Best External SSDs and HDDs 2025: 10 Must-Have Data Storage Drives for Spring 2025
By 2025, external storage drives are a staple in almost every office. This has helped make the storage solutions market more dynamic than ever. There are currently a plethora of options, each promising speed, reliability, and capacity to meet growing digital storage needs. Consumers are therefore faced with sometimes difficult choices between brands claiming to be better than the others. With this in mind, here is a list of the 10 best SSDs and external HDDs of 2025.
Each of the drives featured here is relevant in its field, whether in terms of durability, value for money, performance… This is a reliable product for those looking to make a wise investment in the longevity of their data. Whether you’re a creative professional looking to store large media libraries, a student keen to save important work, or simply someone looking for a memory upgrade for a laptop, find the external data storage drive you need here.
#1 Samsung T9 External SSD, a fast portable SSD drive for content creators
The Samsung T9 external SSD is a perfect blend of performance and portability with a compatible PC. It’s ideal for content creators looking for the best performance at affordable prices. Additionally, the manufacturer offers its Samsung Magician software suite with this model, one of the best on the market. The drive also supports 256-bit AES hardware encryption. It can reach typical USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 speeds on Windows. We’re talking sequential read and write speeds of up to 2000 MB/s. This makes it a solid drive, regardless of the operating system.
#2 Silicon Power Armor A66, a robust and reliable portable hard drive
The Silicon Power Armor A66 is a rugged portable hard drive available in capacities up to 5TB. It offers low-cost storage with protection against drops (up to desk or pocket height) and rain. Designed for portability, the drive comes with dimensions of 0.9 x 3.8 x 5.5 inches for the 5TB model (11.6 ounces). Those with lower capacities of 1TB and 2TB are thinner and lighter (0.6 x 3.8 x 5.5 inches, 7.4 ounces). The SSD is compact, ideal for outdoor use or on the go. It offers sequential read speeds of approximately 121.5 MB/s versus sequential writes of 117.6 MB/s.
#3 Crucial’s x6 portable SSD, for reliable everyday external use
The Crucial X6 Portable SSD is one of the best basic external SSDs for everyday use. It’s perfect for small backups and is ideal for travel thanks to its simple, square design. This model comes in two storage capacities: 1TB and 2TB. As an external SSD with a USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface and using QLC flash memory, this drive offers read and write speeds of up to 540MB/s. Overall, the X6 is suitable for most users. It is not recommended for constant, heavy reading and writing of large files or folders. If speed is your main concern, models like the Samsung T9 External SSD are better.
#4 Kingston XS1000R 2TB, fast and compact
Kingston XS1000R 2TB is an external SSD that offers impressive operating speeds. We’re talking about reading speeds of up to 1050 MB/s and writing speeds of up to 1000 MB/s. It’s worth noting that this is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 SSD. To achieve the advertised speeds, a device with USB 3.2 Gen 2 capabilities is required. Of course, you can still use this model with other, older connector types, as it’s backward compatible. The drive comes with a USB Type-C output and a blue LED data access light. The included USB Type-C to Type-A cable features a Type-A to Type-C converter, making it compatible with most devices. Additionally, the drive is small (69.5 x 32.6 x 13.5 mm), lightweight, and fairly reasonably priced.
#5 LaCie Rugged USB-C SSD, a compact, fast and portable drive
The LaCie Rugged Mini SSD stands out for its compact and portable design. The external SSD features the brand’s signature orange bumper, providing ample protection for everyday use. Measuring 0.7 x 2.6 x 4.2 inches, it’s easy to carry and compatible with USB-C ports supporting USB 3.2 Gen 2×2. This SSD can deliver impressive sequential read and write speeds of 2000 MB/s. It’s an excellent choice for users looking for a fast, durable, and portable external SSD. It’s ideal for demanding environments where extreme water or dust resistance isn’t a requirement.
