An external SSD is the cheapest way to add fast storage to a laptop with soldered internal storage, keep video projects off your main drive or run reliable backups. But speeds printed on the box depend on your computer’s ports. This guide explains USB and Thunderbolt speeds in plain language and recommends dependable portable SSDs.
Quick picks
| Best for | Drive | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most people | Samsung T7 Shield | Rugged, water- and dust-resistant, fast on standard 10 Gbps USB ports |
| Windows PCs with 20 Gbps USB | Samsung T9 or Crucial X10 Pro | Take advantage of USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 speeds |
| Video editors on Mac | A Thunderbolt/USB4 NVMe SSD or enclosure | Much higher speeds on Thunderbolt ports |
| Everyday value | SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD | Compact, reliable and often discounted |
| Cheap backups | A portable hard drive (HDD) | Lowest cost per terabyte for Time Machine or File History |
Speeds explained
| Connection | Max bandwidth | Typical real-world SSD speed |
|---|---|---|
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) | 5 Gbps | ~450 MB/s |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) | 10 Gbps | ~1,000 MB/s |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps) | 20 Gbps | ~2,000 MB/s (mostly Windows PCs) |
| Thunderbolt 3/4, USB4 (40 Gbps) | 40 Gbps | ~2,500–3,800 MB/s |
| Thunderbolt 5 | 80 Gbps+ | Even faster, on supported computers |
Important for Mac users: Macs don’t support USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps). A “2,000 MB/s” Gen 2×2 drive falls back to about 1,000 MB/s on a Mac. For faster speeds on a Mac, choose a Thunderbolt or USB4 drive.
The picks
Samsung T7 Shield — best for most people
A rubberized, IP65-rated portable SSD that handles drops, dust and rain. Speeds of up to about 1,050 MB/s max out common 10 Gbps USB ports on both Macs and PCs, so you get full performance almost anywhere.
Samsung T9 and Crucial X10 Pro — best for fast Windows PCs
These drives support USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 for around 2,000 MB/s on compatible Windows computers. Check that your PC actually has a 20 Gbps USB-C port — otherwise, a T7 Shield performs the same for less money.
Thunderbolt / USB4 SSDs — best for Mac video work
If you edit high-bitrate video directly from an external drive, a Thunderbolt or USB4 NVMe SSD (or a quality NVMe enclosure plus an SSD) offers several times the speed of USB 3.2 drives. These enclosures can run warm, so choose aluminum designs with good heat dissipation.
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD — best value
A pocketable, rubber-coated SSD from a long-established storage brand, frequently on sale. Great for moving files between computers and for photographers backing up cards on the road.
A simple backup plan
- Keep your working files on the internal drive or a fast external SSD.
- Run automatic backups (Time Machine or Windows File History) to a separate drive — an HDD is fine.
- Keep a third copy offsite or in the cloud in case of theft, fire or ransomware.
Not sure whether to pay for more internal storage or more memory? Read how much RAM you need — in most cases, spend on memory and add an external SSD for storage.