Top 6 Best External SSDs In 2024

To make room for more music, movies, or all the pictures and videos you shoot with your phone, do you need to expand the local storage on your Mac or PC? An easy and quick fix is to install an external solid-state drive (SSD). Internal and external drives have been thoroughly benchmarked and reviewed by thegadgetex since the first SSD versions were made available. Our study takes into account a number of crucial factors, including speed, capacity, cost per gigabyte, physical size, style, durability, security features, and interface. This manual explains these and many more aspects. The Crucial X9 Pro is now our top pick overall for most customers, but we stand by all of our recommendations, which are selected for specific use cases and pricing ranges. See them all below, then continue reading for a thorough how-to on how to choose the drive that best suits your requirements

Table of Contents

• No 01 Lacie rugged SSD Pro
• No 02 WD black D50
• No 03 Samsung portable SSD T9
• No 04 Adata Elite SC 880
• No 05 Crucial X9 Pro
• No 06 Lexar SL 660

Top 6 Best External SSD Of 2024

No 01 Lacie Rugged SSD Pro

The LaCie Rugged SSD Pro combines a Thunderbolt 3 interface with a Seagate FireCuda NVMe solid-state drive, all housed in an aluminum case that is crush-resistant, silicone-wrapped, and has an incredible IP67 ruggedness rating. This makes it dust-tight and capable of withstanding 30 minutes in shallow water without even requiring the user to close the typical rubber flap over the Thunderbolt 3 port. All of this results in a somewhat specialized device that is best appreciated by videographers who shoot outdoors with MacBook laptops (the type most likely to have Thunderbolt ports), but offers an excellent balance of speed and durability. Although the LaCie isn’t cheap—its price per gigabyte is easily beaten by more general-purpose portable SSDs and even a few rugged rivals—it is designed specifically for Apple content creators.

The majority of consumers are unlikely to require or desire to pay for the exceptional speed and robustness of LaCie’s Rugged SSD Pro external solid-state drive. However, if you’re a filmmaker, videographer, or other professional who works in the field—and if you have a laptop equipped with Thunderbolt-3, so you can take full advantage of the device’s performance—you might consider it a bargain. The LaCie is our new Editors’ Choice for high-end, durable external SSDs. It comes in an aluminum shell that is crush-resistant, silicone-wrapped, and compact enough to fit in a shirt pocket. It is also sturdy enough to fulfill IP67 standards for dust and water resistance and is rated to survive a 3-meter drop (10-foot-plus) fall. It’s also designed to fit in an overnight express envelope and survive the trip, so you can ship it to the office or studio when data connections are slow or nonexistent.

The most remarkable aspects of the Rugged SSD Pro are almost evenly divided between its speed and durability. In the first instance, it couples a Thunderbolt 3 interface with a Seagate FireCuda NVMe SSD. In comparison to the Samsung Portable SSD X5, another SSD that combines NVMe with Thunderbolt 3, and the only other drive we’ve tested to date with comparable speed, LaCie rates the combo at 2,800MBps for both disk reads and writes. In our testing, the two were almost tied, leaving the other results in the dust. When combined, they essentially reinterpret what fast means in terms of an external drive.

Additionally, because SSDs are more durable by nature than platter-based hard drives, the FireCuda SSD is an excellent place to start when it comes to ruggedness. LaCie goes one step further by housing it in an aluminum casing that is resistant to shock, dust, water, and crushing. It is further shielded by a layer of silicone skin that feels good to the touch and provides just the right amount of friction to keep it from slipping out of your hand. The sleek black case, with rounded edges all around, measures 0.7 by 3.9 by 2.6 inches and weighs just 3.5 ounces, making it light enough to be comfortable in a shirt or jeans pocket.

No 02 WD Black D50

If your PC lacks a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port, you can discard the WD Black D50 Game Dock. However, if your system is capable of supporting it, the D50 offers an abundance of ports for additional peripherals and monitors, including two USB 3.2 Type-C ports (one front, one rear), three USB 3.2 Type-A ports (one front, two rear), a front audio jack, two Thunderbolt 3 ports (one of which has 87 watts of USB power delivery), an Ethernet jack, and a DisplayPort 1.4 video output. The external device shares the same black shipping container design as the WD Black P50 Game Drive SSD and measures 4.7 inches square.

The D50 Game Dock has some of the quickest sequential reads and writes of any external drive in addition to stunning RGB lights, though it would be much more helpful if it included an HDMI display port. It’s a really smart docking station and game/movie storage combo.