#6 Kingston SSD IronKey Vault Privacy 80, the ultra-secure portable SSD
The Kingston IronKey Vault Privacy 80 (IKVP80) is a highly secure portable SSD. This drive is aimed at users who care about data protection. Available in various capacities, it combines 256-bit AES hardware encryption with a touchscreen. The latter allows for password entry and offers protection against brute-force attacks. Indeed, data is automatically erased after several unsuccessful attempts. Although it is compatible with all operating systems, its encryption limits its performance to 250 MB/s read/write. This is due to the real-time encryption processing and the use of a Kingston A400 QLC SSD. The robust metal casing and advanced security features make it a premium product, which is reflected in its price.
#7 Corsair EX100U, compact portable SSD with excellent read speeds
The Corsair EX100U is a compact, high-performance portable SSD available in capacities up to 4TB. It features a sleek design and excellent read and write speeds of up to 20Gbps via its USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface. Ideal for everyday use, it’s ideal for large file transfers and portable storage needs. With TLC flash memory and a reasonable price, it’s positioned as a mid-range choice in the market. It offers a good balance between performance and portability. It’s a solid option for users looking for a reliable, high-performance portable SSD for general use.
#8 Samsung portable SSD T7 touch, security and performance at your fingertips
The Samsung Portable SSD T7 Touch is a compact SSD hard drive (0.8 x 8.4 x 5.6 cm). It comes with a major innovation: a fingerprint sensor for enhanced security. Compatible with Samsung software, it allows you to register multiple fingerprints and set a password. This USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) SSD uses NVMe technology for increased performance that can reach up to 1050 MB/s. The drive offers fast transfers and hardware encryption. It is also available in different capacities (up to 2 TB) and combines portability, robustness and security. It is the ideal drive for users looking for reliable, secure and high-performance storage at a competitive price.
#9 Crucial X9 Pro Portable, a versatile drive with good value for money
The Crucial X9 Pro Portable is a compact, lightweight, and rugged external SSD. It offers excellent performance at an affordable price. Its compact dimensions of 0.762 x 6.604 x 5.08 cm come with a featherweight of 42.52 grams. It is an IP55 certified drive for water and dust resistance. It can withstand drops of up to 2.286 meters. With a USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface and USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 support, the drive can deliver up to 1050 MB/s sequential read/write. It even features 256-bit AES hardware encryption to protect data
#10 Western Digital WD my passport usb-c, a high-capacity external hard drive
The Western Digital WD My Passport USB-C is a capacity champion among portable external hard drives. This model works with USB-C and includes Acronis True Image backup software. It also features 256-bit AES hardware encryption and password protection via the WD Security app. The manufacturer offers its product with a cable and an adapter. Between the two, it’s possible to connect the drive to either a USB-C or USB-A port on a computer. If you need a hard drive with a USB-C port, the My Passport Ultra is the best choice. Not only is it attractive for its price, but also for its performance, although it isn’t as high as external SSDs.
Our 2024 selection
#1 Samsung Portable SSD T5 EVO, small, fast and offering large capacity
The Samsung Portable SSD T5 EVO is the brand’s latest portable SSD. Available in various capacities ranging from 2 to 8 TB, the drive uses QLC flash memory and here uses a USB 3.2 Gen 1 connector. It tops our list of best external SSDs and HDDs for its qualities. Here we have a very perfect drive for portability with dimensions of 95 mm x 40 mm x 17 mm and a weight of 102 g. Its body is made of metal and features a convenient rubber sleeve for carrying. It is capable of withstanding accidental drops from a height of up to two meters. The SSD provides read and write speeds of up to 460 MB/s.
#2 LaCie Rugged Mini SSD 2TB, designed for durability and performance
The LaCie Rugged Mini SSD USB 3.2 Gen2 2×2 2TB stands out for its compact and robust features. It ranks third in this list of the best external SSDs and HDDs. It also offers high performance and enhanced data protection. To achieve this, the drive features a robust design with a compact casing that includes a rubber sleeve that is resistant to shocks and drops. Certified IP54, this model is resistant to dust and splashes of water. Its USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface allows it to offer speeds of 2000 MB/s.
#3 WD_Black P50 Game Drive 1TB, a fast and future-proof cutting-edge SSD
The WD Black P50 Game Drive is an external SSD designed specifically for gamers. It offers top-level performance and a large storage capacity. The design is unique and gives the impression of a military product. The black aluminum enclosure features an indicator light that shows the SSD’s status. This storage drive is rated at 2000 MB/s read/write and has a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface. To meet everyone’s needs, this product is available with capacities ranging from 500 GB to 4 TB.
