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If you’re wondering which external ssds are worth your money, stick around! After we run through each product, I’ll give you my personal take—Would I buy it, or would I skip it? No fluff, just my honest opinion. Let’s get into it!
Watch the video version: 2025's Best External SSDs Tested - The Results Are Surprising!
ADATA Elite SE880
This tiny powerhouse promises blazing-fast speeds up to 2000MB/s, but in real-world tests, it falls short of its claims. While it’s incredibly compact and durable, the SE880 suffers from serious thermal throttling issues that can significantly impact performance during extended writes. The lack of hardware encryption is a bummer for security-conscious users, and at its price point, there are better options available. Its mediocre random read and write performance might disappoint those working with lots of small files.
Would I buy it?
No. The thermal throttling and lack of hardware encryption are deal-breakers for me, especially considering its price.
LaCie Rugged SSD Pro
This beast of an external SSD delivers on its promise of lightning-fast speeds, hitting up to 2.8 GBps in Thunderbolt 3 mode. Its rugged, silicon-coated casing with IP67 rating gives me peace of mind when working in challenging environments. The included 5-year warranty with data recovery services is a huge plus for professionals dealing with critical data. While it’s pricey, the performance and durability justify the cost for those who need top-tier reliability and speed.
Would I buy it?
Yes. The combination of blazing speed, durability, and excellent warranty makes it worth the investment for professional use.
SanDisk Extreme Pro
This portable SSD impresses with its sleek design and robust build quality, featuring IP55 water and dust resistance. Its read and write speeds are incredibly fast, especially when paired with a computer that has an SSD. The small size and lightweight nature make it perfect for on-the-go use, easily slipping into a pocket. However, it’s on the pricier side, which might be a deterrent for budget-conscious buyers.
Would I buy it?
Maybe. While its performance and portability are excellent, the high price point makes it a tough decision unless you really need the speed and durability.
Lexar SL660 Blaze
This gaming-focused SSD comes with flashy RGB lighting, but it’s more than just looks. It offers good performance with up to 2000MB/s read and 1900MB/s write speeds, making it suitable for gaming and content creation. The included software support and accessories like a pouch and dock are nice touches. However, it’s relatively expensive compared to competitors and lacks hardware encryption, which might be a deal-breaker for some users.
Would I buy it?
No. Despite its gaming aesthetics and decent performance, the high price and lack of hardware encryption make it hard to recommend over other options in the market.
SanDisk Desk Drive
This external SSD offers impressive storage capacity, with options up to a whopping 8TB. While it performs well in benchmarks, particularly in the PCMark 10 general storage test, it’s a bit bulky for an external SSD and requires a separate power adapter. The drive runs a bit warm during operation, which might be a concern for some users. At its price point, it’s slightly more expensive per gigabyte compared to other USB 3.2 Gen 2 SSDs.
Would I buy it?
No. The bulkiness, need for a separate power adapter, and higher price per gigabyte make it less appealing for most users looking for a portable SSD solution.
SanDisk Professional PRO-G40
This rugged external SSD boasts impressive read speeds of up to 3,000 MB/s and write speeds of up to 2,500 MB/s when used with Thunderbolt 3. It’s built to withstand the elements with an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance, making it a great choice for photographers and videographers working in challenging environments. However, the performance drops significantly when using USB 3.2 instead of Thunderbolt 3. The drive comes with a 5-year warranty, which is longer than many competitors.
Would I buy it?
Maybe. While its ruggedness and performance are impressive, the high price and performance drop with USB 3.2 might not justify the cost for users who don’t need the extreme durability or lack Thunderbolt 3 ports.
WD My Passport SSD
This portable SSD offers a sleek, compact design with a rugged aluminum body that can withstand drops from up to 6.5 feet. It provides excellent performance for a USB 3.2 Gen 2 drive, with read speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s and write speeds of up to 1,000 MB/s. The drive includes useful security features like hardware encryption, but some of the bundled software feels unnecessary. One downside is that it tends to run warm during operation.
Would I buy it?
Maybe. The combination of good performance, compact design, and useful security features make it a solid choice, but the heat issue and some unnecessary software might be drawbacks for some users.
Crucial X10 Pro
This external SSD supports USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, offering impressive read speeds of up to 2,100 MB/s and write speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s. It comes in capacities of 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB, providing plenty of storage options. The drive features hardware encryption for added security and boasts an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance. However, it’s a bit pricey compared to some competitors, and it doesn’t include a USB-A cable adapter.
Would I buy it?
Yes. Despite the higher price, the X10 Pro’s combination of fast performance, durability, and hardware encryption make it a top choice for users who need a reliable and speedy external SSD.
Silicon Power PX10
This budget-friendly portable SSD offers impressive performance for its price point, delivering read speeds up to 957 MB/s and write speeds up to 979 MB/s in ATTO benchmarks. Its aluminum construction provides durability, withstanding accidental drops of up to 1.2m, while its compact size makes it highly portable. However, it lacks hardware-based encryption, which may be a concern for security-conscious users. The drive’s aluminum shell can get quite warm during sustained writes, potentially affecting long-term performance.
Would I buy it?
No. While it offers good value, the lack of encryption and potential heat issues make it less appealing for professional use.
OWC Envoy Pro FX
This NVMe SSD drive boasts exceptional read speeds of up to 2,870 MB/s, surpassing even the manufacturer’s claims. Its versatility shines through with compatibility across various operating systems and game consoles. The drive’s aluminum enclosure gives it a premium feel, but it can get quite warm during prolonged use. Despite its impressive performance, the Envoy Pro FX experiences a significant slowdown when writing large files, with speeds dropping to around 350 MB/s.
