Macrium Reflect X New Version: Does It Really Work Faster? A Quick Test Review

Despite the importance of monitoring HDD and SSD health with tools like HDDLife and SSDlife, data backup remains essential. Modern storage devices—both HDDs and SSDs—have become more reliable, but they aren’t immortal. According to Backblaze research, the annual HDD failure rate is around 1.7%, while SSDs have lifespans limited by write cycle counts. Human error (accidental file deletion) and software failures remain the primary causes of data loss. Backup isn’t optional—it’s necessary, especially for businesses where information loss can cost millions.

Macrium Reflect is a well-known data backup solution that has earned the trust of millions of users worldwide. Recently, a new version—Macrium Reflect X—was released. The developers claim numerous new features and improvements that make the backup process faster and more efficient. In this article, we’ll examine Reflect X‘s main innovations, test its capabilities, and compare it with competitors like Acronis.

The Reflect X developers have worked to simplify the backup process as much as possible and make it even more efficient. Here are the key updates we believe will be most relevant to the average user:

Perhaps the most noticeable change in Reflect X is the significant increase in backup speed. Developers claim that in some cases, the speed can double compared to the previous version. Sounds promising, but what does it mean in practice?

Imagine that backing up your entire hard drive used to take, say, 2 hours. Now, with Reflect X, it might only take 1 hour. This is especially important if you have a large amount of data (e.g., several terabytes) and back up regularly. You can save a lot of time and dedicate it to more important things. Less waiting time, more time for work and play! This speed optimization makes Reflect X a truly appealing option for those who value their time. It’s not just numbers on paper, but real-time savings with every backup. Think about the “backup and recovery” process being streamlined.

Another key innovation in Reflect X is the “resumable imagine” or “continuous backup” feature. How does it work? The program automatically creates backups in the background, but crucially — if the process is interrupted due to a power outage, network loss, or other issues, it resumes from the point of interruption once the problem is resolved, rather than starting over.

Imagine this: you’re backing up a large project, and the power suddenly goes out. Conventional systems would require restarting the entire operation, wasting time. But Reflect X preserves your progress, reducing backup completion times and enhancing reliability. This is especially critical when handling mission-critical data, where every minute matters. The feature acts as an intelligent “buffer” for the entire system, minimizing risks and downtime — your files remain protected even in unexpected scenarios, while the backup process stays efficient and predictable.

Reflect X uses a new data format for storing backups, and it’s open source. This means any developer can access the specifications and create their own tools for working with backups created using Reflect X.

For the average user, this means more freedom and control over your data. You don’t have to rely on just one program to restore backups. If you want to use a different program in the future, or if Reflect X stops being supported, you can still access your data and restore it. The open format guarantees that your data will always be available. This is a significant step in ensuring the long-term accessibility of your data. This promotes “data integrity” and long-term access.

If you have a modern laptop or tablet based on an ARM processor (e.g., some Microsoft Surface models or iPads Pro running Windows), then Reflect X is what you need. This version is fully compatible with the Windows ARM platform and allows you to back up your data without any issues.

The fact is that most backup programs don’t support the ARM architecture. Therefore, Reflect X is one of the few solutions that allows ARM device users to protect their data. This is an exclusive feature that makes Reflect X particularly attractive to owners of modern mobile devices. Supporting ARM means Reflect X can run on a broader range of devices, enhancing “system compatibility.”

To get an objective view of the capabilities of Reflect X, we conducted a series of tests comparing it to the previous version (Macrium Reflect 8) and a popular competitor – Acronis True Image.

We used a standard desktop computer with an SSD for the operating system and programs and an external hard drive for storing backups. As test data, we used a set of files of different types: Microsoft Office documents, JPEG photos, MP4 videos, and virtual machine files in VHDX format.

The data composition by type can be seen in this screenshot from Acronis TrueImage (VHDX files are excluded from this set; a separate test was conducted specifically for them).

We measured the following parameters:

• Full Backup Creation Time: How long it takes the program to create a full copy of the entire hard drive, including the operating system, programs, and personal files.
• Size of the Created Backup: How much space the backup takes up on the hard drive. The smaller the size, the better.
• Backup speed in file-based mode: How quickly the software handles backing up large volumes of files (e.g., photo libraries) not in disk image mode but in file-by-file backup.

image backup time

size of image backup

Our tests confirmed that Reflect X does create backups faster than the previous version. We didn’t see the promised doubling of speed, but on average, the backup speed increased by 20-30%. This means that the backup process takes less time, which is especially important for users with a large amount of data. Overall, Reflect X proved to be a faster and more efficient backup program than its predecessor. The speed improvement was noticeable even when backing up large amounts of data. This speaks to enhanced “backup performance.”

