Best USB External Solid State Drives of 2025

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USB External Solid State Drives are portable storage devices that use flash memory to store and transfer data. These drives are smaller and lighter than traditional hard disk drives and have no moving parts, making them more durable and less prone to failure. They are available in a range of capacities, from 128GB to 2TB, and are ideal for backing up important files or carrying large amounts of data on the go. USB External Solid State Drives offer fast data transfer speeds and are compatible with most devices that have a USB port.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 USB External Solid State Drives
SanDisk 1TB Portable SSD with Fast Read Speeds
The SanDisk Portable SSD is designed for those who want reliable mobile storage. With read speeds of up to 800 MB/s, you can quickly access your files, making it ideal for photographers and anyone on the go. The durable rubber attachment loop ensures that you can securely attach it to your pocket or bag, so you won't misplace it. Plus, it offers a safe way to store your most treasured memories, giving you peace of mind. This external SSD is an essential tool for managing your digital content efficiently.
Kingston XS1000 1TB Portable SSD Drive
The Kingston XS1000 SSD offers a compact, pocket-sized design, making it perfect for on-the-go storage. With speeds reaching up to 1050MB/s, you can quickly transfer files, saving you valuable time. It provides increased storage options, with capacities available up to 2TB, allowing you to store more data than ever. Although the rubber sleeves are sold separately, the durability of this external solid-state drive ensures your data is protected wherever you take it.
Crucial X6 1TB Portable SSD - Fast and Compact
The Crucial X6 Portable SSD offers a massive storage capacity of up to 4TB, which means you can easily store around 20,000 photos or 100 hours of video. Its impressive read speeds of up to 800MB/s allow you to transfer files quickly, saving you valuable time. This device is incredibly lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry wherever you go. Additionally, it boasts broad compatibility, working seamlessly with various devices including PC, Mac, and Android, ensuring you can access your data whenever you need it.
Netac 500GB Portable SSD External Drive
The Netac Portable SSD offers impressive speed with USB 3.2 Gen 2, allowing you to read data at up to 500 MB/s and write at 450 MB/s. Its lightweight and slim design makes it easy to carry, weighing only 30g and measuring 100 x 29.4 x 9 mm. You will appreciate its robust construction, featuring shock-resistant aluminium housing that enhances durability. Additionally, it is highly compatible with various devices, including laptops, desktops, and smartphones, making it perfect for transferring large files like 4K videos and high-resolution photos.
SAMSUNG T7 Shield 1TB Portable SSD
The SAMSUNG T7 Shield offers exceptional performance and durability, making it an ideal choice for users on the go. With its IP65 water resistance and dust protection, you can confidently use it in various environments. Enjoy lightning-fast read and write speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s and 1,000 MB/s, significantly outpacing traditional external hard drives. Furthermore, you can protect your sensitive data effortlessly with AES 256-bit hardware encryption, ensuring your information remains secure. The shock-resistant rubber housing adds an extra layer of safety, allowing it to survive falls from heights of up to three metres.
ORICO 1TB Portable SSD with 2000MB/s Speed
The ORICO Portable SSD is a powerful storage solution designed for content creators. With a remarkable speed of up to 2000MB/s, you can transfer 100GB of data in under a minute, allowing you to edit and document your ideas without delay. Its plug-and-play feature ensures that you can quickly solve any memory issues. Light and compact, it easily fits in your pocket or briefcase, making it perfect for on-the-go use. Additionally, its durability offers protection against dust and drops, keeping your data secure in challenging environments.
SSK 512GB External SSD with Dual Interface
The SSK 512GB SSD offers great convenience with its dual USB-A and Type-C interfaces, allowing you to easily transfer data between your smartphone, tablet, and computer. With impressive data transfer speeds of up to 1000MB/s, you can back up or access your files quickly and efficiently. Its plug-and-play functionality means no software installation is required, making it user-friendly. Additionally, the high-quality zinc alloy shell ensures your data is protected from shocks, heat, water, and dust, giving you peace of mind.
Samsung T9 1TB Portable SSD with Fast Transfer
The Samsung T9 SSD offers incredibly fast data transfer speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s, making it ideal for boosting your workflow, especially if you frequently handle large files. Its compatibility with a range of devices, including PCs, Macs, and game consoles, ensures flexibility in your storage options. With a drop-proof design from heights of up to 3 metres, you can trust it to withstand everyday bumps and knocks. Weighing just 122 grams, this compact SSD is easy to carry, allowing you to take your data wherever you go.
Netac US5 256GB Portable External SSD Drive
The Netac US5 SSD is a versatile external solid-state drive available in multiple capacities ranging from 128GB to 1TB. Its compact metal design allows for easy portability, making it ideal for users on the go. With dual interfaces, including USB 3.2 and Type-C, you can effortlessly transfer data between your smartphone and computer. Plus, the impressive transmission speed of up to 400MB/s ensures that you can access and save files quickly, enhancing your productivity.
SSK 128 GB Portable SSD with Fast Speeds
The SSK Portable SSD boasts a 128 GB capacity, though Windows may display around 116 GB due to different algorithms. You will appreciate the ultra-fast access speeds of up to 550 MB/s, making it ideal for quickly retrieving your files. With S.M.A.R.T. monitoring and TRIM technology, you can enjoy enhanced data security and reliable performance over time. The included USB-C cable and USB-A adapter allow seamless transfers across various devices, ensuring convenience whether you're using a computer or smartphone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you plug an SSD into a USB port?
Connect your SSD to your PC externally via a USB point - a USB-to-SATA cable should be included with your SSD drive. ... Remove any other external drives (such as an external hard drive) then connect the SSD via USB. In the Windows search box, type in diskmgmt then click on disk management.
2. What port does an external SSD use?
Arguably more important than the type of storage mechanism inside an external SSD is how it connects to your PC or Mac. Almost all external SSDs today plug into either some flavor of USB port or a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port.
3. Can you get a SSD external hard drive?
But if you are upgrading your current storage for a faster or larger capacity SSD, then you can use the old one as external storage. For SATA drives, you can purchase an SSD Installation Kit separately. These kits include a USB 3.0 enclosure, USB cable, 3.5” mounting bracket for desktops, and Acronis Cloning software.
4. What is solid state USB?
A flash solid state drive (SSD) is a non-volatile storage device that stores persistent data in flash memory. ... NAND has significantly higher storage capacity than NOR. NOR flash is faster, but it's also more expensive.
During our usb external solid state drive research, we found 305 usb external solid state drive products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 622,170 customer reviews through our big data system to write the usb external solid state drives list. We found that most customers choose usb external solid state drives with an average price of £95.96.
The usb external solid state drives are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of usb external solid state drives, including SanDisk, Kingston, Crucial, Netac, Samsung.

Kenneth Collin graduated from Imperial College, London, at 22. He is a UX/UI designer, a web developer, and a writer, amongst others. At age 14, Kenneth programmed his first app. Kenneth's app served as a remote control for censored devices. "When I was 8, I would pick up scraps from electronics and try to rebuild or at least fix them," Kenneth said in one of his recent articles on Home repairs for top gadgets.