Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
November 20, 2025: With this update, we added the Lexar Professional Go Portable SSD with Hub as the Best External SSD for Videographers. We also removed the SK Hynix Beetle X31 and the Lexar SL660 Blaze Game Portable SSD. The rest of our picks have been vetted for availability and currency. Since our last update, we have tested and evaluated one new SSD for possible inclusion in this roundup and our other SSD roundups. We are currently testing five external SSDs in PC Labs from makers including ADATA, Corsair, and LaCie.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Pros & Cons
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
Included USB-C cable is short
Lacks USB-C-to-A cable or adapter
Why We Picked It
A 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 For
Frequent travelers: The Crucial X9 Pro is a great device for travelers, thanks to its lightweight and compact design. It is reasonably rugged, is certified drop-proof up to 7.5 feet, and has an IP55 ingress protection rating. And its AES 256-bit encryption keeps your data secure should your SSD be lost or stolen.
Government agencies: The 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption employed by the X9 Pro is, in effect, uncrackable in a brute-force attack and is considered the gold standard in data encryption. Many companies and federal, state, and local government agencies in the US and abroad require that storage devices they requisition support 256-bit AES encryption at a minimum. This is an important tool in data protection, even for organizations that do not mandate it.
Anyone who needs portable storage: The X9 Pro is a storage device with near-universal appeal. Its native exFAT format makes it compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux machines as well as Android, iOS, and ChromeOS devices. As a USB 3.2 Gen 2 device, it should work with almost every modern computer. Factor in capacities up to 4TB, AES encryption, and basic ruggedization, and you can’t go too wrong with the X9 Pro. (If you need a faster drive, consider USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, Thunderbolt, or USB4 SSDs, provided your computer is compatible.)
Specs & Configurations
Internal or External
External
Interface (Computer Side)
USB-C
Capacity (Tested)
2 TB
NAND Type
TLC
Bus Type
PCI Express 3.0 x2
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
1050 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
1050 MBps
Warranty Length
5 years
Learn More
Crucial X9 Pro Review
(Photo: Molly Flores)
(Photo: Molly Flores)
Pros & Cons
Extremely compact and lightweight
Low cost per gigabyte
Zippy sequential read and write speeds (and high PCMark 10 Storage score)
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
Why We Picked It
The 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 For
Power users: The ADATA SE880 is for users in need of speedy performance from an external SSD, and who have—or are willing to invest in—a system with a Gen 2×2 interface, which is necessary to get this SSD’s promised speeds. They are about double those you’d get if you use it with a computer with the more common USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity. You can add an expansion card with 2×2 support to a desktop rig.
Home users: Despite this drive’s compact and lightweight frame, business travelers might balk at its lack of ruggedness cred and absence of 256-bit AES encryption. But it’s perfect for use around the house, especially if you have computers in more than one room. It’s great for storing and traveling with non-sensitive documents or media files, though graphic arts pros will likely spring for a drive with a larger capacity, as the SE880 maxes out at 1TB.
Specs & Configurations
Internal or External
External
Interface (Computer Side)
USB-C
Capacity (Tested)
1 TB
NAND Type
TLC
Bus Type
PCI Express 3.0 x4
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
2000 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
2000 MBps
Warranty Length
5 years
Learn More
ADATA Elite SE880 External SSD Review
Pros & Cons
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
High price per gigabyte
Cable is a bit short
Why We Picked It
The 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 featuring a terrific mix of speed and sturdiness.
Who It’s For
Content creators: Videographers, photographers, and film editors will love the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro’s speed, thanks to its Thunderbolt compatibility. This SSD’s extreme ruggedness makes it ideal for off-site and outdoor use in projects such as nature documentaries.
Well-heeled travelers who use Macs: The Rugged SSD Pro comes in at a relatively high cost per gigabyte, but it should still appeal to Mac users whose adventures take them well off the beaten path. This zippy SSD’s ruggedization features should protect the drive from anything Mother Nature throws at it.
