The 14 Best External SSDs in 2023

External SSDs based on spinning platter disks may appear less essential than they once were in an era when 50GB of iCloud storage costs 99 cents per month and slim, slim external SSDs are becoming more affordable.

However, selecting an external SSD is more complicated than simply purchasing the most expensive model available. The most crucial element to consider is the drive capacity, which can substantially increase or decrease the cost based on your needs. Other considerations include the drive's physical size (is it designed to be carried around or sit on your desk?), its durability, the interface it utilizes to connect to your PC, and even the colors it comes in. This guide will assist you in answering these and other questions that may occur while purchasing the best external SSDs.

1. Best Overall - SAMSUNG T7 Shield 1TB

2. Best for Mac - SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD

3. Best Compact - VectoTech Rapid 4TB External SSD 

4. Best Speed - Sabrent Rocket XTRM-Q 1TB

5. Best Security - CalDigit Tuff Nano Plus 2TB

1. Capacity & Price

Capacity and affordability are the two most important factors for most people when shopping for external storage. However, while you may believe that the cheapest drive delivers the best value, this is not always the case. Historically, cheaper low-capacity drives have consistently been the poorest deal. We've been comparing values for years, and it's always been the lowest.

2. Performance

Now that USB 2.0 has been phased out of all self-respecting storage, USB 3 has emerged as the industry standard, allowing these portable drives to perform as swiftly as the little disks within allow.

This means that you should expect a read speed of roughly 100MB/s while transferring your music or video collection from your PC to an SSD (and typically the same for writing, since unlike flash storage technology the read and write speeds tend to be more symmetrical).

3. Protection

If you want the freedom to throw the unplugged drive around without worrying about damaging it or, more crucially, losing your data, a tough shell will come in.

Look for shock-resistance ratings like the MIL-STD-810F 516.5 from the US military (Transit Drop Test). This means it should be able to withstand being dropped 26 times from a height of 1.22m onto a hard floor, once on each face, edge, and corner.

4. Security

The larger the hard disk, the more data you can store - and the more data you risk losing if it is lost or stolen. This is where having that drive locked down comes in handy.

There are two methods for ensuring that the data is inaccessible to other users. Hardware encryption can be used to scramble the contents. You can also use a software tool to encrypt portions of the entire drive.

1. Do External SSDs Last Longer Than Internal?

To be honest, it does outlast any internal storage device. It is mostly because such devices are of high quality and are readily available for your usage. They are also more durable in nature. As you use your laptop, the internal drives may become warm. With an external storage device, however, this will not be the case. It takes a long time to warm up.

2. How Long Does an External SSD Last?

Everything you use has an expiration date. External hard drives, on the other hand, have a life span of 3 to 5 years. According to studies, about 80% of all hard drives have a lifespan of roughly 5 years.

3. Can You Fix an External SSD?

Yes, you can, but only if you can retrieve the data. If not, you will not be able to retrieve it at all. If there is an error in the drive, you will need to go to the disk management profile present. Here you will be able to update the file system. It is always recommended to keep a backup of the devices.

This tutorial discusses the best external SSDs currently available on the market. Choosing the best one among them will always be the most difficult task. There are numerous aspects to consider, and thoroughly reviewing each device and its evaluations will take time. The main goal should be to get one that meets your gaming needs, has plenty of storage, and can read and write swiftly.