TOP 15 best external SSD drives: 2020 price-quality rating, drive overview and tips on how to choose

SSD (Solid State Disk - Solid State Drive), by and large, is not a disk.

Unlike HDDs, which store data on magnetic disks, SSDs do not have any disks. The information in them is on flash-memory chips.

Backup, storage of a family archive and simply transferring files from one computer to another can be done without difficulty.

Rating of the TOP 10 best external SSD drives 2024-2025

The rating contains the best external SSD-drives according to experts and users.

Place	Name	Price
TOP 5 best external SSD drives in price-quality ratio
1	Samsung Portable SSD T5 500 GB	Ask for a price
2	Samsung Portable SSD T5 1TB	Ask for a price
3	Samsung Portable SSD T5 2TB	Ask for a price
4	Smart Buy S3 256 GB	Ask for a price
5	Transcend ESD350C 480GB	Ask for a price
TOP 5 Best 1TB External SSDs
1	Seagate Expansion Portable Drive 1TB	Ask for a price
2	Seagate BarraCuda Fast SSD 1TB	Ask for a price
3	HyperX SAVAGE EXO SSD 960 GB	Ask for a price
4	SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 1TB	Ask for a price
5	Western Digital My Passport Go 1TB	Ask for a price
TOP 5 Best 2TB External SSD Drives
1	Western Digital My Passport Wireless SSD 2TB	Ask for a price
2	Lacie Portable SSD 2TB	Ask for a price
3	Seagate Game Drive for Xbox SSD 2TB	Ask for a price
4	Seagate BarraCuda Fast SSD 2TB	Ask for a price
5	Western Digital My Passport SSD 2.048 TB	Ask for a price

What to look for when choosing?

Before buying an external hard drive, you need to decide on the purposes of its use and then only select according to the necessary parameters:

• Volume. This is the main indicator that primarily determines the price of an external drive. When choosing the capacity of a device, keep in mind that the size of both software and media files is constantly growing, so a small margin will not be superfluous.
• Interface. The external SSD connector must provide at least a data transfer rate equal to the read/write speed of the SSD itself. The most common and best option is USB 3.0.
• Protection from external factors. Although SSD drives are already quite resistant to mechanical damage, some of them have additional shock protection. And protection against drops of water and dust allows you to use the drive even outdoors.

Overview of the best models in terms of price-quality ratio

Samsung Portable SSD T5 500 GB

Samsung Portable SSD T5 500 GB combines compact size and high data transfer speeds.

The drive is equipped with a USB-C 3.2 interface, the kit includes a universal USB cable with a Type-C connector at both ends, as well as a regular cable with USB Type-C on one side and Type-A on the other for connecting the drive to older devices.

The drive supports AES encryption using a 256-bit key.The device has an all-metal body, while the weight of the drive is only 51 g.

It is worth noting that this is one of the best models of 2024-2025.

Characteristics:

• memory size - 500 GB;
• connector for connecting with devices - USB 3.1 Type-C;
• read speed - 540 MB / s;
• dimensions (WxHxD) - 57.3 × 10.5 × 74 mm.

Samsung Portable SSD T5 1TB

Samsung Portable SSD T5 1TB external drive has a capacity of 1TB, while it is characterized by a compact size black body and neat design.

Connection to other devices is made via the USB 3.1 interface. The body of the SSD drive is made of metal, so it is resistant to mechanical stress such as drops and shocks.

USB-C and USB cables included. The SSD weighs only 51g and is compact in size.

Characteristics:

• memory size - 1 TB;
• connector for connecting with devices - USB 3.1 Type-C;
• read speed - 540 MB / s;
• dimensions (WxHxD) - 57.3 × 10.5 × 74 mm.

Samsung Portable SSD T5 2TB

The Samsung Portable SSD T5 2TB has a large storage capacity that reaches up to 2TB. This allows you to store on a portable drive a large collection of media files, including games and movies / series.

The model has a metal case and is protected from shock and other mechanical damage. It is equipped with a high-speed USB 3.1 interface. With a large capacity, the external SSD weighs only 51g and has a compact size. Comes with USB and USB-C cables.

