Rankings
The Samsung T7 1TB Portable SSD delivers fast USB 3.2 Gen 2 performance with strong AES-256 encryption in a lightweight aluminum case. Its main trade-off is occasional heat and the lack of biometric security. Ideal for mobile professionals and gamers who need speed and portability.
The Crucial X9 Pro 1TB offers a pocket-sized, fast USB-3.2 Gen 2 SSD with strong encryption and IP55 durability. Its performance is capped at 10 Gbps and weight listings are inconsistent, which may concern buyers. Ideal for photographers and travelers who value portability and security over absolute top speed.
The SSK SD500 1TB Portable SSD delivers up to 1050 MB/s read and 1000 MB/s write speeds in a compact aluminum shell, making it one of the faster USB-C SSDs on the market. Its performance tapers after the cache is exhausted and the drive can become hot under sustained loads. Ideal for mobile creators who need high burst speeds and a lightweight, drop-resistant design.
The Crucial X9 1TB SSD combines a feather-light 32 g form factor with 1050 MB/s speeds and 2.3 m drop protection, supporting a wide range of devices. It lacks an IP rating and its write performance trails higher-end rivals, making it ideal for mobile professionals who prioritize portability over ruggedness.
The WD My Passport 1TB SSD combines a slim metal chassis with 256-bit AES hardware encryption and up to 1050 MB/s read speeds. Its limitations include a modest 5 GB cache that can throttle sustained writes and a premium price point. Best for mobile professionals who need secure, fast storage in a compact, drop-resistant package.
The ORICO C10 1TB SSD combines a lightweight aluminum body with a handy hanging hole and solid 1000 MB/s read performance. Its speed is lower than premium models and it requires a separate cable. Suited for travelers and general users seeking affordable portable storage.
SanDisk's 1TB Extreme Portable SSD offers up to 560 MB/s read and 501 MB/s write speeds within an IP55-rated, shock-proof enclosure, providing rugged durability for on-the-go professionals. The drive can heat up during long transfers and its small-file performance lags behind larger sequential speeds. Best suited for photographers and videographers needing a tough, cross-platform storage solution.
| Attribute | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1,000 GB | 1,000 GB | 1,000 GB | 1,024 GBbest | 1,024 GBbest | 1,024 GBbest | 1,000 GB | |
1,050 MB/sbest | 1,050 MB/sbest | 1,050 MB/sbest | 1,050 MB/sbest | 800 MB/s | 1,050 MB/sbest | 1,000 MB/s | |
1,050 MB/sbest | 1,050 MB/sbest | 1,000 MB/s | 1,000 MB/s | 501 MB/s | 1,000 MB/s | 800 MB/s | |
| ↓ lower better | 32 g | — | 58 g | 30 g | 41 g | 7.09 gbest | 60 g |
3 years | 5 yearsbest | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 5 yearsbest | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Connectivity(1) | |||||||
Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbit/s) Type-C | USB 3.1 Gen 2 |
Performance(2) | |||||||
Sequential Read Speed (MB/s) | 1050 MB/s | 1050 MB/s | 1050 MB/s | 1050 MB/s | 800 MB/s | 1050 MB/s | 1000 MB/s |
Sequential Write Speed (MB/s) | 1050 MB/s | 1050 MB/s | 1000 MB/s | 1000 MB/s | 501 MB/s | 1000 MB/s | 800 MB/s |
Build & Design(2) | |||||||
Weight (g) | 32 g | 38-80 g | 58 g | 30 g | 41 g | 7.09 g | 60 g |
Dimensions (L×W×H) (mm) | 65×50×10 mm mm | 65×50×10 mm mm | 85x57x8 mm | 68×37×12 mm mm | 47×47×10 mm mm | 127 x 101.6 x 31.75 mm mm | 131.8 x 33.8 x 18.8 mm mm |
Storage(2) | |||||||
Capacity (GB) | 1000 GB | 1000 GB | 1000 GB | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | 1000 GB |
NAND Type | 3D NAND Flash | TLC | 3-bit MLC V-NAND | — | — | — | — |
Power & Compatibility(2) | |||||||
Power Source | Bus Powered | USB bus-powered | — | USB | USB | USB | bus-powered |
Compatible Operating Systems | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, iPadOS, Linux, Xbox, PlayStation, ChromeOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iPad, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox | Windows 7+, macOS 10.10+, Android 5.1+ | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS | Windows, Linux, macOS, Android |
General(2) | |||||||
Warranty (years) | 3 years | 5 years | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 5 years | — |
Included Accessories | USB Type‑C to C cable | USB Type‑C cable | USB Type-C to Type-C cable, USB Type-C to Type-A cable | USB‑C to C cable, USB‑C to A cable, protective pouch | USB‑C to USB‑C cable | USB Type-C cable; USB Type-C to Type-A adapter; WD Discovery software | 0.3 m USB‑C/A to USB‑C cable |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the X9 for its ultra-small footprint, strong read performance and drop-proof design, noting it as a convenient, high-speed solution for mobile professionals. However, they point out that its sustained write speeds lag slightly behind rivals and that the lack of an IP rating makes it less rugged than competing models like the Samsung T7 Shield.
