The 10 Good External Ssd For 2024, Tested And Researched

Nicolas Ward By, Nicolas Ward
Updated
Good External Ssd
Good External Ssd

The Rundown

1. Best Overall: WD WDBAYN001 SSD

The WD WDBAYN001 SSD is the perfect drive for fast yet affordable SSD performance. With a compact design and drop resistance of up to 2 meters, this portable SSD is the perfect companion at home or on the go. Read Review

2. Best For The Price: SanDisk SDSSDE61 SSD

Experience the pinnacle of portable SSD performance with the SanDisk SDSSDE61. This high-capacity drive combines NVMe solid-state technology with robust durability, making it the ideal solution for those who demand speed and resilience in one sleek package. Read Review

3. Best Speed: SAMSUNG T7 Drive

This drive is designed to make data transfers incredibly fast and efficient. It features an advanced heat dissipation design to keep your drive cool, plus an optional password protection feature to keep your data secure. Read Review

4. Best Versatile: LaCie SSD Drive

Elevate your data storage game with the LaCie Rugged SSD Drive. Packed with Seagate FireCuda NVMe technology, extreme durability, and robust encryption, it's a filmmaking companion. Read Review

5. Best Performance: Crucial X8 SSD

Enter the world of seamless storage expansion with the Crucial X8 SSD. Whether you're a gamer, a creative professional, or a casual user, the Crucial X8 aims to make storage a hassle-free experience. Read Review

When it comes to data storage, external hard drives have become a must-have for many users. Whether you’re a student, professional, or creative, having a reliable external storage device is essential for backing up your data and keeping it secure. But not all external hard drives are created equal: good external SSDs (Solid State Drives) offer a range of advantages over traditional hard drives.

An SSD is a type of storage device that uses integrated circuits (ICs) instead of the spinning platters found in traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). This makes them faster, quieter, and more reliable than their HDD counterparts. They also have a longer lifespan, with up to 10 times the lifespan of an HDD. But with so many external SSDs on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. Fortunately, this guide will help you choose the best external SSD for your needs. 

We think the good external ssd of 2024 is WD WDBAYN001 SSD. The WD WDBAYN001 SSD boasts read speeds of up to 400MB/s and ensures swift file transfers, allowing you to breeze through your tasks effortlessly. However, in order to provide the reader with a wider variety of alternatives, we recommend adding SanDisk SDSSDE61 SSD if you are interested in purchasing another appealing one. Here are the buying guides that we specially made for you guys. Follow all the words below for successful shopping!

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 WD WDBAYN001 SSD
Our Score:
9.9
Western Digital

This SSD drive is a game-changer for those seeking accelerated productivity without breaking the bank. The WD WDBAYN001 SSD boasts read speeds of up to 400MB/s and ensures swift file transfers, allowing you to breeze through your tasks effortlessly. Whether you're a professional on the go or a creative enthusiast, the compact design and impressive drop resistance of up to 2 meters make this drive a resilient companion, capable of withstanding the rigors of any environment.

The plug-and-play functionality simplifies the integration of this SSD into your workflow, ensuring it's ready to use straight out of the box. It also has a comprehensive package that includes the Portable SSD, USB 3.0 Cable, and a Safety and Warranty Guide, leaving you well-equipped for any venture. However, the syncing process with Mac may be a bit complicated the first time, but you will get used to it after some practice, so you don't need to worry about that.

TOP Choice #2 SanDisk SDSSDE61 SSD
Our Score:
9.7
SanDisk

The SanDisk SDSSDE61 SSD raises the bar for portable storage, delivering NVMe solid-state performance with read speeds of up to 1050MB/s and write speeds of 1000MB/s. This powerhouse ensures that transferring large files is a breeze, providing a high-capacity solution for those who need speed on the go.

