Best External SSDs in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update February 27, 2024
Need to add some storage to your computer? Want to enjoy the highest data transfer rates? Then, get a solid-state external hard drive, ...Read more
PROS

One of the best options for a 10 Gbit-capable USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface that you can find for the price. The other things that make it special are TRIM and S.M.A.R.T. technologies, which enable monitoring the state of memory cells and keeping the transfer rates optimised.

CONS

The digital application updates are few and far between.

OUR VERDICT

Samsung is definitely still a force to be reckoned with, as when it comes to high-quality SSDs, there are few to no rivals of their products. A fast transfer rate, superior build quality, and general ease of use make this T7 model an optimal choice for demanding users.

detailed parameters
Capacity

2 TB, 1 TB, 500 GB

Interfaces

1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2

NAND Memory Type

V-NAND

Read/Write speeds

Up to 1050/1000 MB/s

Data protection

Fingerprint & Password, AES 256-bit hardware encryption

Compatibility

Windows, Mac OS X

Warranty

3 years, limited

PROS

The case of the drive is protected from drops from a height of up to two metres, has an IP55 waterproof rating and dust protection. The case also has a loop for fixing the carabiner for easy carrying. Thus, the device will withstand the most difficult tests and will be with you wherever you go.

CONS

USB lead isn't very sturdy.

OUR VERDICT

The SanDisk Extreme is a portable external drive with great performance and reliable protection for your data. The forged aluminum shell will not let it overheat, even during long copying and file transfers.

detailed parameters
Capacity

2 TB, 1 TB, 4 TB, 480 GB, 500 GB

Interfaces

1 x USB-C™

NAND Memory Type

NVMe

Read/Write speeds

Up to 1050/1000 MB/s

Data protection

Shock/Heat/Vibration/Drop-resistant, Password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption

Compatibility

Windows, Mac OS X

Warranty

5 years limited

PROS

Owing to ePCM technology and an additional Dynamic Thermal Guard, the appliance won't overheat even if used as a stationary SSD model. Moreover, the appliance is reinforced and features fall protection from heights of up to 2 metres.

CONS

The cable connection is a bit loose.

OUR VERDICT

The Samsung T7 is an all-upgraded SSD with high capacity and performance. Sealed into a protective aluminium casing it doesn't lack in the write/read departments and can transfer data at a rate of 1 GB/s with ease to match.

detailed parameters
Capacity

1 TB, 2 TB, 500 GB

Interfaces

1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2  

NAND Memory Type

V-NAND

Read/Write speeds

Up to 1050/1000 MB/s

Data protection

ePCM technology, Dynamic thermal guard, Password protection

Compatibility

Windows, Mac OS X

Warranty

3 years, limited

PROS

The low weight and optimal, small dimensions of the housing make this WD SSD an excellent device for the role of a travel SSD. The dual interface design, on the other hand, makes it essential for working with multiple devices simultaneously.

CONS

The data cable is rather short.

OUR VERDICT

This convenient and compact SSD with impressive capacity (including different capacity options) from WD is a decent solution for PCs and laptops. However, the thing that really makes the My Passport shine is the direct compatibility with computers that run on both Windows and Mac OS. And to top all that, the housing is additionally reinforced so even if you drop it, your data won't be compromised.

detailed parameters
Capacity

1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 5 TB, 500 GB

Interfaces

1 x USB 3.2 Gen-2

1 x USB Type C

NAND Memory Type

NVMe

Read/Write speeds

Up to 1050/1000 MB/s

Data protection

Shock/Heat/Vibration/Drop-resistant, AES 256-bit hardware encryption

Compatibility

Windows® 10, Windows 8.1 operating systems macOS Catalina, Mojave, or High Sierra

Warranty

5 years, limited

PROS

Plug and Play connectivity ensures that the drive is ready for use immediately after purchase. This way you won't have to waste any time setting up the device, and you can get right to using it to store your important data.

CONS

No internal encryption provided.

OUR VERDICT

Compact, lightweight, and high-capacity, the WD Elements SE portable drive is the best choice for users who want to have all their important files close at hand without overpaying. With this model, you can manage content on a laptop, desktop PC and other devices.

detailed parameters
Capacity

1 TB, 1.5 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB, 4 TB, 5 TB, 480 GB, 500 GB, 750 GB

Interfaces

1 x USB 3.0

NAND Memory Type

NVMe

Read/Write speeds

Up to 400/400 MB/s

Data protection

Drop-resistant

Compatibility

Windows, Mac OS X

Warranty

3 years limited

Everything You Need in One Appliance

The Samsung T7 Touch is an external NVMe solid-state drive with a USB 3.2 Gen-2 based memory unit that combines the compact size of flash drives and the capacity of a fully-fledged HDD in one small device.

