Best Encrypted External Ssd

1. Self Encrypted Ssd
2. Best External 1tb Ssd
3. Format Encrypted Ssd
4. Best Encrypted External Ssd Drives
5. External Ssd Drive Reviews

Gaming requires a lot of memory. For some of the best gaming laptops, the default memory storage isn’t quite enough. Using some best budget ssd for gaming is the best way to increase storage on your console or PC at an affordable price. And Some fastest external ssd drive can take the pressure off of your machine and also provides you with the ability to store more games at the same time. So, we have brought the Best External SSD For Gaming to you.

Those were the best external SSDs you can buy right now. There are some others you can check out as well, including the Seagate Fast SSD ( $169 ), and the WD MyPassport ( $149.99 ) both of which are SATA based SSDs that offer speeds up to 540MB/s. The best portable SSD you can buy right now is the $149 CalDigit Tuff Nano (512GB). It was one of the fastest performing SSDs we tested, beating out most of the competition in read and write speeds. Ssd: 128/256/512gb - 1/2/4/8/16tb USB 3.1 FIPS 140-2 Level 2/3, NCSC CPA, NLNCSA BSPA & NATO Restricted – Certified.

Installing a new internal SSD can be a tiresome and difficult process plus it cost extra if you have it installed by a professional which is an unnecessary cost too. And the Best External SSD for Gaming is extremely easy to use. SO, all you need to do is just plug them in. Using some fastest external ssd for mac and pc, you can install games on multiple computers. Generally, no file formatting is required to use a best external ssd for macbook pro and pc.

Some best budget ssd for gaming are the fastest, quietest, and most reliable storage devices. And the biggest advantage is that they reduce boot time. Thus, speeding up your programs and games and ultimately making your computer much faster. And when it comes to Speed, there is a drastic comparison relative to conventional HDD.

If you can compromise a bit on speed and are looking for more budget-friendly options, then HDD is what you have been looking for. And it provides you with an average speed of 100 MB/s. And you won’t have to pay this much too. So, do check out our Best External Hard Drive For Gaming Laptop.

We have compiled a list of Best External SSD For Gaming for you.

Self Encrypted Ssd

1) Samsung T5 SSD

Samsung is one of the top-notch leaders when it comes to SSD, and they continue their winning streak with the T5. For power users who are willing to pay a premium price and want everything, that is, speed, capacity, and portability, Samsung T5 SSD is the slickest solution out there. And that’s what makes it our top pick in Best External SSD For Gaming.

T5 is an ideal SSD for gaming available in the market today. It’s sleek and simple design makes it cool and highly portable. And yes, it does come in black. This spunky little drive shares the same DNA as Samsung 860 EVO SSD but in a smaller package. Because of all these amazing features, Samsung T5 SSD has earned first place in our list of Best External SSD For Gaming.

Compatibility

It works amazingly well as a laptop gaming SSD and fastest external ssd for mac. And it is also compatible with PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Because of these amazing features, Samsung T5 SSD is our top pick for Best External SSD For Gaming.

Transfer Speed

The average data transfer rate of fastest external ssd for mac and pc comes around 540 MB/s, making it fantastic for running high-resolution games. And it also offers blazingly fast copying speeds.

Capacity

T5 SSD comes in a minimum of 500 GB and a maximum of 2 TB capacity. And this capacity is more than enough to store dozens of games for even the most serious gamers.

Form-Factor

The compact form factor of Samsung T5 SSD gives it an amazingly cool look. You can fit T5 in the palm of your hand. And that means it is extremely easy to carry around and store, which makes it highly portable.

Colors

Samsung T5 SSD comes in various colors. So, you have the freedom to match your SSD with your console’s color.

Security

It has AES-256 bit hardware encryption which keeps your games, data, and other personal files safe and secure.

Type-C

T5 SSD fastest external ssd drive comes with two cables that are, USB-A to USB-C and USB-C to USB-C. So, you don’t have to worry about Type-C connectivity.

Shock-Resistance

As the T5 features no moving parts, it can survive bumps and drops from up to 2 meters.

Warranty

It comes with a 3-years warranty.

