The perfect transportable SSDs for 2025

Whether or not you wish to again up the info in your PC, switch movies out of your Mac or offload just a few video games out of your PlayStation 5, a transportable SSD is a fast and simple option to increase your storage. These little bricks might value greater than conventional laborious drives, however they’re considerably quicker, lighter and extra dependable. Determining the most effective transportable SSD for you, although, isn’t so simple as simply choosing the one with the bottom value or essentially the most house. (Effectively, it can be, however that wouldn’t be very environment friendly.) To assist, we’ve weeded by way of the transportable SSD market, examined a bunch of contenders and sorted out which of them provide essentially the most worth. You will discover our prime picks under, plus an summary of what to know before you purchase.

Desk of contents

Best external SSDs for 2025
Other external SSDs we tested
What to consider before buying an external SSD
How we test external SSDs
Recent updates

Greatest exterior SSDs for 2025

Different exterior SSDs we examined

The pre-built OWC Express 1M2 is a premium-feeling USB4 SSD that’s roughly as quick because the ADATA SE920, nevertheless it’s bigger and considerably dearer as of this writing.

For those who’re within the comparatively small group with a PC that helps USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 however not Thunderbolt or USB4, the Crucial X10 Pro is actually a quicker model of our prime choose. The Lexar SL600 is a bigger however barely faster possibility, whereas the Lexar SL500, Kingston XS2000 or Samsung T9 might additionally work for those who see them on low cost. As a reminder, although, drives like these are aimed primarily at content material creators and different professionals, and it’s a must to be sure to received’t improve to a tool with a quicker USB interface anytime quickly.

The Samsung T7 Shield has a conveniently rugged design with a rubberized, IP65-rated shell. It additionally comes with each USB-C and USB-A cables. But it surely was constantly slower than the X9 Professional and XS1000 in our benchmark exams, plus it has a shorter three-year guarantee.

The Silicon Power PX10 is an particularly reasonably priced USB 3.2 Gen 2 mannequin. Its peak speeds weren’t too far off the X9 Professional or XS1000 in artificial benchmarks, however it will possibly get distractingly scorching and its sustained writes are markedly worse. It took 50 seconds longer to maneuver our 70GB customized check folder to this drive in comparison with the X9 Professional, for instance.

The Crucial X6 is one other low-cost possibility that’s a very good bit slower than our prime picks. It’s restricted to a three-year guarantee and lacks an IP score as properly. It’s not a horrible possibility for the fundamentals, however there’s little purpose to get it over the XS1000 when their costs are comparable.

The OWC Envoy Pro FX is well-built and helps Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.2 Gen 2, nevertheless it’s a smidge slower than the SE920 and Categorical 1M2, and it’s a lot pricier than the previous.

The Samsung T9 transportable SSD.

Samsung

What to contemplate earlier than shopping for an exterior SSD

Capability

The very first thing to determine earlier than shopping for a transportable SSD is simply how a lot space for storing you want. A lot of the drives we thought-about for this information can be found in capacities starting from one to 4 terabytes, although loads of smaller and bigger choices exist.

There’s no hard-and-fast rule for which measurement is “greatest” — that’ll in the end rely in your funds and what precisely you’re seeking to stash. However on the whole, it’s higher to overcompensate than underdo it. No one needs to be pressured into shopping for a second drive as a result of they stuffed the primary one up too shortly. For those who’re backing up a PC, a very good rule of thumb is to purchase an exterior SSD with twice as a lot house as your pc’s inner storage. This fashion, it can save you no less than one full backup whereas additionally having room for added information. If you wish to retailer a bunch of PlayStation or Xbox video games with enormous set up sizes, chances are you’ll want more room. For those who simply wish to again up a small assortment of recordsdata, chances are you’ll be higher off saving your money and simply getting a smaller USB flash drive as a substitute, which aren’t fairly the identical because the exterior SSDs we examined for this information.

Worth

On the whole, you get a greater price-per-gigabyte ratio the additional you go up the capability ladder. As of this writing, the 1TB Samsung T9 is priced at $130, or $0.13 per gigabyte (GB), whereas the 4TB version is out there for $297 or $0.07 per GB. That technically makes the bigger mannequin a greater “worth,” however not everybody must pay that rather more upfront.

SSDs in the identical velocity class are inclined to not range too wildly when it comes to efficiency, so a part of our decision-making for this information got here all the way down to which of them are sometimes the most cost effective. However costs can fluctuate over time; for those who see that considered one of our prime picks is priced means larger than a comparable honorable point out, be at liberty to get the latter. At this time limit, prices are broadly trending upwards.