Enhance your laptop or tiny desktop’s connectivity and storage with the WD Black D50 Game Dock. It has a ton of handy ports and, unless you’re using the base version, a fast solid-state drive. The 2TB SSD model we tested is substantial in terms of speed and space, ideal for those who have a large gaming library or a ton of videos and images to store. The D50 may be used to power a laptop through its interface, connect to a local area network (LAN), and add a mouse, keyboard, monitor, and other peripherals with ease. There are just two things to be aware of: it costs a lot, and PCs without a Thunderbolt connector cannot use it.

The WD Black D50 is a square box that measures 2.2 by 4.7 by 4.7 inches (HWD), with a form factor similar to that of a tiny PC or palmtop projector. The WD Black P50 Game Drive SSD, which looks like the kind of shipping container you might use for cover in a first-person shooter game, is one example of the industrial-chic design that this all-black drive emulates. The model name is written in white letters on the upper lid of the D50, which also has a corrugated texture similar to that of a packing crate on the top and bottom.

The dock’s many ports occupy the front and back, particularly the back. You’ll find an RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet jack, two Thunderbolt 3 ports (one of which provides 87 watts of USB power delivery), a DisplayPort 1.4 connector, a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, and two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports in addition to a grille for a cooling fan and a jack for the 180-watt power adapter.

Additional USB-C and USB-A connections as well as a headphone jack are located up front. One of the two remaining sides has no ports or slots, while the other is only equipped with a sizable ventilation grille.

The drive’s left-side labeling appears strangely upside-down in comparison to the right-side text, suggesting that the D50 will function simply as well when turned over. For that matter, you can stand it on end, resting it on the featureless side, with the grille edge facing upward.

No 03 Samsung Portable SSD T9

Although the drive is fairly pocketable at just 64.8mm length, you do not receive a pouch to hold the wires.There is a 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacity available; a 4TB option is not available, and we had trouble finding a 2TB capacity.

Adata does provide a set of tools that allow the buyer to maximize the drive’s capacity and automate the security of files and folders. Among these is a firmware upgrading tool, which may come in handy in the event that a firmware problem occurs—as it did with SanDisk lately.

Although the 1TB model costs over $85; this isn’t the most affordable approach to acquire Gen 2×2 performance drive. However, taking that into account, you receive both USB cords.The Samsung Portable SSD T9, marketed as a drive for creators, is a solid option for Windows or Mac users who need to quickly access or backup huge files. With capacities up to 4TB, this powerful drive is ideal for power users and creators using either a Mac or a Windows computer. (Android devices can also utilize it.)

The Samsung Portable SSD T9 is a stylish external solid-state drive designed for content creators. It starts for 4TB as reviewed. The already fantastic Samsung Magician software suite has been upgraded, and the disk is compatible with AES 256-bit encryption. In terms of performance, our tests on an external SSD using an Apple MacBook Pro with a Thunderbolt 3 port and our Windows testbed supporting the fast USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 standard revealed the T9 to be in a class by itself.

The Samsung Portable SSD T9, measuring 0.3 by 3.5 by 2.4 inches and weighing 4.3 ounces, is compact and lightweight, although it is somewhat heavier and bulkier than other rival drives, including the Crucial X10 Pro. Comparable in appearance to the Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield, the T9 is black and has a rubberized frame that showcases a textured wave pattern. Additionally, the rough surface facilitates a firm hold on the drive. The model name is displayed on the bottom of the T9, while the Samsung name is displayed on top.

The drive has an oval-shaped USB-C port in the center of one end, with a status light on either side. As we will detail below, the port officially supports the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface. It may also support Thunderbolt and/or USB 4 in an unauthorized capacity. Not many laptops today come with that interface built in, but some expensive desktop motherboards do, and you can add the interface to an earlier machine with a desktop PCI Express expansion card (like the one we use in our external drive testbed, which is called Orico). If your computer can only support USB 3.2 Gen 2, you can still utilize the drive, but the SSD will only operate at 10Gbps Gen 2 speeds. For additional information on the distinctions between the different interfaces, view our USB-C explainer.

The T9 has three different capacity options, with a 4TB maximum. It’s reassuring to see that, according to list prices, the cost per gigabyte decreases as capacity increases; with certain manufacturers, the maximum capacity comes at a premium. 4TB external SSDs were rare until recently, but more and more drive families are starting to offer a 4TB member as an option. The most recent examples of these drive families include the Crucial X9 Pro and X10 Pro, as well as the Kingston XS2000.

Samsung makes no claims regarding the T9’s robustness, although the T9 does have an ingress protection (IP) certification, which attests to a drive’s resistance to dust and water. It is classified as shock-resistant for fall up to 9.8 feet because of its rubberized sheath.

