The Best External Hard Drive Deals This Week*
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Need to expand the local storage on your PC or Mac for music and movies, or all the pics and videos you collect from your phone? The traditional answer has been an external hard drive. The newer, better answer is a portable solid-state drive (SSD).Once prohibitively expensive, SSDs of all stripes, internal and external, have plunged in price in recent years. Nowadays, pocket-size, USB-powered external SSDs deliver as much as 10 times the speed of portable hard drives, and much greater durability. They have no metal platters to spin up, nor any read/write heads that need to travel to a specific point on a platter to find the file you need. And a lack of moving parts makes mobile SSDs smaller, slimmer, and better suited to frequent travel and accidental drops than even ruggedized hard drives.Below, check out our favorite models we’ve tested from all our recent SSD reviews. Then read on for a detailed guide to how to shop for the portable SSD that best meets your needs. We’ll wrap up this guide with a spec breakout of all of our top picks at the bottom.
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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Crucial X9 Pro
Best External SSD Overall
Why We Picked ItA tiny yet highly capable external SSD, the Crucial X9 Pro scored well in our benchmarks and comes in capacities up to 4TB. Its interface supports the USB 3.2 Gen 2 standard, which affords near-universal compatibility if your computer has a USB port (although you’ll need an adapter to connect to a USB-A port). The X9 Pro’s basic ruggedization features and 256-bit AES encryption protect it from tumbles as well as both meteorological and human threats while you’re traveling.Who It’s ForThe Crucial X9 Pro is a competitively priced, highly portable external SSD that should appeal to most anyone. The X9 Pro is great for travelers, or indeed anyone who wants a fast, reasonably rugged and secure portable SSD.
PROS
Lightweight and compact
Good PCMark 10 benchmark score
IP55-rated for dust and water resistance
Drop-proof up to 7.5 feet
256-bit AES hardware-based encryption
Five-year warranty
CONS
Included USB-C cable is short
Lacks USB-C-to-A cable or adapter
SPECS
Name
Value
Internal or External
External
Interface (Computer Side)
USB-C
Capacity (Tested)
2 TB
NAND Type
TLC
Bus Type
PCI Express 3.0 x2
NVMe Support
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
1050 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
1050 MBps
Warranty Length
5 years
Learn More
Crucial X9 Pro Review
ADATA Elite SE880 External SSD
Best Budget External SSD
Why We Picked ItThe ADATA Elite SE880 is a handsome, lightweight external drive with a compact frame. It turned in zippy sequential write and (especially) read speeds, when paired with the proper hardware, and it comes in at a moderate price per gigabyte. It looks tiny compared with its award-winning predecessor, the ADATA SE800, and it can push nearly double the speed when used over a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 connection. It has a longer warranty, but it’s best for local, office, or indoor use, as it is not ruggedized. Who It’s ForThe ADATA Elite SE880 is a good choice in a portable external SSD for users with a computer with a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface or who are willing to invest in a Gen 2×2 desktop expansion card to take advantage of its zippy throughput speeds (nearly twice that of drives with the common 3.2 Gen 2 interface, especially its read speed). It’s handsome and inexpensive, and several of them could fit in your pocket.
PROS
Extremely compact and lightweight
Low cost per gigabyte
Zippy sequential read and write speeds (and high PCMark 10 Storage score)
CONS
Capacity maxes out at 1TB
Requires a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port to hit peak speeds
Lacks the attached port cover of ADATA’s SE800
SPECS
Name
Value
Internal or External
External
Interface (Computer Side)
USB-C
Capacity (Tested)
1 TB
NAND Type
TLC
Bus Type
PCI Express 3.0 x4
NVMe Support
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
2000 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
2000 MBps
Warranty Length
5 years
Learn More
ADATA Elite SE880 External SSD Review
Samsung Portable SSD T9
Best External SSD for Macs
Why We Picked ItThe Samsung Portable SSD T9 is a high-performance external SSD, coming in capacities of up to 4TB and with an interface that supports USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, which is blazing fast if you have a computer with a port that supports this standard (you can add a 2×2 expansion card to a desktop if need be). It was fast on our Windows testbed, which has a 2×2 expansion card, and surprisingly fast when tested on an Apple MacBook Pro with a Thunderbolt 3/USB 3.1 Gen 2 port. AES 256-bit hardware-based encryption, the gold standard in civilian encryption solutions, and an upgraded Samsung Magician software suite sweeten the pot.Who It’s ForBilled as a drive for creators, the Samsung Portable SSD T9 is a good choice for Windows or Mac users who need to access or back up large files in a hurry. Available in capacities up to 4TB, it’s a potent drive for creators and other power users with either a Windows PC or a Mac. (It also can be used with Android systems.)