Being a SATA alternative, NVMe doesn’t have the data cap that is often incorporated with AHCI and HDDs that SATA uses. Owing to this, you are getting much less lag than with a drive that has moving parts and doesn’t need to adjust for them upon communicating directly with the CPU.

When it comes to the actual speed, the T7 has very few rivals in the same price category, which puts it quite high on our list. To be more specific, the read speeds are capped at 1050 MB/s, while the write speeds are only limited to 1000 MB/s, making the T7 Touch one of the fastest portable SSDs that you can find for the money. The capacity of this particular model is capped at 2 TB and that is, perhaps, the optimal amount of memory for a compact drive that can be carried pretty much anywhere. Alternatively, 1 TB and 500 GB variants are optionally available.

The looks of the flash drive incorporate the standard SSD design or something that resembles a big power bank battery, which is not a bad thing at all. Measuring 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.8 cm, it is reasonably small and quite compact, which enables carrying it in a pocket of your bag or a laptop backpack. However, we highly recommend getting a separate protective case for it, for safety reasons.

Securing Data Without Compromises

Speaking about safety, it is essential not to omit security aspect. Luckily, the appliance has multiple safety measures that will prevent access to sensitive data directly. Firstly, the T7 Touch utilises 256-bit encryption for better protection of the digital password that is used to access the drive on new devices or every time you connect the data cable. Secondly, the appliance has a fingerprint reader that can be used as a secondary safety measure. The scanner can be used to save multiple fingerprints just like on any modern smartphone, which is a nice touch.

The only real gripe with this particular model is its digital application from Samsung that tends to get updated quite rarely. Although you may have some issues with setting the password for the drive for the first time, once set, you won’t really have to worry about it.

To wrap things up, the Samsung T7 Touch is one of the best options among other NVMe SSDs of the same class. Boasting excellent write and read speeds, it also features quite a few security measures that won’t compromise your data even if you don’t have access to the SSD.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £239.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B082VVV926

Safe and Secure Data Storage

Safety and security are two of the most important options for any kind of data storage device, but this is especially true of external storage devices that aren't stationary. Whenever you're taking external data storage with you while on the go, there is always a risk of incurring some type of damage to it. Also, there is the risk of losing the device and someone else accessing personal or other important information on it. With the SanDisk Extreme 2TB portable NVMe SSD, though, you can rest assured that both safety and security are at the very heart of this portable external SSD.

First off, let's take a look at the overall durability of this SSD. The case of the drive features a rubberised protective layer that protects it from drops from a height of up to two metres while also providing IP55 waterproof rating and dust protection. The case also has a loop for fixing the carabiner for easy carrying, such as on a lanyard, or through some other carrying strap. Thus, the device will withstand the most difficult environments and will be with you wherever you go.

Although it has a hardened exterior, the device is both lightweight and compact, meaning that it won't weigh you down at all no matter how you are carrying it. This is especially important for those who are very conscious about the weight of their equipment.

Excellent Performance

On the security side of things, this external SSD has just about all of the included protections that one could want in such a device. Such features include password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption, although the password feature itself uses 128-bit AES encryption. Furthermore, this encryption method is fully supported by all recent versions of Windows as well as MacOS, although you will need to download additional software for this feature if you are using it on a Mac. Still, though, doing this is quite simple and only takes a minute to set up, so it is hardly an inconvenience.

Safety and security are great, but users also demand data reliability and performance from their SSD, and this model provides ample amounts of both. This NVMe SSD features 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds while also being guaranteed by its 5-year warranty. This means you won't have to worry about the SSD components wearing out over a short period of time, ensuring that your data remains secure over long periods. About the only thing we can nitpick about this model is that the USB lead isn't very sturdy, but this should not be an issue as long as you're not jostling it around while it remains plugged into a computer. In the end, this external SSD from SanDisk should give you peace of mind about any data that you store on it.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £218.95
Stock In stock
ASIN B08HN37XC1

Quick, Nimble, And Convenient

The Samsung T7 is an upgraded external SSD model that is almost twice as fast as the previous iteration of the drive in the same price category - the T5 model. It has everything you need from a portable drive, it is just slightly bigger than a regular SSD, however, the appearance is not the main selling point of T7.

To start off, the casing of the drive can withstand quite a beating including but not limited to scratches, cuts, and falls from heights of up to 2 metres. This is achieved thanks to a robust metal housing that firmly protects the inner components of the SSD and your data at the same time.

With a weight of only 57 grams, the T7 is an excellent option for the role of a portable external drive. Since the appliance doesn’t feature any moving parts inside, unlike hard drives, it is fairly safe to use as storage for important files. The drive's data protection, on the other hand, features a hardware encryption system that can be accessed with a password at any given time.

