Best External Solid State Drives in 2022

Last update: December 5, 2022

Are external SSD drives any good?

Are external SSD drives any good? The simple answer is yes! External SSD drives are very good and offer a great way to increase the storage on your computer. They are also much faster than traditional hard drives, so you’ll notice a big difference in performance. If you’re looking to buy an external SSD drive, make sure to get one with a USB 3.0 connection. This will ensure that you get the fastest possible data transfer speeds.

Are external SSD drives better than HDD?

The debate between HDD and SSD has been going on for years, with no clear winner. Both have their pros and cons, but external SSD drives have a few clear advantages over HDD. First, SSDs are much faster than HDDs. They can boot up your computer in seconds, whereas an HDD can take minutes. SSDs also access data much faster than HDDs, so your programs will load quicker and run smoother. Second, SSDs are more durable than HDDs. They can withstand drops and bumps much better than HDDs, which are delicate and easily damaged

Are there external SSD drives?

Yes, external SSD drives are available. They are typically smaller in size than internal SSDs, which makes them more portable. They are also more expensive than HDDs, but they offer much faster data transfer speeds.

Can a hard drive last 10 years?

A hard drive can theoretically last forever. However, in practice, there are many things that can cause a hard drive to fail. The most common causes of hard drive failure are physical damage, corruption, and overheating. Physical damage can occur if the hard drive is dropped or otherwise physically damaged. Corruption can occur if the hard drive is not properly shut down, or if it is exposed to a virus. Overheating can cause the hard drive to fail if it is not properly cooled. If you take proper care of your hard drive, it should last for many years


RAVPower Mini External SSD Hard Drive 512GB Portable SSD USB-C Solid State Flash Drive, Up to 540MB/s, NAND Flash & USB 3.1 Gen 2 Interface, ATA Lock Review:


This thing is so little, holy cow. I've used external drives as a storage medium for close to 20 years, starting with the massive WD MyBook enclosures that are supposed to sit on your desk and then on to the much more portable MyPassports that you can take around in your bag. Since these are platter drives, transfer speeds aren't exactly fast, but they are unbeatable for the quantity of storage you can obtain for the price.Introducing the RAVPower small SSD. This thing is so little, holy cow! It weighs about the same and is only slightly larger than two to three USB flash drives. The 2.5 externals I used to carry feel like boulders next to this thing! According to the design of the enclosure, this device employs NVME drives, which are far quicker than the more widely used 2.5 sata SSD drives.Discuss packaging now. The box isn't too small, despite the drive's size. You might mistake it for a bracelet or necklace box if it were packaged as a present. They use a very high-end-feeling material for the box, and the exterior has a texture that really boosts the appearance.Accessories: Since it's an SSD, your only true requirement is a data cord. However, they come with two unique cables: One USB-A to USB-C connector for connecting to laptops, PCs, Macs, etc. RAVpower also provides a USB-C to USB-C connection for connecting to smartphones and Macbooks, which is something that most businesses would leave it at. Most businesses would just require you to purchase the cable separately, which would often cost you an additional $10. (Additionally, I can use it as a backup charging cord.)The testing I did on the fly indicates that this item is quick! When transferring files, platter drives typically had a maximal speed of 70-90MB/s, with the bigger MyBooks reaching 105MB/s, however moving a sizable file (6GB) takes only a few seconds at speeds of approximately 400MB/s! I've heard that this might actually be a port-specific restriction, and speeds could increase to double that when utilizing a USB-C connection. Although I haven't yet had the opportunity, this is just crazy news! Overall, this was an absolutely fantastic purchase, and I don't believe I will ever use portable platter drives again.



G-Technology 2TB G-DRIVE Mobile SSD Durable Portable External Storage - USB-C (USB 3.1), Up to 560 MB/s - 0G06054 Review:


The new front-runner in inexpensive, transportable SSDs. I've been digitizing and fixing old VHS tapes while doing a lot of video editing lately. While this purchase was somewhat impulsive, it was more out of necessity because the files I'm producing often start out at around 80 GB. For similar reasons, I also just recently bought a Samsung T5, and I can confirm that it lives up to the few positive reviews that there are. Although it has a slightly smaller and lighter footprint than the G-Drive, I'd choose the G-Drive in a head-to-head comparison because of the additional ruggedized features. There is no need to be disappointed that I didn't chose an internal SATA disk when the G-Drive and T5 are blazingly fast for external drives. The G-Drive is slightly faster than the T5 according to specifications, but in my experience, the speed differences aren't very noticeable. I've never used any external drives that are as quick as the G-Drive and the T5 on both 3.0 and 3.1 ports. Because I appreciate the ruggedized features and the price is generally better (though not always) than the T5 on a per-GB basis, I will unquestionably buy another G-Drive SSD R. I don't regret purchasing a T5, and I think that for most individuals, the decision between these two will likely come down to pricing in the end.Windows users who utilize the G-Drive must reformat it because your computer will not recognize it. Just format the drive to NTFS because it is more stable than exFAT unless you absolutely need cross-platform use between MAC and PC. On the G Technologies support pages, there are fairly thorough instructions for reformatting NTFS and exFAT for each individual OS.*I just bought another of them in the 1TB capacity and couldn't be happier or more confident in my storage/backup solution.



