Whether or not you are backing up necessary information, enhancing movies at the cross or simply releasing up house for your pc, a quick and dependable SSD power could make your workflow an entire lot smoother. The most productive moveable SSD choices in 2025 mix velocity, sturdiness and large compatibility, continuously the usage of USB Sort-C connections for fast transfers throughout gadgets. Not like a standard thumb power and even the most efficient exterior challenging drives, those compact powerhouses can be offering sooner learn speeds, continuously hitting a number of hundred and even 1000’s of Mbps, particularly with high-performance NVMe SSD fashions.
Whether or not you are managing massive information or launching apps at once out of your power, we’ve got rounded up the most efficient SSDs that ship superb functionality with out weighing you down.
Desk of contents
Highest exterior SSDs for 2025
Picture through Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Capacities: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | Dimension: 2.56 x 1.97 x 0.39 inches | Weight: 1.34 oz. | USB interface: USB 3.2 Gen 2 | Controller/bridge chip: Silicon Movement SM2320 | NAND sort: TLC | Rated most sequential speeds: 1,050 MB/s learn, 1,050 MB/s write | Guaranty: 5 years
The An important X9 Professional completed at or simply underneath the highest in every of our benchmarks relative to its velocity category, and it stayed noticeably cooler than lots of the different drives we examined after prolonged use. It’s a USB 3.2 Gen 2 style, so it’s slower than possible choices according to Thunderbolt, USB4 or USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, nevertheless it prices much less, and it’s nonetheless fast ample for the non-professional duties the general public do with a conveyable SSD. Ports that may in reality make the most of USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds have a tendency to be extra ubiquitous on mainstream computer systems, too. This isn’t the most affordable 10 Gbps power round, nevertheless it’s in the similar ballpark as its friends and isn’t too pricey. As of this writing, a 1TB style is to be had for $95, despite the fact that it continuously is going for much less. (We’ve noticed it fall as little as $60 previously.) 2TB and 4TB variations also are to be had.
But even so its moderately fast functionality, the X9 Professional stands proud for being so tiny. Its aluminum case is shorter than a bank card and simple to slot in a pocket, weighing in at simply 1.34 oz.. The entire thing is IP55-rated, so it’ll continue to exist mud and water splashes, and it’s sponsored with a five-year guaranty, which is a pair years longer than some possible choices.
Our best genuine lawsuits are that the integrated USB-C cable is small and there’s no adapter for USB-A ports within the field. And whilst the X9 Professional can make the most of 256-bit hardware-based encryption, Micron (An important’s dad or mum corporate) hasn’t launched its personal password coverage instrument to take complete good thing about it. We’ll additionally observe that there’s a less expensive non-”Professional” X9, however that one makes use of QLC flash, so it’s now not as sturdy or immediate (particularly with sustained writes). The X9 Professional is the easier purchase.
- Nice functionality for its velocity category
- Rugged and tremendous compact shape issue
- Remains moderately cool with prolonged use
- 5-year guaranty
- There are less expensive 10 Gbps drives
- Integrated USB-C cable is brief, and there is not any USB-A cable within the field
Picture through Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Capacities: 1TB, 2TB | Dimension: 2.74 x 1.28 x 0.53 inches | Weight: 1.01 oz. | USB interface: USB 3.2 Gen 2 | Controller/bridge chip: Silicon Movement SM2320 | NAND sort: TLC | Rated most sequential speeds: 1,050 MB/s learn, 1,000 MB/s write | Guaranty: 5 years
The Kingston XS1000 plays in a similar way to the An important X9 Professional however continuously retails for much less, so it’s a just right selection if you wish to avoid wasting money. A 1TB style is to be had for $75 as we write this, which is $20 not up to the X9 Professional, whilst the 2TB model is right down to $120, which is a kind of $30 drop. There’s no 4TB choice, despite the fact that.