Specs & Configurations
Internal or External
External
Interface (Computer Side)
Thunderbolt 3
Capacity (Tested)
1 TB
NAND Type
TLC
Bus Type
PCI Express 3.0 x4
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
2880 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
2880 MBps
Warranty Length
5 years
Learn More
LaCie Rugged SSD Pro Review
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Pros & Cons
Provides real-time backup to selected files on a computer
Lets you sync folders between computers
Allows you to back up and store files from your mobile device
Available in capacities up to 4TB
Subpar performance on PCMark 10 Storage, 3DMark Storage benchmarks
Lacks native encryption
Why We Picked It
Synology’s BeeDrive is a highly portable external SSD that, combined with Synology’s BeeDrive software, enables smooth and routine file backups from your computer or mobile device. It can also help you sync files between devices. Our testing showed it’s not a speedster for general SSD storage; it’s best deployed as a dedicated backup hub. But simplicity is its strong point, and the flexibility of its backup software is what sets it apart. If you want to automate certain safety tasks, such as maintaining multiple file versions, the software can assist you in organizing that.
Who It’s For
Families: Users can back up photos from multiple mobile devices to a computer-connected BeeDrive when the computer and phones or tablets are connected to the same mobile network. Either individual images or entire photo libraries can be added to the BeeDrive.
People who like to set it and forget it: A backup solution is only as good as a user’s ability and willingness to use it. The BeeDrive’s convenience, combined with its versatility and its ability to automate backup tasks, may encourage recalcitrant users to enable and stick with it as a simple way to save copies of select files and folders.
Users seeking backup redundancy: Cloud storage is popular but imperfect; you may face rising costs, and cloud servers may suffer downtime and even data breaches. If your connectivity is poor, data transfers will be slow, and if the network is down, your cloud data is inaccessible. A physical backup on BeeDrive ensures continued access, at least from your computer.
Specs & Configurations
Internal or External
External
Internal Form Factor
Not Applicable
Interface (Computer Side)
USB-C
Capacity (Tested)
2 TB
Bus Type
PCI Express 3.0 x2
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
1050 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
1050 MBps
Warranty Length
3 years
Learn More
Synology BeeDrive Review
Pros & Cons
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
Expensive
Requires a computer with Thunderbolt 3 port
No HDMI port
Why We Picked It
You 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 For
Users with Thunderbolt-equipped computers: The D50 connects to a computer through a Thunderbolt 3 port, making it natively compatible with Macs less than a decade old and the (mostly high-end) Windows PCs with a Thunderbolt port. You could also connect from a Windows PC using a USB-C to Thunderbolt adapter, or by adding a Thunderbolt expansion card to a desktop rig.
Users seeking a connectivity and storage boost: The D50 can, in effect, act as a laptop docking station, adding Thunderbolt, USB-C, and DisplayPort connectors; an Ethernet jack; three USB-A ports for connecting to peripherals; and an audio-out jack. Plus, it adds up to 2TB of storage, depending on which model you get.
Gamers: In addition to having high capacity for storing games and clocking speedy transfer rates in our testing, the D50 sports an RGB lighting display (controllable through the downloadable WD Black SSD Dashboard utility), and is styled in the shipping-container aesthetic found in some post-apocalyptic FPS games.
Specs & Configurations
Internal or External
External
Interface (Computer Side)
Thunderbolt 3
Capacity (Tested)
2 TB
NAND Type
TLC
Bus Type
PCI Express 3.0 x4
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
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Pros & Cons
Fastest external SSD we have ever tested (based on Blackmagic benchmark)
Highly resilient exterior
Five-year warranty, plus subscription to data recovery service
Includes LaCie Toolkit backup software
Pricey
Requires computer with Thunderbolt 5 support for best results
Why We Picked It
The LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 is a beast of a creator-centric external SSD. It is highly rugged, with a maximum possible IP68 ingress protection rating and the ability to survive drops of up to 10 feet. Its capacity of up to 4TB meets the needs of photographers and videographers, and it is a great fit for Mac and Windows computers with Thunderbolt 5 ports. The Pro5 is easily the fastest external SSD we have reviewed, based on its Blackmagic benchmark scores. It’s expensive, but you get a top-notch product for the money.
