Best Portable External SSDs
Portable SSDs offer fast, pocket-sized storage that works with any device. The picks below all support USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps), delivering read speeds above 1,000 MB/s — fast enough for video editing and large file transfers on the go. Far more durable than portable HDDs with no moving parts.
| # | Product | Capacity | Read | Write | TBW | Warranty | Score | $/TB | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  WD My Passport SSD 1TBBest value WD | 1TB | 1.1 GB/s | 1.0 GB/s | — | 3 years | 79.5 | $79.99/TB | $83.10 | $83.10 |
| 2 |  SanDisk | 1TB | 1.1 GB/s | 1.0 GB/s | — | 5 years | 66 | $84.99/TB | $76.95 | $76.95 |
| 3 |  Samsung | 1TB | 1.1 GB/s | 1.0 GB/s | — | 3 years | 44.5 | $89.99/TB | $92.56 | $92.56 |
Showing 3 top picksSee all best external ssds →
Frequently Asked Questions
What speed do I need for an external SSD?
USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) drives achieve 900–1,050 MB/s real-world read speeds — enough for 4K video editing directly from the drive. USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) tops out at around 450 MB/s, which is still much faster than a portable HDD. Thunderbolt is only necessary for 4K RAW or 6K+ workflows.