At the ones costs, the XS1000 is a superb worth for on a regular basis backups and transfers. It saved up with or relatively edged the X9 Professional throughout our benchmarks: In our customized document switch check, as an example, its reads have been a 2nd sooner, whilst its writes have been best six seconds slower. (The 2 drives seem to have similar internals and are according to a an identical controller — the Silicon Energy SM2320G — so this is probably not an enormous wonder.) It crowned each and every USB 3.2 Gen 2 power we examined in 3DMark’s gaming garage benchmark as nicely. It’s relatively thicker than the X9 Professional however nonetheless splendidly moveable, with its stubby oblong design weighing simply over an oz. Just like the An important power, it’s sponsored through a five-year guaranty.
The place Kingston’s style falls at the back of An important’s X9 Professional is within the extras. There’s no formal IP or drop rankings, so we wouldn’t really feel as comfy chucking it round at the cross. It lacks hardware-based encryption, and it best comes with a USB-C to A cable, so that you’ll wish to provide your personal adapter in case your pc best has USB-C ports. It doesn’t keep reasonably as cool because the X9 Professional with steady use, and its sustained write functionality isn’t as immediate both, so it’s value paying up in case you plan to steadily replica masses of gigabytes to the SSD (and will’t simply get a higher-class style). For the cash, despite the fact that, all of this can be more uncomplicated to fail to remember.
- Quicker than maximum 10 Gbps drives we examined
- Aggressively priced
- Extremely moveable
- 5-year guaranty
- No formal water-resistance or drop coverage
- No USB-C to C cable within the field
- Handiest to be had in 1TB or 2TB
- Slower sustained write functionality than X9 Professional with very massive information
Picture through Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Capacities: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | Dimension: 4.13 x 2.52 x 0.62 inches (with fan off), 4.82 x 2.52 x 0.62 inches (with fan on) | Weight: 6.4 oz. | USB interface: USB4 (40 Gbps) | Controller/bridge chip: Asmedia ASM2464PD | NAND sort: TLC | Rated most sequential speeds: 3,800 MB/s learn, 3,700 MB/s write | Guaranty: 5 years
If you happen to’re a media editor, IT reliable or simply an fanatic keen to pay for a considerably sooner moveable SSD, get the . It makes use of the more recent USB4 interface and blew away each and every non-40 Gbps power we examined throughout our benchmark assessments.
In AmorphousDiskMark, as an example, the An important X9 Professional delivered sequential reads and writes round 1,015 MB/s and 950 MB/s, respectively; with the SE920, the ones have been about 3,350 MB/s and three,125 MB/s. In our customized combined document switch check, we have been in a position to transport our 70GB folder to our MacBook in 32 seconds; with the X9 Professional, that procedure averaged about 81 seconds. Writing the folder to the power, in the meantime, used to be about 30 seconds sooner. If you happen to’re purchasing an exterior SSD to transport round massive chunks of knowledge, this type of bounce provides up.
The power itself is considerably larger and thicker than both of our choices above, nevertheless it’s now not so massive that we’d name it unwieldy. It’s concerning the measurement of a deck of playing cards, so it’ll have compatibility higher in a bag than a pants pocket. Past that, the brushed steel external feels crisp to touch, and ADATA helps the tool with a five-year guaranty.
That stated, this factor can get severely scorching. The design features a integrated micro fan to lend a hand fritter away warmth, which you turn on simply by clicking the case down; that’s artful, nevertheless it’s now not ample to stay the power cool by itself. All of this comes at a value top class, too, with a 1TB style recently to be had for $180. But when functionality is the one factor that issues to you, it will have to be profitable.
- Blazingly immediate 40 Gbps functionality
- Slick steel enclosure
- Smaller than different USB4 and Thunderbolt SSDs we examined
- Suave integrated fan
- 5-year guaranty
- Will get scorching even with fan activated
- Pricier and nonetheless greater than different choices
- Calls for USB4 port to achieve most speeds
Different exterior SSDs we examined
The pre-built OWC Categorical 1M2 is a premium-feeling USB4 SSD that’s kind of as immediate because the ADATA SE920, nevertheless it’s greater and considerably dearer as of this writing.