PROS
Exceptional speed over USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps) connections
Comes in capacities up to 4TB
Supports 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption
Certified drop-proof
Includes useful Samsung Magician software
CONS
A bit pricey
May require an expansion card to achieve Gen 2×2 speeds
SPECS
Name
Value
Internal or External
External
Interface (Computer Side)
USB-C
Capacity (Tested)
4 TB
NAND Type
TLC
Bus Type
PCI Express 3.0 x4
NVMe Support
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
2000 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
2000 MBps
Warranty Length
5 years
Learn More
Samsung Portable SSD T9 Review
WD Black P50 Game Drive SSD
Best External SSD for Gamers
Why We Picked ItThe WD Black P50 Game Drive is relatively bulky for a portable solid-state drive (0.55 by 4.7 by 2.4 inches), styled like a black rectangular shipping container with ribbed sides and hex screws in each corner. But it’s more than an industrial-kitsch fashion statement—thanks to a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface, the P50’s rated peak read speed is a blistering 2,000MBps, fast enough to supplement the primary storage of your gaming PC. It also comes with both USB Type-C and USB Type-A cables, and it carries a lengthy five-year warranty.Who It’s ForThe drawback to the WD Black is that USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 ports that allow its full performance potential are rare, found on only a few elite desktop motherboards and usually added via expansion cards. (The drive, of course, works fine with slower ports; it just doesn’t see the peak speed benefit.) But if you want an SSD that’s as swift as it is stylish, look no further.
PROS
USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 support offers blazing speeds
Durable, shock-resistant enclosure
Five-year warranty
Separate USB Type-C and Type-A cables included
CONS
Expensive
A bit bulky
Gen 2×2 ports are uncommon (though drive is backward-compatible)
SPECS
Name
Value
Internal or External
External
Interface (Computer Side)
USB-C
Capacity (Tested)
1 TB
NAND Type
TLC
Bus Type
PCI Express 3.0 x4
NVMe Support
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
2000 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
2000 MBps
Warranty Length
5 years
Learn More
WD Black P50 Game Drive SSD Review
Lexar SL660 Blaze Game Portable SSD
A Solid Alternative to the WD Black P50 Game Drive SSD
Why We Picked ItIt don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that bling, but Lexar’s SL660 Blaze Game Portable SSD has more to offer than a handsome removable stand, protective pouch, and snazzy RGB lighting that’ll complement a tricked-out gaming rig. Its USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface puts it at the top of the SSD speed ladder, and Lexar throws in 256-bit AES hardware encryption and a five-year warranty.Who It’s ForLike the WD Black P50, the SL660 won’t deliver its maximum performance unless your PC is one of the few with a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port, and its peak capacity of 1TB is actually a tad small considering today’s bulky games—you might prefer a 2TB or 4TB drive from another vendor. But if you’re a style-conscious, speed-freak gamer, this SSD has your name on it.
PROS
USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 support and 256-bit AES hardware encryption
Sturdy aluminum frame, detachable stand, and carrying pouch
Strong PCMark 10 Storage score
Tasteful RGB lighting
Five-year warranty
CONS
Sequential write speed well below its rating in our tests
Top capacity is just 1TB
Requires a PC with USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 support for best results
SPECS
Name
Value
Internal or External
External
Interface (Computer Side)
USB-C
Capacity (Tested)
1 TB
NAND Type
TLC
Bus Type
PCI Express 3.0 x4
NVMe Support
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
2000 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
1950 MBps
Warranty Length
5 years
Learn More
Lexar SL660 Blaze Game Portable SSD Review
WD Black D50 Game Dock NVMe SSD
Best External SSD (With Docking Features) for Gamers
Why We Picked ItYou can forget the WD Black D50 Game Dock if your PC doesn’t have a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port, but if your system has the interface to support it, the D50 combines up to 2TB of high-speed storage with a plethora of ports for other peripherals and monitors: two USB 3.2 Type-C ports (one front, one rear), three USB 3.2 Type-A ports (one front, two rear), a front audio jack, two Thunderbolt 3 ports (one with 87 watts of USB power delivery), an Ethernet jack, and a DisplayPort 1.4 video output. The external device has a 4.7-inch-square footprint and the same black-shipping-container styling as the WD Black P50 Game Drive SSD.Who It’s ForThe D50 Game Dock would be even more useful if it had an HDMI monitor port, but it offers some of the fastest sequential reads and writes of any external drive, along with show-off RGB lighting. It’s a clever combination of game or movie storage and docking station.
