Rankings
The SanDisk Professional 4TB PRO-G40 delivers market-leading Thunderbolt 3 speeds and rugged IP68 durability in a portable, lightweight chassis, but users should be aware of occasional firmware reliability concerns and the short included cable.
The Crucial X10 Pro 4TB Portable SSD delivers ultra-fast USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 performance, large capacity, and hardware encryption in a rugged, lightweight package, but its full speed is limited by port availability and some users report reliability concerns.
Samsung's T5 EVO 8TB offers unparalleled portable storage capacity with solid durability and encryption, but its SATA-class transfer speeds lag behind newer USB 3.2 Gen 2 SSDs.
The Samsung T9 Portable SSD 4TB delivers blazing 2,000 MB/s read/write speeds via USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, a rugged rubberized design with 3 m drop resistance, and 256-bit AES hardware encryption, making it a premium high-performance external drive for creators and professionals.
The SanDisk 4TB Extreme PRO Portable SSD delivers flagship-class 2000 MB/s performance in a rugged, IP-rated enclosure with hardware encryption, making it ideal for field professionals who need speed and durability.
The Crucial X6 4 TB portable SSD offers a huge amount of storage in a lightweight, pocket-sized package with decent USB 3.2 speeds, making it ideal for on-the-go backups and media libraries, though it lacks hardware encryption and can throttle under sustained load.
| Attribute | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4,000 GB | 4 GB | 4,000 GB | 4,000 GB | 4,000 GB | 8,000 GBbest | |
2,000 MB/s | 800 MB/s | 2,000 MB/s | 2,100 MB/s | 3,000 MB/sbest | 460 MB/s | |
2,000 MB/s | 965 MB/s | 2,000 MB/s | 2,000 MB/s | 2,500 MB/sbest | 460 MB/s | |
5 yearsbest | 3 years | 5 yearsbest | 5 yearsbest | 5 yearsbest | 3 years | |
| ↓ lower better | 122 g | 40 gbest | 78 g | 42 g | 121.3 g | 102 g |
| ↓ lower better | 0 °Cbest | — | — | — | — | 0 °Cbest |
60 °Cbest | — | — | — | — | 60 °Cbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 15.2 mm | 11 mm | 10.4 mm | 10 mmbest | 11.94 mm | 17 mm |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Performance(3) | ||||||
Sequential Read Speed (MB/s) | 2000 MB/s | 800 MB/s | 2000 MB/s | 2100 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | 460 MB/s |
Sequential Write Speed (MB/s) | 2000 MB/s | 965 MB/s | 2000 MB/s | 2000 MB/s | 2500 MB/s | 460 MB/s |
Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 | Thunderbolt 3 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 |
Security(1) | ||||||
Hardware Encryption | true | false | true | true | — | true |
Storage(4) | ||||||
Capacity (GB) | 4000 GB | 4 GB | 4000 GB | 4000 GB | 4000 GB | 8000 GB |
Form Factor | — | External | — | — | Portable external | Portable |
NAND Type | 3D V-NAND | QLC | — | TLC | — | — |
Warranty Period (years) | 5 years | 3 years | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 3 years |
Design & Build(2) | ||||||
Weight (g) | 122 g | 40 g | 78 g | 42 g | 121.3 g | 102 g |
Thickness (mm) | 15.2 mm | 11 mm | 10.4 mm | 10 mm | 11.94 mm | 17 mm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the T9 for its industry-leading 2,000 MB/s sequential speeds, premium feel, and reliable performance across platforms, highlighting the in-house controller, 3D V-NAND, and TurboWrite cache.
Everyday users overwhelmingly rate the drive 4.8/5, lauding its speed for direct video editing, solid build, and cross-platform reliability.
“Fast enough to edit video directly from the drive”
“Sleek, solid build, no overheating issues”
“Perfect for music and video production”
Choose the X10 Pro if you need a lower-cost option and can accept slightly lower sustained performance.
Choose Samsung T9 if size and weight are top priorities; choose SanDisk for added rugged features and hardware encryption.
Choose Crucial X10 Pro for marginal speed gain and lighter weight when ruggedness and hardware encryption are less critical; choose SanDisk for superior protection and security.
Professional reviewers agree the X6 delivers solid value for its capacity class, offering decent speeds and a very portable form factor at a low price, but they criticize its lackluster performance relative to higher-end SSDs, the basic plastic build, and the absence of hardware encryption and DRAM.
Everyday users praise the X6 for its huge 4 TB storage, pocket-size convenience, and affordable price, while common complaints focus on heat-induced throttling, lack of hardware encryption, cheap-looking plastic, and missing accessories like a USB-A adapter.
Professional reviewers praise the Extreme PRO for its top-tier 2000 MB/s throughput and rugged build, but note lingering firmware reliability concerns and a larger size compared to competitors.
Everyday users love the speed and durability, though many report data loss when the drive is unmounted improperly and reduced performance on Apple devices.
Professional reviewers praise the X10 Pro for its blistering sequential speeds, pocket-size form factor and rugged IP55 construction, while cautioning that the USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface is increasingly obsolete and many laptops lack native support, causing real-world throughput drops.
Everyday users are split: many love the drive's speed, tiny size and encryption, but a sizable minority report early failures and inability to achieve advertised speeds on Apple devices, leading to doubts about long-term reliability.
Professional reviewers praised the blistering Thunderbolt performance and rugged build, though PCMag retracted its endorsement after multiple data-loss reports, urging caution until the firmware issue is resolved.
Everyday users love the fast transfers and durability for field work, but many complain about the short, sometimes defective Thunderbolt cable and occasional data-loss incidents.
Reviewers commend the massive capacity and rugged build, but criticize the limited 460 MB/s speed and premium price, noting it suits users who value space over raw performance.
Users love the sheer storage size and durability, while many note the slower-than-expected transfer rates and occasional warmth during long transfers.
