The Best External Solid State Drives
External Solid State Drives (SSD) are flash drives alternatives and they can support a large amount of data.
The SSD is portable and easy to use, that is why most people choose to have in wherever they go.
The SSD uses flash controller and NAND flash memory chips to store your data.
It is an excellent choice for music, games, video, documents and all kinds of files.
Considering how much work is going through computers, external solid state drives are highly useful and recommended.
Here is our list of top ten external solid state drives.
Highest Rated External Solid State Drives (by Customer Reviews)
- 1Seagate Fast SSD 500GB External SSD
- 2Samsung T3 Portable SSD
- 3ADATA SV620H 512GB USB 3.0 External Solid State Drive
- 4ADATA SD600 3D NAND 256GB USB3.1 Ultra-Speed External Solid State Drive
- 5VectoTech Rapid 2TB External SSD USB 3.0 Portable Solid State Drive
- 6TEYADI External SSD 512GB, Portable Solid State Drive
- 7Samsung T5 Portable SSD – 2TB – USB 3.1 External SSD
- 8SanDisk Extreme 500 Portable 250GB SSD
- 9SanDisk 500GB Extreme Portable SSD
- 10Samsung T5 Portable SSD
1
Seagate Fast SSD 500GB External SSD
Ths Seagate SSD has a capacity of 500 GV.
The design is sleek and thin, so it won’t take much space in your bag and can fit in the pockets as well.
It has a folder syncing capabilities, to help you have your files organized across all devices.
If you buy this Seagate SSD, you will get two months of free membership for using Adobe Cloud photo and video editing apps.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Uses USB C port
- Sleek design
Cons
- Small capacity
Jake's TakeWith this SSD, you will have more space for the things you need on the go.
If you love Instagram, then you will love 2-months free membership, too.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
2
Samsung T3 Portable SSD
This Samsung portable SSD features ultrafast read-write performance – 450 MB/s.
The design is shock-resistant and compact.
The unit comes with secure encryption and is compatible with MAC, Windows and Android OS
The SSD uses USB 3.1 Type-C port.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Lightweight
- Ultrafast speed
- Secure
Cons
- Can get too hot
Jake's TakeThis Samsung SSD from series T3 is great for having around.
The speed is amazing and you can get good benefits from this device.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
3
ADATA SV620H 512GB USB 3.0 External Solid State Drive
This Adata SSD works with MAC, Windows and Android OS.
It has a high working speed of 440 MB/s and has 512 GB of storage capacities.
The SSD has 3D NAND Flash for increased reliability and security.
It is a durable and strong SSD for daily use.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- High working speed
- Reliable and long-lasting SSD
Cons
- Cable too rigid
Jake's TakeThis SSD works as promised.
It keeps your data safe and secured, and in handy whenever you want to access them.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
4
ADATA SD600 3D NAND 256GB USB3.1 Ultra-Speed External Solid State Drive
This SSD from Adata has reading and writing speed up to 440/430 MB/s.
It is compatible with USB 3.1 port and backward compatible with USB 2.0.
The Adata SSD includes AES 256-bit encryption for maximum data security.
The construction has impact-dwelling silicone for improved shock resistance and durability.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Durable
- High working speed
Cons
- A bit bulkier
Jake's TakeWith the capacity of 256 GB, this Adata SSD is a great solution when you need more space.
It is compatible with all your devices.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
5
VectoTech Rapid 2TB External SSD USB 3.0 Portable Solid State Drive
This VectoTech SSD comes with an extensive capacity of 2TB.
It features solid construction and a shock-resistant frame.
The SSD has superb writing and reading speed of 540 MB/s.
The design is elegant and sleek.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Strong construction
- Extra-fast operation
Cons
- Higher price
Jake's TakeIf you plan to invest in high-quality, fast and durable SSD, consider this VechTech item.
