The Best External Solid State Drives under $170
Samsung T5 Portable SSD (500 GB)
★ Top Choice
BUY NOW
From $108.22
Features
- Top to bottom metal design that fits in the palm of your hand.
- Includes USB Type C to C and USB Type C to A cables.
- Optional password protection and AES 256 bit hardware encryption.
- Superfast Read Write speeds of up to 540 MB/s.
- 3 year warranty.
Pros
- ⊕ Compact design.
- ⊕ Lightning fast transfer speeds.
Cons
- ⊖ Pricey.
- ⊖ Outdated aesthetic.
- ⊖ Smaller storage space.
Specs
- Waterproof: No.
- Ports: USB-C.
- Storage: 500 GB.
- Connectivity Options: USB-C & A.
- Product Dimensions: 2.3 x 0.4 x 3 in.
Upgrade pick
The Best External Hard Drives - thewirecutter.com
Runner-Up, Best Overall
The 10 Best External Hard Drives of 2020 - lifewire.com
Best Bang for the Buck
Best Samsung SSDs - bestreviews.com
Best of the Best
Best External Solid-State Drives - bestreviews.com
Samsung Portable SSD T5
♥ Runner Up
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From $114.99
Features
- USB-C, USB-A supports for PC, phones and other devices.
- Shock resistance structure withstands falls from up to 2m.
- Fast: Up to 540mbps transfer speed supporting USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10gbps).
- AES 256 bit hardware encryption.
- Compact and lightweight (51g) aluminum exterior.
Pros
- ⊕ Highly compact.
- ⊕ Incredibly fast.
Cons
- ⊖ Expensive.
Specs
- Interface: USB Type-C.
- Capacity: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB.
Samsung T5 Portable SSD (1 TB)
Best External
BUY NOW
From $169
Features
- Optional password protection and AES 256-bit hardware encryption.
- 3 year warranty user can set password when it is necessary. Requires Windows 7, Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks), Android 4.4 (KitKat), or higher; Older versions of the Windows, Mac and Android operating systems may not be supported.
- Superfast Read Write speeds of up to 540 MB/s.
- Top to bottom metal design that fits in the palm of your hand.
- Includes USB Type C to C and USB Type C to A cables.
Pros
- ⊕ Much faster than HDDs.
- ⊕ Easily fits in your pocket.
- ⊕ Up to 2TB of storage capacity.
Cons
- ⊖ Speed comes at a premium.
Specs
- Storage: 1TB.
- Connectivity: USB 3.1.
- Sequential read speed: 484 MB/s.
- Sequential write speed: 482 MB/s.
Also great
The Best Portable SSD - thewirecutter.com
Best External
The 5 Best SSDs for Gaming in 2020 - lifewire.com
SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD
Best for Portability
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From $169.99
Features
- Ruggedized, water- and dust-resistant (IP55-rated) (IEC 60529 IP55: Tested to withstand water flow (30 kPa) at 3 min.; limited dust contact does not interfere with operation. Must be clean and dry before use.).
- Order with your Alexa enabled device. Just ask "Alexa, order SanDisk External SSD.".
- Built by SanDisk, a technology leader and pioneer of the modern day SSD, to deliver superior performance.
- For PC and Mac users.
- Compact and pocket-sized.
- Shock-resistant solid state core for greater durability (Shock-resistant (up to 1500G) and vibration-resistant (5g RMS, 10-2000 HZ), Non-Operating Temperature(from ‐20°C to 70°C), operating temperature (from 0°C to 45°C)).
- 3-year limited manufacturer warranty.
- High-speed transfers with up to 550MB/s read speeds let you move hi-res photos and videos fast (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on drive capacity, host device, OS and application.).
Pros
- ⊕ Fast read/write speeds.
- ⊕ Rugged, pocket-sized design.
- ⊕ Excellent read/write speeds.
Cons
- ⊖ Expensive.
- ⊖ Detachable cable.
- ⊖ No activity light.
- ⊖ A little expensive.
- ⊖ Cables are a touch short.
Specs
- NAND Type: TLC.
- NVMe Support: yes.
- Interface (Computer Side): USB-C.
- Capacity (Tested): 512 GB.
- Warranty Length: 5 years.
- Internal or External: external.
- Rated Maximum Sequential Read: 1050 MBps.
- Bus Type: PCI Express 3.0 x4.
Best for Outdoorsy Travelers, Photographers
The Best External SSDs for 2020 - pcmag.com
Best for Portability
The 5 Best SSDs for Gaming in 2020 - lifewire.com