Furthermore, with up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance, the SDSSDE61 is a tough companion for your adventures. The addition of a carabiner loop adds a practical touch, allowing you to secure the drive to your belt loop or backpack for peace of mind. This drive also impresses with its included password protection and 256-bit AES hardware encryption, ensuring your data remains secure. While the drive's prolonged use can generate some warmth, this can be managed with brief breaks during heavy tasks. 

TOP Choice #3 SAMSUNG T7 Drive
Our Score:
9.6
SAMSUNG

The SAMSUNG T7 Drive offers blazing-fast speeds with USB 3.2 Gen 2 and PCIe NVMe technology. With read/write speeds of up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s, this pocket-sized SSD is 2x faster than its predecessor, making file transfers a lightning-fast experience. Built with a solid aluminum unibody construction, the T7 provides exceptional durability, withstanding drops of up to 6 feet. The advanced thermal solution ensures optimal performance even at high speeds, demonstrating Samsung's commitment to reliability.

Compatibility is a highlight, with support for PC, Mac, Android devices, gaming consoles, and even the latest iPhone 15 ProRes video feature. The T7 offers flexibility with three capacities and a range of color options to suit your style. However, you should be aware that reformatting will overwrite the preinstalled security apps on Mac and Windows. To retain them, it's advisable to take a copy beforehand. Despite this, the SAMSUNG T7 Drive remains a top choice for those who prioritize speed, durability, and style in their portable storage solution.

4 LaCie SSD Drive
Our Score:
9.5
LaCie

With speeds reaching up to 1050MB/s, this LaCie SSD Drive ensures your workflow stays seamless, handling data with lightning-fast precision. The extreme IP67-rated water resistance and a three-meter drop resistance make it a true rugged companion for those on-the-go shoots.

Connectivity is a breeze, thanks to the included USB cables that play nice with Thunderbolt 3, USB-C, and USB 3.0 on both Mac and Windows computers. The 500GB capacity provides ample space for your creative endeavors. Its hardware encryption also offers extra security, protecting your precious work.

On top of that, LaCie offers a five-year limited product warranty, including Rescue Data Recovery Services. And for the creative minds, a one-month complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps Plan sweetens the deal, opening doors to fantastic photo and video editing apps. The only downside is that it is a bit expensive. Yet, when you consider the long-term peace of mind with the warranty and data recovery services, the investment seems justified.

5 Crucial X8 SSD
Our Score:
9.3
Crucial

The Crucial X8 SSD brings the speed and simplicity of storage expansion to both PC and Mac users. With no reformatting required, this portable SSD offers up to 1TB capacity, allowing you to back up photos, videos, and documents effortlessly. Compatibility is a strong suit – encrypt your drive with Windows Bitlocker to Go or Apple’s FileVault and rest easy knowing your data is secure. 

The versatility extends to entertainment, as you can download your favorite Netflix or Amazon videos directly to the Crucial X8, saving on data while enjoying high-fidelity videos on the go. Android users can also rejoice, as it allows storage for up to 1TB of photos and videos on smartphones or tablets. You can also unleash your creative energy on the go with multi-stream video editing thanks to seamless compatibility with video-editing software like LumaFusion. Nonetheless, the software is not very user-friendly initially, requiring a bit of a learning curve.

6 Netac SSD Drive
Our Score:
9.1
Netac

The Netac SSD Drive is all about speed and durability. Equipped with a USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface, it boasts ultra speeds of up to 500 MB/s read and 450 MB/s write. This makes it perfect for transferring large-sized data, from 4K videos to high-resolution photos, catering to the needs of students, photographers, businesses, content creators, and gamers alike.

The shock-resistant aluminum housing with a reinforced inner frame ensures durability, making it a reliable choice for those constantly on the move. It also comes complete with a USB Type-C to C cable and a USB Type-C to A cable, providing flexibility for different devices. This drive offers peace of mind with a 3-year worry-free warranty, and the friendly customer service ensures you're covered for any issues. Unfortunately, the transfer rate may be a bit slower sometimes, but it is not a big deal. Overall, it's a perfect travel companion, ensuring you can save time transferring and saving data.

