Samsung X5
Score: 86/100
SanDisk Extreme PRO 4TB USB-C
Score: 85/100Rankings
The Samsung X5 Portable SSD 2TB delivers Thunderbolt 3 performance with up to 2,800 MB/s read speeds and a rugged magnesium-alloy chassis. Its need for a Thunderbolt 3 port and premium price limit its appeal to non-professional users. Ideal for creators who require top-tier speed and durability.
The SanDisk Extreme PRO Portable SSD 4TB delivers Thunderbolt-class performance with up to 3800 MB/s read and 3700 MB/s write speeds in a rugged, IP65-rated chassis. Its peak speeds are only reachable on USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 hosts, and it lacks built-in hardware encryption. Ideal for creators needing ultra-fast portable storage.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
2 GB | 4 GBbest | |
2,800 MB/s | 3,800 MB/sbest | |
2,300 MB/s | 3,700 MB/sbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 150 gbest | 172 g |
3 years | 5 yearsbest | |
2 mbest | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
General(1) | ||
Warranty (years) | 3 years | 5 years |
Connectivity(1) | ||
Interface | Thunderbolt 3 | USB4 Gen 3x2 |
Build & Design(3) | ||
Weight (g) | 150 g | 172 g |
Dimensions (L×W×H) (mm) | 119×62×19.7 mm mm | 101x53x10 mm mm |
Enclosure Material | Magnesium alloy | silicone shell, aluminum chassis |
Storage(1) | ||
Capacity (GB) | 2 GB | 4 GB |
Performance(2) | ||
Sequential Read Speed (MB/s) | 2800 MB/s | 3800 MB/s |
Sequential Write Speed (MB/s) | 2300 MB/s | 3700 MB/s |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers overwhelmingly praise the X5 for its blistering real-world performance, noting read speeds around 2.5 GB/s and write speeds over 2 GB/s that closely match the advertised figures. They highlight the dramatic speed advantage over the T5 and USB-based competitors, the ability to transfer large 4K video files in seconds, and the rugged magnesium-alloy build with 6-foot drop resistance. However, they also point out the mandatory Thunderbolt 3 interface, lack of macOS firmware support, larger footprint, and high price as notable drawbacks that limit its appeal to users without Thunderbolt ports or tight budgets.
Professional reviewers commend the Extreme PRO USB4 SSD for its Thunderbolt-class speeds, rugged construction, and real-world bandwidth that validates the advertised numbers. However, they caution that the full performance envelope is only reachable on USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 hosts, and that 4K random write performance has slipped compared to earlier USB 3.2 models, with endurance data still missing.
Everyday users largely echo the reviewers' praise for blazing transfer rates and the drive's durability, especially for on-the-go creators. The most common complaints revolve around slower speeds on legacy ports and the absence of clear endurance specifications, though no widespread reliability issues have been reported.
