, like the recently released LaCie Rugged SSD4, which I also reviewed. It costs significantly more, though.
Pricing
The cost of the PNY Duo Link V3 varies by capacity, but all the variants are quite competently priced. Their regular prices are about the same or lower than what rival SSDs go for during limited-time deals.
Buy the PNY Duo Link V3 now from Amazon:
Easily store & transfer sophisticated data across devices with the versatile dual Type-A & Type-C️ connectors — ideal for on-the-go advanced tech users.
- USB-C and USB-A
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 for fast file transfers
- Small, metal outer casing
- Not Thunderbolt/USB4
PNY provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out more in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.