Owing to the dynamic thermal guard system, the housing, as well as the casing of the drive won’t overheat during use, which is a nice bonus to the overall great set of features that this Samsung model has.

Speaking of compatibility, this tiny drive is compatible with virtually any desktop PC that runs on Windows or Mac OS X. Alternatively, it can be used with Linux computers and laptops, however, you may run into some hiccups with compatibility. Likewise, this particular drive model can be used together with Android devices like phones, tablets, and even most of the Smart TVs that run on Android.

One of The Fastest SSDs Out There

Moving on, let’s talk speed. Even though most of the modern SSDs are quite fast from the get-go, this Samsung model blows generic drives out of the water with its read/write rates. While being quite small, it manages to transfer data with speeds of up to 1050 MB/s with ease to match.

To accommodate a wide variety of different devices, the package is equipped with two cables - a USB type-C (both male and female) that is compatible with portable gadgets and a standard USB to USB type-C for desktop PCs. Capacity-wise, this T7 has 1TB of free space to offer. If 1 TB is not enough for you or on the contrary - too much, this model is optionally available in 500 GB and 2 TB variants.

In conclusion, the Samsung T7 will prove to be an excellent way to store data that can be accessed on the fly. The high write and read speeds of the drive also enable you to utilise it as either a temporary or long-term storage mean for exceptionally big files.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £106.34
Stock In stock
ASIN B087DFLF9S

Drive That Fits Everywhere

The WD My Passport is the so-called New Generation of the company’s portable NVMe line of SSDs. Naturally, the external computer gadget is quite small with the dimensions of just 9 x 4.5 x 1 cm, which makes it easier to carry around even in the pocket of a jacket, jeans, or backpack. Moreover, the overall weight of 46 g also contributes to its portability and ease of use since this low weight is barely noticeable.

Just like other similar SSDs in the same class, this external flash drive utilises a USB Type-c connection as its main data transfer method. Conversely, the secondary means of data transfer here is a USB 3.2 port for extra-quick pairing with different devices. The data transfer rate is pretty much on par with the best models on the market today, which makes this model a totally viable solution for storing data and quick transfers between different machines. The write and read speeds are capped to 1050 MB/s and 1000 MB/s, respectively.

Moving on from the speeds, let’s take a look at the compatibility. Although the appliance will work flawlessly with regular PCs that work on Windows, you will also be glad to know that this SSD is also compatible with macOS Catalina, Mojave, and High Sierra, which will come in handy if you own a Mac computer or laptop. These features alone make the WD My Passport a great compromise for users that tend to work with both Windows- and Macintosh-based systems on a regular basis.

A Decent Travel Option

As for the capacity, this particular variant of the WD’s My Passport lineup of products features 1 TB of internal memory, which might be just enough for portable use on the go or for quick transfer of data between multiple computers. If you feel like 1 TB won’t be enough, you are in luck since WD offers 2 TB and 4 TB models in the same form-factor. Alternatively, if you think that you would do with a WD My Passport but are on a budget, 500 GB and 250 GB options are also available at a lower price.

Moving down the list of features, the reinforced housing of the portable drive firmly protects the internal components of the SSD from damage even if you accidentally dropped it on the ground. Moreover, the device features a software backup service that allows backing up larger files on cloud storage. However, you will need to activate this feature via a stable internet connection.

Finally, the WD My Passport (New Generation) will be an excellent option if you need a small, lightweight, and more importantly - a highly reliable SSD that can be used with PCs, laptops, and other appliances that have a USB port.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £225.48
Stock In stock
ASIN B08F1VVBL9

Affordable SSD Option

Not everyone has a ton of money to spend on getting external storage for their computers or other devices. Yet, even with this being the case, budget-minded consumers still want to get the best product available in its price category, and that is what you get with the WD Elements SE 1TB Portable SSD. With its combination of a compact footprint, lightweight design, and high storage capacity, you basically get all of the most important elements that any user would want in a low-cost SSD without really having to sacrifice anything. The drive features multiple storage options, with the one reviewed here being 1 TB in size, giving you plenty of space for storing important files of all types.

This NVMe SSD comes in a small case that is quite portable even when compared to other compact external SSDs. Although it doesn't appear to be very ruggedized at first glance, this SSD really can take a beating while keeping your data in perfect condition. The drive is rated to easily survive drops of up to 2 metres, while in practice it can probably survive a bit more than that. Of course, this doesn't mean that you'll want to just toss the drive around, but you can rest assured that if slipped out of your hands it won't be fatal to the data stored on it.