2) Seagate Barracuda SSD

Seagate Barracuda SSD is its series of fastest external ssd drive which provides a combination of rapid speed, generous capacity, and portability. And the futuristic design of best budget ssd for gaming looks amazing and you can even match it with your gaming laptop or console. And it can store dozens of high resolution of games for even the most serious Gamer’s. After all, This SSD is best budget ssd for gaming. And that is why it has earned its place in our list of Best External SSD For Gaming.

The Seagate Barracuda SSD provides great speeds and generous capacity but in a small package. And this SSD is made specifically for gaming and is highly compatible with gaming consoles as well as best external ssd for macbook pro. And that’s why it has earned second place in our list of Best External SSD For Gaming.

Compatibility

This is the best external ssd for gaming laptop. And it is also compatible with PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Because of these amazing features, Seagate Barracuda SSD has made our list of Best External SSD For Gaming.

Transfer Speed

The average data transfer rate of fastest external ssd for mac and pc comes around 540 MB/s which makes it one of the best choices for running high-resolution games.

Capacity

Fastest external SSD drive Comes in a minimum of 500 Gb and a maximum of 2 TB capacity. And this capacity is more than enough to store your games and other personal data.

Form-Factor

The compact size of Seagate Barracuda SSD gives it a futuristic look. And you can easily fit this SSD in your pocket or bag, making it extremely easy to carry around.

Type-C

Barracuda SSD comes with two cables that are, USB-A to USB-C and USB-C to USB-C. So, you don’t have to worry about Type-C connectivity in the future.

Warranty

Stay assured as it comes with a limited product protection plan.

See Best External Hard Drive For Gaming Laptop

3) VectoTech Rapid SSD

The VectoTech Rapid SSD is one of the fastest external ssd for mac , PC and laptops available in the market today. It is for those who want amazingly fast speed and reliability of an SSD but with more storage space. And this SSD is one of the rare ones because it comes in 4 TB size.

Because of this, it has earned its place in our list of Best External SSD For Gaming.

This SSD is in the list of fastest external ssd drive for gaming. And it can also be a reliable companion for your laptops because of its generous capacity. It can store dozens of games. And you can also stream 4K resolution videos directly from this SSD.

Compatibility

It works very well with gaming laptops. And it is also compatible with PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Because of these amazing features, VectoTech Rapid SSD has made our list of Best External SSD For Gaming.

Capacity

This SSD comes in a minimum of 1 TB and maximum of 4 TB capacity.

Transfer Speed

The average data transfer rate of VectoTech Rapid SSD comes around 540 MB/s. And this SSD is one of the fastest external ssd drive in its class.

Durability

The aluminum case of this SSD is designed specifically to provide exceptional durability. Because of this, it can survive drops from up to 6 feet and extreme temperatures from -25C to 85C.

Form-Factor

The slim and simple design of this SSD gives it exceptional portability, making it easy to carry around.

Type-C

It comes with two cables that are, USB-C to USB-A and USB-C to USB-C.

Warranty

It comes with a 3-years extended warranty.

4) Sandisk Extreme SSD

The Sandisk Extreme SSD is one of the most reliable and best budget ssd for gaming available in the market today. Sandisk is considered one of the leaders and pioneers when it comes to delivering superior performance. And this SSD is sure to keep up to the name. It combines it all, speed, capacity, and reliability. Because of this, it has made its way to our list of Best External SSD For Gaming.

You can store dozens of games and other personal data in this SSD. And its design provides you with extreme portability. You can also stream 4K videos directly from this SSD.

Compatibility

It works exceptionally well with gaming laptops. And it is also compatible with PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Because of these features, this SSD has earned its place in our list of Best External SSD For Gaming.

Capacity

The fastest external ssd drive comes in a minimum of 250 GB and a maximum of 2 TB capacity. And it is more than enough to dozens of mainstream games.

Transfer Speed

The average data transfer rate of this SSD comes around 550 MB/s. And this is one the fastest SSD available in the market today.

Durability

It is IP55 rated, making it water and dust-resistant. Its shock and vibration-resistant and can withstand extreme temperatures from -20C to 70C. Thus, increasing its durability to another level.

Form-Factor

Its slim and simple design makes it portable and extremely easy to carry around. And you can easily fit it in your pocket or bag.

Type-C

The fastest external ssd drive comes with two included cables that are, USB-C to USB-A and USB-C to USB-C. So, you don’t have to worry about Type-C connectivity.

Warranty

It comes with a 3-years limited manufacturer’s warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Portable SSDs are a good way to increase the amount of storage you have to preserve digital data and take that data with you wherever you go. These powerful accessories let you pack a huge amount of storage in your daily bag, giving you a place where you can offload files from your computer or smartphone, access files you only need in certain circumstances, and backup important information on the go.

But the world of portable SSDs is a large one, and choosing the best device for your needs can be a challenge. It's not just about how small the device is, how durable it is, or how many gigabytes of storage it has—the speed of a portable SSD can heavily influence your satisfaction with it. SSDs in general promise better read and write speeds than HDDs, so you'll see a general increase if you're going from one to the other. However, not all portable SSDs perform the same—even if they advertise similar maximum speeds.

To help you decide which portable SSD might work for you, Ars put some of the newest and most popular portable SSDs on the market to the test and judged them on speed, design, durability, compatibility, and price. Here are our findings:

Note: Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs.

Best External 1tb Ssd

The short version

• The best portable SSD you can buy right now is the $149 CalDigit Tuff Nano (512GB). It was one of the fastest performing SSDs we tested, beating out most of the competition in read and write speeds. It's one of the most portable drives as well, with a metal body that has dimensions smaller than the size of a typical credit card. The device is IP67 water- and dust-resistant, and it has a special USB-C port that has its own waterproof rating. We only wish it came in more capacity variations, but for now, the CalDigit Tuff Nano portable SSD in 512GB is well worth its price of $149. Buy now: CalDigit Tuff Nano (512GB) at Amazon.
• Our runner-up portable SSD is the Samsung T5 (500GB). This palm-sized drive has been very popular over the past few years as a drive that's as reliable as it is portable. It's not as fast as our top pick, but it was one of the fastest among the average performers in our benchmark tests. We also appreciate that it has AES 256-bit hardware encryption and optional password protection to provide even more peace of mind that your data is secure. The Samsung T5 is a good choice if you want a reliable portable SSD that's reasonably fast and slightly more affordable than our top pick. Buy now: Samsung T5 (500GB) at Amazon.

• The most durable option is the SanDisk Extreme portable SSD (1TB). We like this drive for its tiny size, shock-, vibration-, drop-, and water-resistant body and its read and write speeds that are nearly identical to our runner up. It also has AES 128-bit hardware encryption for an additional level of data security. If you're frightened of dropping the Samsung T5's tiny, all-metal body or just want a drive that has a few more physical safeguards, the SanDisk Extreme is a good option. Buy now: SanDisk Extreme SSD (1TB) at Amazon.
• Our best luxury pick is the OWC Envoy Pro EX (2TB) thanks to its blazing fast read and write speeds and slick design. It outperformed almost every other portable SSD we tested, reading and writing even the largest files with ease. The OWC Envoy Pro EX starts at $129 for a 240GB model and costs a whopping $499 for a 2TB model. Those who need a portable SSD for their daily workflow that can handle nearly anything they throw at it will find the OWC Envoy Pro EX a good investment. Buy now: OWC Envoy Pro EX (2TB) at OWC.

Best overall

CalDigit Tuff Nano

CalDigit's Tuff Nano (512GB) portable SSD surprised from the very beginning of our testing. Most of the other SSDs we tested have been around for some time—CalDigit only just released the Tuff Nano less than a year ago, so there isn't a lot of historical data to illustrate expected performance. But it proved to be one of the fastest portable SSDs we tested, blowing almost every other device out of the water when it came to read and write speeds.

CalDigit advertises read speeds up to 1088Mb/s and the Tuff Nano either surpassed that or came quite close to it in all of our tests. However, read speeds are not the most accurate way to judge an SSD's performance—the really telling data lies in write speeds.

Most of the devices we tested were high MLC (multi-level cell) performers, which means that they do not rely on a small amount of cache to buffer write speeds. That's a good thing because it means that performance won't plummet after the cache is full.

However, that doesn't mean that all of the drives we tested performed similarly across the board. As we increased file sizes in our testing, CalDigit was one of the stand-out drives that didn't slow down significantly under heavy, concurrent access. It handled writing large files better than the majority of the competition, and those that did beat the $149 Tuff Nano are much more expensive SSDs. As a rule of thumb, we recommend the Tuff Nano or our luxury pick (the drives that stood out in our testing in terms of write speed) to those who intend to do heavily work directly on their portable SSD rather than using it as a dump drive.

