Samsung Launches USB4 Portable SSDs P9 and P7 at Gamescom 2026
Samsung's P9 hits 4,000 MB/s over USB4, doubling the T9's ceiling. The P7 adds rugged drop protection. Both launch August 31, 2026, from $289.99.
Samsung announced the P9 and P7 portable SSDs at Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, with both going on sale August 31. The P9 is Samsung's fastest portable drive yet, reaching 4,000 MB/s sequential read and 3,800 MB/s sequential write over USB4. The P7 uses the same interface but prioritizes versatility: a ruggedized chassis rated for 2-meter drops and native compatibility with laptops, phones, cameras, and consoles.
What USB4 actually changes
USB4 doubles the bandwidth ceiling of USB 3.2 Gen 2. Current drives like the Samsung T9 2TB top out around 2,000 MB/s. The P9 reaches 4,000 MB/s on a USB4 port, cutting the transfer time for a 100GB video project from roughly 50 seconds to 25. For regular home backups or gaming, the gap is minor. For anyone editing directly from the drive or ingesting large RAW files from a camera daily, the difference is real.
P9 vs P7: which one to pick
The P9 starts at $339.99 for 1TB and scales to $2,699.99 at 8TB. Samsung positions the 8TB P9 as the world's first USB4 portable SSD at that capacity sustaining 4,000 MB/s reads. The P7 starts at $289.99 for 1TB across the same capacity range. Both use a USB-C connector and are backward-compatible with slower ports. Choose the P7 if the drive needs to handle rough field conditions. Choose the P9 if speed is the deciding factor and your machine has a USB4 port to use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is the Samsung P9 USB4 portable SSD?
The Samsung P9 reaches 4,000 MB/s sequential read and 3,800 MB/s sequential write over a USB4 port. That is roughly double the ceiling of USB 3.2 Gen 2 drives. On a USB 3.2 port, speed drops to that port's limit — the P9 is backward-compatible but only hits its peak on USB4.
What is the difference between the Samsung P9 and P7?
The P9 is the performance model: 4,000 MB/s reads, up to 8TB, built for video editors and photographers moving large files regularly. The P7 trades some peak speed for a chassis rated to survive 2-meter drops and adds out-of-the-box compatibility with cameras and consoles. Both launch August 31, 2026.
Is the Samsung P9 worth it over the T9?
If your laptop or workstation has a USB4 port, yes — the P9's 4,000 MB/s read speed is a genuine doubling over the T9's 2,000 MB/s USB 3.2 Gen 2 ceiling. For someone doing occasional backups or gaming transfers on a USB 3.2 machine, the T9 will still saturate the port, so the upgrade is situational.