Rankings
The Lexar Professional Go 1TB portable SSD with hub is an ultra-compact, rugged external drive designed for iPhone ProRes 4K recording. It offers top-tier USB-C Gen 2 speeds, built-in power delivery, and IP65 protection, but the hub module is less robust and the price is high.
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.
The SanDisk Creator Pro 1TB portable SSD offers true 2000 MB/s NVMe performance via USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 and rugged IP65 protection, making it ideal for field creators, though full speeds depend on a compatible host and it lacks hardware encryption.
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 Seagate One Touch 1 TB SSD is a portable, high-speed external drive with USB 3.2 Gen2 performance, hardware encryption, and a valuable software bundle aimed at creative professionals.
The Seagate One Touch SSD 500 GB delivers flagship-class sequential speeds in a pocket-sized, encrypted package, ideal for photographers and travelers. Its main drawbacks are short cables and modest random I/O performance.
The PD20M Mag Portable SSD is an ultra-thin, magnetic external drive delivering up to 2,000 MB/s via USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, tailored for iPhone users needing fast ProRes recording, but its small cache and lack of ruggedness limit heavy or outdoor use.
The Crucial X9 2TB Portable SSD delivers fast USB-C performance in a tiny, lightweight package, ideal for gamers and creators who need quick transfers on the go, but it lacks water resistance and hardware encryption.
The Seagate One Touch 2 TB SSD delivers near-NVMe speeds in a pocket-sized, shock-resistant chassis with hardware encryption and a rich software bundle, making it ideal for mobile creators. Its main drawbacks are the short cables and lack of a protective case.
| Attribute | | | | | Seagate One Touch SSD 500GB | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4,000 GB | 1,024 GB | 1,000 GB | 1,920 GB | 500 GB | 2,000 GB | 4,000 GB | 1,000 GB | 1,000 GB | 8,000 GBbest | |
2,000 MB/s | 1,030 MB/s | 2,000 MB/s | 1,050 MB/s | 1,030 MB/s | 1,030 MB/s | 2,100 MB/sbest | 1,050 MB/s | 2,000 MB/s | 460 MB/s | |
2,000 MB/sbest | 1,030 MB/s | 2,000 MB/sbest | 960 MB/s | 1,030 MB/s | 864 MB/s | 2,000 MB/sbest | 1,000 MB/s | 2,000 MB/sbest | 460 MB/s | |
5 yearsbest | 3 years | 5 yearsbest | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 5 yearsbest | 5 yearsbest | 3 years | 3 years | |
| ↓ lower better | 122 g | 43 g | 77.5 g | 32 g | 70 g | 45 g | 42 g | 13 gbest | 40 g | 102 g |
| ↓ lower better | 0 °Cbest | — | 0 °Cbest | — | — | — | — | — | 0 °Cbest | 0 °Cbest |
60 °C | — | 45 °C | — | — | — | — | — | 70 °Cbest | 60 °C | |
| ↓ lower better | 15.2 mm | 10.6 mm | 52.6 mm | 10 mm | 9.9 mm | 10 mm | 10 mm | 8.25 mm | 8.2 mmbest | 17 mm |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | | | | Seagate One Touch SSD 500GB | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Performance(3) | ||||||||||
Sequential Read Speed (MB/s) | 2000 MB/s | 1030 MB/s | 2000 MB/s | 1050 MB/s | 1030 MB/s | 1030 MB/s | 2100 MB/s | 1050 MB/s | 2000 MB/s | 460 MB/s |
Sequential Write Speed (MB/s) | 2000 MB/s | 1030 MB/s | 2000 MB/s | 960 MB/s | 1030 MB/s | 864 MB/s | 2000 MB/s | 1000 MB/s | 2000 MB/s | 460 MB/s |
Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 | USB 3.2 Gen2 Type‑C | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 |
Security(1) | ||||||||||
Hardware Encryption | true | true | false | false | true | true | true | true | false | true |
Storage(4) | ||||||||||
Capacity (GB) | 4000 GB | 1024 GB | 1000 GB | 1920 GB | 500 GB | 2000 GB | 4000 GB | 1000 GB | 1000 GB | 8000 GB |
Form Factor | — | Portable external SSD | Portable external | — | 2.5-inch | Portable | — | Portable SSD | External Portable Magnetic | Portable |
NAND Type | 3D V-NAND | — | — | TLC | — | — | TLC | — | — | — |
Warranty Period (years) | 5 years | 3 years | 5 years | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 5 years | 5 years | 3 years | 3 years |
Power & Energy(1) | ||||||||||
Operating Temp (Max) (°C) | 60 °C | — | 45 °C | — | — | — | — | — | 70 °C | 60 °C |
Design & Build(2) | ||||||||||
Weight (g) | 122 g | 43 g | 77.5 g | 32 g | 70 g | 45 g | 42 g | 13 g | 40 g | 102 g |
Thickness (mm) | 15.2 mm | 10.6 mm | 52.6 mm | 10 mm | 9.9 mm | 10 mm | 10 mm | 8.25 mm | 8.2 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 the PD20M for iPhone-centric, ultra-portable use; opt for the X10 Pro for rugged, sustained-write scenarios.
Professional reviewers gave it 4.5/5 stars, praising flawless performance, lightweight build, and the value-added software suite, while noting the short cable length as a drawback.
Everyday users are overwhelmingly positive, highlighting rapid photo backups, ease of use with Android devices, and overall speed, with few negative comments.
Professional reviewers commend the drive's true 2000 MB/s performance and rugged aluminum chassis, but note the need for a Gen 2x2 host to unlock full speeds and the absence of hardware encryption.
Everyday users praise the blazing transfers and durability, while complaints focus on not achieving advertised speeds on many Macs, the drive getting warm, and the short stiff cables.
Professional reviewers, led by PC Gamer's 84/100 score, praise the X9 for its strong read performance, compact design, and excellent price-to-speed ratio.
Everyday buyers rate the X9 between 4.5 and 5 stars, highlighting its speed, portability, and ease of use.
Professional reviewers commend the One Touch SSD for its high sequential speeds, ultra-compact form factor, and solid build, noting it outperforms its predecessor and rivals like the Crucial X8. They point out the short cables and reduced performance on legacy ports, and the lack of advanced features such as biometric authentication.
Everyday users overwhelmingly praise the drive's speed, durability, and pocket-friendly size, but commonly complain about the very short cables and occasional speed drops under heavy multitasking.
Professional reviewers commend the One Touch SSD for its high transfer rates, compact build, and robust software bundle, noting it delivers near-NVMe performance in a travel-ready chassis.
Everyday users overwhelmingly praise the drive's speed, reliability, and portability, especially the Android backup experience, while recurring complaints focus on the short cable and missing protective pouch.
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 laud the Lexar Professional Go as a game-changing accessory for iPhone videographers, emphasizing its tiny footprint, integrated plug, and modular hub that together enable native ProRes 4K capture with power delivery.
Everyday users are overwhelmingly positive about the SSD's seamless integration and the ability to record high-bitrate video without extra bulk, though they note hub fragility and case-compatibility issues.
Professional reviewers praise the PD20M for its innovative MagSafe integration, ultra-fast USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 performance and compact design, but note the limited 20 GB cache that hampers sustained large writes and the absence of an IP rating.
Everyday users overwhelmingly appreciate the SSD's tiny form factor, strong magnetic attachment, and lightning-quick transfers that streamline mobile video workflows, while complaining about speed drops after the cache is exhausted and the lack of water/dust protection.
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.
