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Best Portable SSDs: 2025’s Top-Five Collection

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Portable SSDs (solid-state drives), as the name suggests, are fast storage devices that, nowadays, connect to a host via a USB-C port.

These are convenient storage devices that can carry a large amount of data from one computer to another. Or you can use one as an offline backup—tuck it away, and nobody can hack into your essential information.

This post includes the best SSD-based portable drives I’ve tested. There are quite a few of them—more than enough for you to find one that goes well with your situation. If you’re looking for purpose-built storage devices, including desktop options, check out this top five of external drives instead.

Best portable SSDs come in all shapes and sizes
Best portable SSDs: These compact storage devices come in all shapes and sizes.

Best portable SSDs of 2025: The top five and their alternatives

This top-five list is sorted in the rating order, with the best being shown first—the numbers are the hardware’s ranking. These drives will work for anyone, from casual users to prosumers to gamers.

When applicable, I also include similarly excellent alternatives in each case. Any of these will serve you well. It’s a question of how well, and that requires some reading—check out the full review!

Top 5 best portable SSDs

Micron Crucial X10The SanDisk Extreme PRO with USB4 portable SSD comes with a USB4 cableSynology BeeDrive in handThe Asus AS1000 TUF Gaming PlusSamsung T9 Portable SSD 4TB Portable SSD
NameCrucial X10 Portable SSD’s RatingSanDisk Extreme PRO with USB4’s RatingSynology BeeDrive’s RatingAsus AS1000 TUF Gaming Plus’ RatingSamsung T9’s Rating
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Top portable SSDs on Amazon!

1. Crucial X10 (USB 3.2 Gen 2×2)

Micron Crucial X10 vs. Crucial X10 Pro top
Best portable SSDs: The Micron Crucial X10 shares the same physical size as the Crucial X10 Pro that came out two years ago, but is much faster.

The Crucial X10 is an interesting portable drive. Despite the name, it’s actually a better version of the X10 Pro that came out in late 2023.

Without support for USB4, the X10 is not the fastest on the market, but it has an excellent combo of super-compact design, fast performance, and ample storage space.

Excellent and similar alternatives to consider:

Crucial X10 Portable SSD's Rating

8.5 out of 10
Micron Crucial X10
Performance
10 out of 10
Features
7 out of 10
Design and Setup
9 out of 10
Value
8 out of 10

Pros

Top USB Gen 3.2 2×2 performance

Compact and rugged design

Play and play with all platforms

Cons

No USB4 support, no USB-A cable or adapter included

Only a 3-year warranty


2. Sandisk Extreme Pro with USB4

The SanDisk Extreme PRO with USB4 is quite large
Best portable SSDs: The SanDisk Extreme PRO with USB4 is quite large.

The SanDisk Extreme PRO with USB4 is the only USB4 portable SSD on this list. It’s the continuation of Sandisk’s Extreme lineup that started almost a decade ago. The drive is super-fast, but it’s comparatively bulky, about the same size as an iPhone 15.

Similar alternatives:

SanDisk Extreme PRO with USB4's Rating

8.5 out of 10
The SanDisk Extreme PRO with USB4 portable SSD comes with a USB4 cable
Performance
9.5 out of 10
Features
8 out of 10
Design and Setup
8 out of 10
Value
8.5 out of 10

Pros

USB4 (Thunderbolt 4) support with top real-world performance

Rugged and convenient design

Universally supported

Cons

A big bulky

No security or user-accessible features

A bit pricey


3. Synology BeeDrive (USB 3.2 Gen 2)

Synology BeeDrive with cable
Best portable SSDs: Synology BeeDrive is super compact.

The Synology BeeDrive is quite different from others. Apart from being a typical portable SSD that’s super compact, it comes with an app and software that automatically backs up your device’s content, which can come in handy in many situations.

Synology BeeDrive's Rating

8.5 out of 10
Synology BeeDrive in hand
Performance
8.5 out of 10
Features
8.5 out of 10
Design and Setup
9 out of 10
Value
8 out of 10

Pros

Fast USB 3.2 Gen 2 performance

Robust and effective personal backup/sync solutions thanks to the well-thought-out BeeDrive for Desktop and mobile app

Compact, practical design; runs cool

Cons

No hardware encryption, no macOS support, no option for system imaging, and users can't exclude sub-folders from a sync; the iOS app could be better

The BeeDrive mobile app only works within the local network; the desktop app doesn't work with third-party hardware


4. Asus TUF Gaming Plus (USB 3.2 Gen 2×2)

The front of the Asus AS1000 TUF Gaming Plus portable SSD
Best portable SSDs: The Asus AS1000 TUF Gaming Plus portable SSD definitely looks the part.

The Asus TUF Gaming Plus, represented by the AS1000 Plus, is a new line of portable SSDs made for gamers, rivaling the WD Black P50. As such, it proved to be of excellent value thanks to its top-notch performance and friendly price tags.

Asus AS1000 TUF Gaming Plus' Rating

8.5 out of 10
The Asus AS1000 TUF Gaming Plus
Performance
10 out of 10
Features
8 out of 10
Design and Setup
8 out of 10
Value
8 out of 10

Pros

Excellent performance with friendly pricing and a 5-year warranty

Rugged design with easy access to the internal drive

Compatible with all USB (and USB-C Thunderbolt) standards

Cons

No USB-A to USB-C cable or converter is included

No support for Android or iOS


5. Samsung T9 (USB 3.2 Gen 2×2)

Samsung T9 Portable SSD connected to a Macbook
Best portable SSDs: The Samsung T9 Portable SSD is fast and compact, but its chassis is a dirt magnet.

The T9 is Samsung’s latest in its T series of portable SSDs and the first that features the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 standard. It’s a fast drive with lots of options, including built-in security features. The drive is great overall as long as you can handle the fact it’s also a dirt magnet.

Similar alternative:

Samsung T9's Rating

8.1 out of 10
Samsung T9 Portable SSD 4TB Portable SSD
Performance
9 out of 10
Features
8.5 out of 10
Design and Setup
8 out of 10
Value
7 out of 10

Pros

USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 support to deliver top performance; compact and rugged design

Hardware encryption with effective password protection; excellent Samsung Magician 8.0 dashboard desktop software.

USB cables included; run cool

Cons

Expensive; dirt magnet

The Samsung Portable SSD Android app doesn't work at all.


Best portable SSDs: The final thoughts

All of the portable SSDs above are fast. However, none of them have built-in redundancy. This means if, for some reason, they fail, you’ll lose all the information they store.

So, while they are excellent for extra storage to hold backups, you’re advised not to use any of them to have the only copy of your important data. For data safety, at the very least, get more than one unit and use one as a backup for the other.

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4 thoughts on “Best Portable SSDs: 2025’s Top-Five Collection”

  1. The ghost in the room is of course Thunderbolt 5 performance – 80 Gbit/sec. Plenty of m.2 SSDs match or cap that speed today.
    Even for Thunderbolt 4 or USB4, an external m.2 enclosure seems like the better way to go. You can choose SSD, and you know what you get.
    Also – as I understand it – 20 Gbit was never part of the USB3 standard. Support is limited. USB4 supports 20Gbit, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a USB 3.2 2×2 device will run at 20 Gbit on a USB4 port. It’s complicated.

    Reply

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