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 |  SanDisk Extreme 1TBBest value SanDisk | 1TB | 1.1 GB/s | 1.0 GB/s | — | 5 years | 71.6 | $67.99/TB | $67.99 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 2 |  Crucial | 1TB | 1.1 GB/s | 900 MB/s | — | 3 years | 59.2 | $106.99/TB | $106.99 | Check Price on Amazon |
| 3 | 2TB | 1.1 GB/s | 1.0 GB/s | — | 5 years | 57.2 | $134.88/TB | $269.75 | Check Price on Amazon | |
| 4 |  Samsung | 2TB | 2.0 GB/s | 1.9 GB/s | — | 3 years | 46.8 | $219.18/TB | $438.35 | Check Price on Amazon |
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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.