The best SSD external gaming memories

1. Samsung Portable T7 Shield

Strengths:

Strong and durable structure
Compact design

The Samsung Portable T7 Shield offers the same specs as the Samsung T7 and uses USB 3.2 for transfer speeds of up to 1,000MB/s and read and write speeds of 1,050MB/s respectively. We’ve recommended this rugged external SSD as our best choice because it combines a reasonable price, durable design, high transfer speeds, and a hassle-free overall experience.

In terms of appearance, this SSD is not exclusively designed for gamers and therefore looks a bit simple and functional. Its exterior is made of rubber and Samsung’s Dynamic Thermal Guard technology corols heat to maiain performance even during heavy data transfers. The SSD’s IP65 rating also means it’s water and dust resista, so you can be sure it’ll keep working even after spills or accideal drops.

If you are looking for a versatile, protected and affordable external SSD for gaming, the Samsung Portable T7 Shield is the best choice for you. If you don’t need extra protection, consider the standard T7 model iroduced below.

2. Edita SE900G

Strengths:

Stylish RGB lighting
Very high transmission speed

Edita’s NVMe-based model is one of the fastest external drives we’ve seen, with read and write speeds of 2,000MB/s, respectively. The drive connects via a USB Type-C cable, but Edita has included a Type-A converter in the box to make it compatible with more devices.

We recommend the 1TB model, although it’s also available in 512GB and 2TB capacities. The RGB lighting that covers the top of the drive gives it an attractive look and matches well with the best gaming keyboards and mice.

3. SanDisk Extreme Portable V2

Strengths:

Water and dust resistance with IP55 standard
5 year warray
Small enough to be attached to a key holder

We love SanDisk’s Extreme Portable, which has now reached V2 due to its coinued popularity. Despite its small size of 2.07 x 3.97 inches, the Extreme Portable packs a powerful punch. Due to the NVMe drive inside, it offers read and write speeds of 1050 MB/s and 1000 MB/s respectively.

The drive is drop-resista from a height of two meters and IP55 for water and dust resistance, making it an ideal companion for gaming laptops. Of course, we do not recommend that you treat it harshly.

The drive connects via USB Type-C, but a Type-A converter is also included in the box. You can get this drive in differe capacities from 500GB to 4TB, and from 1TB up it comes in two attractive blue colors. It’s truly a portable memory stick, and with a hole in the corner, you can attach it to your keys or bag.

4. Lexar SL660 Blaze Portable SSD

Strengths:

256-bit hardware encryption (AES).
Aluminum body

If you’re looking for a portable gaming SSD, Lexar’s Blaze SL660 is the right choice for you. Compatible with PC as well as PS5, PS4 and Xbox consoles, this memory offers a combination of reliability and performance at an affordable price. This SSD isn’t the fastest option on this list, but support for USB 3.2 Gen 2 2×2 ensures fast read and write speeds.

Blaze also has beautiful RGB lighting. At only 2.5 inches wide, this memory stick is truly portable and comes with a detachable stand for added functionality. Its aluminum structure also protects against shock and falling. In terms of security, this product offers a 256-bit AES encryption software solution to protect your data.

The downside of Lexar’s Blaze SL660 gaming SSD is that it requires a 2×2 USB 3.2 generation connection to achieve the best performance. It also maxes out at 1TB, which may be a bit low for some users, but if you’re looking for a truly portable SSD to compleme a larger hard drive, this might not be a problem.

5. Samsung Portable SSD T7

Strengths:

Very small and compact
low temperature

The Samsung T7 uses USB 3.2 to provide fast NVMe transfer speeds, which helps keep the price down. This SSD is the best option for the price, being almost nine times faster than an external hard drive, offering read and write speeds of 1,000MB/s and 1,050MB/s, respectively, double that of the similarly priced T5.

The T7 is well built and comes with a solid metal body that can be purchased in a variety of bright colors. While it’s not quite as durable as the T7 Shield, which tops our guide, it’s still an incredibly affordable option. By receiving a three-year warray, you can have peace of mind in your purchase for a while.

The all-metal body gives it a solid feel and helps it withstand drops from a height of two meters. Also, if security is importa to you, you can use Samsung’s software to lock the drive with an encrypted 256-bit password.

6. Seagate Storage Expansion Card

Strengths:

Easy setup

Xbox Series X/S consoles don’t allow you to install and play curre generation games on any random external SSD and instead use an extra slot on the back of the console.

Seagate’s NVMe model is currely the only model that plugs io Microsoft’s dedicated port and offers read and write speeds similar to the console’s iernal SSD drive. However, there is no USB connection, so this is only an external SSD for the new Xbox consoles and not for your PC.

Why get SSD memory instead of HDD?

SSD technology has been mass-produced in rece years, and conveional HDD memory does not perform well in comparison. The risk of having moving parts in storage that are prone to failure or damage means that SSD technology is much better in terms of safety and security, as well as higher read and write speeds.

Do SSDs come with security features?

Some SSDs have security features you can enable, from simple password protection to fingerpri recognition. If this feature is importa to you, be sure to check the specifications of each device carefully to see what features they offer you.