As expensive as they are, the best portable SSDs are truly worth the investment. While the best external hard drives still have a place in this world – and are terrific options for those who want to keep the cost down – external solid state drives you can bring anywhere with you bring a wealth of advantages that are unique to them.
What makes the portable SSDs so stellar in general is their ability to quickly give you access to your files while ensuring that those files are kept safe. Because they are being made increasingly robust and efficient, they’re not only designed to be fast, but secure and less prone to failure as well. On top of that, due to their portable nature, they’re also more ruggedly built to survive drops, bumps, and any other potential accidents, as well as able to let you easily share files between PCs.
So, whether you’re adding more storage capacity to an overwhelmed laptop, needing something to backup sensitive files, or just want a drive that will let you take your files with you wherever you go, getting one of the best portable SSDs might be the way to go. That is, as long as you’re prepared to spend a little more, as they aren’t as cheap as portable hard drives.
To help you choose, we gathered our top picks in this guide, including popular offerings from Seagate, Western Digital, and Samsung. Take a look and pick out the SSD that fits your needs and your budget. Speaking of being on the budget, the included price comparison tool should let you find the best SSD deals available.