Samsung T7 Shield 1TB Beige
Score: 81/100
SanDisk Extreme PRO 4TB USB4
Score: 92/100Rankings
The 4 TB SanDisk Extreme PRO Portable SSD uses USB4 to deliver near-internal SSD performance with up to 3800 MB/s reads, while offering rugged IP65 protection and hardware encryption. It shines on Thunderbolt-4 hosts but can fall back to slower speeds on older machines, and its larger size makes it less pocket-friendly.
The Samsung T7 Shield 1TB adds rugged IP65 protection and 3 m drop resistance to the fast T7 platform, keeping the same 1050 MB/s read and 1000 MB/s write speeds in a slightly heavier rubberized case. It lacks biometric authentication and a longer warranty, and its read performance can fall short of the advertised peak.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
1,000 GB | 4,000 GBbest | |
1,050 MB/s | 3,800 MB/sbest | |
1,000 MB/s | 3,700 MB/sbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 97 gbest | 172 g |
36 months | 60 monthsbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 60 °Cbest | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Capacity(1) | ||
Storage Capacity (GB) | 1000 GB | 4000 GB |
Performance(3) | ||
Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | USB4 |
Sequential Read Speed (MB/s) | 1050 MB/s | 3800 MB/s |
Sequential Write Speed (MB/s) | 1000 MB/s | 3700 MB/s |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (g) | 97 g | 172 g |
Form Factor | Rectangular | 2280 |
Warranty(1) | ||
Warranty Period (months) | 36 months | 60 months |
Power & Connectivity(2) | ||
Power Source | Bus-powered via USB | bus-powered |
Included Cable Type | USB-C to USB-C, USB-C to USB-A | USB-C to USB-C |
Compatibility(1) | ||
Operating System Compatibility | Windows 7+, macOS X 10.10+, Android 5.1+, gaming consoles | Windows 10+, macOS 14+ |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the Shield's ruggedness, encryption and consistent high-speed performance, but note the lack of DRAM and that read speeds often lag behind the advertised maximum.
Everyday users love the durability and fast transfers for field work, while some complain about the sticky rubber coating and occasional warmth during long transfers.
“a durable and secure choice for outdoor workers and travelers.”
“freed up needed space on my computer while delivering super fast project loading.”
“Exceptionally reliable performance across devices”
Professional reviewers commend the Extreme PRO USB4 SSD for its blazing peak speeds and rugged build, but repeatedly warn that real-world performance hinges on a fully compatible 40 Gbps host. PCWorld and The SSD Review note that without BIOS or firmware updates the drive often falls back to slower USB 3.x rates, and some USB4 implementations cap at 32 Gbps, keeping it slightly behind rivals like the Samsung X5. Nonetheless, on Thunderbolt-4 Macs the drive consistently hits its advertised 3800 MB/s reads.
Everyday users, especially video editors and photographers, praise the drive's speed, plug-and-play ease, and durable design for on-location work. The average rating hovers around 4.5 / 5, though recurring complaints focus on initial connection hiccups, the larger form factor, and occasional speed throttling after the cache is exhausted.
