If you’re looking for some extra storage space for your laptop or computer, then it makes sense to look for an external SSD. They’re typically easy to connect you your computer or laptop, and they’re the best form of portable hard drive.
Most laptops nowadays come with an SSD installed, but many of them only come with 256GB of storage space, or even 128GB. And if you don’t want to have to rely on cloud storage, then the best thing you can do is pick up an external SSD.
But when you’re looking for an SSD, what exactly is it that you should be looking for? Well, we’re going to look at some of the main criteria that you want your SSD to meet, as well as some of the best external SSD drives available right now.
Best External SSD Drive
| Product | Image | Size | Speeds | Get More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD |  | 1TB | 550Mb/s | Check Price at Amazon |
| Samsung T5 |  | 1TB | 540Mb/s | Check Price at Amazon |
| Samsung T7 |  | 1TB | 1050Mb/s | Check Price at Amazon |
| WD My Passport Go |  | 500MB | 400Mb/s | Check Price at Amazon |
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD
One brand that you can definitely rely on is Sandisk. They’re well known for their storage options, and you’re probably aware of the name, as they still sell a ton of micro SD cards. However, that’s not all they sell, and this 1TB SSD is probably the best option around.
It’s the little things that make a difference. So whilst to top and bottom of this SSD are plastic, the edges are all made from rubber. This helps to ensure that even if you were to drop it, then it would likely stay undamaged. It’s also very light and will easily fit into your pocket, so it’s not a burden to carry around with your laptop.
In terms of performance, it can reach speeds of up to 550mb/s. Obviously, this will also depend on the device that you’re connecting it to, but for most laptops you’re going to get in excess of 450-500mb/s as a minimum. It’s the perfect option for anyone who’s looking for some immediate extra storage for their device.
The only downside to opting for a name brand is that yes, they’re a little expensive in comparison to some cheaper brands. However, it’s probably best for you to buy something that you know is going to last and keep your data safe. And with Sandisk’s warranty, you can be sure that you’re going to be covered with this one.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: This is still one of the best portable hard drives when it comes to value for money.
Samsung T5
Although I’ll always prefer to opt for a Sandisk SSD over Samsung, there’s no doubting that there are plenty of people out there who would rather stick with Samsung. To be fair, there really isn’t much difference between the two and if you see either of them on sale, then I’d opt for the one on sale!
The T5 provides good read and write speeds and probably the best thing about it is it’s compact design. It weighs just 50 grams and it’s very easy to pack up and put in your rucksack or your pocket, so in terms of portability it’s a good option.
Many will prefer the metal design of the T5 too. You also don’t really need to install the software that comes with this SSD either, and can just use it without.
So, the compact design of this model is probably its best selling point – it’s also shock resistant and can survive drops of up to 2 metres according to Samsung. All in all, it’s another good option for anyone looking for external SSD storage.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: Most people don’t need an expensive high end SSD. The original T5 is still as good as ever.
Samsung T7
If you want a better quality external drive, then you might want to look at the T7. It’s the older brother of the T5, and it does offer a little more than the T5 does.
Whilst the other SSDs mention can reach speeds of up to around 500mb/s, this model can do speeds of around double that.
However with most laptops, you’re not going to get the stated 1050Mb/s, but you will get more than you would with the T5. So if you’re looking for a more premium SSD, then this is definitely one to look at.
In my opinion, for most people there’s no point paying the extra £50 for the T7 over SSD’s like the T5. Whilst it can give higher read and write speeds, it’s not really worth it for most people and you’re just paying extra money for the sake of it (just my opinion!).
So whilst the T7 is still one of the best options if you’re looking for a portable SSD, it may not be worth the slight increase in price. It’s only a tiny bit faster than the T5, so it’s really down to you to decide whether it’s worth that little bit extra.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: Solid data transfer speeds make the T7 a worthy contender for the best SSD.
WD My Passport Go
You don’t need to opt for a Samsung or Sandisk SSD if you don’t want to – there are other brands out there. One of the top ones to consider outside of these two big brands is this WD My Passport Go. This model comes in 500MG, 1GB and 2GB options like most SSDs, with the 500MB being pretty good value for money.
Whilst it doesn’t quite have the same speeds as more expensive SSDs, most people aren’t going to worry about a few seconds difference in time. It’s easily connected to both Mac and Windows devices, so it doesn’t matter what USB type you have – you’ll be able to use it with this model.
Another good thing about this disk is that it’s very durable, and can definitely cope with any bumps or drops that might occur. This is essential in a portable SSD, as you’ll likely be carrying it around with you a lot.
So overall, this is a cheaper option than most others out there, and if you’re looking for a cheap SSD then this might be the right choice.
Pros
Cons
Overall Verdict: If budget is a major concern, then you could opt for a cheaper brand like this SSD.
Common Questions about SSDs
Are external SSD drives as fast as internal SSD drives?
The good thing about opting for an external SSD drive as opposed to a slower form of external storage (like a regular hard disk drive) is that they are almost as fast as using the internal storage on your laptop. So, if you want to access some large files, you won’t have any more wait time than if the file was located on your actual device.
Why are SSDs more expensive?
Quite simply, the reason that external SSDs are more expensive than other forms of storage is that they are better! They allow you to access your data easily and in real time, whereas with other forms of storage you’ll have to wait. However, they are quite significantly more expensive than HDDs. If you only want somewhere to store files securely and you won’t access them much, then a HDD might be more cost effective,
How much faster is an SSD than a HDD?
It’s impossible to estimate exactly how much faster your SSD will be than a HDD. It could be anywhere from being only twice as fast to more than 100x as fast in some situations, so they’re actually quite different to one another. As well as being faster, they’re also more reliable and less likely to break from any potential damage.
What should I use for gaming?
If you want to use some sort of external storage for gaming, then you’ll undoubtedly need to use an SSD and not a HDD. Hard drives are really only meant for you to back up the stuff that’s on your laptop, they’re not meant for active use on a regular basis. An SSD will give you a much better experience.
Is an external SSD worth it?
If you’re looking for some additional storage on your laptop, then it’s definitely a good idea to opt for an SSD. This is the best choice for those who need something quick and easy, and only 1 or 2 TBs of space. If you need more than this, and you don’t plan to access the files often, then maybe a HDD would be a better choice.
Conclusion
Although I am usually one for trying to save some cash where possible, one thing that I wouldn’t do is opt for a cheap external SSD. There are stories of them breaking, so whilst opting for a cheap option might sound like a good idea, I’d advise that you opt for a more well known brand.
All in all, an external SSD is definitely a good idea if you want to increase the amount of active storage space on your laptop. Whilst many people are fine with their laptops original storage and adding additional cloud storage, you won’t get the same security that you get with additional external storage.
A good external SSD can help improve the storage and performance of your laptop, so it makes sense to get a good one.