No 04 Adata Elite SC 880

The ADATA Elite SE880 is a stylish, thin, external drive with a small form factor. When combined with the right hardware, it demonstrated rapid sequential write and (particularly) read speeds and had a reasonable cost per GB. In comparison to its esteemed predecessor, the ADATA SE800, it appears minuscule, and when used a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 connection, it can achieve nearly twice the speed. Although it is not ruggedized, it is better suited for interior, office, or local use. Nevertheless, its guarantee is longer.

To take advantage of its lightning-fast throughput speeds (nearly twice that of drives with the common 3.2 Gen 2 interface, especially its read speed), the ADATA Elite SE880 is a good option for a portable external SSD for users with a computer with a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface or who are willing to invest in a Gen 2×2 desktop expansion card. It’s affordable and stylish, and you could carry more of them in your pocket.

Since USB 4.0 is taking too long to catch on, manufacturers of external SSDs have begun to reverse course and embrace a technology that the majority of them had previously disregarded. USB 3.2 Gen 2×2.

If your USB port is powerful enough, the Adata Elite SE880 is one of these items that supports Gen 2×2, although it can also function as a Gen2 or even a Gen1 device if necessary.

The SE880, like other external SSDs, has a USB-C interface at the end of its somewhat unusual tube design, but Adata offers cables—not simply an adapter—for both USB-C and USB-A connections.

Although the drive is fairly pocketable at just 64.8mm length, you do not receive a pouch to hold the wires.

There is a 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacity available; a 4TB option is not available, and we had trouble finding a 2TB capacity.

Adata does provide a set of tools that allow the buyer to maximize the drive’s capacity and automate the security of files and folders. Among these is a firmware upgrading tool, which may come in handy in the event that a firmware problem occurs—as it did with SanDisk lately.

Although the 1TB model costs over $85; this isn’t the most affordable approach to acquire Gen 2×2 performance drive. However, taking that into account, you receive both USB cords and a five-year warranty, that cost is reasonable.

Overall, the Adata Elite SE880 is small and robust, and one of the fastest external SSDs with good performance for small file transfers if you have Gen 2×2 specification ports, but it is not good value for those who don’t have that port or want to secure huge video files using it.

No 05 Crucial X9 Pro

The Crucial X9 Pro is a 4TB external SSD that is small and incredibly powerful. It performed well in our benchmarks. If your computer has a USB port, its interface supports the USB 3.2 Gen 2 standard, allowing for nearly worldwide compatibility (however connecting to a USB-A port will require an adaptor). 256-bit AES encryption and the X9 Pro’s fundamental ruggedization features shield it against human and meteorological hazards, falls, and travel mishaps.

Most people should find the Crucial X9 Pro to be a competitively priced, very portable external SSD. It is an excellent choice for travelers or anyone seeking a quick, moderately durable, and secure portable SSD.

Almost everything a user could want in an external SSD is present in the Crucial X9 Pro , including a solid, small and light chassis, sizes up to 4TB, 256-bit hardware-based encryption, and competitive benchmark results. Although the Editors’ Choice-winning Crucial X10 Pro, designed for creative professionals and filmmakers, offers more raw speed, the X9 Pro is less expensive and doesn’t require extra hardware to function at its best. As a result, it is a superior option for the majority of users and is recognized as Editors’ Choice for general-purpose solid-state drives.

Slim and lightweight at only 1.5 ounces, the matte-gray, rectangular X9 Pro has a black rubberized base and is constructed from anodized aluminum. Its dimensions are 0.3 by 2.6 by 2 inches (HWD). Its beveled corners, one of which has a hole through which a lanyard can be strung, add to its straightforward yet attractive design. The hole allows you to see the status LED indicator of the drive.

One of the short ends of the X9 Pro has a USB-C port in the middle, and a very short USB-C-to-USB-C connection is included. With compatibility for USB 3.2 Gen 2, the X9 Pro ought to work with the majority of laptops and desktops that have USB-C or USB-A ports. (You will require a C-to-A adaptor connector or cable for the latter.) The Crucial X10 Pro supports the faster USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 standard, but to avail yourself of its blazing throughput you will need either a compatible computer (few models, even recent ones, are), or to add a Gen 2×2 expansion card. Check out our USB-C explainer for more on the differences between the USB interfaces.

