Best External SSDs in the UK

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.