Samsung T5 Portable SSD - 1TB - USB 3.1 External SSD (MU-PA1T0B/AM), Black Review:


This portable speed demon is amazing. It is extremely nicely constructed and the ideal size to fit in your pocket or laptop bag. However, a Mac should not be loaded with the accompanying applications. It produced a variety of issues and constantly disconnecting my 2017 MacBook Pro's Samsung SSD. I ultimately had to reformat the Samsung SSD as Mac OS Extended, reinstall the applications and drivers, and copy all the files back to my Mac (Journaled).Back up all of your files and follow the steps given below, which are listed but difficult to find in the Samsung T5 SSD Manual, if you unintentionally loaded the software on your Mac. You may also want to have a look at the screenshot I've included with this review, where Samsung describes how to remove it from Windows and Mac.It is need to manually remove software by running CleanupPSSD Mac.sh in the SW installation directory.(Typically, CleanupPSSD Mac.sh is located in /Library/Application Support/PortableSSD)*Third party cleaners, including AppCleaner, might not entirely remove "Samsung Portable SSD" SW.



Samsung T5 Portable SSD - 500GB - USB 3.1 External SSD (MU-PA500B/AM), Blue Review:


This portable speed demon is amazing. It is extremely nicely constructed and the ideal size to fit in your pocket or laptop bag. However, a Mac should not be loaded with the accompanying applications. It produced a variety of issues and constantly disconnecting my 2017 MacBook Pro's Samsung SSD. I ultimately had to reformat the Samsung SSD as Mac OS Extended, reinstall the applications and drivers, and copy all the files back to my Mac (Journaled).Back up all of your files and follow the steps given below, which are listed but difficult to find in the Samsung T5 SSD Manual, if you unintentionally loaded the software on your Mac. You may also want to have a look at the screenshot I've included with this review, where Samsung describes how to remove it from Windows and Mac.It is need to manually remove software by running CleanupPSSD Mac.sh in the SW installation directory.(Typically, CleanupPSSD Mac.sh is located in /Library/Application Support/PortableSSD)*Third party cleaners, including AppCleaner, might not entirely remove "Samsung Portable SSD" SW.



SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable External SSD - Up to 550MB/s - USB-C, USB 3.1 - SDSSDE60-1T00-G25 Review:


In order to back up my MacBook Pro, I essentially needed an SSD. In the past, I utilized SuperDuper software and a spinning hard disk for backup, but the procedure was agonizingly slow. Frequently, the backup and restoration process takes up to an hour for around 500GB of data.My MacBook Pro's inbuilt SSD made it obvious that the destination backup should likewise be stored on an SSD drive, where transfer speeds would be greatly accelerated. One additional thing to think about: SSD drives have a far lower failure rate than spinning hard drives. I have bought so many spinning backup disks in the past that have ultimately failed that I am at a loss for words.Since SSDs are the drives of the future and their costs have dropped significantly, there is no longer any justification for not purchasing them.Before choosing this SanDisk 1TB drive, I conducted a ton of research on several SSD drives. The Samsung with the colorized metal case was my initial option. The reports, however, made me think that there might be some serious problems with the Samsung SSDs because of the embedded software that was hard to get rid of. Nobody wants this when they purchase an SSD drive.It was clear after reading the reviews of this SanDisk Extreme that it would be ideal for my needs. All of the reviews were really favorable. no embedded program. One of the current quickest USB drives on the market, according to ratings, is this particular SSD.When I got there, I was shocked at how short this drive actually is. It really is quite small. You could tuck it into the pocket of your jeans and not see it. The portability of external SSD drives has significantly advanced.My overall satisfaction with the drive's covering is not great. It attracts dust. It began to gather flying dog hair the moment I set it down on my table. On the plus side, though, you can drop this thing from just about any height and it won't break because it is so tough. So, I suppose it is the most crucial element.The USB-C cord and USB-A adaptor that the drive includes are a great touch. Additionally, there is no wiggle in the cord's fit on the drive. The cord's sole drawback, in my opinion, is that it's too short.I've recently taken a backup of my MacBook Pro using SuperDuper software, which I'm included in my images. You can see that in just 30 minutes, 425GB of data were backed up. That would have taken two to three times longer with a spinning drive. This car is moving quite quickly!This drive is already Windows-formatted. If you purchase it for your Mac, you must pick the SanDisk drive in DISK UTILITY (in your programs folder), then click on ERASE. The drive should be formatted in OS X Extended Journaled. It only takes a few seconds to complete the format. The process of adding data to the drive can now begin.This is by far the greatest SSD disk I've ever used. Do not be hesitant to prioritize this over other options.