7 VectoTech SSD Drive
Our Score:
9.0
VectoTech

VectoTech's SSD Drive combines performance with portability seamlessly. With read/write speeds hitting 540MB/s, this drive ensures that transferring large files, 4K videos, and indulging in high-end gaming is a breeze. The USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface, featuring a Type-C connection, accelerates data transfers at a remarkable rate—5 times faster than conventional hard drives.

This drive effortlessly syncs with both PC and MAC straight out of the box. Its universal compatibility extends to Windows (7 or higher), macOS (10.x and higher), XBOX, PS4, iPad Pro, Android smartphones with USB C ports, surveillance systems, and Thunderbolt 3 devices. 

It boasts a durable Aluminum 1050-grade construction, which resists minor scratches and ensures ideal heat dissipation. Moreover, shock and vibration resistance up to 1500g at 0.5m/sec, equivalent to a 6-foot drop, guarantees data integrity even in challenging situations. One minor drawback is that it may stop working occasionally, but it is not a big deal.

8 Crucial X10 Pro SSD Drive
Our Score:
8.9
Crucial

The Crucial X10 Pro unleashes real power with read and write speeds soaring up to 2,100/2,000MB/s. This formidable speed makes it a powerhouse for editing directly from the drive, ensuring seamless creativity without lag. Its compatibility offers plug-and-play ease with Windows, Mac, Android, iPad, PC, Linux, PlayStation, and Xbox gaming consoles. The IP55 water and dust resistance, coupled with drop-proof durability up to 7.5 feet, make the X10 Pro a rugged travel companion.

Besides, this product comes with password protection and 256-bit AES hardware encryption, safeguarding sensitive data on the go. Engineered by Micron, its anodized aluminum finish, rubberized soft-touch base, and mini 65 x 50 mm design scream professional quality. The integrated lanyard hole, complete with a drive activity light, adds a practical touch. Despite its prowess, it may not be the most suitable choice for extensive 4K video editing.

9 Silicon Power SSD Drive
Our Score:
8.8
SP Silicon Power

Silicon Power's B75 Pro is a marvel of modern engineering, offering extreme compactness and lightweight portability. Its ultra-thin casing, compliant with USA military-grade shockproof drop tests, ensures your data remains intact even during accidental drops or impacts. Crafted with a sturdy aluminum casing and scratch-resistant surface, the B75 Pro exudes style. The shining silver color and grooved design make it a chic accessory, blending seamlessly with various types.

The LED indicator also allows you to check the connection and transfer status at a glance. Weighing in at just 0.48 inches in depth, it achieves true portability without compromising functionality. The Type-C port and USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface facilitate lightning-fast data transfers, catering to the demands of raw image editing, multitasking, and managing large 4K video files. However, it's worth noting that re-formatting to exFAT is required for files larger than 4GB.

10 SSK SSD Drive
Our Score:
8.6
SSK

The SSK SSD Drive is distinguished by its 1TB external storage capacity, making it an ideal choice for users who demand ample space for their digital content. The superfast read/write speeds of up to 550 MB/s redefine efficiency. Plus, the USB 3.1 Gen2 6Gbps connectivity makes transferring high-resolution photographs and videos a breeze. One minor issue is that it does not work well with RAW photos.

This drive is encased in a solid, shockproof, and vibration-resistant aluminum shell and boasts an efficient heat sink that ensures cool operation with low power consumption. The blue indicator light adds a touch of style, flashing during data transmission to inform you of its operational status. Additionally, equipped with a high-performance controller IC and compliant with UASP and Trim, it effectively improves speed and extends the SSD's lifespan. Compatible with Android, Mac OS 10.11 or above, and Windows 7 or above, this SSD seamlessly integrates into various devices, making it a versatile solution for users across different platforms.

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The main aspects you should think about before purchasing good external ssd

Would you like to understand exactly what you've been doing before buying something? If that's the case, you should follow this blog article. In it, I'll go over the main factors you should think about before purchasing good external ssd.