On top of everything, it has a sophisticated design.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
6
TEYADI External SSD 512GB, Portable Solid State Drive
This compact SSD from Teyadi uses the latest M.2 SSD chip and USB 3.1 Gen 2.
The maximum operating speed goes up to 540 MB/s.
It is compatible with tablets, phones, PSs, and other devices.
The SSD is lightweight and features frosted metal design for shock resistance.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Extremely compact – the size of a lighter
- High capacity and speed for the size of SSD
Cons
- Can get warm
Jake's TakeThis little VechTech SSD is a convenient and reliable solution for busy people.
It has a large memory in the size of a flash drive.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
7
Samsung T5 Portable SSD – 2TB – USB 3.1 External SSD
This Samsung external solid state drive has a capacity of 2TB.
It is compatible with USB Type C to C and USB Type C to A cables.
The device is compact and shock-resistant.
This Samsung SSD comes with password protection, so you don’t have to worry about unauthorized access to your data.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Password protection
- Compact and lightweight
Cons
- Higher-end SSD
Jake's TakeThis Samsung SSD has everything you need from and external solid state drive.
It is durable with high capacity and compact size, but it is up there in price.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
8
SanDisk Extreme 500 Portable 250GB SSD
This SSD from SanDisk offers high speed for storing photos and videos of high resolution.
It has a metal a solid metal ring to clip easily into your bag.
The SSD is compatible with MAC and Windows OS.
It has Secure Access software for encrypting the data and keeping it safe.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Convenient design
- Useful for fast-moving photographers and videographers
Cons
- Included cable not the best
Jake's TakeThis will be your great ally on your trips.
It can hold a large amount of high-resolution media files.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
9
SanDisk 500GB Extreme Portable SSD
This SSD from SanDisk is ruggedized, water and dust resistant in all weather conditions.
It is suitable for people working outside, such as photographers and videographers.
The shock-resistant design and pocket size make it great for traveling.
It comes with 500GB memory.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Pocket size portable SSD
- High-speed transfers 550 MB/s
Cons
- If you want to use it as for backup, you might need to format it
Jake's TakeThis SanDisk drive is an excellent choice and you get great value for the money.
The transfer speed is superb, and the design is practical.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
10
Samsung T5 Portable SSD
This Samsung SSD has a high working speed – up to 540 MB/s.
It is suitable for storing photos, videos, documents, games and other files.
The SSD capacity is 500 GB and it comes in four colors – blue, red, gold, and black.
The Samsung drive has optional password protection for improved security.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Password protection
- Universal compatibility
Cons
- Needs reformatting for MAC
Jake's TakeThis Samsung SSD is an excellent choice for students, gamers, creators and everyone who needs their data on the go.
It comes at a reasonable price and has excellent performance.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
External Solid State Drives Buying Guide
If you have a computer with a fast CPU, when you pair it with a wrong hard drive, it will decrease the speed of your device.
That is why choosing the right SSD is essential for your work or games.
To explain it in simple words, imagine that your processor can process the data very fast, but it can wait for the hard drive to feed the data.
Therefore, you need a safe, reliable and fast SSD to maintain productivity.
The solid state drives cost a bit more, but in the long run, those will pay off.
Our buying guide will focus on the significant factors of SSD that determine whether it is the right choice or not.
You can read more about the working mechanism, operation speed, design, durability, safety, etc.
However, let’s start with the primary information about SSD.
What is a Solid State Drive?
Solid State Drive or short SSD is the latest technology improvement in terms of storage and working speed.
It is a device designed to bare data and let you access it whenever you need it.
You might ask what the difference is between SSD and an external hard drive (HDD).
The fundamental difference is in the way both devices store data and that affects their working speed.
While HDD uses spinning discs to store and read data, SSD uses NAND technology based on flash memory.
SSD doesn’t have moving parts inside, so they are more resistant and reliable for storage.
NAND is a type of flash memory, which stores data by tracking the charge and organizes it in blocks or grids.
SSD is more expensive than HDD, but it offers significantly faster performance.