The ADATA SE920 transportable SSD linked to an Apple MacBook Professional.

Velocity and USB interface

Nearly all exterior SSDs are considerably quicker than mechanical laborious disk drives (HDDs), so that you’ll save time ready for recordsdata to switch and video games to load it doesn’t matter what. Throughout the market, nevertheless, there are distinct efficiency tiers. These are outlined largely by the USB interface a drive helps. Whereas all the SSDs we thought-about for this information can join over USB-C, some USB-C connections can provide quicker switch speeds than others. Sorting by way of this will get actual complicated actual quick, so we’ll attempt to put it in easy phrases.

You may basically divide right now’s crop of transportable SSDs into totally different segments. On the very prime are drives that make the most of the (comparatively) new Thunderbolt 5 customary, which has a theoretical most switch price of 80 gigabits per second (Gbps). (You might even see it promote speeds as much as 120 Gbps, however that increase doesn’t apply to storage units.) However transportable SSDs that support this tech solely simply began to trickle out towards the top of 2024, and the marketplace for units with Thunderbolt 5 ports continues to be fairly limited, with essentially the most notable exceptions being Apple’s top-end Macs with a M4 Professional or M4 Max chip.

Thunderbolt 5 is constructed on a spec referred to as USB4, which may technically attain as much as 80 Gbps as properly however is extra usually out there in a taste that tops out at 40 Gbps. Transportable SSDs primarily based on that customary began to roll out towards the top of 2023 however are nonetheless comparatively rare. The older Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4, which different high-end exterior SSDs proceed to make use of, help the identical 40 Gbps most.

A third model of USB4, in the meantime, maxes at 20 Gbps, as does an older but extra continuously used customary referred to as USB 3.2 Gen 2×2. Under that’s USB 3.2 Gen 2, which maxes at 10 Gbps. Then there’s USB 3.2 Gen 1, which is capped at 5 Gbps. Lastly, we’ll bundle collectively SSDs that use older requirements and aren’t price contemplating right here.

To make this simple: For on a regular basis of us, a very good USB 3.2 Gen 2 drive is the candy spot between fast-enough efficiency, wide-enough compatibility and cheap-enough value, so these make up our major suggestions above. For those who work in a inventive subject or don’t thoughts paying additional to shave seconds off your giant file transfers, although, a “higher-tier” mannequin would make sense. Nonetheless, word that precise computer systems that make the most of USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 aren’t tremendous widespread — no Mac helps it, for one — and the interface is successfully being changed by USB4.

On the whole, your chain is simply as sturdy as its weakest hyperlink: In case your pc solely has USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, for instance, you possibly can nonetheless use a Thunderbolt SSD, however you received’t get past Gen 2 speeds. Be sure you know what you’re working with before you purchase.

As a refresher, storage units are broadly measured when it comes to learn and write speeds. The previous refers to how lengthy it takes to entry one thing from the drive; the latter, how lengthy it takes to avoid wasting one thing to it. From there, you possibly can break these metrics into sequential and random efficiency. Sequential speeds are inclined to matter extra with transportable SSDs, since most individuals use them to avoid wasting or entry lengthy, fixed streams of information comparable to a bunch of high-res pictures. Random speeds can be essential if you wish to run video video games off the drive, since that’d contain studying and writing smaller, extra scattered recordsdata. Both means, how properly an SSD can maintain its efficiency with prolonged use can be vital.

Different efficiency elements and enclosures

A contemporary transportable SSD’s speeds aren’t nearly its USB interface, although. Its efficiency may also depend upon how superior its controller is, whether or not it has a local USB flash controller or a separate bridge chip to speak with a bunch gadget, the type and high quality of NAND flash reminiscence it makes use of, whether or not it has a DRAM cache or it’s DRAM-less, and extra.

We’re simplifying issues, however listed below are some fast ideas: Drives with triple-level cell (TLC) reminiscence aren’t as low-cost as quad-level cell (QLC) SSDs, however they’re typically extra dependable they usually provide higher write efficiency. Having a devoted DRAM cache helps for those who plan to hit your drive with extra intense, sustained workloads, however will not be price the additional value for most individuals. Some fashions with native flash controllers might not carry out in addition to these with a bridging chip, relying on the SSD inside, however they usually draw much less warmth and are bodily smaller. All of that is to say that an exterior SSD’s speeds aren’t fairly as easy as what the producer chooses to promote on the field.

