Performance: 30 out of 40
When it comes to putting the words “performance”, “5400RPM” and “2.5-inch HDD” unironically in the same sentence… a certain amount of… “lowered expectations” have to be taken into account. For its class this is a surprisingly peppy model. Yes. A CMR and not SMR would have made it even better, but those drives are few and far between these days. As such, it is above average in the performance it has to offer… but is not even close to ‘perfection’.
Technological Innovation: 18 out of 20
The innovation of the A65B steams from the fact that Silicon Power found a way to improve upon the standard ruggedized blueprint. This three-level design is excellent. It is innovative. It just works, and it makes most dual layer models look inferior in comparison. Now if they had only gotten the cable and cable carrying features right we would have been truly impressed.
Build Quality & Warranty: 18 out of 20
Much like previous Armor models, the A65B flirts with excellence…but a few niggles and a seemingly stubborn streak keeps Silicon Power from ever reaching it. Which is a darn shame. The reliance on a TYPE-A port, the lack of securing the adapter PCB to the hard drive, plus backsliding on the integrated cable holder means the build quality is very good. It just could be even better with only a few minor tweaks. The warranty on the other hand is best described as average. As such there is still room for improvement but not as much as the asking price would lead one to believe.
Value: 18 out of 20
On the one hand Silicon Power has created a downright robust drive. One that can take more bumps, more bruises, and more drops that any lightweight USB drive has any right to survive. On the other, the Type-A to Type-A port, the mediocre cable carrier configuration, and the merely average warranty means that the overall value is flirting with excellence but is not the slam dunk success it could/should be. Hopefully a future A65C will correct these missteps and turn a drive that easily justifies its asking price into the drive to buy.
Final Score : 84 out of 100
While not perfect, with its combination of above average design; durability; and performance the Silicon Power Armor A65B is not only an outstanding addition to an already great lineup but is an superb example of Silicon Power’s engineering prowess in its own right. So, if you are interested in a robust external storage solution that is priced more in line with a fragile plastic only designs the Armor A65B deservers to be on your short list for further consideration.