We also compared Reflect X with Acronis True Image, one of the most popular backup solutions on the market. The results were interesting.

In tests of full backup creation speed, Reflect X outperformed Acronis True Image. However, the difference wasn’t huge. On average, Reflect X created a backup 10-15% faster than Acronis. This indicates that both programs are reasonably well-optimized for backup speed. Reflect X showed a slight but noticeable advantage in speed.

In tests of backup size, Acronis True Image showed better results than Reflect X. Acronis managed to create a backup of smaller size than Reflect X, by about 5-10%. This can be an important factor for users with limited disk space. Acronis compresses data more efficiently, resulting in a smaller backup size, which can save on “data storage” costs.

Time taken to create a disk image with VHDX files.

Size of the disk image backup with VHDX files

When it came to backing up virtual machines (files in VHDX format), Acronis True Image performed significantly better than Reflect X. Acronis managed to create a backup of the VHDX file of a much smaller size than Reflect X. The difference could reach 50% or more! This indicates that Acronis uses more efficient compression algorithms for virtual machine files. If you often work with virtual machines, Acronis True Image may be a better choice for you. Acronis offers significant disk space savings for virtual machine backups, enhancing “virtualization management”.

Time taken to create a backup in file-based mode.

Size of the backup in file-based mode.

Another important difference between the programs appeared when backing up a large number of small files (e.g., photos or documents). In this test, Acronis True Image again performed better than Reflect X. Acronis managed to copy all the files much faster than Reflect X. Moreover, the size of the created archive was smaller. This indicates that Acronis handles processing a large number of small files more efficiently. If you often have to copy a large number of small files, Acronis True Image may be a more suitable solution for you. Acronis significantly outperforms Reflect X in speed and efficiency in this scenario, impacting “file system performance.”

Yes, Reflect X is faster than the previous version, Reflect 8. In our small tests, it was 15 to 25% faster. While this isn’t the double speed promised by the developers, our computer is also less powerful than the one in their example. Additionally, they used SSDs for both the source data and the backup location in their tests. You can find more details about their test setup on the Macrium website. Still, even a 20% speed improvement is a significant time saving and a worthy achievement for the new version. On more modern/powerful computers, we believe the speed increase could be even greater.

So, what did we find out in the end? Reflect X is a worthy update to the popular backup program. It’s faster, more convenient, and offers new features for protecting data. However, it’s not perfect, and it has its strengths and weaknesses.

• You need maximum speed for creating a full backup of the entire disk.
• You want to use an open data format for more flexibility and control over your data.
• You have a modern laptop or tablet based on Windows ARM.
• You’re looking for an advanced tool with a large number of settings and options.
• You primarily work with disk images rather than individual files.

• The small size of the backup is important to you (especially if you have limited disk space).
• You often work with virtual machines and need to efficiently copy VHDX files.
• You need a simple and intuitive interface that is easy to master.
• You often have to copy a large number of individual files.
• You need integration with cloud storage for automatic cloud backups.

Ultimately, the choice between Reflect X and Acronis True Image is a matter of your personal preferences and needs. Both programs are excellent backup solutions, but they are geared towards different use cases. Think about what’s more important to you – speed, backup size, ease of use, or virtual machine support – and make your choice.

Despite all the improvements, there’s still room for improvement in Reflect X. We hope to see the following improvements in future versions:

• Direct support for cloud storage services such as Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Google Cloud Storage, and Wasabi. This would allow users to create backups directly in the cloud, which would significantly improve data security and simplify the recovery process.
• Improved optimization for file-mode backup.
• More efficient compression algorithms for virtual machine files to reduce the size of backups.

In conclusion, Reflect X is an excellent choice for those looking for a fast, reliable, and feature-rich backup solution. It offers many useful features and capabilities that can help you protect your data from loss. Be sure to try the free trial to make sure this program is right for you.

And last but not least: whatever backup tool you use, don’t forget the so-called 3-2-1 rule. This rule states:

• 3 Copies of Data: You should have at least three copies of your data: the original and two backups.
• 2 Different Media: Backups should be stored on two different types of media. For example, on the computer’s internal hard drive, on an external hard drive, and on a USB flash drive.
• 1 Copy Offsite: One of the backups should be stored in an offsite location, such as in cloud storage or on another computer on the network.

By following this simple rule, you can be sure that your data will be safe, even if the worst happens: fire, theft, or equipment failure.

Take care of your data! And don’t forget to back it up! Think of it as your “data security strategy”.

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