PROS
Bristling with ports
Up to 2TB capacity
Very fast sequential reads and writes for an external drive
Provides up to 87-watt power delivery
RGB lighting
CONS
Expensive
Requires a computer with Thunderbolt 3 port
No HDMI port
SPECS
Name
Value
Internal or External
External
Interface (Computer Side)
Thunderbolt 3
Capacity (Tested)
2 TB
NAND Type
TLC
Bus Type
PCI Express 3.0 x4
NVMe Support
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
3000 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
2500 MBps
Warranty Length
5 years
Learn More
WD Black D50 Game Dock NVMe SSD Review
LaCie Rugged SSD Pro
Best Rugged External SSD
Why We Picked ItThe LaCie Rugged SSD Pro takes a Seagate FireCuda NVMe solid-state drive, connects it to a Thunderbolt 3 interface, and puts it in a silicone-wrapped, crush-resistant aluminum case with a colossal IP67 ruggedness rating—dust-tight and able to survive 30 minutes in shallow water, without even having to close the usual rubber flap over the Thunderbolt 3 port. That adds up to a somewhat specialized device, best appreciated by videographers shooting outdoors with MacBook laptops (the kind most likely to have Thunderbolt ports), but a terrific mix of speed and sturdiness.Who It’s ForThe LaCie isn’t cheap; its price per gigabyte is easily beaten by more general-purpose portable SSDs and even a few rugged rivals. But it’s tailor-made for Apple content creators.
PROS
Field-leading speed
Also works with USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 and Gen 2 ports
Extreme ruggedness against dust, water, drops, crush pressure
Five-year warranty
CONS
High price per gigabyte
Cable is a bit short
SPECS
Name
Value
Internal or External
External
Interface (Computer Side)
Thunderbolt 3
Capacity (Tested)
1 TB
NAND Type
TLC
Bus Type
PCI Express 3.0 x4
NVMe Support
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
2880 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
2880 MBps
Warranty Length
5 years
Learn More
LaCie Rugged SSD Pro Review
Samsung Portable SSD T7 Touch
Best External SSD (With Biometric Locking) for Traveling Executives
Why We Picked ItThe Samsung Portable SSD T7 Touch is a tiny, 2-ounce aluminum rectangle that plugs into a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port. (Samsung provides both USB Type-C and USB Type-A cables so you needn’t fuss with a dongle.) It combines quick performance with roomy storage. So far, we could be describing almost any portable solid-state drive, but the T7 Touch protects your data in a way few others can: with a built-in fingerprint reader that ensures your sensitive files are for your eyes only. Technically, fingerprints aren’t as secure as complex passwords, but they’re a lot more convenient, and you can’t forget them.Who It’s ForIf you need plug-and-play access to your documents on any nearby PC, the T7 Touch isn’t for you—you must have Samsung’s Windows, macOS, or Android software installed to use the fingerprint reader. But if you’re looking for a mix of security and speed, your corporate or personal secrets are safe with this drive.
PROS
Built-in fingerprint reader and LED status indicator.
Compact size.
Fast performance.
Available in capacities up to 2TB.
Three-year warranty.
CONS
Relatively expensive.
Requires software for fingerprint unlocking on a PC or Mac.
Learn More
Samsung Portable SSD T7 Touch Review
Apricorn Aegis NVX
Best External SSD for Maximum Data Security
Why We Picked ItThanks to its NVMe internals and USB 3.2 Gen 2 support, the Apricorn Aegis NVX has one thing that no other ultra-secure solid-state drive can offer: the speed you’d expect from a typical consumer-level external SSD. This device, which has a built-in keypad for access, requires no software to run and can be used with any device with a USB-C or USB-A port, automatically locking when you unplug it. It’s easy to set up an administrator password, and you can add passwords for multiple users. The drive’s AES-XTS 256-bit encryption is effectively impervious to brute-force attacks. The NVX is also shockproof, waterproof, and dustproof.Who It’s ForThe Aegis NVX is for users who want an SSD with a wealth of protective features without taking a hit in speed. It’s a rugged drive, so it’s also a great choice for travelers or for outdoor use. However, if your company requires security certification, you may need to wait to buy it. Apricorn is currently modifying the NVX to submit the drive for Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140 Level 3 validation.
