
The main storage unit for the most computers was the HDD – the hard disk drive, has many useful features such as high storage capacity and it usually is quite affordable.
However, its performance isn’t even similar to the SSD.
The typical HDD has access to data of a few thousand microseconds, whereas the typical SSD needs about 30 to 100 microseconds. SSDs are significantly faster when accessing data, which makes them really really different.
Of course, the price of the SSD is quite higher than similar capacity HDD.
So if you are looking for really big storage units (over 1 or 2TB) then an HDD might be a better option.
If however, you are looking for an external storage device with less than 1TB you can find really high-performance models at a great price.
Samsung T5 external SSD
This is one of the top choices on the market.
If you are looking for external storage, and especially SSD type, this option should be considered.
One of the best things about this particular model is that it has great reading speeds of up to 540MB/s. Which means great performance for everyday usage, gaming, graphic editing and more.
You can carry it with you, and it can hold 500GB of data, so this means you can always have extra storage. It connects to the PC via USB 3.1.
You can always have with you extra storage, and you get plenty of storage to store music, videos, important work files and many more.
Its metal design looks really premium and it weighs 1.8 oz and its size is 2.26″ x 2.91″ and is just 0.41″ thick.
It can fit in your briefcase, in your laptop bag or even in your pockets.
One of the best features about this and most SSD is that it doesn’t have any moving parts. Which is why it is a perfect choice for any laptop users. It can withstand drops of up to 2 meters (based on internal test).
The SSD comes with USB Type C to C and USB Type C to A cables (3.0 and 2.0). The drive can be plugged into your PC, Mac, Smartphone or even gaming console (the compatibility may vary)
SanDisk 1TB External SSD
This model by SanDisk offers 1TB of storage and reading speeds of data of up to 550MB/s.
The storage unit is quite portable and really sturdy. It is ruggedized and water and dust resistant – the device is IP55 rated.
It can also withstand 2-meter drops (2 meters on a concrete floor – certified).
The SSD is also shock-resistant (Shock-resistant (up to 1500G) and vibration-resistant (5g RMS, 10-2000 HZ).
It can be used on PC and MAC. The high speeds make the external SSD great for storing large files like HIGH-RES photos and videos, that you can edit or transfer fast.
This device is perfect for people that have a lot of music on their device, or for photographers that do professional work and store thousands of high-res photos and want to have extra space. The 1TB model offers great performance and plenty of space for most people. You can simply plug it into the PC or Mac it can connect with USB 3.1 Type C connector and it includes USB Type C to Type C and Type C to Type A adapter.
Seagate SSD 2TB
This is one SSD that offers quite a lot of space – 2TB. It can hold up thousands and thousands of mp3, high res photos, and videos.
The speeds of the SSD are of up to 540MB/s, which is perfect if you have a lot of large files.
The SSD is lightweight, shock resistant and comes with USB C technology. There is also include an USB Type C to Type A cable so you can use it with different devices.
The device also comes with a formatting tool to let you optimize the performance of the SSD. It works on PC and MAC.
External SSD Buyer Guide
SSDs have many advantages – they are durable, no moving parts, offer higher performance and are quite portable. External SSD can hold many many files, and you can use them to store high res photos, videos and music files. You can carry them in your briefcase or laptop case or sometimes even your pocket.
They are quite lightweight and really convenient if you have many files that you have to browse around.
Purchasing a 500gb or even 1TB is plenty of space to have in an external source to bring with you.
Size
The size of the SSD depends on what kind of work are you expecting to do. If you want to simply carry around a few photos of family and friends and have some music that you enjoy listening, but don’t want to have it on your computer, then a 256GB SSD would be enough.
Connectivity
This is key component too if you want to carry the SSD and connect it to different devices such as smartphones, PC or Mac with different ports like USB 3 or USB A, then you need to consider that. However, most modern SSDs come with additional cables or adapters to make sure you have great compatibility and don’t have to worry about the ports of the devices.
Dimensions
The dimensions are important too. When we are talking about external drive, then you need to consider the dimensions, it has to be small enough so you can carry with you, whether in your pocket or in your laptop bag. It has to be convenient for you. Most SSDs are lightweight too, so you might not even notice it with you.
Additional features
Shockproof, waterproof, dustproof, drop tested. These are some of the additional features that you might find in the SSDs. They are not necessary but are great to have.
Speeds
Many SSD offer really high speeds – often up to 500MB/s, which is perfect for people that carry high-res photos and want to browse then or to transfer them quickly and edit them. When you are browsing for external SSD make sure that it has enough speed so that you don’t have to wait when transferring large files.