Sometimes a USB flash drive is too small, but a traditional hard disk drive is too slow. That's where portable SSDs can come in handy! Portable SSDs, or solid-state drives, are external mass storage devices that allow people to store and transfer large amounts of digital files at fast speeds. They're common solutions for people who run out of digital storage on PCs or consoles.
We've done our research and found 10 portable SSDs that reviewers love. Our top pick is the Extreme Pro from SanDisk, since it's very durable, reliable, and has amazingly fast speeds. For more of our favorites, please read on! Also, don't forget to check out our buying guide for tips on how to choose the right portable SSD for you.
Portable SSDs have come a long way throughout the years. We've put together a list with different brands, storage capacities, speeds, and designs to help you get started.
SDSSDE81-1T00-G25
$199.99
Storage capacity | 500GB-2TB |
---|---|
Password protection | Yes |
Connectivity | USB-C, USB-A |
Read speed | 2,000 MB/s |
MU-PB1T0B/AM
$349.35
Storage capacity | 500GB-2TB |
---|---|
Password protection | Yes |
Connectivity | USB-C |
Read speed | 2,800 MB/s |
WDBA3S0010BBK-WESN
$309.99
Storage capacity | 500GB-4TB |
---|---|
Password protection | No |
Connectivity | USB-C, USB-A |
Read speed | 2,000 MB/s |
MU-PC1T0S/WW
$179.99
Storage capacity | 500GB-2TB |
---|---|
Password protection | Yes |
Connectivity | USB-C, USB-A |
Read speed | 1,050 MB/s |
SB-1TB-NAWP
$159.99
Storage capacity | 512GB-2TB |
---|---|
Password protection | No |
Connectivity | USB-C, USB-A |
Read speed | 1,000 MB/s |
MU-PC1T0R/AM
$149.99
Storage capacity | 500GB-2TB |
---|---|
Password protection | Yes |
Connectivity | USB-C, USB-A |
Read speed | 1,050 MB/s |
WDBAGF0010BGD-WESN
$139.99
Storage capacity | 500GB-4TB |
---|---|
Password protection | Yes |
Connectivity | USB-C, USB-A |
Read speed | 1,050 MB/s |
CT1000X8SSD9
$124.95
Storage capacity | 500GB-2TB |
---|---|
Password protection | No |
Connectivity | USB-C, USB-A |
Read speed | 1,050 MB/s |
ASE800-1TU32G2-CBL
$129.99
Storage capacity | 512GB-1TB |
---|---|
Password protection | No |
Connectivity | USB-C, USB-A |
Read speed | 1,000 MB/s |
RP-UM003
$149.99
Storage capacity | 1 TB |
---|---|
Password protection | Yes |
Connectivity | USB-C, USB-A |
Read speed | 540 MB/s |
Image | 1 ![]() SanDisk | 2 ![]() Samsung | 3 ![]() Western Digital | 4 ![]() Samsung | 5 ![]() Sabrent | 6 ![]() SAMSUNG | 7 ![]() Western Digital | 8 ![]() Crucial | 9 ![]() ADATA | 10 ![]() RAVPower |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Extreme PRO | X5 Portable SSD | WD_Black 1TB P50 | T7 Touch Portable SSD | Rocket Nano Rugged SSD | T7 Portable SSD | My Passport SSD | X8 Portable SSD | SE800 | Portable External SSD Pro |
Features | A High Performance Portable SSD Made for Travel | A Powerful Portable SSD for Tech-Savvy Professionals | A Portable SSD Made for Console Gamers | A Smooth Portable SSD With Fingerprint Security | A Small Portable SSD With Extra Protection | A Vibrant and Fast Palm-Sized Portable SSD | A Simple Portable SSD With Backwards Compatibility | A Strong and Durable Portable SSD | A Rugged SSD Built for Travel | A Reliable and Slim Portable SSD |
Price | $199.99 | $349.35 | $309.99 | $179.99 | $159.99 | $149.99 | $139.99 | $124.95 | $129.99 | $149.99 |
Storage capacity | 500GB-2TB | 500GB-2TB | 500GB-4TB | 500GB-2TB | 512GB-2TB | 500GB-2TB | 500GB-4TB | 500GB-2TB | 512GB-1TB | 1 TB |
Password protection | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Connectivity | USB-C, USB-A | USB-C | USB-C, USB-A | USB-C, USB-A | USB-C, USB-A | USB-C, USB-A | USB-C, USB-A | USB-C, USB-A | USB-C, USB-A | USB-C, USB-A |
Read speed | 2,000 MB/s | 2,800 MB/s | 2,000 MB/s | 1,050 MB/s | 1,000 MB/s | 1,050 MB/s | 1,050 MB/s | 1,050 MB/s | 1,000 MB/s | 540 MB/s |
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Portable SSDs are a great way to get lots of storage that will also transfer quickly. Before you go shop, here are some tips on how to select the right portable SSD for you.
Portable SSDs, or solid state drives, are portable storage devices for computers. They are similar to flash drives, but are bigger in physical size and have much more storage capacity.
Even the slowest SSD is three times as fast as an average HDD. Although SSDs will always excel in speed, HDDs offer a lot more storage space at nearly half the price, or even less. However, HDDs are noisier and take up more physical space than SSDs. SSDs are also more physically durable than HDDs.
SSDs are best for people who need functionality and reliability. HDDs are only recommended if you need lots of storage space for a cheaper price, such as for your video collection.
External SSDs are made as portable, standalone storage devices that can be easily used on many different computers. However, internal SSDs are storage devices that must be connected to the motherboard of a computer, so they aren’t easily portable. If you’re looking for a portable SSD, make sure that it’s external, not internal.
Portable SSDs may have one or multiple options for USB port compatibility. Common USB ports nowadays can be USB-C, USB 3.2, and USB 4.
Each USB type has different transfer speeds, but you should make sure that your portable SSD and devices have at least one USB port type in common. You can also buy a USB adapter if needed.
Some portable SSDs may also allow wireless transfers. Wireless transfers can either be over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. However, wireless is usually slower than wired.
If you plan to store or transfer any sensitive data, you may want a portable SSD with password protection. The password protection feature may either be physically on the SSD or digital.
Common physical passwords may be PIN codes or fingerprints. Common digital passwords can be Triple DES, RSA, Blowfish, Twofish, and AES.
Sometimes you'll see products with ratings of IPX with a number. The higher the number, the higher the water resistance. IPX3 means that it can resist a spray of water, IPX6 means that it can resist some water jets, and IPX8 means that it's completely waterproof.
Most portable SSDs will fall somewhere from IPX6 and below. If it has a rating of IP with numbers, it means it's also dust-resistant. For example, IP67 means it's fully dust-resistant and can survive shallow bodies of water for a short time.
Portable SSDs are only one way to transfer digital data between devices. Check out our other articles for more ideas!
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