Fully Plug-and-Play

Another noteworthy feature of this drive is its full plug-and-play nature. Plug and Play connectivity ensures that the drive is ready for use immediately after purchase. This way you won't have to waste any time setting up the device, and you can get right to using it to store your important data. It is fully compatible with both Windows and Macs, although Mac users might need to reformat the drive before using it. Regardless, this is a pretty fast operation on any kind of SSD, so it's hardly worthy of note.

What is a bit more worthy of note is that due to the budget nature of the drive, it is missing a few features that come with more expensive external SSD options. For instance, the drive itself does not provide any encryption features for securing your data. Having said that, this won't be much of a concern for those who prefer to use the encryption features in Windows or MacOS, so you won't have to worry about your data being any less secure here. Also, this drive doesn't have the blazing fast speeds of some other SSDs, although its read and write speeds of 400MB/s still let you transfer files without the process taking forever. Essentially, most users won't really notice the speed difference.

At the end of the day, anyone looking for a great budget external SSD will have a lot to like with the WD Elements SE 1TB Portable SSD. Its combination of great features and affordable price makes it worthy of being one of our top picks.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £132.45
Stock In stock
ASIN B097TTZD48

Infographics


What Is an External SSD?

An external solid-state drive is a digital device for storing large amounts of data. Unlike external hard disk drives, these drives have no magnetic discs inside and all the information is stored on memory chips. One of the advantages of this data storage technology is the enormous data transfer rate—up to 500 MB/s (via USB 3.0) and up to 10 GB/s (via USB Thunderbolt 3.2). Moreover, since there are no moving parts in the casing, any solid-state drive works without making any noise at all, which is nice if you are looking forward to building a silent PC case. Likewise, most of the rugged external SSDs are rather resistant to such influences like shock, fall and physical damage in general. Moreover, modern SSD models can be rather small, which enables carrying them around in a pocket, just like a standard USB flash drive. While technology allows making them rather compact, the capacity of smaller drives can be rather lacking, and so it is important to keep that in mind upon picking the right model.

If you think that the overall storage space is more important than the data transfer speed, make sure to check out our review of the best external hard drives available on the market.

What Features to Compare

Capacity and Speed

The first aspect you should consider when choosing an external solid-state drive is the capacity and speed. Actually, these are the most important issues for any device of this kind and you should decide on the capacity first hand. The choice depends on what you need an external SSD for. If you need one for storing your favourite movies or other media files, pick the model with the capacity of over 500 GB. However, if you simply need to have safe and reliable storage for your working documents, a lower-capacity device is sufficient. Next, make sure to check the data transfer speed each device supports. Why is it important? The higher the speed is, the faster you will be able to copy files to and from the SSD. If you think that all external hard drives have more or less the same transfer speed, you are wrong! This feature depends on many different issues, such as connection type (USB 2.0, USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, etc.), your system, and so on.

Compatibility and Interfaces

Once you've decided on the above-mentioned parameters, check the compatibility of each solid-state drive with operating systems (OS). Most modern external SSDs are compatible with nearly all available operating systems but we still recommend you to double-check it. If you have used your external solid-state drive with a Windows-operated computer and then want to use it with a Mac, a reformatting of the SSD will be required. Thus, you should make a backup copy of your data before doing it; otherwise, your information will be deleted. Next, go ahead and check the interfaces (ports) each external solid-state drive has. Any external SSD must be somehow connected to a computer and that's why different types of connection are used. Most devices have a USB 3.0 port that ensures pretty high data transfer speeds. If your laptops or PC has a USB 3.0 port, choose the external solid-state drive having the same one. If your computer is rather old and has no USB 3.0 compatibility, don't worry - any external solid-state drive with a USB 3.0 interface is backwards compatible with the older USB 2.0 interface. However, data transfer rates will be significantly lower in this case. Also, there are some superb external solid-state drives with a so-called Thunderbolt port - this type of connection is blazing-fast and transfers data twice as fast as USB 3.0, namely up to 10 Gb/s. Some devices are equipped both with USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt ports.

Design and Protection

A typical external solid-state drive is a small and portable device that you can easily carry every day. So, you should certainly pay attention to design and protection. When choosing the design of a solid-state drive, you should rely mainly on your own preferences. However, there are some major points that are worth considering. For example, we recommend you to choose a device with a metal casing because it guarantees a fairly decent shock resistance of the device (so, your data won't be lost if you accidentally drop the unit on the ground). In addition, some manufacturers make their external SSDs dust- and water-resistant. Now it's time to draw your attention to the safety of your data. The best external solid-state drives encrypt your data and allow you to set a password, which means nobody but you can access the data. It's particularly important if you deal with some classified business information that should not get into the wrong hands. There are 2 major encryption types: 128-bit and 256-bit. It's self-evident that the latter option provides far better safety for your data.

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