PROS
Very fast for a hyper-secure drive
Chock-full of security features
Shockproof and crush-proof
Impervious to dust or water with IP67 rating
CONS
Relatively high cost per gigabyte
Not yet FIPS 140-3 validated
SPECS
Name
Value
Internal or External
External
Interface (Computer Side)
USB Type-A or Type-C
Capacity (Tested)
500 GB
NAND Type
TLC
Bus Type
PCI Express 3.0 x4
NVMe Support
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
1000 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
1000 MBps
Warranty Length
3 years
Learn More
Apricorn Aegis NVX Review
Kingston XS2000 Portable SSD
Best Very Small External SSD
Why We Picked ItIt’s not like most external SSDs need to be carried in both hands or a briefcase, but Kingston’s XS2000 is positively tiny—0.5 by 1.3 by 2.7 inches and about an ounce, barely bigger than most USB flash drives yet offering up to 2TB of storage. It’s also tough enough to earn an IP55 ingress protection rating against sand, dirt, or rain, though it shouldn’t be immersed in water, and its USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface makes it faster than the average SSD. It’s unlikely that your PC has a port that actually supports the Kingston’s peak speed, however.Who It’s ForThe XS2000 is a great choice as a general-purpose ultraportable drive, as long as you don’t need frills like hardware-based data encryption. Our only caveat? Take what we always say about how easy it is to accidentally lose a portable SSD, and double it.
PROS
Highly portable
Semi-ruggedized, with durability features
Good scores in our performance benchmarks
Capable of high speeds with the proper hardware
Available in capacities up to 2TB
CONS
Requires uncommon USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port for peak speeds
Lacks SSD management software and hardware-based encryption
Sequential write speeds a bit below its rating
SPECS
Name
Value
Internal or External
External
Interface (Computer Side)
USB-C
Capacity (Tested)
1 TB
NAND Type
TLC
Bus Type
PCI Express 3.0 x4
NVMe Support
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
2000 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
2000 MBps
Warranty Length
5 years
Learn More
Kingston XS2000 Portable SSD Review
SK Hynix Beetle X31
A Solid Alternative to the Kingston XS2000 Portable SSD
Why We Picked ItThe SK Hynix Beetle X31 external SSD sports a tiny, eye-catching pale-gold frame. The beauty of this take-anywhere drive, however, is more than carapace-deep. It posted solid speed scores for a USB 3.2 Gen 2 SSD, especially in the BlackMagic Mac-centric video speed test. Although the Beetle doesn’t have an IP rating (protection from water and dust), between its sturdy aluminum exoskeleton and removable protective rubber sleeve, the company claims it can survive drops of up to 6.5 feet.Who It’s ForThe SK Hynix Beetle is a drive to be seen with, a great conversation starter. The Beetle is small and light enough to be taken anywhere, and it offers some protection from tumbles. Its speed is comparable to other USB 3.2 Gen 2 SSDs we have reviewed. It’s priced a little higher per gigabyte than most external SSDs, but since its capacity maxes out at 1TB, you can still have this gem without it busting your budget.
PROS
Lightweight and tiny
Stylish design
Includes protective skin
Solid speed benchmark scores
CONS
Capacity maxes out at 1TB
Relatively short three-year warranty
Slow in file transfer test
SPECS
Name
Value
Internal or External
External
Interface (Computer Side)
USB Type-A or Type-C
Capacity (Tested)
1 TB
NAND Type
TLC
Bus Type
PCI Express 3.0 x4
NVMe Support
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
1050 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
1000 MBps
Warranty Length
3 years
Learn More
SK Hynix Beetle X31 Review
Buying Guide: The Best External SSDs for 2024
As you can see above, there’s a wide variety of portable SSDs to pick from. As you shop, you’ll need to pay attention to capacity, size and weight, and a drive’s interface or connection to your PC, as well as whether you need one with a rugged casing.First: Here’s why you want an SSD versus a hard drive. Unlike a hard drive, which stores data on those spinning platters accessed by a moving magnetic head, a solid-state drive uses a collection of “persistent” flash-memory cells to save data. These are similar to the silicon that makes up a computer’s RAM, but they retain your data when electrical power is cut off.