If you happen to’re within the moderately small staff with a PC that helps USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 however now not Thunderbolt or USB4, the An important X10 Professional is basically a sooner model of our peak pick out. The Lexar SL600 is a bigger however relatively sooner choice, whilst the Lexar SL500, Kingston XS2000 or Samsung T9 may just additionally paintings in case you see them on bargain. As a reminder, despite the fact that, drives like those are aimed basically at content material creators and different execs, and you have got to you should definitely received’t improve to a tool with a sooner USB interface anytime quickly.
The Samsung T7 Defend has a with ease rugged design with a rubberized, IP65-rated shell. It additionally comes with each USB-C and USB-A cables. But it surely used to be constantly slower than the X9 Professional and XS1000 in our benchmark assessments, plus it has a shorter three-year guaranty.
The Silicon Energy PX10 is a particularly reasonably priced USB 3.2 Gen 2 style. Its top speeds weren’t too a ways off the X9 Professional or XS1000 in artificial benchmarks, however it might get distractingly scorching and its sustained writes are markedly worse. It took 50 seconds longer to transport our 70GB customized check folder to this power in comparison to the X9 Professional, as an example.
The An important X6 is some other low cost choice that’s a just right bit slower than our peak choices. It’s restricted to a three-year guaranty and lacks an IP score as nicely. It’s now not a horrible choice for the fundamentals, however there’s little explanation why to get it over the XS1000 when their costs are an identical.
The OWC Envoy Professional FX is well-built and helps Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.2 Gen 2, nevertheless it’s a smidge slower than the SE920 and Categorical 1M2, and it’s a lot pricier than the previous.
What to believe earlier than purchasing an exterior SSD
Capability
The very first thing to determine earlier than purchasing a conveyable SSD is simply how a lot space for storing you want. Lots of the SSD drives we regarded as for this information are to be had in capacities starting from one to 4 terabytes, despite the fact that numerous smaller and bigger choices exist.
There’s no hard-and-fast rule for which measurement is “easiest” — that’ll in the end rely on your price range and what precisely you’re taking a look to stash. However usually, it’s higher to overcompensate than underdo it. No person needs to be compelled into purchasing a 2nd power as a result of they stuffed the primary one up too temporarily. If you happen to’re backing up a PC, a just right rule of thumb is to shop for an exterior SSD with two times as a lot house as your laptop’s inner garage. This fashion, you’ll be able to save a minimum of one complete backup whilst additionally having room for added information. If you wish to retailer a number of PlayStation or Xbox video games with massive set up sizes, chances are you’ll want extra space. If you happen to simply wish to again up a small number of information, you will be at an advantage saving your money and simply getting a smaller USB flash power or thumb power as an alternative, which aren’t reasonably the similar as the most efficient moveable SSDs we examined for this information.
Worth
Generally, you get a greater price-per-gigabyte ratio the additional you cross up the capability ladder. As of this writing, the 1TB Samsung T9 is priced at $130, or $0.13 consistent with gigabyte (GB), whilst the 4TB model is to be had for $297 or $0.07 consistent with GB. That technically makes the bigger style a greater “worth,” however now not everybody must pay that a lot more in advance.
SSDs in the similar velocity category have a tendency not to range too wildly in the case of functionality, so a part of our decision-making for this information got here right down to which of them are continuously the most affordable. However costs can range through the years; in case you see that one among our peak choices is priced manner larger than a similar honorable point out, be at liberty to get the latter. At this day and age, prices are extensively trending upwards for even the most efficient SSDs.
Velocity and USB interface
Almost about all exterior SSDs are considerably sooner than mechanical challenging disk drives (HDDs), so that you’ll save time looking forward to information to switch and video games to load it doesn’t matter what. Throughout the marketplace, then again, there are distinct functionality tiers. Those are outlined largely through the USB interface a power helps. Whilst the entire SSDs we regarded as for this information can attach over USB Sort-C, some USB-C connections can provide sooner switch speeds than others. Sorting via this may get genuine complicated genuine immediate, so we’ll attempt to put it in easy phrases.
