A portable SSD is one of the most useful devices to have, both for personal and professional use. As an external device, it’s as simple as plugging it into a USB port to enjoy a lot more storage. More importantly, SSDs dominate mechanical hard drives in terms of performance, are easier to obtain, and provide massive storage capacities.
Samsung T9
Crucial X6 SSD
LaCie Rugged Pro
Crucial X10 Pro
Samsung T5 Evo
Best Portable SSD Overall:Samsung T9
Samsung has always had great SSDs, and it’s no surprise theSamsung T9is yet another fantastic addition. By taking advantage of USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, it can make short work of large files, from images to videos. Another wonderful aspect of the T9: it can interface with Windows, Apple, and Android devices right out of the box.
Performance aside, what is arguably the Samsung T9’s best characteristic is its longevity. Being able to withstand drops from 9.8 feet means you’ll rarely have to worry about it getting damaged if you accidentally shove it off your desk. And with how good its thermal cooling is, using it won’t drastically shorten its lifespan.
With fast and consistent read and write speeds, it’s not surprising the Samsung T9 soared to the top. However, its durability and reliability shouldn’t be overlooked, such as its ability to stay cool under heavy workloads and strong outer shell.
Best Budget Portable SSD:Crucial X6
Thumb drives are fine in a pinch but suffer in the performance department. That’s fine if you’re just storing documents, but anything beyond, and you’re moving at a snail’s pace. A much more reliable option for basic use is theCrucial X6.
Overall, the Crucial X6 is leagues ahead of your average thumb drive, especially when it comes to reading data. It reliably peaks at 540 Mbps, and though its write speeds are half that, it is still solid compared to a thumb drive. While the Crucial X6 is notably larger than your average flash drive, it’s quite slim and small enough to slip into your pocket.
With a USB 3.2 interface, the Crucial X6 is a reliable, compact SSD that’s perfect for basic needs. You can easily slip it into your pocket or travel bag without worrying about damage, thanks to its durable shell.
Most Rugged Portable SSD:LaCie Rugged Pro
TheLaCie Rugged SSD Prodoes its name proud by first offering a rubberized shell that handles three-meter drops and pressures of up to two tons. It also has an IP67 water and dust resistance rating to really round out its ability to withstand nature. That’s the kind of peace of mind you need if, say, you’re snapping photos on a hike.
Thanks to its Thunderbolt 3 support, the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro plays nicely with Apple devices, but Windows isn’t left out of the loop. It supports USB-C, as well, and you may achieve read and write speeds of 2800MBs, which is more than enough to handle a professional setting.
The LaCie Rugged SSD Pro provides peace of mind with its IP67 water and dust resistance and sturdy exterior. It also features superfast read/write speeds through Thunderbolt 3.
Best Portable SSD for Gaming:Crucial X10 Pro
With powerfulgaming laptopsletting you play any title on the go, the built-in storage may not be enough. To ensure your games boot up as quickly as possible and you don’t witness sudden pop-ins, the Crucial X10 Pro is a bonafide win for gamers.
TheCrucial X10 Prohas 2100 Mbps and 2000 Mbps read and write speeds, respectively, which is slightly better than another popular SSD for gaming, theWD Black P50. Even if your device can’t take advantage of USB 3.2 Gen 2, it’s compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 1. Equally important is that the Crucial X10 Pro is quite durable for such a tiny SSD. It has an IP55 water dust resistance rating, in addition to withstanding drops from up to 7.5 feet.
The Crucial X10 Pro hits the trifecta as a portable gaming SSD: it’s incredibly fast, durable, and so small you could clip it to a keychain. And when it comes to compatibility, you simply plug it into your console or PC and it’s ready to start storing your favorite games.
Best High-Capacity Portable SSD:Samsung T5 EVO
If you’re someone who constantly stores data for long-term use, a single terabyte may not be quite enough. A much more substantial option is theSamsung T5 EVO, featuring up to 8TB of storage, which is excellent if you’re a content creator.
Regardless of what you store in the Samsung T5 EVO, you’re able to rest easy knowing your data will be safe. It isn’t just because of the rubber exterior that can withstand drops from up to six feet, but its 256-bit AES hardware encryption as well. Given the Samsung T5 EVO’s durability and size, you can also safely slip it into a pocket or travel bag without worrying about damage.
Whether you’re a content creator or just obsessed with saving data, the Samsung T5 EVO can handle it all with its 8TB of storage. It’s also pocket-sized, durable, and features USB-C.
Q: What does SSD stand for?
SSD stands for “solid state drive.” SSDs are smaller, lighter, and noiseless compared to hard drives that were found in older laptops and external hard drives.
Q: Why do SSDs cost more than HDDs?
It’s a combination of performance, manufacturing costs, and demand. SSDs are far more reliable and more readily accessible than they were just a couple of years ago. That and speedier read and write speeds come with an extra cost.
Q: What is the difference between an SSD and an HDD?
HDDs are mechanical in nature, using metal disks and an actuator arm to read and write data; SSDs store data using a type of flash memory cell. That major difference is what gives SSDs an edge in read and write speeds, whereas HDDs are beholden to platter rotation speed.
Q: Is an internal SSD or an external SSD better?
An internal SSD is going to be superior due to the fact that it interfaces with your PC directly as opposed to an external SSD that needs to filter through, say, USB. With that said, an external SSD can still be very close in speed if you were to use USB 3.0 and later.
Q: What is the failure rate of an SSD?
According to Backblaze, a cloud storage platform, an SSD failure rate is 1.05 percent, based on theirmid-year review stats for 2023. That follows similar numbers the company saw in their2022 Drive Stats Review, which revealed a failure rate of 0.98 percent.
