The best external SSDs 2022

Update, 06/04/2022: We have added a new section to this review, the best robust SSD.

What to look for in a 2022 SSD

Solid-state technology has advanced so much over the past few years that you only need to consider two things when buying an external SSD: storage and use case.

When it comes to storage, it’s relatively simple. Most people aspire to higher capacities, but this is not always necessary, especially if you are willing to manage storage in the form of deleting old files.

It is true that the storage space on the SSD becomes exponentially more expensive as you increase, so it is best to target an external SSD of 1TB or 2TB. If you need more space, it might be better to look at an external hard drive (HDD) and have fun at lower speeds.

The next thing you want to consider is how you will use an SSD. Will you wear it often? If so, you will probably want to choose a more robust design, especially one that is impact resistant.

On the other hand, if you primarily use it to replenish low-capacity internal memory for a laptop or console, you should focus on SSDs with read / write speeds.

Finally, just as importantly, choose something you like! They’ll probably spend a lot of time next to you, so it’s a good idea to get something that’s nice to look at.

With all this in mind, let’s get into the best SSDs you can buy.

Best external SSD overall: Samsung T7

Although at first glance the Samsung T7 Portable SSD may not look like much, further examination turns out to be more than the sum of its parts.

Take, for example, the read / write speed, which is approximately 1050 MB / second. It’s a fairly medium speed for an SSD, but when you consider that the 1TB version costs only $ 139, it’s a great price compared to some of its competitors.

Then add the form factor – it’s really small, about the size of a credit card, which means it’s really easy to carry around.

When you combine speed, price and size, the T7 goes beyond its weight category. But when you realize that it also has 256-bit AES encryption, a military-level encryption protocol, you know that Samsung is doing its best on this.

Finally, in a set of great features, it comes with two different 18-inch cables, USB Gen-C on C cable and USB-A on C cable. These are cables that support speeds up to 20Gbps, which is very fast. It’s also impressive that these two high-end cables come in a box; it’s not something you often see with these SSDs in this price range.

The only real downside to the T7 is that it doesn’t have an IP rating for water or dust, which means you’ll have to be somewhat careful with it, which affects portability. It also comes with only a 3-year warranty compared to the 5-year warranty that most other SSDs come with.

Still, the positives far outweigh the negatives, making the T7 the best external SSD.

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading from an external HDD to an SSD, but don’t want to spend a ton of money, the SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD keeps your back. Robust design and IP55 rating mean it can withstand both rain and falls from a height of up to two meters.

In terms of speed, the 1TB version comes with 1,050 MB / second read / write speed which should be more than enough for most uses. Just keep in mind that this SSD gets less and less speed as the capacity decreases, so check again depending on the storage size you want.

Of course, all of this comes at a great price of just over $ 100. If you are willing to invest a little more money, you should consider purchasing the second generation of this line, the SanDisk Extreme PRO Portable SSD Gen 2 × 2. It’s just over $ 200 for 1TB, but it comes with 2,000 MB / second read / write speed and is a good upgrade if you need high speed editing work.

Also, although this is a technically robust SSD, it is still best to buy a carrying case for it. The Yinke Hard Case is made specifically for SanDisk Extreme, so it’s more than worth buying.

If there’s ever an external SSD that looks like it means work, it’s the WD_Black P50. At 2000 MB / second, this small drive can transfer files relatively quickly between your SSD and your PS5, and while it probably won’t surpass installing an internal NVMe drive, it’s the best external PS5 SSD you’ll find.

Although at first glance the P50 is a bit more expensive per GB, when you consider how well it works for the PS5, it’s actually a good price. The value of the offer for PC users, on the other hand, is average. Nominal speeds of WD_Black are mostly reserved for USB 3.2 gen 2 × 2, which is not something that most laptops or desktops have. So, if you are mostly planning to use this for PC or Mac, it is better to look elsewhere.