They also have fewer storage capacities, but gamers and software engineers can benefit more from SSD than HDD.
SSD is more durable, faster, uses less energy, and comes with the maximum storage capacity of 4TB.
HDD is less durable, more prone to physical damage, draws more energy from your computer, and comes with the maximum storage capacity of 10 TB.
SSD Capacity Guide
How much storage space is suitable for you?
The first thing to ask yourself is what you will store on the device.
The lowest capacity is 128GB, which can be slower and cannot actually improve your storage capacities.
You should look for something with more space such as 500GB instead.
SSD with 500GB capacity is faster, but still, it isn’t worth the price, as you can find excellent HDD with the same capacity for less money.
1TB SSD is an excellent choice and it is getting more popular.
It is fast, small in size, improves your computer speed and suitable for many professions.
SSD with 2TB and 4TB capacities are excellent for people who need to store large media files, such as 4K videos.
You can access the files quickly and easily and the transfer speed is impressive.
However, those come with a high price tag, which can go up to $500 or $600.
You can also pair your computer with several SDDs with lower capacity and get the same storage space with less money.
It can a bit of a hassle, but if you are buying on a budget is still a useful way to achieve the same results.
Power Consumption
If you use a PC, the power consumption is something that will affect your choice.
However, if you use a tablet or laptop, the power consumption is significant.
The SSD will drive the power from your device, cutting the battery time.
SSDs with higher capacities drove more power and can highly cut your battery time.
Therefore, we suggest getting the SSD with an efficient drive.
Before you decide, make sure to read a few SSD reviews to get to know better about their power consumption.
Memory Type
SSDs come with several types of memory – multi-level cell (MLC) and single-level cell (SLC), triple and quad-level cell memory (TLS and QLC).
An MLC memory stores more information in one cell.
It is more affordable and suitable for an average user.
An SLC memory is expensive but has a low-rate of code failure.
It is more suitable for professional and company-use.
Triple-level cell memory offers even more space on each cell.
The memory is manufactured to be more budget-friendly.
However, the performance is slower and it has the lowers write endurance.
The latest technology update is a quad-layer cell.
Again, it can store more data and is more affordable.
However, it is less reliable than the previous types.
The choice of memory depends on the type of information you will store and your budget.
For highly sensitive data, we recommend investing in a safe and reliable SSD memory, but for everyday use, you can find quality devices for less money.
SSD Interface
The three main categories of SSD interfaces are SATA, PCI-E and M.2 interface.
We will go briefly through each category.
SATA
You can find a 2.5 inch SATA interface on the market.
The advantage is the high, universal compatibility with computers and laptops.
Those are also easy to install and work with, so it can be an excellent choice.
The reason why these are very compatible is that the majority of computers use a SATA interface.
However, the speed can vary.
PCI-E Interface
The SSD with the PCI-E interface is designed for desktop computers and needs x4 or x16 slot.
Those are bulkier and need more space.
Compared to all interfaces, the SSD with the PCI-E interface is the fastest and has the best performance.
However, it is not portable and the price tag is the highest.
M.2
The M.2 Interface works for a notebook because it is ultra-thin and has a small footprint.
It is a new technology that will probably more available in the future.
SSD Price
SSD is more expensive than external hard drives because they are faster and in some cases can have the same storage capacity.
The price range goes from $100 up to $500+units with high storage space and durability.
Conclusion
SSDs are an excellent and convenient way to improve your computer storage.
The capacity starts from 126 GB and goes up to 4 TB.
The 4 TB SSD is more expensive and suitable for professional use, and for average consumer capacity of 1 TB will be enough.
However, your needs determine the right choice of SSD.
When looking for an SSD make sure it is compatible with your computer.
It is an excellent choice for people who want to improve the performance of their devices.
What's your take on External Solid State Drives? You think they're just a luxury or a must-have item? Don't hesitate to share your comment below with your opinion!