SanDisk 500GB Extreme Portable External SSD - Up to 550MB/s - USB-C, USB 3.1 - SDSSDE60-500G-G25 Review:


In order to back up my MacBook Pro, I essentially needed an SSD. In the past, I utilized SuperDuper software and a spinning hard disk for backup, but the procedure was agonizingly slow. Frequently, the backup and restoration process takes up to an hour for around 500GB of data.My MacBook Pro's inbuilt SSD made it obvious that the destination backup should likewise be stored on an SSD drive, where transfer speeds would be greatly accelerated. One additional thing to think about: SSD drives have a far lower failure rate than spinning hard drives. I have bought so many spinning backup disks in the past that have ultimately failed that I am at a loss for words.Since SSDs are the drives of the future and their costs have dropped significantly, there is no longer any justification for not purchasing them.Before choosing this SanDisk 1TB drive, I conducted a ton of research on several SSD drives. The Samsung with the colorized metal case was my initial option. The reports, however, made me think that there might be some serious problems with the Samsung SSDs because of the embedded software that was hard to get rid of. Nobody wants this when they purchase an SSD drive.It was clear after reading the reviews of this SanDisk Extreme that it would be ideal for my needs. All of the reviews were really favorable. no embedded program. One of the current quickest USB drives on the market, according to ratings, is this particular SSD.When I got there, I was shocked at how short this drive actually is. It really is quite small. You could tuck it into the pocket of your jeans and not see it. The portability of external SSD drives has significantly advanced.My overall satisfaction with the drive's covering is not great. It attracts dust. It began to gather flying dog hair the moment I set it down on my table. On the plus side, though, you can drop this thing from just about any height and it won't break because it is so tough. So, I suppose it is the most crucial element.The USB-C cord and USB-A adaptor that the drive includes are a great touch. Additionally, there is no wiggle in the cord's fit on the drive. The cord's sole drawback, in my opinion, is that it's too short.I've recently taken a backup of my MacBook Pro using SuperDuper software, which I'm included in my images. You can see that in just 30 minutes, 425GB of data were backed up. That would have taken two to three times longer with a spinning drive. This car is moving quite quickly!This drive is already Windows-formatted. If you purchase it for your Mac, you must pick the SanDisk drive in DISK UTILITY (in your programs folder), then click on ERASE. The drive should be formatted in OS X Extended Journaled. It only takes a few seconds to complete the format. The process of adding data to the drive can now begin.This is by far the greatest SSD disk I've ever used. Do not be hesitant to prioritize this over other options.



Samsung T5 Portable SSD 500GB - USB 3.1 External Solid State Drive with V-NAND Flash Memory Technology (MU-PA500R/WW) - Metallic Red Review:


This portable speed demon is amazing. It is extremely nicely constructed and the ideal size to fit in your pocket or laptop bag. However, a Mac should not be loaded with the accompanying applications. It produced a variety of issues and constantly disconnecting my 2017 MacBook Pro's Samsung SSD. I ultimately had to reformat the Samsung SSD as Mac OS Extended, reinstall the applications and drivers, and copy all the files back to my Mac (Journaled).Back up all of your files and follow the steps given below, which are listed but difficult to find in the Samsung T5 SSD Manual, if you unintentionally loaded the software on your Mac. You may also want to have a look at the screenshot I've included with this review, where Samsung describes how to remove it from Windows and Mac.It is need to manually remove software by running CleanupPSSD Mac.sh in the SW installation directory.(Typically, CleanupPSSD Mac.sh is located in /Library/Application Support/PortableSSD)*Third party cleaners, including AppCleaner, might not entirely remove "Samsung Portable SSD" SW.