With an IP55 rating for Ingress Protection, the X9 Pro has some cred in the toughness department. This shows that the drive is certified to withstand dust and water, although it is not completely immune to fine particles, and its ability to withstand water is restricted to light misting or sprinkling rather than full submersion. Certain external SSDs—like the IP68-rated ADATA SE800—are even more ruggedized and offer superior defense against dust and water. Additionally, the X9 Pro is approved as drop-proof up to 7.5 feet.

No 06 Lexar SL 660

Lexar’s SL660 Blaze Game Portable SSD is a feature-rich storage device that comes with a stylish retractable stand, a protective case, and RGB lighting that matches any well-equipped gaming setup. However, that’s not all it has to offer. At the top of the SSD speed ladder thanks to its USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface, Lexar also includes 256-bit AES hardware encryption and a five-year warranty.

Similar to the WD Black P50, the SL660’s top capacity of 1TB is actually a little limited given the bulky games of today; you might choose a 2TB or 4TB drive from another manufacturer. It also won’t function at its best unless your PC is among the few having a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 connector. But this SSD is definitely meant for you if you’re a speed-obsessed, fashion-forward gamer.

With the swift transition from 2020’s plodding, entry-level Lexar SL200 to the snappy, RGB-lit Lexar SL660 Blaze Game Portable SSD, Lexar is demonstrating that its design flexibility extends to external solid-state drives. If your hardware supports USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 speed, the SL660 Blaze may take advantage of it. It also comes with a handy retractable stand and protective pouch. Additionally, it excelled at our PCMark 10 Storage benchmark, which gauges how quickly a disk loads programs and games. Though more capacious solutions are available if you’re trying to keep a library of games, it’s a nice device with a gamer’s style.

The SL660 Blaze weighs 2.8 ounces (5 ounces including the stand, a grooved cradle that keeps the drive on edge) and is 0.4 by 2.3 by 4.4 inches. It is housed in a dark aluminum chassis that Lexar refers to as graphite gray. The Blaze’s RGB LED light show is one of the stand’s features.

While the Seagate FireCuda Gaming SSD and the ADATA SE900G are substantially larger in size, the Blaze is thinner and significantly smaller. An asymmetrical loop that can be used to hook a carabiner clip or other fastener is located at one of its short ends.

A USB Type-C port that supports the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 standard is located on the opposite end of the disk. The Blaze is fully backward-compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2, as well as USB versions 3.1 and 3.0, automatically defaulting to the fastest speed your system permits. To obtain its maximum transfer capabilities, the Blaze must be inserted into a suitable port.

Buying Guide: The Best External SSDs for 2024

There is a large selection of portable SSDs, as you can see above. When shopping, consider factors like capacity, weight and size, interface or PC connection, and whether you need a drive with a tough housing.

First, here is why an SSD is preferable to a hard disk. A solid-state drive stores data on a collection of “persistent” flash memory cells as opposed to a hard drive, which stores data on those rotating platters accessed by a moving magnetic head. They save your data even in the event of an electrical power outage, much like the silicon that makes up a computer’s RAM.

Is an External SSD Faster Than an External Hard Drive?

Yes, once more, hard drives are slower since accessing your data requires them to physically rotate platters and move a reader arm. What is the speed difference between reading data from flash cells and specific spots on rotating platters? Consumer hard drives typically have throughputs of 100MBps to 200MBps, however SSDs with Thunderbolt 3 or 4 or USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 capability can reach up to 2,000MBps or more for read and write speeds. (Spin rate is a factor in hard drive speed; external drives with a spin rate of 5,400 rpm are more common and less expensive than those with a speed of 7,200 rpm.)

Results from our benchmark tests typically indicate speeds over 400MBps, even for common external SSDs. In real terms, this implies that you can transfer terabytes of data, such as a 4GB full-length movie or a year’s worth of family photos) to your external SSD in seconds rather than the minutes it would take with an external hard drive.

What Is the Best External SSD Interface?

In essence, external solid-state drives are internal solid-state drives (SSDs) housed in desktop computers or laptops, but with an external shell and a few bridging components. Consequently, the internal “bus types” that external drives use—PCI Express (PCIe) or Serial ATA (SATA)—determine their maximum speed in part. The latter is typically linked to Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe), a data transfer standard intended for SSDs.

While slower than SATA-based drives, SATA-based SSDs are generally slightly less expensive and suitable for the majority of users’ daily needs. Peak read and write speeds for SATA-based SSDs usually reach 500MBps, which is somewhat less than the USB 3.0 interface’s maximum. (Much more on that to follow.) But if you’re transferring large files such as videos often, you may want to spring for a PCIe/NVMe-based external SSD. That also ties in with the port you’ll plug your SSD into.

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