(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)
Since hard drives are mechanical devices that use mature technology, you can get relatively large amounts of storage capacity for the money. But the same tech that makes hard drives a tantalizing value becomes their biggest liability when used on the go. If you drop the drive, you could damage the interior mechanism and make your data inaccessible. By contrast, if you jolt an SSD while you’re reading or writing data, there is no risk that your files will become corrupted and unreadable.Is an External SSD Faster Than an External Hard Drive?Yes: Again, hard drives are slower because they have to physically rotate disks and move a reader arm to access your data. Just how much faster is it to read data from flash cells than from particular points on spinning platters? Typical throughput for consumer hard drives is in the range of 100MBps to 200MBps, while SSDs that support Thunderbolt 3 or 4, or USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, can have read and write speeds pushing 2,000MBps or even higher. (One factor in hard drive speed is spin rate—among external drives, 5,400rpm units are more common and more affordable than 7,200rpm.)Our typical benchmark-test results for even run-of-the-mill external SSDs show speeds in excess of 400MBps. Practically speaking, this means you can move gigabytes of data (say, a 4GB feature film, or a year’s worth of family photos) to your external SSD in seconds rather than the minutes it would take with an external hard drive.
(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)
Still, you do pay a bit more for that speed and durability. Want a 2TB portable hard drive? You can find one from major brands such as Seagate and Western Digital for as little as $60. A 2TB external SSD, on the other hand, will generally run you from about $80 to $15. If speed, resilience, and portability are critical to you, spending the extra money is probably worth it. If they’re not, proceed with care. When considering whether to buy an external SSD, make sure you know what you’re paying a premium for.External SSDs are now readily available and cheaper than they were a few years ago, but it will probably be a while before they are a complete replacement for hard drives. Physically larger external drives designed to stay on your desk or in a server closet still mostly use 3.5-inch platter drives inside, taking advantage of their vast capacities and much lower prices per gigabyte compared with SSDs.What Is the Best External SSD Interface?External solid-state drives are, essentially, internal SSDs (the same kind that power laptops or live inside desktops) with an outer shell and some bridging electronics. As a result, external drives use one of two internal “bus types” that, in part, dictate their peak speed: Serial ATA (SATA), or PCI Express (PCIe). The latter is usually associated these days with Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe), a protocol that is optimized for the characteristics of SSDs and speeds up data transfers.SATA-based drives tend to be a little cheaper; they’re also slower, but just fine for most users’ everyday applications. SATA-based SSDs typically top out at around 500MBps for peak read and write speeds, just a bit below the ceiling of the USB 3.0 interface. (Much more about that in a moment.) However, if you’re going to be transferring large files such as videos often, you may well want to spring for a PCIe/NVMe-based external SSD. That also ties in with the port you’ll plug your SSD into.
(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)
Sellers of portable SSDs seldom indicate if the drive is SATA- or PCIe-based. However, checking the specs can be a dead giveaway. If the drive tops out at sequential read and write speeds between 400MBps and 550MBps, it’s very likely SATA-based. Speeds of 800MBps or higher indicate a PCIe-based drive.What Is the Right Kind of USB for Your External SSD?Arguably more important than the type of storage mechanism inside an external SSD is how it connects to your PC or Mac. Almost all external SSDs today plug into either some flavor of USB port, or a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port.Alas, there are enough different flavors of USB to make your head spin—made worse by the confusing nomenclature surrounding USB these days. For example, today’s USB 3.2 standard is for all intents and purposes identical to USB 3.1, simply renamed. (It gets even more confusing with the latest kind of USB: The recently introduced USB4 will absorb Thunderbolt.) That said, you’ll still see older USB terminology on your PC or Mac and on many SSDs, so you need to know what term correlates to what.To begin with, you can forget about USB 2.0, whose theoretical bandwidth of 60 megabytes per second (60MBps) is a bottleneck even for a platter drive. (These ports still exist on desktops and laptops, but don’t use one with any portable drive. All USB-interface external SSDs will support some flavor of USB 3.) The most commonly used port at your computer’s end for external drives of all stripes is USB 3.0, which offers a theoretical peak bandwidth of 640MBps. Until recently, most SSDs’ real-world transfer speeds topped out somewhere in the range of 450MBps or below, so these ports were fine.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