Who It’s For
People who own the latest Macs: Though you pay for its elite performance, when used over a Thunderbolt 5 connection such as those found on recent Macs, the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 clocks exceptional speeds, the fastest we’ve seen on an external SSD.
Photographers, videographers, and audio engineers: LaCie gears the Pro5 to creative professionals such as photographers, videographers, and audio specialists, and describes the SSD—which comes in capacities up to 4TB—as the industry’s fastest scratch disk. It enables real-time editing of 8K and 6K RAW footage.
Creative pros on the go: The Pro5’s IP68 ingress protection rating ensures maximum protection from dirt, dust, and water, and it’s been shown to survive 10-foot drops unscathed. This all makes it a great fit for professionals who spend more time on set or in the great outdoors than in the studio.
Specs & Configurations
Internal or External
External
Internal Form Factor
Not Applicable
Interface (Computer Side)
Thunderbolt 5
Capacity (Tested)
4 TB
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
6700 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
5300 MBps
Warranty Length
5 years
Learn More
LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 Review
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Pros & Cons
Ideal for iPhone filmmakers shooting ProRes 4K video
Compact, modular design
Hub supports four USB-C connections
Works with some Android phones as well
Drive and hub can be bought separately
Includes 256-bit AES encryption
Expensive, whether bought with the Hub or as a standalone drive
Why We Picked It
The Lexar Professional Go Portable SSD with Hub is a singular, modular storage accessory, primarily for use with phones. Combining a minuscule external SSD, a tiny USB-C hub, and several unique connectors, it is primarily designed for videographers with a recent iPhone that features a USB-C port. Any 4K videos shot in Apple’s ProRes format, especially at 60fps or 120fps, can consume a huge amount of drive space. You can bypass your phone’s storage and save them directly to the attached SSD as you shoot.
Who It’s For
Videographers: The Lexar Professional Go is primarily for videographers who use iPhones to shoot video, especially 4K videos in Apple’s ProRes formats, which it can save directly to the drive. Video pros may want to attach the drive and hub to a filming rig, connecting accessories such as a microphone to the setup.
iPhone owners: The Go SSD can connect directly to an iPhone’s USB-C port via its male connector, or you can use one of the supplied connectors to tuck the drive against the back of the phone. You can record and save video or photos directly to the SSD. You can also connect to an Android phone’s USB-C port.
Specs & Configurations
Internal or External
External
Internal Form Factor
Not Applicable
Interface (Computer Side)
USB-C
Capacity (Tested)
2 TB
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
1050 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
1000 MBps
Learn More
Lexar Professional Go Portable SSD With Hub Review
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Pros & Cons
Comes in capacities up to 8TB, with 16TB planned
Solid benchmark performance
Includes free download of Acronis True Image backup software
A little pricey on a per-gigabyte basis
Heavy and bulky for an external SSD
Requires use of included power adapter
Why We Picked It
The SanDisk Desk Drive is an external SSD geared for use with a desktop or laptop workstation, and is a good substitute for a spinning external hard drive. Available in capacities up to 8TB (with a 16TB model to come), it includes a download for Acronis True Image backup software. It aced the PCMark 10 Overall general-storage benchmark and did well in the 3DMark Storage gaming-centric test.
Who It’s For
Users in fixed locations: The SanDisk Desk Drive provides abundant storage when paired with a computer at a fixed location, whether a desktop or a laptop workstation. It is far faster than similar hard-drive-based solutions.
Gamers, photographers, and movie buffs: With current capacities of up to 8TB, the Desk Drive can house a library of in excess of 50 AAA games, a video collection, or a photo archive.
