Best External SSDs for MacBook

The external drive from the brand Team Group is truly in a portable form factor. It weighs only 22 grams and measures 75x34x15 mm, so it easily fits in a pocket. The model is made of metal and features basic water resistance class IP54. It is also noteworthy that the Team Group PD20 Mini TPSEG5001T0C102 has a hole for hanging, allowing it to be used as a keychain, making it easy to attach to a belt, backpack, or bag.

The SSD is equipped with the most common USB-C port today, allowing it to be used without different adapters with personal computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones. It is also fully compatible with operating systems: the model is "friendly" with Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.

High performance is ensured by the 3.2 gen2x2 interface, so when writing data to the drive, you can expect a speed of up to 1800 MB/s, and when reading from it — 2000 MB/s.

Team Group PD20 Mini TPSEG5001T0C102 is an interesting 1 TB SSD and one of the best options if lightweight and compactness are a priority for you. Yes, and the reliability is at the level — the manufacturer provides a 5-year warranty.

The SanDisk Extreme Portable V2 SDSSDE61-1T00-G25 external SSD demonstrates high efficiency in non-standard operating conditions. Protected by an IP65-rated enclosure, it can withstand water contact, is immune to dust, and X-rays. The external silicone shell mitigates shaking and the effects of impacts from drops up to two meters. All this makes the drive a good candidate for acting as mobile storage during extreme hikes, trips to the sea, military-tactical operations using drones and other reconnaissance means, aerial 3D filming of objects, journalistic investigations in the world's hot spots. The stylish look with unusual color schemes (black, sky blue, Monterey) will emphasize the user's individuality. It is worth noting the presence of a strap or carabiner attachment for wearing on a key chain or backpack. The gadget is always at hand and ready to use, and the guaranteed service life is 5 years.

The SSD received 1 TB of 3D TLC NAND memory, access to which is provided by a USB-C 3.2 gen2 connector (corresponding cable included). The drive performs a wide range of tasks thanks to its compatibility with iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Chrome OS. Users can create copies of personal files, free up internal memory on mobile gadgets, move data between devices. Throughput of 1050 MB/s (read) and 1000 MB/s (write) implies processing and viewing high-resolution photos/videos. Data confidentiality is ensured by hardware-based 256-bit encryption and password protection feature. The company offers flexible Memory Zone software for memory status tracking, easy file copying, section, and folder backup planning.

Initially, LaCie brand drives are "sharpened" for convenient work with Apple equipment. The plug-and-play principle is implemented with MacBook, iPad, and other "Apple" products. Plus, similar compatibility without drivers and other software is provided for Windows, which only increases the model's versatility.

For data protection in LaCie Rugged Mini SSD STMF1000400, there is a proprietary Toolkit program, where 256‐bit AES encryption can be activated. And for creative professionals, purchasing the SSD includes a free 2-month subscription to the Adobe Creative Cloud Pro package for graphic design.

The 1 TB drive received a USB-C jack with support for 3.2 gen2x2 interfaces and Thunderbolt v4. This ensures future-proofing (in terms of compatibility with various devices) and good speed. Both writing and reading can be performed with rates up to 2000 MB/s, which will save you time when transferring data.

The plastic casing is complemented by an orange rubber bumper. Thanks to it, the model boasts good impact resistance — not afraid of drops from up to three meters and collisions with vehicles up to a ton. Dust and water protection class IP54 are also stated. In general, difficult operating conditions for the SSD should not be a problem. However, the enhanced design made the drive larger than its main counterparts — length slightly over 17 cm, width — 10.5 cm. If this is not critical for you, then LaCie Rugged Mini SSD STMF1000400 is an excellent solution for different scenarios, including on-location photo shoots, frequent business trips, etc.

The external SSD Kingston XS2000 SXS2000/1000G falls into the category of the most high-performance storage devices thanks to its USB-C 3.2 gen2x2 connection interface and 3D NAND multilayer memory. The drive guarantees read and write speeds of up to 2000 MB/s, allowing gigabytes of information to be recorded in seconds, as well as viewing and editing videos in 8K resolution. The gadget can store 1 TB, making it suitable for clearing internal memory of a smartphone, action camera, DVR, creating backups of personal and system files from PCs, laptops. The software is fully compatible with popular platforms Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chrome OS, Android, iOS. iPadOS, as well as Sony game consoles. A USB-C cable is included. Overall, the model is oriented towards processing large volumes of information with minimal waiting time.

The dimensions of the Kingston XS2000 SXS2000/1000G are comparable to a regular flash drive. The compact casing is made of metal and is quite durable, while the bright signature rubber case (black, orange, or blue) provides enhanced protection from drops up to 1.8 meters and won't get lost in grass, sand, or dirt. The construction also prevents dust and splashes of water from entering (standard IP56), which protects microchips from damage. The external SSD will easily fit in the pocket of trousers and women's purse, hidden compartment of a backpack or suitcase, withstanding increased loads. The model is optimally suited for daily home and office tasks, backing up important military, research data, reconnaissance results and aerial images, draft materials for post-processing in editors. A warranty of 5 years applies to the product.

The external SSD Samsung T7 Shield MU-PE1T0S meets the IP65 standard and easily handles thermo-mechanical loads. The drive is geared towards professional use by videographers, designers, system administrators, architects, military journalists, special forces units, extreme leisure and sports enthusiasts, as well as users who want maximum protection for their files. The model is encased in a reliable shield of metal and rubber, impervious to dust, dirt, water jets, sun and X-ray exposure, and drops from up to 3 meters onto a hard surface. An additional Dynamic Thermal Guard layer ensures heat dissipation and uninterrupted long-term operation without speed decreases. The SSD is an effective external storage for direct recording and processing of high-resolution video materials (up to 12K) both indoors and outdoors. However, it is necessary to consider the increased weight (about 100 g) of this advanced construction.

The device uses own-produced 3D NAND memory and a USB-C 3.2 gen2 interface with read speeds of 1050 MB/s and write speeds of 1000 MB/s. Two cables are included for connecting to USB-C or USB-A ports. The front panel has an indicator that notifies the data exchange activity and prevents premature shutdown. Universal support for operating systems guarantees compatibility with computer equipment, mobile gadgets, game consoles, video equipment, Apple devices. Through the Samsung Magician software suite, access is unlocked to useful features — monitoring the state and optimizing memory cells, simple content transfer, encryption or complete file deletion, setting a password, updating firmware.