In addition to 640MBps, you’ll also see USB 3.0’s theoretical data rate described as 5Gbps. (That’s gigabits, not gigabytes, per second.) You also may see this interface dubbed “USB 3.1 Gen 1” or “SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps” (in practice, all three are the same thing), to differentiate it from “USB 3.1 Gen 2” or “SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps,” which raises the ceiling to (you guessed it!) 10Gbps. USB 3.1 Gen 2 is the latest version widely available in consumer external SSDs at this writing. PCIe external SSDs can take advantage of the extra 5Gbps of bandwidth, but you need to have a USB port that supports the spec to see the extra speed benefit. (And yes, we are talking about “USB 3.1” as opposed to “USB 3.2.” Bear with us.) In 2019, the USB Implementers’ Forum announced that the USB 3.1 flavors were being rebranded as “USB 3.2.” With that change, you’ll want to know these four modes: 5Gbps (“USB 3.2 Gen 1”), 10Gbps (“USB 3.2 Gen 2×1,” and Gen 1×2, the former achieving the 10Gbps speed on one “lane,” the latter via two 5Gbps lanes), and 20Gbps (“USB 3.2 Gen 2×2,” aka “SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps”). USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 is more commonly known simply as USB 3.2 Gen 2 these days. All of these versions of USB are backward-compatible with the USB 3.0 ports on your PC; performance will just bounce down to the slower of the two (the drive’s supported spec, or that of the system-side port).You won’t see many USB 3.2 Gen 2×2-capable ports on PCs (some late-model high-end desktop motherboards have one), but expect that spec to be supplanted by USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 as the 2020s move on. Desktop-PC expansion cards that specifically support USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 are available through retailers for less than $50.Late 2023 saw the introduction of the first USB4 external SSDs, with theoretical maximum throughput speeds of up to 40Gbps. Be forewarned that there are two different USB4 flavors; the second one can muster speeds only up to 20Gbps. Be sure to read the specs of any USB4 device you’re buying to be sure if it’s the type of USB4 you want; throughput speeds will also be marked on a label next to the device’s ports.Really, all this calls for a little chart to keep it straight…
As you can see, some USB specs are tied to certain system-side physical USB connectors. We’ll get into that in a moment.Can I Use Thunderbolt for an External SSD?Today’s two versions of the Thunderbolt interface, Thunderbolt 3 and 4, each offers a blazing top bandwidth of 40Gbps. (The improvements with Thunderbolt 4 over 3 involve security, power transmission for charging a laptop, and higher display resolution for connected monitors, not speed.) Compatible ports are found on all late-model Macs and a growing number of midrange-to-upscale Windows laptops. The physical connector is the same as USB-C, but Thunderbolt SSDs are not backward-compatible with USB Type-C ports that lack Thunderbolt support; look for the little lightning-bolt symbol next to the port.Thunderbolt is the least common external SSD interface, and drives that use it are often geared toward Mac users since macOS laptops were quicker than their Windows rivals to move to Thunderbolt. You’ll find it on resolutely speed-focused drives and some specialized desktop-style drives that may contain multiple SSDs in a RAID format.Most workaday SSDs don’t come close to saturating this interface, so there’s no point in paying a premium for a Thunderbolt drive unless you specifically need the port and the speed because of your computer. You can plug a USB-C drive into a Thunderbolt port, so you’re not obliged to buy a Thunderbolt drive if you don’t need the speed but have the port.The Physical USB Port: USB Type-A vs. Type-C, and MoreGot interface fatigue yet? Alas, that’s not the last thing to consider around USB and Thunderbolt!System-side physical USB ports these days take the form of USB Type-A (the familiar, older rectangular kind) and USB Type-C (smaller and roughly oval). This physical type is not necessarily an indicator of which specific USB transfer-rate spec the port supports. But you need to make sure you can plug in what you get.
(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)
Many SSDs come with cables for both kinds (Type-A and Type-C) at the computer end, or one cable plus an adapter. Two full cables is generally best, as adapters can be awkward and easy to lose. You’ll want to match what comes in the box with the ports your PC has (and has free). Also, match specs; spending extra, for example, for a 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 SSD if you only have 5Gbps-capable ports may be pointless.Also: Don’t confuse the system-side interface with the connector that joins the cable to the drive itself. On most newer portable SSDs, the connector at the SSD end is a USB Type-C port (the same as the kind you might find system-side)…
(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)
On others, though, the connector might be a Micro-USB Type-B, which is a flat, wide connector that is different from any USB port you’ll see on a laptop or desktop.Is a Rugged External SSD Worth It?Indeed, if you carry your drive around frequently, you’ll at least want to pay attention to how rugged the drive is. Some models include plastic bumpers, and some even meet military standards for shock and dust protection. Look for support for Ingress Protection (IP) ratings such as IP68, explained at the previous link.