Samsung T5 Portable SSD - 500GB - Rose Gold - USB 3.1 External SSD (MU-PA500G/WW) Review:


This portable speed demon is amazing. It is extremely nicely constructed and the ideal size to fit in your pocket or laptop bag. However, a Mac should not be loaded with the accompanying applications. It produced a variety of issues and constantly disconnecting my 2017 MacBook Pro's Samsung SSD. I ultimately had to reformat the Samsung SSD as Mac OS Extended, reinstall the applications and drivers, and copy all the files back to my Mac (Journaled).Back up all of your files and follow the steps given below, which are listed but difficult to find in the Samsung T5 SSD Manual, if you unintentionally loaded the software on your Mac. You may also want to have a look at the screenshot I've included with this review, where Samsung describes how to remove it from Windows and Mac.It is need to manually remove software by running CleanupPSSD Mac.sh in the SW installation directory.(Typically, CleanupPSSD Mac.sh is located in /Library/Application Support/PortableSSD)*Third party cleaners, including AppCleaner, might not entirely remove "Samsung Portable SSD" SW.



Samsung T5 Portable SSD 1TB - USB 3.1 External Solid State Drive with V-NAND Flash Memory Technology (MU-PA1T0G/WW) - Rose Gold Review:


This portable speed demon is amazing. It is extremely nicely constructed and the ideal size to fit in your pocket or laptop bag. However, a Mac should not be loaded with the accompanying applications. It produced a variety of issues and constantly disconnecting my 2017 MacBook Pro's Samsung SSD. I ultimately had to reformat the Samsung SSD as Mac OS Extended, reinstall the applications and drivers, and copy all the files back to my Mac (Journaled).Back up all of your files and follow the steps given below, which are listed but difficult to find in the Samsung T5 SSD Manual, if you unintentionally loaded the software on your Mac. You may also want to have a look at the screenshot I've included with this review, where Samsung describes how to remove it from Windows and Mac.It is need to manually remove software by running CleanupPSSD Mac.sh in the SW installation directory.(Typically, CleanupPSSD Mac.sh is located in /Library/Application Support/PortableSSD)*Third party cleaners, including AppCleaner, might not entirely remove "Samsung Portable SSD" SW.



Samsung T5 Portable SSD 1TB - USB 3.1 External Solid State Drive with V-NAND Flash Memory Technology (MU-PA1T0R/WW) - Metallic Red Review:


This portable speed demon is amazing. It is extremely nicely constructed and the ideal size to fit in your pocket or laptop bag. However, a Mac should not be loaded with the accompanying applications. It produced a variety of issues and constantly disconnecting my 2017 MacBook Pro's Samsung SSD. I ultimately had to reformat the Samsung SSD as Mac OS Extended, reinstall the applications and drivers, and copy all the files back to my Mac (Journaled).Back up all of your files and follow the steps given below, which are listed but difficult to find in the Samsung T5 SSD Manual, if you unintentionally loaded the software on your Mac. You may also want to have a look at the screenshot I've included with this review, where Samsung describes how to remove it from Windows and Mac.It is need to manually remove software by running CleanupPSSD Mac.sh in the SW installation directory.(Typically, CleanupPSSD Mac.sh is located in /Library/Application Support/PortableSSD)*Third party cleaners, including AppCleaner, might not entirely remove "Samsung Portable SSD" SW.


Can I use an external SSD for my laptop?

Yes, you can use an external SSD for your laptop. You'll need to purchase an external SSD that's compatible with your laptop's operating system and make sure it has a USB 3.0 port. Once you have your external SSD, you can connect it to your laptop and use it to store files, install applications, and more.

Do SSD drives lose data?

Solid state drives are a newer technology, so there isn't a lot of data on how well they hold up over time. However, it is unlikely that SSD drives lose data any faster than traditional hard drives. In fact, SSDs may even retain data better than hard drives, since they don't have any moving parts that can break down.

Does external SSD speed up computer?

External SSDs can speed up your computer in a few ways. One is by providing faster access to files that you access often. If you keep your operating system and apps on an external SSD, they will load more quickly. Another way that an external SSD can speed up your computer is by providing extra storage space. This can be useful if your internal hard drive is getting full and you need to move some files off of it.

How do I keep my SSD healthy?

To keep your SSD healthy, you should: 1. Keep your SSD firmware up to date. 2. Use a data backup and recovery solution. 3. Use a SSD optimization tool. 4. Use a SSD secure erase tool. 5. Use a SSD health monitoring tool.

How long will a 1tb SSD last?

How long a 1tb SSD will last depends on a number of factors, including how much data is written to it, the quality of the SSD, and the operating environment. Generally, a 1tb SSD will last for several years under normal use.

How long will an SSD last?

An SSD has a limited number of writes before it will fail. However, it is not known exactly how long an SSD will last because it depends on how it is used. An SSD will typically last longer if it is not used as often, and if it is not used for storing large files.