External storage has become essential for everyone—from everyday users to seasoned professionals. With the rising demand for high-performance, dependable storage, the market for quality solutions is booming.
External Solid-State Drives (SSDs) are a top choice, prized for their impressive speed, durability, and portability. To help you navigate the options, we've compiled a carefully selected list of the best external SSDs, evaluating each for speed, capacity, durability, and value.
Whether you're a gamer, photographer, videographer, or just looking to expand your storage, this guide will help you make a well-informed choice, and may even include a few SSDs that are on sale, too.
Best External SSDs - Quick list
- Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD MU-PE - Durable and compact, ideal for fast, portable storage.
- SanDisk Pro-G40 SSD - High-speed transfer rates with rugged design for professionals on the go.
- LaCie Rugged SSD Pro STHZ - Shock-resistant, built to withstand extreme conditions.
- ADATA SE920 Portable SSD - Stylish with a built-in micro fan, offering fast transfer speeds for gamers and creators.
- Crucial X9 Pro Portable SSD - Lightweight, efficient, and great for everyday storage.
- WD Black P50 Game Drive - Optimized for gaming with high-speed performance to reduce load times.
- Crucial X6 Portable SSD - Compact and reliable, perfect for storing photos, videos, and documents.
- WD Black P40 Game Drive - Slim design with RGB lighting, built for high-speed gaming storage.
- ADATA Elite SE880 External SSD - Small and portable, offering fast file transfers and backup options.
- Kingston XS2000 - Ultra-fast speeds in a compact, water-resistant design, ideal for photographers and videographers.
1. Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD MU-PE
* prices are subject to change
Why we chose the Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD
The Samsung T7 shield is a rugged and high-performance portable SSD designed to withstand the rigors of everyday life. With IP65 water and dust resistance and an adorable design that can survive drops of up to 9.8 feet, the T7 shield is a perfect companion for your on-the-go lifestyle.
It offers fast read and write speeds, making it ideal for transferring large files, editing high-resolution videos, and playing demanding games. This extremely compact and lightweight SSD makes it easy to carry, while its compatibility with a wide range of devices ensures seamless connectivity.
2. SanDisk Pro-G40 SSD
* prices are subject to change
Why we chose the SanDisk Pro-G40 SSD
The SanDisk Extreme PRO Portable SSD offers outstanding performance with lightning-fast Thunderbolt 3 speeds, making it an impressive choice for anyone looking for rapid data transfers. Capable of moving 50GB of data in under a minute, it’s built for efficiency and speed. With its rugged IP68 rating, this drive is designed to withstand water, dust, drops, and crushes, making it as durable as it is powerful.
Its sleek aluminum casing not only gives it a stylish look but also helps dissipate heat, ensuring peak performance during intensive use. The dual-mode compatibility allows seamless connectivity with both Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C devices, giving you the flexibility to work with a range of setups and devices.
3. LaCie Rugged SSD Pro STHZ
* prices are subject to change
Why we chose the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro STHZ
The Rugged SSD Pro combines the high-performance Seagate FireCuda NVMe SSD with a design tailored for power users. With exceptionally fast read and write speeds, it’s ideal for managing large video files and handling intensive creative tasks with ease.
Built for durability, the drive boasts an IP67 rating, 3-meter drop resistance, and can withstand the weight of up to a two-ton car. Its compact build and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity make it highly portable and easy to use wherever you go. Plus, it includes a one-month Adobe Creative Cloud membership and a five-year limited warranty, adding extra value and peace of mind for creative professionals.
4. ADATA SE920 Portable SSD
* prices are subject to change
Why we chose the SE920 Portable SSD
The ADATA SE920 is a high-performance external SSD that combines speed and portability. It has an innovative heat dissipation system featuring a micro fan to ensure optimal performance and minimum temperatures even during intensive gaming.
With USB-4 connectivity, it offers lightning-fast transfer speeds, making it ideal for content creators, gamers, and professionals. It has a compact design, too, and a durable casing that makes it a reliable companion for all your all-the-go storage needs.
5. Crucial X9 Pro Portable SSD
* prices are subject to change
Why we chose the Crucial X9 Pro Portable SSD
The Crucial X9 Pro Portable SSD is a high-performance, durable storage solution tailored for photographers. With blazing-fast read and write speeds, it allows seamless photo editing directly from the drive, saving time and boosting efficiency.
Built to endure, the drive features an IP55 rating and a drop-proof design, ensuring reliability in various environments. Its broad compatibility with numerous devices makes it an excellent choice for both enthusiasts and professionals seeking a versatile, dependable storage option.
6. WD Black P50 Game Drive
* prices are subject to change
Why we chose the WD Black P50 Game Drive
The WD Black P50 Game Drive SSD is a high-performance external storage solution specifically built for gamers. With blazing-fast read speeds of up to 2000MB/s, it drastically decreases load times, allowing you to get into your favorite games faster.
Its compact and robust design makes it ideal for on-the-go gaming, and the ample storage space guarantees enough space for your whole collection. Whether you're a PC or console player, this SSD gives you the speed and dependability you need to improve your gaming experience.
7. Crucial X6 Portable SSD
* prices are subject to change
Why we chose the Crucial X6 Portable SSD
The Crucial X6 Portable SSD is a high-performance, portable storage device with large capacity and lightning-fast speeds. With up to 4TB of storage, you can effortlessly save your whole digital library, such as photos, videos, music, and documents.
Its compact and lightweight design makes it ideal for on-the-go use, and its broad compatibility ensures that it works with a wide range of devices. This SSD is excellent for fast, dependable, and portable storage.
8. WD Black P40 Game Drive
* prices are subject to change
Why we chose the WD Black P40 Game Drive
The Wester Digital's P40 Game Drive is a high-performance external SSD built specifically for gamers. With lightning-fast transfer speeds, it significantly cuts down load times for games and other resource-intensive applications, enhancing your gaming experience.
Featuring sleek, customizable RGB lighting, it lets you personalize your setup with style. Compatible with both PlayStation and Xbox consoles, too, it provides ample storage for your favorite games and media, making it a versatile addition to any gaming collection.
9. ADATA Elite SE880 External SSD
* prices are subject to change
Why we chose the ADATA Elite SE880 External SSD
This USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C SSD offers lightning-fast transfer speeds of up to 2000MB/s, making it ideal for multimedia creators, gamers, and professionals. Its tiny shape and lightweight construction make it highly portable as well, which is one of the main reasons why one would choose an external device in the first place.
What's more, this SSD is compatible with the current iteration of game consoles and multiple operating systems, allowing for easy data transfer between devices, no matter the platform you're rocking.
10. Kingston XS2000
* prices are subject to change
Why we chose the Kingston XS2000
The Kingston XS2000 Portable SSD is a high-performance storage solution perfect for content creators and professionals. With its fast transfer speeds, it handles large files like videos and high-resolution images with ease, ensuring smooth workflows.
Built to last, its rugged design and IP55 rating offer excellent protection against the elements, making it reliable for use anywhere. Whether you're editing videos, transferring files, or backing up data, this SSD delivers a dependable and efficient performance every time.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right external SSD can significantly enhance your workflow, speed up data access, and provide secure storage for your digital assets. With these top options, you'll find a drive suited to your unique needs, whether for gaming, content creation, or everyday use.