Silicon Power Armor A80 2TB — IPX7 Waterproof Rugged Portable Hard Drive
Rugged portable HDD2TBIPX7 waterproofDrop & pressure tested
The Silicon Power Armor A80 2TB (SP020TBPHDA80S3K) is a rugged, waterproof portable hard drive for people who take backups to sites, boats, workshops or outdoor shoots: with its USB cap fitted it is rated IPX7 for immersion up to 1 m for 30 minutes, and it is drop tested from 122 cm and pressure tested to 300 kg.
It is bus-powered over USB 3.2 Gen 1, so one cable to a computer's USB-A port is all it needs, and the free SP Widget software adds scheduled backup and AES-256 software encryption. Silicon Power now lists this model as the Vault A80.
Before you order: Waterproofing only works with the port cap closed — water protection does not apply while the cable is plugged in. The cable connects to a USB-A port; for a USB-C-only laptop add a USB-A to USB-C adapter.
What's in the Box
- Silicon Power Armor A80 2TB portable hard drive (black)
- USB cable
- Packaging contents beyond the drive and cable are not published by Silicon Power
What It Means in Practice
- IPX7 means it survives being dropped into water or rinsed off — dry the cap area before plugging it in.
- The anti-shock design and 122 cm drop test protect it in a bag or toolbox; avoid knocks while it is reading or writing.
- Bus power from one USB port means no adapter and no mains socket on location.
- SP Widget can encrypt files with AES-256 in software and schedule backups on Windows and macOS.
What Will Not Work
- Underwater use while connected — the IPX7 rating applies with the cap fitted.
- SSD-class speed — it is a mechanical 2.5" hard drive.
- USB-C-only computers without a USB-A to USB-C adapter.
- Time Machine without reformatting to a macOS file system.
Key Features
IPX7 waterproof
Immersion up to 1 m for 30 minutes with the USB cap fitted, plus anti-dust design.
Built tough
Drop tested 26 times per face, edge and corner from 122 cm; withstands 300 kg pressure.
Cable-carry design
Designed so the USB cable travels with the drive and does not get lost in the bag.
SP Widget software
Free backup/restore and AES-256 software encryption tools.
Technical Specifications
| Identification |
| Part Number |
SP020TBPHDA80S3K |
| Brand |
Silicon Power |
| Model |
Armor A80 (now Vault A80) |
| Storage |
| Capacity |
2TB |
| Type |
2.5" portable hard drive (HDD) |
| Connectivity |
| Interface |
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gb/s), backward compatible with USB 3.1/3.0/2.0 |
| Computer side |
USB-A |
| Power |
USB bus-powered, 5V DC |
| Durability |
| Water |
IPX7 (1 m, 30 minutes, cap fitted) |
| Dust |
Anti-dust design |
| Drop |
122 cm, 26 drops per face, edge and corner |
| Pressure |
300 kg |
| Physical & environment |
| Dimensions |
139.5 × 94.0 × 18.1 mm |
| Colour |
Black |
| Operating temperature |
5 °C to 55 °C |
| Storage temperature |
-40 °C to 70 °C |
| Indicator |
LED for power and activity |
| Compatibility |
| Operating systems |
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7; macOS (reformat required); Linux 2.6.x |
| Software |
SP Widget (backup, AES-256 encryption) |
| Warranty |
| Warranty |
1-Year Warranty (Singular) |
| Manufacturer Term |
3-year limited warranty per Silicon Power — claims handled through Singular |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can it go in the pool or the sea?
It is rated IPX7: up to 1 m for 30 minutes with the cap closed. It is designed to survive accidents, not for regular underwater use, and salt water should be rinsed off.
Does it work with a Mac?
Yes, but it needs to be reformatted for macOS (or exFAT for both systems). Reformatting erases the drive.
Is the encryption hardware-based?
No. AES-256 encryption is done in software with SP Widget; the drive itself has no hardware encryption.
How fast is it?
Silicon Power does not publish a speed figure. Expect typical 2.5" portable hard drive performance over USB 3.2 Gen 1.
Singular Expert Insight · Buyer's Guide
The Armor A80 is the drive to choose when water, dust or rough handling are realistic risks — construction sites, marine work, field surveys. For office backups a standard portable or desktop drive is cheaper; compare our
external hard drives.
✓ Buy it if your backups travel to wet, dusty or rough environments and you want an IPX7-rated drive.
✕ Skip it if you need SSD speed, a USB-C cable in the box or hardware encryption.
→ Also consider Silicon Power Armor A66 for a lighter splash-resistant (IPX4) option.
Not sure it fits your setup? Send us your computer model and ports and we will check compatibility before you order.