You’ll be able to necessarily divide lately’s crop of moveable SSDs into other segments. On the very peak are drives that make the most of the (moderately) new Thunderbolt 5 usual, which has a theoretical most switch charge of 80 gigabits consistent with 2nd (Gbps). (You may even see it market it speeds as much as 120 Gbps, however that spice up doesn’t practice to garage gadgets.) However moveable SSDs that enhance this tech best simply began to trickle out towards the top of 2024, and the marketplace for gadgets with Thunderbolt 5 ports remains to be relatively restricted, with probably the most notable exceptions being Apple’s top-end Macs with an M4 Professional or M4 Max chip.
Thunderbolt 5 is constructed on a spec referred to as USB4, which is able to technically achieve as much as 80 Gbps as nicely however is extra normally to be had in a taste that tops out at 40 Gbps. Moveable SSDs according to that normal began to roll out towards the top of 2023 however are nonetheless moderately rare. The older Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4, which different high-end exterior SSDs proceed to make use of, enhance the similar 40 Gbps most.
A 3rd model of USB4, in the meantime, maxes at 20 Gbps, as does an older but extra steadily used usual referred to as USB 3.2 Gen 2×2. Underneath this is USB 3.2 Gen 2, which maxes at 10 Gbps. Then there’s USB 3.2 Gen 1, which is capped at 5 Gbps. Finally, we’ll package deal in combination SSDs that use older requirements and aren’t value taking into account right here.
To make this simple: For on a regular basis people, a just right USB 3.2 Gen 2 power is the candy spot between fast-enough functionality, wide-enough compatibility and cheap-enough fee, so the ones make up our number one suggestions above. If you happen to paintings in an inventive box or don’t thoughts paying further to shave seconds off your massive document transfers, despite the fact that, a “higher-tier” style would make sense. Then again, observe that precise computer systems that make the most of USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 aren’t tremendous commonplace — no Mac helps it, for one — and the interface is successfully being changed through USB4.
Generally, your chain is best as sturdy as its weakest hyperlink: In case your laptop best has USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, as an example, it is advisable nonetheless use a Thunderbolt SSD, however you received’t get past Gen 2 speeds. Make sure to know what you’re operating with before you purchase.
As a refresher, garage gadgets are extensively measured in the case of learn speeds and write speeds. The previous refers to how lengthy it takes to get admission to one thing from the power; the latter, how lengthy it takes to avoid wasting one thing to it. From there, you’ll be able to wreck those metrics into sequential and random functionality. Sequential speeds have a tendency to topic extra with moveable SSDs, since the general public use them to avoid wasting or get admission to lengthy, consistent streams of knowledge akin to a number of high-res footage. Random speeds could be necessary if you wish to run video video games or apps off the power, since that’d contain studying and writing smaller, extra scattered information. Both manner, how nicely an SSD can maintain its functionality with prolonged use could also be important.
Different functionality components and enclosures
A contemporary moveable SSD’s speeds aren’t near to its USB interface, despite the fact that. Its functionality too can rely on how complicated its controller is, whether or not it has a local USB flash controller or a separate bridge chip to keep up a correspondence with a bunch tool, the type and high quality of NAND flash reminiscence it makes use of, whether or not it has a DRAM cache or it’s DRAM-less, and extra.
We’re simplifying issues, however listed here are some fast guidelines: Drives with triple-level mobile (TLC) reminiscence aren’t as reasonably-priced as quad-level mobile (QLC) SSDs, however they’re normally extra dependable and so they be offering higher write functionality. Having a devoted DRAM cache is helping in case you plan to hit your power with extra intense, sustained workloads, however is probably not value the additional price for the general public. Some fashions with local flash controllers won’t carry out in addition to the ones with a bridging chip, relying at the SSD within, however they normally draw much less warmth and are bodily smaller. All of that is to mention that an exterior SSD’s speeds aren’t reasonably as easy as what the producer chooses to market it at the field.
It’s additionally value remembering that you’ll be able to flip an inner SSD into a conveyable answer with a just right enclosure. When you have a spare power and don’t thoughts going the DIY direction, this is a less expensive and extra versatile answer, despite the fact that we’ve caught to pre-built fashions for this information for the sake of simplicity.
