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External Portable SSD Drives: High Capacity Thunderbolt or USB C

Best External Portable SSD Drives

External Portable SSD Drives gives you more capacity than the regular USB sticks, and at the same time gives you high performance. How? most of these drives will have a high-performance storage I/O controller which typically load balances across multiple NAND chips. So why do you need them?

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It is because our storage requirements are increasing day by day. Conventional HDDs are great for having a substantial data-storage capacity at your disposal. However, the main issue with them was that you could not carry them with you everywhere. They were not intended to be more portable. Moreover, you had to open up the entire system & laptop to replace your internal HDD’s. Then came mobile HDDs. These hard-disks are highly portable since all they require is a simple USB connection to get connected to the system, let it be your desktop or laptop or even a mobile device.

Portable SSDs are similar to these portable HDDs. They use a Thunderbolt / USB connection for getting installed on the system without installing any additional drivers. The main advantage is that you get the high performance of an SSD with portability support. Most of these models ship with a protective enclosure, so it is pretty safe to carry them along. Moreover, they are pretty small in size too, compared to conventional portable – external hard disk drives.

Table of Contents

External Portable SSD Drives

Today, we have compiled a list of some of the best external portable SSD drives available out there in the market, with their full technical details, features, and specifications. It will help you to pick the right product for yourself. Here we go:

1. Samsung Portable SSD T5 (500GB):

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Miscellaneous

Encryption Algorithm256-bit AES
Color Categoryblue
Hardware EncryptionYes

Power

Power SourceUSB bus

Interface Provided

Qty1
Connector Type24 pin USB-C
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 2

Hard Drive

FeaturesUSB Attached SCSI Protocol (UASP) compliant, V-NAND Technology, password authentication, shock-resistant
Hard Drive Typeexternal hard drive
External Drive Typeportable
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 2
InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 2

Performance

Max Data Transfer Rate540 MB/s
Interface Transfer Rate10.0 Gbps (USB 3.1) / 5.0 Gbps (USB 3.0) / 480 Mbps (USB 2.0)

External Hard Drive

Power SourceUSB bus
Interface Speed10.0 Gbps (USB 3.1) / 5.0 Gbps (USB 3.0) / 480 Mbps (USB 2.0)
Max Data Transfer Rate540
USB-C PortYes

Dimensions & Weight

Width2.9 in
Depth0.4 in
Height2.3 in
Weight1.8 oz

 

2. SanDisk Extreme 900 Portable SSD (480GB):

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Miscellaneous

Encryption Algorithm128-bit AES
Color Categoryblack

Interface Provided

Qty1
Connector Type24 pin USB-C
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 2

Hard Drive

Featuresimpact-resistant, shock-resistant, software encryption, vibration dampening
Hard Drive Typeexternal hard drive
External Drive Typeportable
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 2
InterfaceUSB 3.1
Internal Data Rate850 MBps
Internal Data Rate (Write)850 MBps

Performance

Internal Data Rate850 MBps (read) / 850 MBps (write)

Software & System Requirements

Software IncludedSanDisk SecureAccess

System Requirements

OS RequiredApple MacOS X 10.6 or later, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

Environmental Parameters

Min Operating Temperature-4 °F
Max Operating Temperature158 °F

External Hard Drive

USB-C PortYes

Dimensions & Weight

Width0.7 in
Depth3.2 in
Height5.2 in
Weight7.42 oz

Service & Support Details

Full Contract Period3 years
Typelimited warranty

 

3. ADATA Durable SD700 – 512 GB:

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Miscellaneous

Colorblack

Power

Power SourceUSB bus

Interface Provided

Qty1
Connector Type10 pin Micro-USB Type B
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 1

Hard Drive

FeaturesDRAM cache, dustproof, shock-resistant, water-resistant
Hard Drive Typeexternal hard drive
External Drive Typeportable
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 1
InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 1
NAND Flash Memory Type3D triple-level cell (TLC)
Internal Data Rate440 MBps
Internal Data Rate (Write)430 MBps

Performance

Internal Data Rate440 MBps (read) / 430 MBps (write)
Interface Transfer Rate5.0 Gbps (USB 3.1) / 5.0 Gbps (USB 3.0) / 480 Mbps (USB 2.0)

System Requirements

OS RequiredAndroid 5.0 or later, Apple MacOS X 10.6 or later, Linux 2.6 or later, Microsoft Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10

Environmental Parameters

Min Operating Temperature41 °F
Max Operating Temperature122 °F

External Hard Drive

Power SourceUSB bus
Interface Speed5.0 Gbps (USB 3.1) / 5.0 Gbps (USB 3.0) / 480 Mbps (USB 2.0)

