Able to withstand 3000kg of downwards pressure?

Check!

Able to survive being submerged completely in sand or water?

Check!

Able to live through a drop of 1.22m?

Check!

Testing out ADATA's ruggedized 5TB HD830 sounds like a lot of fun.  Stick it under a hydraulic press and as long as it isn't set to over 3000kg spread over the body of the drive, though it would be educational to up the pressure a bit.

With an IP68 rating, or as the PR implies better than IP68, you can store your data under up to 2m of water for two hours or bury it in the dirt for even longer.  As long as that USB cover is closed your data will survive.  What if you wanted to bury it in the bottom of a 3m lake?  We will never know until we can test it.

As for drop-kicking the enclosure, as long as you keep it under 1.22m of height you should be good.  ADATA claims a MIL-STD-810G 516.6 rating, which means it went through a specific series of tests but they do not specify the results.  That shouldn't worry though, most devices now claim MIL-SPEC without considering how the militaries of the world judge contracts nor specifying the actual results.

Still, with this in our hands we could certainly find out … eventually, or pick it up to use yourself.

Check out the full PR below the glamour shot.

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Taipei, Taiwan – September 13, 2018– ADATA today announces the launch of the HD830, its most rugged external hard disk drive (HDD) to date. It features an ultra-sturdy aluminum exterior, triple-layer construction, and IP68 rating for the ultimate protection of data. What’s more, the HD830 is MIL-STD-810G 516.6 compliant and can withstand up to 3000kg of downward pressure. The HDD is also equipped with shock sensors that prevent errors and bad sectors due to accidental impact and shaking.

Virtually Indestructible
The HD830’s tough aluminum exterior is not just capable of surviving nasty drops and blunt force, but can also handle 3000kg of downward pressure, roughly equivalent to the combined weight of fifty average-sized people. The HD830 also meets the U.S. Military’s MIL-STD-810G 516.6 standard and can survive falls from up to 1.22 meters. A three-layer construction provides complete protection inside and outside, including a tough outer silicone casing that comes in red or blue, shock-absorbing buffer, and cushioned mounting that firmly holds the drive in place.

Shock Sensor Protection
Lesser external drives continue to operate when dropped, potentially resulting in errors and bad sectors. The HD830 features shock sensors that stop drive activity when an impact is detected, such as when accidentally dropped. Users will know the sensors are activated when the LED indicator blinks in red. When the threat has passed the LED indicator will light up in blue and resume normal operation.

Stylishly Armored, Plenty of Storage Capacity The HD830’s robust aluminum exterior is crafted with a boldly grooved surface texture with a sandblasted finish and two sturdy side columns that give the HD830 the look of a true warrior. In an era of 4K Ultra HD videos and other high-resolution content, users can never have too much storage capacity. The HD830 has them covered with 2TB, 4TB and 5TB of storage capacity.
As with all ADATA external hard drives, the HD830 is backed by a 3-year warranty.

MSRP
ADATA HD830 External HDD

  • 2TB/$109.99
  • 4TB/$149.99
  • 5TB/$209.99