Everyday users highlight the drive's fast read speeds, pocket-size convenience, and seamless plug-and-play experience across a wide range of devices. The main concerns expressed are the scarcity of user reviews, the absence of an official IP rating, and minor confusion over the exact weight listed in different sources.
“Survives drops and splashes perfectly.”
“Blazing speeds for file transfers/editing.”
“High satisfaction but note compatibility quirks with some Android devices.”
Professional reviewers commend the X9 Pro for its pocket-sized dimensions, solid 1050 MB/s performance and built-in 256-bit AES encryption, describing it as a sweet-spot SSD that balances speed, durability and price.
Everyday users consistently highlight the drive's blazing transfer speeds, keychain-friendly portability and rugged IP55 protection, while noting occasional heat and cable quality issues.
Professional reviewers consistently commend the T7 for its sleek metal chassis, exceptional read/write speeds, robust AES-256 encryption, and effective thermal management that prevents throttling. They also note that the drive's performance hinges on using a USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection and point out minor issues such as inconsistent weight reporting and the lack of fingerprint security found on the T7 Touch variant.
Everyday users praise the SSD's rapid 4K video and game file transfers, its pocket-friendly size, and reliable cross-platform operation. Recurring themes include occasional heat under sustained loads, concerns about cable durability, and speed reductions when paired with older USB ports, while most buyers are satisfied with the overall value and build quality.
Professional reviewers commend the SSK SD500 1TB for its impressive benchmark numbers-exceeding 1 GB/s in both read and write under optimal USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 conditions-and its solid aluminum build with drop resistance. They also note its broad OS compatibility, UASP/TRIM support, and value-for-money pricing, while cautioning that sustained writes dip after the cache is exhausted and the unit runs hotter than some rivals during long transfers.
Everyday users love the drive's plug-and-play simplicity, feather-light feel, and the speed boost for high-resolution media, often highlighting the included pouch and cables as a plus. Recurring complaints focus on the device heating up during extended copies, real-world speeds falling short of the advertised peak, and the smaller usable capacity caused by formatting and large allocation units.
Professional reviewers consistently highlight the SanDisk Extreme Portable's rugged IP55 construction, fast NVMe-based performance, and strong value proposition at the 1 TB price point. While they commend its smart design and cross-platform ease of use, they note that the price is higher than some rivals and that small-file transfer performance can lag behind larger sequential transfers.
Everyday users praise the drive's portability, speed, and durability, especially for on-location work and travel. Common praise centers on its ruggedness and value, while recurring complaints focus on heat buildup, the short supplied cable, slower small-file transfers, and occasional long-term reliability issues.
Professional reviewers commend the My Passport SSD for its sleek metal build, impressive 1050/1000 MB/s sequential performance, and strong hardware encryption, positioning it as a direct competitor to the Samsung T7 and Crucial X8. However, they note the premium price, limited 5 GB cache, and occasional heat during sustained writes as areas where it falls short of the best value proposition.
Everyday users love the drive's pocket-size portability, fast transfer speeds, and seamless Mac compatibility, often highlighting how quickly they can move large photo and video libraries. Recurring complaints focus on write speed variability, noticeable heat under heavy load, and the higher price per gigabyte compared with other external SSDs.
Professional reviewers commend the ORICO C10 for its solid build, convenient hanging-hole design, and reliable 1000 MB/s performance that comfortably handles everyday tasks and 4K video storage. While they acknowledge it isn't the fastest or most compact SSD available, they consider its price-to-performance ratio and durability to make it a strong choice for general users and travelers.
Everyday users consistently praise the C10's lightweight feel, fast backup times, and hassle-free compatibility across Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. Common praise centers on the hanging hole and value for a 1 TB drive, while recurring complaints focus on its length, the need to carry a separate cable, and real-world speeds that sometimes fall short of the advertised maximum.