Specs & Configurations
Internal or External
External
Interface (Computer Side)
USB Type-A or Type-C
Capacity (Tested)
8 TB
NAND Type
TLC
Bus Type
PCI Express 3.0 x4
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
1000 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
Warranty Length
3 years
Learn More
SanDisk Desk Drive Review
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Pros & Cons
Lightweight and portable
Mostly snappy performance
Cable-free connectivity with devices with a USB-C port
Drop-resistant to 9.8 feet, as well as dust- and water-resistant
Seagate Toolkit software supports backup, sync, and 256-bit AES encryption
Slow in Blackmagic throughput benchmark
Expensive
Why We Picked It
Seagate’s Ultra Compact SSD packs a seamless fusion of speed, durability, and portability in a thumb-drive-size stick that plugs straight into a USB port. (Most external SSDs are a bit bigger than that, and have a cable.) This drive delivers solid USB 3.2 Gen 2 performance competitive with most full-size external SSDs. Protected by a rubber sheath and featuring an IP54 rating, this drive is built for real-world wear and tear. Plus, backup/sync software and three years of Rescue Data Recovery give you peace.
Who It’s For
Road warriors: The Seagate Ultra Compact SSD has the speed and capacity of a USB 3.2 Gen 2 external SSD, but is insanely portable, having the form of a USB thumb drive, although its male USB-C plug eliminates the need for a cable. The drive is mildly ruggedized, and its Seagate Toolkit software enables AES 256-bit encryption, the gold standard in drive security. The Ultra Compact SSD is a great choice, whether it’s housing PowerPoint presentations, a (virtual) sheaf of contracts, or your meeting notes.
Vacationers: The Ultra Compact SSD lets you back up the photos and videos of your trip. AES security protects copies of your travel records and vaccination documents, and your personal journal. You don’t need to worry about this tiny drive adding to your carry-on weight allowance.
Students: This incredibly small SSD is a breeze to carry. You can use it to back up class notes, assignments, and term papers. AES security keeps your documents hidden should the drive be lost or stolen.
Specs & Configurations
Internal or External
External
Interface (Computer Side)
USB-C
Capacity (Tested)
2 TB
Bus Type
PCI Express 3.0 x2
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
1000 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
1000 MBps
Warranty Length
3 years
Learn More
Seagate Ultra Compact SSD Review
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Pros & Cons
Very fast for a hyper-secure drive
Chock-full of security features
Shockproof and crush-proof
Impervious to dust or water with IP67 rating
Relatively high cost per gigabyte
Not yet FIPS 140-3 validated
Why We Picked It
Thanks 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 For
Security-minded power users: The Apricorn Aegis NVX is the rare external SSD that doesn’t sacrifice performance for advanced security. It clocks typical USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds while including keypad authentication, the ability to set administrator and user passwords, and a host of other security features. The drive’s AES-XTS 256-bit encryption is effectively impervious to brute-force attacks.
Frequent travelers: You can rest easy knowing that both your drive and the data it contains are safe while you’re on the road. Not only does the NVX protect your data with advanced security features, but its IP68 ingress protection rating ensures near-complete protection from incursion by dust, dirt, and water.
Specs & Configurations
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
Rated Maximum Sequential Read
1000 MBps
Rated Maximum Sequential Write
1000 MBps
Warranty Length
3 years
Learn More
Apricorn Aegis NVX Review
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The Best External SSDs for 2025
Compare Specs
Buying Guide: The Best External SSDs for 2025
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: Joseph Maldonado)
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 most significant 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. 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 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 over 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: Joseph Maldonado)
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 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. They take advantage of their vast capacities and much lower prices per gigabyte than 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 with Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe), a protocol optimized for SSDs that 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 transferring large files such as videos often, you may want to spring for a PCIe/NVMe-based external SSD. That also ties in with the port you’ll plug your SSD into.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
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 port.
There are enough different flavors of USB to make your head spin, but thanks to a combination of renaming (for example, USB 3.1 has become USB 3.2) and obsolescence, it has been somewhat simplified. Recent external SSDs have USB interfaces that fall into three types: USB 3.2 Gen 2, with a maximum throughput of 10Gbps; USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, aka “SuperSpeed USB,” which supports speeds up to 20Gbps; and USB4, which itself has two different flavors, both called SuperSpeed USB, one with a maximum throughput of 40Gbps and the other, 20Gbps. (For USB4 SSDs, often the drive’s port will be labeled with text and/or icon to identify the version.)