These features are supposed to keep your purchasing intention as informed as possible and to ensure that you find the good external ssd for your needs.

What's holding you back? What other reasons do people give for purchasing inferior products rather than the top-of-the-line product they desire? We'll be around when you're prepared to intervene. Please read the following points to help you select good external ssd easier.

Battery Life

External hard drives are the most power-efficient. Solid-state hybrid drives come in at a close second for power efficiency, since they frequently spin down more often than hard drives. External storage on a laptop computer will not impact battery life by more than about 10%. The processor power and LCD screen are most responsible for draining the battery.

Durability

Solid-state drives are viewed as more durable than traditional hard drives. They don't have moving parts, so they can withstand higher extremes of shock, drop, and temperature.

Capacity

External hard drives are workhorses when it comes to capacity. The storage size of external hard drives is exponentially larger than solid-state drives, and current capacities for consumer external hard drives — currently reaching up to 12 TB — are anticipated to continue growing. Solid-state hybrid drives also offer maximum capacity points at affordable prices while solid-state drives are only affordable at lower capacities. High-capacity SSDs continue to be expensive.

Compatibility

Out of the box, external hard drives are formatted for a specific operating system. For example, an external drive formatted for Windows 10 may have problems working with MacOS, and vice versa. Some hard drives are formatted specifically for Linux, too.

This setup isn’t irreversible, however. You can reformat a hard drive or partition it to have different capabilities. But if you want to avoid the hassle, make sure the external drive is compatible with the target operating system.

Design

Without any moving parts, solid state drives are the thinnest of all available storage options. They're especially good for thin and light PCs and more complicated, industrial designs. For standard notebooks, solid state drives are available in 7 mm heights. HDDs are available in standard 7 mm and 15mm designs.

Speed

External hard drives (SSD+HDD) provide peak performance for booting and high read/write performance for computing that requires enhanced multitasking capabilities. SSHDs can provide near-SSD performance when booting, launching, and loading. HDDs usually provide ample performance for the majority of PC platforms available today.

Security

If the data on your external hard drive is sensitive, encryption is a good idea. Many drives are compatible with software encryption solutions, and those are fine for most people. Some drives ship with strong casings to prevent physical tampering. While Kingston’s Ironkey flash drives don’t offer the same storage capacity as full-scale drives, they have a secondary security layer embedded in the printed circuit board (PCB), dipped in resin. This design makes it hard for anyone to physically access the memory chips inside the drive.

FAQs

What is an external SSD?

An external SSD (solid state drive) is an external storage device that uses flash memory to store data. Unlike traditional hard drives, SSDs are faster, lighter, and more reliable. They are often used for storing and transferring large amounts of data, such as photos, videos, and music.

What are the advantages of using an external SSD?

An external SSD provides faster data transfer speeds than traditional hard drives, making it ideal for storing large amounts of data quickly. It is also more reliable and more resistant to physical damage than regular hard drives.

How do I set up an external SSD?

Setting up an external SSD is usually quite easy. Most external SSDs will come with an installation guide that will explain the steps needed to get the device up and running. In general, the process involves connecting the drive to your computer, downloading any necessary software, and formatting the drive.

Are external SSDs secure?

Yes, external SSDs are very secure. They are designed with encryption and password protection features to protect your data from unauthorized access.

Conclusion

When looking for good external ssd, it's not always clear where to begin. We produced this list of key factors to serve as a preliminary step prior to actually making your purchase to assist you in making an informed decision.

We hope that these sections will assist you in making the best decision possible and saving you money on items that do not work or are poorly. If you have any questions about our product selections, please visit SSK SSD Drive. This will be the most fantastic option for your expectations.


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About Nicolas Ward

Nicolas Ward

Nicolas Ward is an elite author with many years of experience in the music field and the owner of many engaging articles at TheAudioInsights. He studies music production and has many years of passionate research into sound systems. Appearing in many popular newspapers, Nicolas Ward provides useful knowledge and the latest information on music and sound.