Some users have reported relatively weak performance for random file access, so it may not be the best for streaming video or gaming from. This drive is best for rapid file transfers or backups, rather than live access. It's also not as fast as many of the other options. While it offers four times more storage space - compared to a typical (and affordable) 2TB SSD - the downside is it's far more expensive than any other SSD drive featured in this article. One exception, however, is the U32 Shadow 8TB drive. Unlike mechanical hard drives, SSDs don't typically come in massive storage capacity sizes. U32 Shadow 8TB External SSD USB-C Portable Solid State Drive BUY FROM AMAZON

Best NVMe External SSD - SanDisk Professional G-DRIVE SSD (2TB) Portable External NVMe Solid State Drive.

Best External SSD for Security-Minded Users - Samsung T5 SSD.

Best External SSD for Frequent Travelers - SanDisk Extreme Pro V2 - 2TB.

Best External SSD for Photographers & Videographers - SanDisk Extreme Pro V2 - 4TB.Best External SSD for Gamers - Seagate Storage Expansion Card.Best Budget External SSD - PNY Elite 480GB.Largest Capacity External SSD - U32 Shadow 8TB.Best Overall External SSD - Samsung T7 1TB USB-C.Whichever use case you’re after, we’ve identified nine of the best SSD drives currently available for Windows PCs, Macs, gaming consoles, and even some mobile devices. An external SSD is also a great local backup solution for your desktop computer, which you can rely on in addition to (or instead of) a cloud-based backup option. There are a number of great SSD options, whether you want to take your files on the road, or you need a blazing fast drive for transferring huge files between your computers. SSDs are still typically more expensive than a traditional (mechanical) hard drive, but as prices for flash memory have come down in recent years, some of the best external SSDs-even with 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB capacities-have become much more affordable.

These drives have a faster read/write speed than a traditional (mechanical) hard drive, and in most cases, they’re far more durable because they have no moving parts and their outer shells are designed to withstand the rigors of our daily lives while we're on-the-go. Solid-state drive) is a storage option that utilizes non-volatile flash memory. SSDs also provide a reliable data, file, and photo (or video) backup solution while you’re on-the-go and a cloud-based solution isn’t available or fast enough.

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