In terms of size, you can find the P50 from 500GB to 4TB. If you can manage storage well, then 1TB or 2TB is the size we recommend because they have the best price. There’s also a 1TB Call of Duty release, which looks great and is a great option if you’re a CoD fan.

Warning: Note that you cannot play PS5 games from an external SSD; only an internal SSD expansion card can do this. You can still store PS5 games as well as play compatible PS4 games outside of it.

No wonder the WD_Black P50 is also a great external SSD for the Xbox. Given that the Xbox Series X comes with 1TB of internal memory, and the S Series with only a relatively small 500GB, you’ll almost certainly need some form of expandable memory, and the P50 is a great option.

Of course, if you’re willing to invest a little more money, you can get an official Seagate expansion card that’s explicitly made for Xbox series consoles. Although they have a high price tag of 2TB, they also take advantage of Microsoft’s Velocity Architecture, allowing you to play Series X / S and optimized games.

Warning: Just like with the PS5, you can’t play Xbox Series X / S games from an external SSD or optimized games from the previous generation. Instead, external SSDs are a great option for storing games you are not currently playing or games compatible with previous versions that are not optimized for the X / S Series.

One of the best things the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro has for this is that it is extremely fast for external SSDs. In fact, it not only competes and replaces the WD_Black P50, as it can reach 2,800 MB / second, but can easily hit them since it works with Thunderbolt 3.

Better yet, it can use USB-C and is compatible with USB 3.1 and 3.2, so you don’t have to worry about it working with any current equipment you have.

Speaking of equipment, the LaCie is quite robust and has an IP67 rating, which makes it quite durable. This is great if you do a lot of live shows, record in the desert or generally like to do productions outside the home. With LaCie, you don’t have to worry about it falling and being damaged, and even if it is, it comes with a 5-year warranty and data recovery.

Of course, you pay quite a penny for all these features, but it is well worth it for the sake of peace.

Our best choice – the Samsung T7 – ​​is a fantastic external SSD for most people. But if you are looking for something more durable, then the Samsung T7 Shield will be a better bet. It retains everything we love about the T7 and adds IP65 resistance to water and dust. As a result, you don’t have to worry about dust, and the SSD can survive even a jet of low pressure water.

In addition, the T7 Shield comes with a rubber cover that can absorb shocks from a height of up to 9.8 feet.

Like other Samsung T7 series SSDs, the T7 Shield supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 and has an advertised read / write speed of up to 1,050 / 1,000 MB / s. However, you are more likely to achieve a write speed of 800 MB / s and a read speed of 700 MB / s, as we found in our testing.

Among other features, the Samsung SSD includes support for hardware-based AES-256 encryption. So, if you want, you can password protect your data. However, you will need the company’s Portable SSD software to unlock the drive.

The Samsung T7 Shield is available in 1TB and 2TB sizes, and you can choose from three color options.

Best Portable External SSD: Adata SD700

When one thinks of portable SSDs, one thinks of something that can withstand the elements relatively well. The Adata SD700 succeeds in large quantities, with its IP68 rating, one of the highest for water and dirt resistance.

Similarly, there is the MIL-STD-810G 516.6, a standard created by the United States military that includes different tests and different products. This even includes MIL-STD phone cases, although mileage can vary. Regardless, all it means to you is that it can withstand a 2-meter drop without damaging the interior.

Of course, it’s not a perfect external SSD, and one of the major drawbacks is that it doesn’t use USB-C connections. The ADATA SSD uses a SATA cable instead, so if you lose the one that comes with the drive, you’ll have to buy a new SATA to USB cable. It’s not something you usually have around!

Also, speeds are slightly slower than 440MB / second compared to some other drives on the list. This is not a breach of contract considering how robust it is, but it should definitely be taken into account.

In general, the disadvantages are not too bad considering what you get and the price, and if you are willing to endure slower speeds and the lack of USB-C, this is a great portable SSD.