Characteristics:

• memory size - 2 TB
• connector for connecting with devices - USB 3.1 Type-C
• read speed - 540 MB / s
• dimensions (WxHxD) - 57.3 × 10.5 × 74 mm.

Smart Buy S3 256 GB

External SSD SmartBuy S3 256 GB is made in a white plastic case, which ensures its neat appearance. look and ease of use.

Its main function is to collect and securely store information. The design of the model has no moving parts, so the drive is durable equipment that will serve for many years.

The volume of this drive reaches 256 GB. Thanks to this, it can store large archives of video and photo materials, as well as a huge music collection.

The external drive is energy efficient, which means that data processing speed is faster.

Characteristics:

• memory size - 256 GB
• connector for connecting with devices - USB 3.0
• read speed - 425 MB / s;
• write speed - 400 MB / s.

Transcend ESD350C 480GB

The compact Transcend ESD350C 480GB portable hard drive is elegant yet reliable and durable. case providing shock resistance of the device.

The drive guarantees a high data transfer rate, which is up to 1050 MB / s. Equipped with an aluminum casing that provides heat dissipation, the device features high performance without overheating even under heavy loads.

Characteristics:

• memory size - 480 GB;
• connector for connecting with devices - USB 3.1 Type-C;
• read speed - 1050 MB / s;
• dimensions (WxHxD) - 53.6 × 12.5 × 96.5 mm.

Overview of 1 TB models

Seagate Expansion Portable Drive 1TB

The Seagate Expansion Portable Drive 1TB is an easy-to-use storage device. Fast and simple files are transferred using a USB 3.0 connection via a USB cable.

Digital photos, documents, videos, and audio files can exhaust your PC's storage capacity and slow down performance when your internal hard drive capacity is full.

A portable hard drive allows you to store a large amount of data, thereby freeing up space on your PC.

Characteristics:

• memory size - 1 TB;
• form factor - 2.5?
• connector for connecting with devices - USB 3.0;
• dimensions (WxHxD) - 55.5x10x75 mm.

Seagate BarraCuda Fast SSD 1TB

External SSD Seagate BarraCuda Fast SSD 1 TB guarantees a capacity of 1024 GB. The data processing speed is 540 MB/s. The external SSD supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C interface.

The presence of two cables in the kit makes it possible to connect the model to USB and USB Type-C ports. The device is equipped with shock protection and LED backlight.

Made in a black case, the equipment has a compact size. The model is able to fit even in a relatively small pocket.

Characteristics:

• memory capacity - 1 TB
• form factor - 2.5?
• connector for connecting with devices - USB 3.1 Type-C
• dimensions (WxHxD) - 79 × 9.1 × 93.45 mm.

HyperX SAVAGE EXO SSD 960 GB

External SSD HyperX SAVAGE EXO SSD 960 GB guarantees high data processing speed. This is achieved using 3D NAND technology and high-speed USB 3.1 Gen2 (Type-C) interface.

Weighing only 56g and fairly compact in size, the hardware has a capacity of just under a terabyte (960GB). The case is made of strong and durable plastic.

Such a storage is suitable for those who work with the same data arrays from different sources, check electronic documents, send large graphic files.

Characteristics:

• memory size - 960 GB;
• connector for connecting with devices - USB 3.1 Type-C;
• read speed - 500 MB / s;
• dimensions (WxHxD) - 48.61 × 10.24 × 123.82 mm.

SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 1TB

The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 1TB external drive provides reliable storage for a large number of files.

It can withstand drops from a height of up to 2 meters, as well as the impact of water drops and dust particles. 0Does the drive work stably at temperatures from 0 to +45? – even with strong vibrations.

Large capacity is combined with high data transfer speed - up to 550 Mb / s. Thanks to this, you can watch a 4K movie, edit photos and create 3D models without copying files to your computer.

By installing the SanDisk SecureAccess app, you can lock your drive and choose a password. The key with 128-bit encryption serves as reliable file protection.

Characteristics:

• memory size - 1 TB;
• connector for connecting with devices - USB 3.1 Type-C;
• read speed - 550 MB / s;
• dimensions (WxHxD) - 49.55 × 8.85 × 96.2 mm.