Dimension, sturdiness, staying power and guaranty
Maximum moveable SSDs are impressively small and light-weight, so that they received’t be tough to tuck in a bag (or perhaps a pocket) and take at the cross. We observe above if any power is bulkier than same old.
Not anything we’re speaking about issues in case your power can’t final in the long run. It’s challenging to definitively say which exterior SSDs are probably the most dependable, however we scoured via person evaluations and comments whilst researching this information to verify none of our choices display a trend of catastrophic mistakes. If there used to be an excessive amount of smoke round a specific style, we urged transparent. We dominated out sure drives from SanDisk and Western Virtual, as an example, after studies from Ars Technica and The Verge famous a subject matter that ended in information loss (and court cases) in 2023.
That stated, one of the most large causes you’d purchase an SSD usually is its awesome sturdiness. As it has no transferring mechanical portions within, an SSD has a ways fewer avenues to failure than an exterior challenging power. You continue to don’t wish to be careless with them, however an unintended drop shouldn’t be the top of the arena.
Some moveable SSDs construct in this inherent ruggedness with plastic or rubberized casings and extra tough waterproofing. Those aren’t important for everybody, however in case you’re a common traveler or any individual who continuously works outside, there are alternatives for you.
Nonetheless, all drives can fail. When you have any type of information you’d be distraught to lose, you will have to again it up steadily, then make a 2nd backup, preferably with a cloud provider. Alongside the ones protecting traces, we additionally took observe of the guaranty coverage for every power we examined. Almost about they all are sponsored for both 3 or 5 years; after all, longer is best.
Encryption and device
It’s now not unusual to retailer delicate information on a conveyable SSD, so some fashions be offering further security measures like hardware-based encryption — i.e., direct scrambling of knowledge saved at the power itself — integrated keypads and fingerprint readers to give protection to towards unauthorized get admission to if the power is misplaced or stolen. Whilst now not peak necessities, perks like those are definitely just right to have. Some SSDs additionally include spouse device to additional arrange the power. The most productive of the ones will also be to hand to have round, however we wouldn’t name them crucial.
How we check exterior SSDs
Sadly, we didn’t have get admission to to a tool that may make complete use of USB 3.2 Gen 2, USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 and Thunderbolt/USB4 speeds interchangeably, so we needed to cut up our trying out throughout more than one gadgets, together with an M1 Professional MacBook Professional and an Alienware gaming PC working Home windows 11. On account of this, we basically in comparison the moveable SSDs inside of every “category” towards one some other. Earlier than switching OSes, we reformatted every power to every platform’s usual document gadget structure: APFS for macOS and NTFS for Home windows.
After researching which SSDs had ample sure comments to be value trying out within the first position, we put 13 drives via a variety of man-made and “real-world” benchmark assessments. On Home windows, those integrated CrystalDiskMark, PCMark 10’s Information Pressure Benchmark and 3DMark’s gaming-focused Garage Benchmark. On macOS, we used AmorphousDiskMark (successfully a Mac model of CrystalDiskMark), BlackMagic Disk Velocity Take a look at and ATTO Disk Benchmark.
We additionally timed how lengthy it took for every power to learn and write a customized 70GB folder stuffed with kind of 11,500 other information, together with footage, movies, song information, PDFs and different massive and small information sorts scattered throughout a large number of subfolders. We carried out more than one passes for every check to steer clear of irregularities, and we saved monitor of every SSD’s warmth ranges over the process the entire suite. Our procedure wasn’t a super science, nevertheless it gave us a basic sense of ways every power compares to different fashions in its fee and function vary.
Contemporary updates
February 2025: We’ve checked to verify the pricing data and hyperlinks on this information are nonetheless correct. We’ve additionally added main points at the (moderately) new Thunderbolt 5 interface, which has been applied in a pair fresh moveable SSDs just like the OWC Envoy Extremely and LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5. We’ll glance to incorporate trying out notes for the ones for our subsequent replace, as they will have to be sooner than the ADATA SE920, our present top class pick out, albeit for a miles larger fee. For now, despite the fact that, our peak choices stay the similar.
October 2024: We’ve taken a sweep via this information to verify all pricing and availability data remains to be right kind. Our suggestions are unchanged.