Dimensions & Weight

Width3.3 in
Depth3.3 in
Height0.5 in
Weight3.53 oz

Cable Details

TypeSuperSpeed USB 3.1 Type A to micro-USB Type B cable
Form Factorexternal
Included Qty1

Service & Support Details

Full Contract Period3 years
Typelimited warranty

 

4. WD My Passport SSD (512GB):

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Miscellaneous

Encryption Algorithm256-bit AES
Colorblack top with gunmetal (medium metallic gray) bottom
Color Categoryblack
Hardware EncryptionYes

Power

Power SourceUSB bus

Interface Provided

Qty1
Connector Type24 pin USB-C
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 2

Hard Drive

Featuresautomatic backup, password authentication, shock-resistant
Hard Drive Typeexternal hard drive
External Drive Typeportable
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 2

Performance

Max Data Transfer Rate515 MB/s
Interface Transfer Rate10.0 Gbps (USB 3.1) / 5.0 Gbps (USB 3.0) / 480 Mbps (USB 2.0)

Software & System Requirements

Software IncludedWD Security, WD Drive Utilities, WD Backup, WD Discovery

System Requirements

OS RequiredApple OS X 10.10 Yosemite, Microsoft Windows 7 / 8.1 / 10

Environmental Parameters

Min Storage Temperature-4 °F
Max Storage Temperature149 °F
Min Operating Temperature41 °F
Max Operating Temperature95 °F

External Hard Drive

Power SourceUSB bus
Interface Speed10.0 Gbps (USB 3.1) / 5.0 Gbps (USB 3.0) / 480 Mbps (USB 2.0)
Max Data Transfer Rate515
USB-C PortYes

Dimensions & Weight

Width1.8 in
Depth3.5 in
Height0.4 in

Cable Details

TypeUSB-C cable, USB-C to USB-A adapter
Included Qty1

Service & Support Details

Full Contract Period3 years
Typelimited warranty

 

5. SanDisk Extreme 500 Portable – 250 GB:

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Miscellaneous

Color Categoryblack

Interface Provided

Qty1
Connector Type9 pin USB Type A
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.0

Hard Drive

Featuresheat-resistant, shock-resistant, software encryption, vibration dampening
Hard Drive Typeexternal hard drive
External Drive Typeportable
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.0
InterfaceUSB 3.0
Internal Data Rate415 MBps
Internal Data Rate (Write)365 MBps

Performance

Internal Data Rate415 MBps (read) / 365 MBps (write)

Software & System Requirements

Software IncludedSanDisk SecureAccess

System Requirements

OS RequiredApple MacOS X 10.6 or later, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows 8, Windows 8.1

Environmental Parameters

Min Operating Temperature32 °F
Max Operating Temperature113 °F

Dimensions & Weight

Width3 in
Depth0.4 in
Height3 in
Weight2.78 oz

Service & Support Details

Full Contract Period3 years
Typelimited warranty

 

6. SanDisk Extreme – 500 GB:

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Miscellaneous

Encryption Algorithm128-bit AES
Color Categoryblack, red

Interface Provided

Qty1
Connector Type24 pin USB-C
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 2

Hard Drive

Featuresdustproof, rugged, shock-resistant, software encryption, vibration dampening, water-resistant
Hard Drive Typeexternal hard drive
External Drive Typeportable
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 2
InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 2
Internal Data Rate550 MBps

Performance

Internal Data Rate550 MBps

Software & System Requirements

Software IncludedSanDisk SecureAccess

System Requirements

OS RequiredApple MacOS X 10.4 or later, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows 10, Windows 8

Environmental Parameters

Min Storage Temperature-4 °F
Max Storage Temperature158 °F
Min Operating Temperature32 °F
Max Operating Temperature113 °F

External Hard Drive

USB-C PortYes

Dimensions & Weight

Height0.4 in
Weight2.78 oz

Cable Details

TypeUSB-C cable, USB-C to USB-A adapter
Form Factorexternal
Included Qty1

Shock & Vibration Tolerance

Shock Acceleration (Operating)1500 g
Shock Acceleration (Non-operating)1500 g

 

7. Samsung Portable SSD T3 (250GB):

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Miscellaneous

Encryption Algorithm256-bit AES
Color Categoryblack, silver
Hardware EncryptionYes

Power

Power SourceUSB bus

Interface Provided

Qty1
Connector Type24 pin USB-C
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 1

Hard Drive

FeaturesUSB Attached SCSI Protocol (UASP) compliant, shock-resistant
Hard Drive Typeexternal hard drive
External Drive Typeportable
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 1
InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 1

Performance

Max Data Transfer Rate450 MB/s
Interface Transfer Rate10.0 Gbps (USB 3.1) / 5.0 Gbps (USB 3.0) / 480 Mbps (USB 2.0)