#4 Seagate FireCuda Gaming Hub 16TB, a must-have for Gamers and Creators
The Seagate FireCuda Gaming Hub is an external hard drive offering a massive 16TB of storage capacity. It’s one of the best external SSDs and HDDs combined, aimed at gamers and content creators who need to use a huge amount of storage space. Externally, the drive stands out with its customizable RGB lighting. It has both USB-C and USB-A ports on the front, and is quite affordable for a product of this caliber. In fact, for the price, the drive is about 1/4 the cost/GB of other SSDs. This makes the FireCuda Gaming Hub perfect for huge AAA game libraries.
#5 Kingston XS2000, a rugged IP55 enclosure with a fast 2 Gb/s throughput
The Kingston XS2000 is an ultra-portable compact SSD with a rugged design and ultra-compact dimensions. In fact, the body of the product is almost the size of a large USB flash drive. Kingston offers hardware here with a metal and rigid plastic casing coupled with a rubberized cover. Like some of the models presented earlier, this one has IP55 certification and features a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface to provide operating speeds of up to 2000 MB/s read/write. It is one of the smallest SSDs on the market, rivaling the size of a simple USB flash drive.
#6 Silicon Power Armor A30, one of the best external SSDs and HDDs for durability
The Silicon Power Armor A30 is one of the best rugged portable hard drives that can withstand extreme conditions. The manufacturer opts for a reinforced, shock-resistant design consisting of a black plastic casing. In addition, the drive has a MIL-STD-810G military certification, which indicates that it can withstand drops very well with its shock-absorbing rubber feet. Performance-wise, it’s a classic drive with a USB 3.0 HDD that offers read/write speeds of 120 MB/s.
#7 Sandisk Portable SSD 2TB, one of the best external SSDs and HDDs for everyday tasks
The SanDisk Portable SSD 2TB is a compact and affordable external SSD. It’s one of the best external SSDs and HDDs in both categories to meet the storage needs of most users. The drive weighs 40g and has a ruggedized casing that’s drop-resistant up to 2m. As for its interface, it uses USB 3.2 Gen 2 with read transfer speeds of 520MB/s. This is the perfect drive for standard everyday use. It’s a reliable, portable storage solution offered at a great price for most users.
#8 Toshiba Canvio Basics 2022 4TB Black, a simple but effective storage drive
The Toshiba Canvio Basics is a classic external HDD. The model we’re offering here has an affordable 4TB storage capacity. It’s ideal for archiving and storing large amounts of data. There’s nothing flashy about the casing, which is thin and light. Performance is also basic, with speeds of 150MB/s over USB 3.2. The advantage of this type of drive is that it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg like a traditional HDD storage solution. It focuses on the essentials and does what you expect of it.
#9 Western Digital WD Elements Portable 5TB Black (USB 3.0), a portable HDD at a low price
Like the Toshiba Canvio Basics , the WD Elements Portable is a compact and affordable external HDD. It was designed to offer a large capacity of up to 5 TB. Its main attraction is its very good capacity-price ratio. Here, the design is simple, but keeps a pocket size perfect for travel. The interface chosen by the manufacturer is USB 3.0 (backward compatible with USB 2.0). The external HDD comes with WD SmartWare Pro software available for 30 days for automatic backup. WD is putting forward one of the most economical external hard drives with such a large capacity. It does not seek to compete with the fastest, but rather to offer good storage capacity at a price accessible to all users.
Conclusion
As you can see, the external data storage market in 2025 offers a wide range of options. The drives on this list meet all storage needs, from ultra-compact models to very high-capacity solutions. These are the best external SSDs and HDDs. This list includes hardened drives for extreme environments, as well as simple affordable data storage—there’s something for everyone.
Extreme performance enthusiasts will gravitate toward models like the WD_Black P50 or the Kingston XS2000, while creators and gamers will gravitate toward the Seagate FireCuda Gaming Hub for its massive capacity. Regardless of your needs, this list covers a wide range of use cases for portable and external SSDs and HDDs. Enough to ensure optimal storage for all your data.
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