It’s additionally price remembering that you would be able to flip an inner SSD into a transportable resolution with a very good enclosure. You probably have a spare drive and don’t thoughts going the DIY route, this could be a cheaper and extra versatile resolution, although we’ve caught to pre-built fashions for this information for the sake of simplicity.

Dimension, sturdiness, endurance and guarantee

Most transportable SSDs are impressively small and lightweight, in order that they received’t be tough to tuck in a bag (or perhaps a pocket) and tackle the go. We word above if any drive is bulkier than typical.

Nothing we’re speaking about issues in case your drive can’t final in the long run. It’s laborious to definitively say which exterior SSDs are essentially the most dependable, however we scoured by way of person evaluations and suggestions whereas researching this information to make sure none of our picks present a sample of catastrophic errors. If there was an excessive amount of smoke round a selected mannequin, we steered clear. We dominated out sure drives from SanDisk and Western Digital, as an illustration, after reviews from Ars Technica and The Verge famous a problem that led to information loss (and lawsuits) in 2023.

That mentioned, one of many large causes you’d purchase an SSD on the whole is its superior sturdiness. As a result of it has no shifting mechanical components inside, an SSD has far fewer avenues to failure than an exterior laborious drive. You continue to don’t wish to be careless with them, however an unintentional drop shouldn’t be the top of the world.

Some transportable SSDs construct on this inherent ruggedness with plastic or rubberized casings and extra strong waterproofing. These aren’t needed for everybody, however for those who’re a frequent traveler or somebody who typically works open air, there are alternatives for you.

Nonetheless, all drives can fail. You probably have any kind of information you’d be distraught to lose, you need to again it up frequently, then make a second backup, ideally with a cloud service. Alongside these protecting strains, we additionally took word of the guarantee coverage for every drive we examined. Nearly all of them are backed for both three or 5 years; in fact, longer is best.

Encryption and software program

It’s not unusual to retailer delicate information on a transportable SSD, so some fashions provide additional safety features like hardware-based encryption — i.e., direct scrambling of information saved on the drive itself — built-in keypads and fingerprint readers to guard towards unauthorized entry if the drive is misplaced or stolen. Whereas not prime necessities, perks like these are definitely good to have. Some SSDs additionally include companion software program to additional handle the drive. The perfect of these will be useful to have round, however we wouldn’t name them important.

How we check exterior SSDs

Sadly, we didn’t have entry to a tool that may make full use of USB 3.2 Gen 2, USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 and Thunderbolt/USB4 speeds interchangeably, so we needed to break up our testing throughout a number of units, together with an M1 Professional MacBook Professional and an Alienware gaming PC working Home windows 11. Due to this, we primarily in contrast the transportable SSDs inside every “class” towards each other. Earlier than switching OSes, we reformatted every drive to every platform’s customary file system format: APFS for macOS and NTFS for Home windows.

After researching which SSDs had sufficient optimistic suggestions to be price testing within the first place, we put 13 drives by way of a variety of artificial and “real-world” benchmark exams. On Home windows, these included CrystalDiskMark, PCMark 10’s Knowledge Drive Benchmark and 3DMark’s gaming-focused Storage Benchmark. On macOS, we used AmorphousDiskMark (successfully a Mac model of CrystalDiskMark), BlackMagic Disk Speed Test and ATTO Disk Benchmark.

We additionally timed how lengthy it took for every drive to learn and write a customized 70GB folder stuffed with roughly 11,500 totally different recordsdata, together with pictures, movies, music recordsdata, PDFs and different giant and small information varieties scattered throughout quite a few subfolders. We carried out a number of passes for every check to keep away from irregularities, and we stored observe of every SSD’s warmth ranges over the course of the entire suite. Our course of wasn’t an ideal science, nevertheless it gave us a common sense of how every drive compares to different fashions in its value and efficiency vary.

Current updates

February 2025: We’ve checked to make sure the pricing information and hyperlinks on this information are nonetheless correct. We’ve additionally added particulars on the (comparatively) new Thunderbolt 5 interface, which has been carried out in a pair current transportable SSDs just like the OWC Envoy Ultra and LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5. We’ll look to incorporate testing notes for these for our subsequent replace, as they ought to be quicker than the ADATA SE920, our present premium choose, albeit for a a lot larger value. For now, although, our prime picks stay the identical.

October 2024: We’ve taken a sweep by way of this information to make sure all pricing and availability information continues to be right. Our suggestions are unchanged.

This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/equipment/best-portable-ssd-120043652.html?src=rss

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