The Best External SSDs of 2024

Are you in the market for an external SSD but unsure of which one to get…? We've taken an in-depth look at some of the most popular external SSDs currently selling, and compared them for you so you can make an informed purchasing decisions. We've looked at features, build quality, and hardware specs and have hand-picked our picks for the top 3 best external SSDs of this year.

• Built To Last: Withstand whatever adventure with the wildly reliable T7 Shield; It’s designed for the elements with water1, dust2 and drop3 resistance—all, of course, at lightning speeds.
• Combability: Take on the project, then transfer all your heavy files within seconds with the USB 3.2 Gen 2 Portable Solid-State Drive; Compatible with PC, Mac, Android devices, gaming consoles and more.
• Fast Read & Writes: The T7 is embedded with PCIe NVME technology that brings you fast read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s4, making it almost twice as fast as the T5.
• Customizable Storage: Forge your own path with a full range of storage capacities; Keep all your prized files in one place with options from 1TB to 4TB; Pack in more personal content or store your biggest tasks on this palm-sized SSD.
• Waterproof: Get it done, rain or shine. With an IP65 rating for water1 and dust2 resistance, this SSD is ready to rough it; So even when you’ve got a dreary-day deadline, you can keep your projects in perfect condition.
• Rugged Design: Secure the shot with the drop resistant T7 Shield. Its rugged design adds extra durability with protection from falls up to 9.8 feet so you can dare to reach higher.
• Samsung Software Included: Get the most out of your SSD with Samsung Magician's advanced yet .intuitive optimization tools; Monitor drive health, protect valuable data, receive important updates and set up LED color combinations.
• Built Locally: All firmware and components are produced in-house, including our world renowned DRAM and NAND, for quality and you can trust.
• iPhone Support: Supports iPhone 15 Pro Res 4K at 60fps video and more7; Included SSD cable recommended.

• Performance: Powerful NVMe solid state performance featuring up to 2000MB/s read/write speeds.(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device, interface, usage conditions and & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
• Solid Design: A forged aluminum chassis acts as a heatsink to deliver higher sustained speeds in a portable drive that’s tough enough to take on any adventure.
• Drop Protection: Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance(4), and a handy carabiner loop. (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
• Built-In Encryption: Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.
• Easy Software: Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5) (Download and installation required.)

• Performance: With read and write speeds up to 1,050MB/s, the Crucial X9 Pro Portable SSD is powerful enough for editing directly from the drive and has high sustained performance of 975MB/s writes throughout the drive's capacity.
• Broad Compatibility: The X9 Pro offers plug-and-play compatibility with Windows, Mac, Android, iPad, PC, Linux, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles via an included USB-C cable. USB-C to USB-A adapter available separately for USB-A devices.
• Dust & Splash-Proof: With IP55 water and dust resistance and drop-proof durability up to 7.5 feet/2 meters, your X9 Pro Portable SSD is durable enough to travel anywhere you shoot, work or roam.
• Security: Protect sensitive data in the studio, in the field, or while traveling with password protection and 256-bit AES hardware encryption.
• Build Quality: Engineered by Micron, the Crucial X9 Pro Portable SSD comes in anodized aluminum with a rubberized soft-touch base in a mini 65 x 50 mm design that includes a drive activity light in the integrated lanyard hole.