Western Digital My Passport Go 1TB

The Western Digital My Passport Go 1TB is a reliable portable drive with enough storage capacity a large number of photos, videos, music and documents.

Works flawlessly with WD Backup software and password protection, the drive allows you to securely store any file. The WD Backup program is designed to back up various files. It can be configured to run automatically according to a set schedule.

The model does not lose its relevance in 2024-2025.

Characteristics:

• memory size - 1 TB;
• form factor - 2.5?;
• connector for connecting with devices - USB 3.0;
• dimensions (WxHxD) - 67x10x95 mm.

Overview of 2 TB models

Western Digital My Passport Wireless SSD 2TB

The Western Digital My Passport Wireless SSD 2TB external drive has a capacity of 2TB. Model suitable for transferring large amounts of information, and for backup.

The main advantage of the model is the presence of a built-in Wi-Fi module, thanks to which data transfer can be carried out using wireless networks.

Data exchange can also be carried out using SD memory cards, for which a separate slot is equipped. Users of mobile devices will appreciate the possibility of using the model as an external battery.

The external drive connects to mobile and desktop computers using a high-speed USB 3.0 interface.

Characteristics:

• memory capacity - 2 TB;
• connector for connecting with devices - USB 3.0;
• WiFi;
• read speed - 390 MB / s;
• dimensions (WxHxD) - 135x30x135 mm.

Lacie Portable SSD 2TB

The 2TB external drive Lacie Portable SSD 2TB is a state of the art storage medium. External The hard drive allows you to store a large number of photos, videos, music and documents.

The device is universally compatible with Mac, Windows, USB-C and USB 3.0. Data processing speed is up to 540 MB/s. One-click backup or automatic backup saves files quickly.

Characteristics:

• memory capacity - 2 TB;
• connector for connecting with devices - USB 3.1 Type-C;
• read speed - 540 MB / s;
• dimensions (WxHxD) - 79 × 9.1 × 93.5 mm.

Seagate Game Drive for Xbox SSD 2TB

The 2TB Seagate Game Drive for Xbox SSD is the only hard drive specifically designed for for Xbox One and Xbox 360 devices.

The model has 2 TB of memory, so you can conveniently store a huge number of games. After connecting the cable, the device will automatically detect and then configure the hard drive.

The high-speed external drive connection interface is USB 3.0, which allows you to enjoy games without interruption. Via USB 2.0. you can connect a game drive.

Characteristics:

• memory capacity - 2 TB;
• form factor - 2.5?;
• connector for connecting with devices - USB 3.0;
• dimensions (WxHxD) - 76 × 9.6 × 113.5 mm.

Seagate BarraCuda Fast SSD 2TB

The Seagate BarraCuda Fast SSD 2 TB is designed to increase the memory of a stationary computer or laptop. The volume of the model is enough to store a large amount of music, photos, movies, as well as graphic and text documents.

Due to the design features of the device, the risk of information loss during impacts is reduced. The solid state drive provides fast booting of the operating system and allows you to run several resource-intensive applications at the same time without delay.

Its compact size makes it easy to transport. The body of the memory device is made of durable plastic, resistant to external influences.

Characteristics:

• memory capacity - 2 TB;
• form factor - 2.5?;
• connector for connecting with devices - USB 3.1 Type-C;
• dimensions (WxHxD) - 79 × 9.1 × 93.45 mm.

Western Digital My Passport SSD 2.048 TB

Western Digital My Passport SSD 2.048 TB is a portable drive with a fairly high processing speed. Password protection and hardware-based encryption keep content private.

The easy-to-use drive is shock-resistant and has a stylish, durable design. It is currently the fastest drive in the My Passport series, delivering up to 540MB/s processing speed.

The included WD Backup software automatically backs up files of any size to your drive or Dropbox cloud storage.

It is worth noting that this is one of the best models of 2024-2025.

Characteristics:

• memory size - 2.05 TB;
• connector for connecting with devices - USB 3.1 Type-C;
• read speed - 540 MB / s;
• dimensions (WxHxD) - 45x10x90 mm.

Customer Reviews

The following are customer reviews of the external SSDs featured here:

Useful video

How to choose an external drive: