Not long ago we have tried out the Crucial MX300 525GB SSD in the 2.5’’ format and we were quite impressed regarding the price/performance ratio of the drive considering that its capacity should be enough for most users which use it as a boot drive and also for installing on it the frequently used applications. It is now time to try out the same model but in a more compact format: M.2 2280 which is more suitable to be installed in HTPCs, ultrabooks, high-end notebooks, convertibles and so on. While the 2.5’’ variant is available in 275GB, 525GB, 1TB and 2TB versions (yes, there is also a “Limited Edition” MX300 listed on the website), the M.2 Type 2280 format holds the 275GB, 525GB and 1TB capacities. Since the product has quite small proportions, the manufacturer is shipping it inside a transparent plastic enclosure, which is similar to the one we have seen with their memory modules. On the top area of the packaging we will get to see the product model listed, along with its serial number:

The product is shipped with a small bundle composed of an additional document and installation screws:

Acronis True Image HD software is available for us to transfer data from the older drive, without the need to reinstall the OS, which is quite a time saver:

The drive lacks a specific housing or thermal pads for evacuating excess heat on a different surface. As we have seen during tests, this SSD model does barely get warm during use, unlike NVMe models. To the left side of the PCB, we can observe the Power Loss Protection capacitors, while the rest of the components are covered by a large sticker. This sticker includes information about the product power rating, total storage capacity, its serial numbers, but also the firmware version it has shipped with:

An additional sticker is present on the back, but no extra components will be found here: