Need help?
The Best Samsung SSDs
Kamera Express
How do I choose the best Samsung external SSD for me?
You are looking for a new portable SSD, but which one is right for you? So many people, so many wishes, and therefore so many portable SSDs. In this article we highlight three first-class Samsung models and explain why they are good choices.
Portable SSD vs HDD
First things first. What exactly is the difference between a portable SSD and a hard drive (HDD)? The biggest advantage of an external SSD is its fast read and write speed. A Samsung SSD reads and writes up to 1050MB/s compared to 100-200MB/s for an HDD — you transfer data in seconds instead of minutes. And where SSDs used to have limited storage, they now rival hard drives; Samsung now offers external SSDs up to 4TB.
Another advantage of a portable SSD is durability. Since an SSD has no moving parts, it lasts much longer than an HDD. An HDD is more vulnerable to damage from drops, and the risk of data loss is greater. Portable SSDs have silent, non-moving components, the housing can be much more compact, making an SSD more reliable for external storage on the go.
Samsung SSDs
Now that you know the advantages of a portable SSD, why choose a Samsung SSD? Samsung has been number 1 in flash memory since 2013 and continuously optimises its products. Currently Samsung leads with the T7 portable SSD, available in three series: the T7, the T7 Shield and the T7 Touch.
T7 series
With the T7 you transfer files at lightning speed: USB 3.2 Gen 2, read up to 1050MB/s, write up to 1,000MB/s — almost 9.5x faster than an external HDD, capable of 12K video recording. Available in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB. A sturdy metal casing protects against drops of up to 2 metres and your files are secured with a password.
The T7 Shield offers all T7 features plus IP65 water and dust resistance, a heat-regulating system and rubber casing with drop resistance up to 3 metres. Available in 1TB, 2TB and even 4TB.
Want maximum security? The T7 Touch can be secured by password or fingerprint, with the same fast speeds and sturdy metal casing. Available in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB.
Below we have listed all the features of the T7 series at a glance, so you can immediately see which Samsung portable SSD suits you best.
| T7 | T7 Shield | T7 Touch | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | 500GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Read speed | Up to 1050MB/s | Up to 1050MB/s | Up to 1050MB/s |
| Write speed | Up to 1000MB/s | Up to 1000MB/s | Up to 1000MB/s |
| Colour | Blue, grey, red | Blue, beige, black | Black, silver |
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen2 (10 Gbps) | USB 3.2 Gen.2 (10Gbps) | USB 3.2 Gen2 (10 Gbps) |
| Security | AES 256 password | AES 256 password | AES 256 password or fingerprint |
| Drop resistance | Up to 2 metres | Up to 3 metres | Up to 2 metres |
| Dimensions | 85 x 57 x 8mm | 59 x 88 x 13mm | 85 x 57 x 8mm |
| Weight | 58 grams | 98 grams | 58 grams |