USB 3.2 Gen 2, with speeds up to 10Gbps, is supported by nearly all recent laptops, and the majority of USB 3.2 ports are Gen 2. All of these versions of USB are backward-compatible with earlier versions; performance will just bounce down to the slower of the two (the drive’s supported spec, or that of the system-side port).
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
You won’t see nearly as many USB 3.2 Gen 2×2-capable ports on PCs. In spite of this, a surprising number of Gen 2×2 SSDs are hitting the market. While there are both USB-A and USB-C connectors for USB 3.2 Gen 2, Gen 2×2 ports are exclusively USB-C. Desktop-PC expansion cards specifically supporting USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 are available through retailers for less than $50. Expect that spec to be supplanted by USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 as the 2020s move on.
The first USB4 external SSDs were introduced in late 2023, with theoretical maximum throughput speeds of up to 40Gbps. However, as mentioned, there are two different USB4 flavors; one can only muster speeds up to 20Gbps. Be sure to read the specs of any USB4 device you’re buying to be sure it’s the type you want; throughput speeds will also be marked on a label next to the device’s ports.
And to make matters even more complicated, you’ll still see older USB terminology on many products, so you need to know what term correlates to what. Some older PCs (and even some current desktops) have USB 2.0 ports, but you want to avoid using them with portable drives. This standard’s theoretical bandwidth of 60 megabytes per second (60MBps) is a bottleneck even for a platter drive. A USB 3.0 computer port, which offers a theoretical peak bandwidth of 640MBps (or 5Gbps), is a step up, but is still slow for most current external SSDs. Until about five years ago, most SSDs’ real-world transfer speeds topped out somewhere in the range of 450MBps or below, so these ports were fine back then. Finally, the deprecated USB 3.1 standard supports data transfer speeds of up to either 5Gbps or 10Gbps, and the speed is frequently specified next to the port in words or with an icon.
Really, all this calls for a little chart of the current USB standards to keep them straight…
As you can see, some USB specs are tied to specific system-side physical USB connectors. We’ll get into that in a moment.
Can I Use Thunderbolt for an External SSD?
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 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.
Computers equipped with a Thunderbolt 4 port—currently the most common variant—offer a blazing top bandwidth of 40Gbps. These ports are found on Macs and a growing number of mainstream-to-high-end 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.
A few recent PCs, as well as M4 Pro- and M4 Max-based Mac mini and MacBook Pro models, support the latest Thunderbolt 5 standard, which doubles the theoretical throughput maximum to 80Gbps. LaCie, OWC, and Sabrent have launched Thunderbolt 5 external SSDs with top speeds in excess of 6,000MBps. Thunderbolt 5 drives have been slow to come to market, but interest in them should pick up as more new TB5-equipped laptops, especially Apple models, become available. Thunderbolt 5 is backward-compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and 4 as well as USB4.
The Physical USB Port: USB Type-A vs. Type-C, and More
Have you got interface fatigue yet? Alas, that’s not the last thing to consider around USB and Thunderbolt!
These days, system-side physical USB ports take the form of USB Type-A (the familiar, older rectangular kind) and USB Type-C (smaller and roughly oval). The 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: Joseph Maldonado)
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 are 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: Joseph Maldonado)
On others, though, the connector might be a Micro-USB Type-B, a flat, wide connector 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: Joseph Maldonado)
And, of course, if you’re carrying your drive around, 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 begin to fail. The entire drive won’t stop functioning; 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 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 from drive to drive, and we mention in our reviews factors such as whether an SSD is shock- and 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: Tony Hoffman)
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.
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 you know what your drive will be exposed to before you go this route. Your data could be at greater risk for corruption than in an SSD purpose-built to withstand the elements.
Ready to Buy the Right External SSD for You?
We trust that you’re better armed now for buying an SSD than ever! Our picks for the best external SSDs vary widely in features and price, but all should deliver plenty of speed and peace of mind, if that’s what you seek from your portable storage. Our summary of top drive choices above and our spec comparison chart should bubble up at least one perfect model for you and your budget.
(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. And if you’re building a desktop or upgrading a desktop or laptop, read about how to buy the best M.2 SSDs, as well as the best SSDs for upgrading your laptop.