External Hard Drive

Power SourceUSB bus
Interface Speed10.0 Gbps (USB 3.1) / 5.0 Gbps (USB 3.0) / 480 Mbps (USB 2.0)
Max Data Transfer Rate450
USB-C PortYes

Dimensions & Weight

Width2.9 in
Depth0.4 in
Height2.3 in
Weight1.8 oz

Service & Support Details

Full Contract Period3 years
Typelimited warranty

 

8. Monster Digital OverDrive – 240 GB:

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Miscellaneous

Colorsilver
Included Hard Drive Accessoriescarrying pouch

Power

Power SourceThunderbolt bus

Interface Provided

Qty1
Storage InterfaceThunderbolt

Hard Drive

FeaturesApple Time Machine compatible, LED access indicator, passive cooling, rugged
Hard Drive Typeexternal hard drive
External Drive Typeportable
Storage InterfaceThunderbolt
InterfaceThunderbolt

Performance

Data Transfer Rate DetailsThunderbolt (read): 500 MB/s
Thunderbolt (write): 450 MB/s
Max Data Transfer Rate500 MB/s
Interface Transfer Rate10 Gbps (Thunderbolt)

System Requirements

OS RequiredApple MacOS X 10.6.8 or later, Microsoft Windows 7, Windows 8

Environmental Parameters

Min Operating Temperature32 °F
Max Operating Temperature158 °F

External Hard Drive

Power SourceThunderbolt bus
Internal Drive InterfaceSerial ATA-600
Interface Speed10 Gbps (Thunderbolt)
Max Data Transfer Rate500

Data Transfer Rate Details

InterfaceThunderbolt (read), Thunderbolt (write)
Speed450 reps, 500 reps

Dimensions & Weight

Width3.3 in
Depth0.6 in
Height5.2 in
Weight8.01 oz

Cable Details

TypeThunderbolt cable
Form Factorintegrated
Included Qty1
Length9.8 in

Service & Support Details

Service Includeddata recovery
Full Contract Period3 years, lifetime
Typelimited warranty

Shock & Vibration Tolerance

Shock Acceleration (Non-operating)500 g

 

9. Glyph Blackbox Plus (1TB)

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Miscellaneous

Colorblack

Power

Power SourceUSB bus

Interface Provided

Qty1
Connector Type24 pin USB-C
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 2

Hard Drive

Spindle Speed7200 rpm
FeaturesHFS+ formatted, rugged, fanless design
Hard Drive Typeexternal hard drive
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.1 Gen 2
InterfaceThunderbolt 3, USB 3.1 Gen 2
Data Transfer Rate140 MBps

Performance

Max Data Transfer Rate140 MB/s
Drive Transfer Rate140 MBps (external)
Spindle Speed7200 rpm

System Requirements

OS RequiredApple MacOS X 10.4 or later, Microsoft Windows Vista or later

External Hard Drive

Power SourceUSB bus
Max Data Transfer Rate140
USB-C PortYes

Dimensions & Weight

Width0.4 in, 3.7 in
Depth5.7 in, 0.6 in
Height0.8 in

Cable Details

TypeUSB-C cable, USB-C to USB-A cable
Form Factorexternal
Included Qty1

Service & Support Details

Service Includedadvance parts replacement, data recovery
Full Contract Period1 year, 2 years, 3 years
Typelimited warranty

 

10. Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go USB 3.0 External SSD (128GB):

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Miscellaneous

Colorsleek black
Color Categoryblack
Included Hard Drive Accessoriescarrying case

Power

Power SourceUSB bus

Interface Provided

Qty1
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.0

Hard Drive

Featuresrugged
Hard Drive Typeexternal hard drive
External Drive Typeportable
Storage InterfaceUSB 3.0
InterfaceUSB 3.0

Performance

Interface Transfer Rate5.0 Gbps (USB 3.0)

System Requirements

OS RequiredApple MacOS X 10.4 or later, Linux 2.4.0 or later, Microsoft Windows Vista / XP / 7

External Hard Drive

Power SourceUSB bus
Interface Speed5.0 Gbps (USB 3.0)

Dimensions & Weight

Width1.7 in
Depth3.5 in
Height0.4 in
Weight1.48 oz

Cable Details

TypeSuperSpeed USB cable
Form Factorexternal
Included Qty1
Length7.1 in

Service & Support Details

Full Contract Period2 years
Typelimited warranty

 

Conclusion:

We hope our list of best external portable SSD drives helps you to pick the right product for yourself. Do let check out our other reviews and article about storage solutions. If you have any query or suggestion, feel free to contact us directly or simply comment below. See ya until next post!

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