The performance is impressive not only in a sub-$200 SSD, but also in such a small device. Measuring 2.99 x 2.14 x 0.57 inches, the CalDigit Tuff Nano fits comfortably in the palm of my hand and can easily disappear in a deep pocket. The metal rectangle has an IPX67 rating, meaning it can withstand being submerged in one meter of water for 30 minutes and it's resistant to dust. The USB-C port on the SSD has its own waterproof rating of IPX8 as well.

The Tuff Nano also comes with a rubbed edge case that gives it a bit more drop protection. Available in red, blue, green, and black, the case acts as a bumped of sorts that will take the impact of a fall better than the cold metal of the SSD's body. The case includes a tiny flap that can cover the USB-C port on the SSD as well, and while it's a bit finicky, it'll give the device even more protection when not in use.

While CalDigit pre-formatted the Tuff Nano for macOS, it can be reformatted to work with Windows and there are instructions included with the SSD that explain how to do so. Those come in the form of a small piece of paper in the box rather than a digital document stored on the SSD, like many other SSDs have. I make note of this because you could easily miss the instructions while unboxing the device, but also because if they were only included as a digital file on the drive, Windows users wouldn't be able to access them at all. Also included in the box are USB-C to C and USB-C to A cables, allowing you to use the Tuff Nano with older machines.

Aside from possibly losing it in the depths of your backpack, there aren't a lot of cons to the Tuff Nano. My biggest complaint about it is that this device gets quite hot after long-term use. After running all of our benchmark tests, the metal body of the Tuff Nano measured 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

I also wish the Tuff Nano had more capacity variants. Currently, you can only buy a 512GB model of the Tuff Nano. Hopefully CalDigit will expand the device and add at least 1TB and 2TB options in the future. At $149 for 512GB, it's admittedly more expensive than some of the more popularl competitors, but we think its above-average performance is worth the extra money.

The Good

• A faster than average portable SSD with a compact design and a good price.

The Bad

• Gets hot after long-term use.

Runner up

Samsung T5

Format Encrypted Ssd

The darling of portable SSDs made it onto our list for good reason. Known for its small size and reliable performance, the Samsung T5 (500GB) portable SSD is a solid alternative to our top pick thanks to its relatively fast read and write speeds, its simple design, and its decent price tag.

Aside from the few stand-out SSDs we tested, most devices performed relatively similarly. None of the drives we tested were particularly bad (which is a good thing), and that means that their benchmark scores all landed in the same range on most tests. The Samsung T5 always produced scores that were in line with, or better than, the rest of the competition. And, interestingly enough, the T5 performed slightly better than the new Samsung T7 Touch on almost every test (it was bested by the T7 once).

That's not to say the newest version of Samsung's portable SSD is bad—quite the contrary. The T7 Touch is just about as good as the T5 in nearly every way, and it has a built-in fingerprint reader in addition to the standard AES 256-bit encryption and password protection that the T5 has. However, the new fingerprint reader is the only reason why it would make sense to pay for the T7 Touch—otherwise, you're essentially getting a newer version of the T5 that doesn't offer much in the way of performance gains.

The Samsung T5 has a decent design that's attractive thanks to its minimalism. The aluminum body is slightly wider than a credit card and takes up only a bit more space in width. Available in blue, red, gold, and black, it's a tiny storage companion that is shock-resistant and can withstand drops up to two meters.

So let's talk price: a 500GB Samsung T5 will cost you $94. Of the other portable SSDs we tested that performed similarly to the T5, most had 500GB models that were also priced between $90 and $95. It's the average price for a portable SSD of this size and speed, which means you won't be paying extra for the Samsung name like you may do if you buy a different drive (or any number of other consumer electronics that up-charge for a hot brand name).

Overall, the Samsung T5 lives up to its hype. If you don't want to spend the extra money on our top pick, the T5 is a good alternative with its simple yet attractive design, fast performance, and optional password protection.

The Good

• Fast portable SSD with a pocket-size profile and optional password protection.

The Bad

• Doesn't come in a 250GB model.

Best Encrypted External Ssd Drives

External Ssd Drive Reviews

Best Encrypted External Ssd