Would I buy it?
No. Although it offers blazing-fast read speeds, the write speed inconsistency and heating issues make it less reliable for heavy-duty tasks.
Samsung X5
This portable SSD is a speed demon, achieving jaw-dropping read speeds of up to 2,800 MB/s and write speeds of up to 2,300 MB/s. Its sleek design houses Thunderbolt 3 technology, allowing it to utilize all four PCIe lanes for maximum performance. The X5 comes with Samsung’s portable SSD software, offering optional password protection and AES 256-bit hardware data encryption without performance penalties. However, this top-tier performance comes with a steep price premium, making it a significant investment.
Would I buy it?
Yes. Despite the high cost, the X5’s unparalleled speed and robust security features make it an excellent choice for professionals who demand the best performance.
Samsung T9
This latest addition to Samsung’s portable SSD lineup offers improved speeds over its predecessor, with promised rates of up to 2000 MBps using USB 3.2 2×2. It boasts impressive durability with three meters of drop protection and IP65 resistance, making it suitable for on-the-go use. The T9 comes with two cables in the box and is backed by a five-year warranty, adding value to the package. However, Mac users may not fully benefit from its speed improvements due to limited USB 3.2 2×2 support.
Would I buy it?
Maybe. While it offers great performance and durability, the lack of full Mac support might be a dealbreaker for some users.
Kingston XS1000
This compact SSD is incredibly portable, weighing just 28.7g and measuring 7cm long. It offers impressive read speeds of up to 1050MB/s and comes with a generous 5-year warranty. However, it lacks hardware encryption, which might be a deal-breaker for business users. The XS1000 is limited to 2TB capacity, while many competitors now offer 4TB options.
Would I buy it?
Maybe. It’s affordable and performs well, but the lack of hardware encryption and larger capacity options might be limiting for some users.
Western Digital P40
This external SSD is a powerhouse, delivering sequential read and write speeds of up to 2,147.10 MB/s and 2,004.10 MB/s respectively in CrystalDiskMark 8. It features customizable RGB lighting that syncs with popular lighting apps like Razer Chroma and Asus Aura Sync. The P40 is shock-resistant from a drop height of up to 2 meters, making it durable for on-the-go use. Its 4K-64 thread performance is particularly impressive, which is great for gaming.
Would I buy it?
Yes. The combination of high performance, durability, and gamer-friendly features make it an excellent choice for enthusiasts.
WD Black D50 Game Dock
This isn’t just an external SSD; it’s a full-fledged docking station with a built-in NVMe SSD. It offers a plethora of ports, including three USB-A Gen 2 ports, two USB Type-C ports, and a DisplayPort 1.4 for up to 5K at 60Hz output. The D50 Game Dock provides 87W power pass-through, which is enough for most laptops during everyday tasks. However, it’s quite expensive and lacks an HDMI port and SD card reader.
Would I buy it?
No. While it’s feature-packed, the high price and missing ports make it less appealing for most users compared to standalone external SSDs.
Samsung T7 Shield
This rugged SSD boasts an IP65 rating, making it dust and water-resistant. It’s compact and superbly built, perfect for users who need durability. In benchmark tests, it achieved read speeds ranging from 827 to 970MBps and write speeds from 812 to 944MBps. The T7 Shield comes with useful software like Samsung Magician for SSD maintenance and Portable SSD for password protection.
Would I buy it?
Yes. Its combination of durability, solid performance, and useful software make it a great choice for users who need a reliable external SSD for various environments.
SK Hynix Beetle X31
While it boasts impressive read and write speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s and 1,000 MB/s respectively, the Beetle X31’s maximum capacity of 1TB feels limiting compared to other options on the market. The champagne gold finish and compact size make it visually appealing and portable, but the higher price point doesn’t justify its performance. Its durability features, including a 2-meter drop resistance, are nice to have, but the lack of IP rating for water and dust protection is a letdown.
Would I buy it?
No, because despite its stylish design and decent performance, the limited capacity and higher price make it less competitive in the current external SSD market.
Samsung T7
I’ve been really impressed with the T7’s combination of speed and portability, offering read speeds up to 1,050 MB/s and write speeds up to 1,000 MB/s in a compact package. The drive’s aluminum build feels premium and durable, with the ability to withstand drops of up to 2 meters. I appreciate the included USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cables, making it versatile for different devices. The AES 256-bit hardware encryption adds a layer of security that’s crucial for sensitive data.
Would I buy it?
Yes, because the T7 strikes an excellent balance between performance, portability, and security, making it a versatile choice for various users.
Samsung SSD 860 EVO
This SSD offers a solid upgrade from its predecessor with improved speeds and significantly better endurance. While it’s not the fastest on the market due to SATA 3 protocol limitations, it still provides reliable performance for most users. The drive comes in various form factors including 2.5-inch, mSATA, and M.2, offering flexibility for different setups. However, as an internal SSD, it lacks the plug-and-play convenience of external drives like the T7 or Beetle X31.
Would I buy it?
Maybe, because while it’s a reliable and well-performing internal SSD, newer NVMe drives offer faster speeds, and for portable use, external SSDs like the T7 are more convenient.
Thanks for watching, I hope this video helped you pick the external ssds for you. If you have any questions, drop a comment below. Links to all of these products mentioned in this video will be in the description.
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