Table of Contents
Most of us have either started or considering a digital transformation, scanning and saving all of our hard copies so that we have easy access to them, and they are safe for years to come. If you have movies, music, photos, videos and important documents, you should consider an external hard drive.
Western Digital has a stellar reputation for quality, reliable hard drives and a good price. We are going to compare to series of external hard drives, the WD My Book vs WD My Passport. We will consider their portability, storage capacities, software and value for money. After a side-by-side chart and some pros and cons, we will decide which WD series is the better buy.
Side by Side Comparison
The following comparison chart shows all of the specifications of the WD My Book and the WD My Passport.
WD My Book |
WD My Passport |
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Image | ||
Size | 5.5 x 6.7 x 1.9 inches (3TB) | 4.33 x 3.21 x 0.64 inches (1TB) |
Weight | 34.08oz (3TB) | 5.92oz (1TB) |
Size | 5.48 x 6.72 x 1.93 inches (18TB) | 4.33 x 3.21 x 0.85 inches (2TB-4TB) |
Weight | 35.2oz (18TB) | 8.64oz (2TB-4TB) |
Color | Black | Black, black and gray, red, white, blue, orange, yellow |
Storage Capacities | 3TB, 4TB, 6TB, 8TB, 10TB, 12TB, 14TB, 16TB, 18TB (WD My Book Duo- up to 28TB) | 1TB, 2TB, 3TB, 4TB |
USB | 3.0 Type A and 2.0 (WD My Book Duo x2) | 3.0 Type A and 2.0 |
Compatibility | Formatted for Windows 7, 8 and 10, MacOS Catalina, Mojave or High Sierra, reformatting required for other OS. | Formatted NTFS for Windows 7, 8 and 10, Vista and XP (64-bit), reformatting required for other OS. |
RAID-optimized | Yes (WD My Book Duo) | No |
Plug and Play | Yes | Yes |
WD Software | WD Backup, WD Discovery, WD Security and WD Drive Utilities | WD Backup, WD Discovery, WD Security |
What’s Included | 3.0 USB cable, quick installation guide, software, AC adapter | 3.0 USB cable, quick installation guide, software |
Warranty | 3 years worldwide | 2 years worldwide |
Price |
Surprisingly, there are no identical features between the WD My Book and the WD My Passport. So, we will get straight on with the differences.
Differences Between WD My Book and WD My Passport
Appearance
There are slight differences in the size and also the size within each series.
WD My Book
The smallest is 5.5 x 6.7 x 1.9 inches, and the largest hard drive is 5.48 x 6.72 x 1.93. The difference in the weight is also minor, with the smallest weighing 34.08 ounces and the largest 35.2 ounces.
WD My Passport
The length and width of all the hard drives is 4.33 x 3.21 inches. The smallest is 0.64 inches thick and the largest 0.85 inches. There is a greater difference in the weight from 5.92 ounces to 8.84 ounces.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Read next – WD My Book vs WD Easystore: Which External Portable Drives are Better?
Color Options
Black is the standard color for external hard drives, but it is nice to have the option to brighten up your workspace.
WD My Book
This series only comes in black.
WD My Passport
You can choose from black, black and gray, red, white, blue, orange and yellow.
The Winner Is- The WD My Passport
Read next – WD Elements vs WD My Book: Which External Portable Drives are Better?
Storage Capacity
It’s hard to imagine not finding the right storage capacity for your needs with these hard drives.
WD My Book
These hard drives are more suitable for those in need of larger storage amounts. The smallest hard drive is 3TB. There are also 4TB, 6TB, 8TB, 10TB, 12TB, 14TB, 16TB and 18TB. If you need larger amounts, the WD My Book Duo goes up to 28TB.
WD My Passport
There are only 4 options, 1TB, 2TB, 3TB and 4TB.
The Winner Is- The WD My Book
Read next – WD Easystore vs WD My Passport: Which External Portable Drives are Better?
Hard Drive Interface
Both of these WD hard drive series are simple plug-and-play with a USB cable.
WD My Book
It comes with a 3.0 Type-A USB cable for faster transfers. You can also use it with a 2.0 USB. The WD My Book Duo has 2 USB ports.
WD My Passport
There is one USB slot for a 3.0 Type-A USB connection and the cable is also included.
The Winner Is- The WD My Book
Read next – WD Elements vs My Passport: Which External Portable Drives are Better?
Compatibility
You can use these hard drives with a wide range of devices and operating systems although you might need to reformat them.
WD My Book
It is out of the box ready for Windows 7, 8 and 10 as well as MacOS Catalina, Mojave and High Sierra. For other operating systems, instructions are included on how to reformat them.
WD My Passport
It is formatted NTFS for Windows 7, 8, and 10, Windows Vista and Windows XP (63-bit). Again, reformatting is straightforward.
The Winner Is- The WD My Book
RAID-optimized
RAID hard drives are faster, more reliable and perform better.
WD My Book
If you want a RAID-optimized hard drive, you will need to look at the WD My Duo hard drives.
WD My Passport
These external hard drives aren’t RAID-optimized.
The Winner Is- The WD My Book
WD Software
Both come with WD software that increases how you use the hard drives.
WD My Book
WD Discovery allows for drive management while WD Backup lets you schedule automatic backups. It also comes with WD Utilities is used for configuring and monitoring the hard drive.
WD My Passport
It comes with WD Discovery and WD Backup.
The Winner Is- The WD My Book
Pros and Cons
We have some pros and cons of the WD My Book and the WD My Passport before our final verdict.
WD My Book
Pros:
- There is no overheating
- Very compact for large storage capacity
- You can use them with your Smart TV
Cons:
- Some might find them a little noisy
WD My Passport
Pros:
- Great data transfer speeds with all capacities
- The WD software is user-friendly
- This series is ideal for Mac operating systems
Cons:
- The software frustrates some people
The Final Verdict
It was an easy decision today. When comparing the price of the WD My Book and the WD My Passport 4TB, the WD My Book is actually a little bit cheaper. You also have a longer warranty and the additional WD software and it is out of the box ready for more operating systems. 18TB is definitely enough for personal use and even small offices. All-round, these are a great choice for people looking for a well-built hard drive that is easy to use and fast.