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The Best External Solid State Drives under $170

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$170 $400
★ Top Choice

Samsung

T5 Portable SSD (500 GB)

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From $108.22

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♥ Runner Up

Samsung

Portable SSD T5

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From $114.99

More info
Best External

Samsung

T5 Portable SSD (1 TB)

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From $169

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Best for Outdoorsy Travelers, Photographers

SanDisk

1TB Extreme Portable SSD

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From $169.99

More info

Samsung T5 Portable SSD (500 GB)

★ Top Choice
BUY NOW From $108.22

Features

  • Optional password protection and AES 256 bit hardware encryption.
  • Top to bottom metal design that fits in the palm of your hand.
  • 3 year warranty.
  • Includes USB Type C to C and USB Type C to A cables.
  • Superfast Read Write speeds of up to 540 MB/s.

Pros

  • ⊕ Compact design.
  • ⊕ Lightning fast transfer speeds.

Cons

  • ⊖ Pricey.
  • ⊖ Outdated aesthetic.
  • ⊖ Smaller storage space.

Specs

  • Waterproof: No.
  • Ports: USB-C.
  • Storage: 500 GB.
  • Connectivity Options: USB-C & A.
  • Product Dimensions: 2.3 x 0.4 x 3 in.

Samsung Portable SSD T5

♥ Runner Up
BUY NOW From $114.99

Features

  • Shock resistance structure withstands falls from up to 2m.
  • Compact and lightweight (51g) aluminum exterior.
  • USB-C, USB-A supports for PC, phones and other devices.
  • AES 256 bit hardware encryption.
  • Fast: Up to 540mbps transfer speed supporting USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10gbps).

Pros

  • ⊕ Highly compact.
  • ⊕ Incredibly fast.

Cons

  • ⊖ Expensive.

Specs

  • Interface: USB Type-C.
  • Capacity: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB.

Samsung T5 Portable SSD (1 TB)

Best External
BUY NOW From $169

Features

  • Optional password protection and AES 256-bit hardware encryption.
  • Top to bottom metal design that fits in the palm of your hand.
  • 3 year warranty user can set password when it is necessary. Requires Windows 7, Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks), Android 4.4 (KitKat), or higher; Older versions of the Windows, Mac and Android operating systems may not be supported.
  • Includes USB Type C to C and USB Type C to A cables.
  • Superfast Read Write speeds of up to 540 MB/s.

Pros

  • ⊕ Much faster than HDDs.
  • ⊕ Easily fits in your pocket.
  • ⊕ Up to 2TB of storage capacity.

Cons

  • ⊖ Speed comes at a premium.

Specs

  • Storage: 1TB.
  • Connectivity: USB 3.1.
  • Sequential read speed: 484 MB/s.
  • Sequential write speed: 482 MB/s.

SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD

Best for Portability
BUY NOW From $169.99

Features

  • Shock-resistant solid state core for greater durability (Shock-resistant (up to 1500G) and vibration-resistant (5g RMS, 10-2000 HZ), Non-Operating Temperature(from ‐20°C to 70°C), operating temperature (from 0°C to 45°C)).
  • Compact and pocket-sized.
  • Ruggedized, water- and dust-resistant (IP55-rated) (IEC 60529 IP55: Tested to withstand water flow (30 kPa) at 3 min.; limited dust contact does not interfere with operation. Must be clean and dry before use.).
  • 3-year limited manufacturer warranty.
  • Built by SanDisk, a technology leader and pioneer of the modern day SSD, to deliver superior performance.
  • High-speed transfers with up to 550MB/s read speeds let you move hi-res photos and videos fast (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on drive capacity, host device, OS and application.).
  • For PC and Mac users.
  • Order with your Alexa enabled device. Just ask "Alexa, order SanDisk External SSD.".

Pros

  • ⊕ Fast read/write speeds.
  • ⊕ Rugged, pocket-sized design.
  • ⊕ Excellent read/write speeds.

Cons

  • ⊖ Expensive.
  • ⊖ Detachable cable.
  • ⊖ No activity light.
  • ⊖ A little expensive.
  • ⊖ Cables are a touch short.

Specs

  • NAND Type: TLC.
  • NVMe Support: yes.
  • Interface (Computer Side): USB-C.
  • Capacity (Tested): 512 GB.
  • Warranty Length: 5 years.
  • Internal or External: external.
  • Rated Maximum Sequential Read: 1050 MBps.
  • Bus Type: PCI Express 3.0 x4.