(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)
And of course, if you’re carrying your drive around with you, you want it to look nice. Some come in multiple colors, while most are small and slim enough to be tucked into a shirt pocket.
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Perhaps the only thing you don’t need to weigh too heavily is the warranty. If your drive breaks because you damaged it, the warranty likely won’t cover it. Even if the drive fails because of a manufacturing defect, most warranties simply replace the drive and don’t cover the cost of recovery services that attempt to rescue your data from the device. A long warranty is well and good, but the real value in a drive usually lies in what you have on it.This is also where a spec known as the “terabytes written” rating (or TBW) comes in. It refers to how much data can be written to a drive over its life before some cells on that drive begin to fail. The entire drive itself won’t stop functioning, but rather, less and less storage will be made available as time goes on.How to Tell What Is the Best External SSD?Here are three key things to look out for when shopping for an external SSD:COST PER GIGABYTE. The way to calculate relative value on drives like these is to perform some simple math and figure the cost per gigabyte based on the price of a given drive on the day you’re shopping. Because SSD pricing fluctuates all the time, relative value does, too.Generally, the higher a drive’s capacity, the cheaper it will be per gigabyte. But that’s not always true; sometimes the very highest-capacity drives come at a per-gigabyte price premium. The basement for budget external SSDs is currently about 7 cents per gigabyte, mostly from second- or third-tier vendors. Calculate your bottom-line price when comparing a host of drives.RUGGEDIZATION. The degree of ruggedness varies vary from drive to drive, and we make point of mentioning in our reviews factors such as whether an SSD is shock- and/or crush-proof, and to what degree. Also, we note whether a drive has an ingress protection (IP) rating, denoting its resistance to dust, dirt, and water. An IP67 or IP68 certification is a good spec to look for if you’re serious about waterproof and dustproof drives.
(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)
Some models, though, like a few from Apricorn’s Fortress series, combine major ruggedness with physical and electrical security; it’s almost impossible to crack open those drives to get at the components and chips inside without destroying them.CARRY WEIGHT. Most SSDs weigh a negligible couple of ounces. The carabiner retention loop of SanDisk’s Extreme family of external SSDs is especially handy, because many SSDs are small and light enough that losing them is an easy and expensive mistake.Can You Put an SSD in an External Enclosure?If none of the drives we’ve selected for this roundup sounds appealing to you (or you already own an extra internal SSD), there’s one more option available: SSD enclosures. These are plastic or metal housings into which you can put your own SATA 2.5-inch or M.2 solid-state drive to take with you on the go.Enclosures come in 2.5-inch form factors (into which you would put a 2.5-inch SATA SSD) or M.2 ones. The stick-style M.2 SSD is much smaller and lighter, but know that M.2 drives themselves come in both SATA and PCIe bus flavors. You need to be sure your enclosure supports the bus type of M.2 drive you’re putting in it.Also, just because you put a PCIe NVMe drive in an enclosure doesn’t mean you should magically expect it to go any faster than a standard external SSD. Any drive placed in an enclosure is still subject to the peak USB speed supported by the enclosure’s own electronics and controller, and by the USB protocol supported by the port you plug it into.Though there are exceptions, most enclosures are not as durable or rugged as major-maker portable SSDs are. This can be a drawback for those who take their SSDs into dangerous environments (think wildlife photographers or first responders), so be sure that before you go this route, you know what your drive will be exposed to. Your data could be at greater risk for corruption than it would be in an SSD purpose-built to withstand the elements.So, What Is the Best External SSD to Buy?Our best SSD picks vary widely in features and price, but all should all deliver plenty of speed and peace of mind, if that’s what you want from your portable storage. Our summary reviews above and spec chart below are sure to expose at least one model that is perfect for you.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Don’t need (or don’t want to spring for) an SSD? Then check out our roundup of the best external hard drives. If you’re building or upgrading your desktop or laptop, read about how to buy the best M.2 SSDs, as well as the best SSDs for upgrading your laptop.
