How much is Samsung portable SSD T5 2TB price?

Feel the freedom of huge storage and speedy transfers to laptops, smartphones, game consoles and more. Get your entertainment, coursework, or games anywhere, on any device. The latest Samsung portable SSD T5 2TB easily slides in your pocket or purse, with multiple color options that complement your sense of style. How much is Samsung portable SSD T5 2TB price? The Samsung portable SSD T5 2TB is a great all-rounder SSD for those looking to move or carry incredibly large amounts of data. With a fast transfer rate and a three-year warranty, the T5 shows that Samsung is at the top of its game when it comes to NAND technology and producing a quality product. Reveal more in Samsung T5 2TB review.

Controlling the entire supply chain means bigger margins. As for the competition, the Samsung T3 is now far cheaper than the T5 and might be a better choice for those who aren’t too fussed about the performance gain on the T5. Or indeed those who plan to use a drive with devices that don’t have a 10Gbps USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 2 connector.

So if you already have a T3, you can doubtless stick with it for the time being. The Adata SD700 will appeal to those who want a truly rugged solution that only an IP68-certified storage device will provide. It won’t survive fires, but at least it will live through an accidental coffee spill without much harm. How much is Samsung portable SSD T5 2TB price?

However, if speed is your priority, then consider the SanDisk Extreme 900, which delivers far higher transfer rates thanks to a combination of a pair of SSDs in RAID 0 configuration. As with any external storage devices, we strongly suggest that you get a backup solution of some sort.

Overview of Samsung 2TB external hard drive

The packaging for the T5 carries an image of the drive centered and the capacity is listed at the bottom left. The back of the packaging lists features and performance of the T5. The drive itself is delivered in a plastic tray. Included with the drive, we have a Type-A to Type-C cable and a straight USB-C cable.

Looking at the drive, we first notice the aluminum enclosure. Samsung has placed branding on the side of the drive. On the end of the drive, we have regulatory info and capacity listed to the right. The opposite end we find the USB-C connection. Internally, the design takes advantage of the mSATA form factor. The drive appears to be an 850 EVO or OEM variant. Above, we have both drives. The 500GB in blue and 1TB in black. How much is Samsung portable SSD T5 2TB price?

Compare Samsung 2TB external hard drive models

Samsung T5 2TB review

Design

The drive measures 74 x 57 x 10.5mm and weighs only 51g, making it small and light enough to be shoved into even a tight front jeans pocket with ease. It is made entirely of metal (with a swish brushed finish) and except for the big Samsung logo on the front, the power LED and the Type-C connector, there’s nothing of note to comment on. Essentially, it isn’t much different from the T3 except for the fact that it abandons the dual-tone color scheme. Choosing a metallic chassis ensures that the chips inside are properly cooled and increases the overall sturdiness of the device (Samsung T5 2TB review).

Hardware

The drive is available in sizes ranging from 250GB to 2TB and comes with an ASMedia mSATA-to-USB bridge controller, rather than one of Samsung’s own. How much is Samsung portable SSD T5 2TB price? The big improvement comes from the newer, more advanced 64-layer 3D V-NAND Triple Level Cell flash memory used, as well as the updated firmware and the support for TRIM via the UASP (USB attached SCSI) protocol (Samsung T5 2TB review).

It won’t work on the default exFAT file system and you may want to format the drive to NTFS to improve performance when transferring small files. In addition, the drive is now officially compatible with Android devices and is pitched as shock-resistant, capable of handling drops of up to 2m (albeit under controlled conditions).

Samsung 2TB external hard drive Setup

Setting up your T5 is a simple affair. Just plug it in using one of the included cables and find the drive in your file manager. There, you’ll find three setup applications corresponding to Windows, macOS and Android. If you’re using Android, plug the drive in using the USB-C to USB-C cable. 

After the installer runs, you’ll be sent to a screen where you can name your drive and set a password. You can skip it if you don’t want the extra security, but considering it’s a hallmark feature of the drive, we recommend going through the process. 

Otherwise, the software is barren. You can change your password, turn password protection off and rename your drive. In the bottom right corner, you can also check for updates. Though firmware updates aren’t the first thing that comes to mind with external drives, they can be important, making the included functionality useful. 

It’s important to note, though, that you need to turn off password protection to proceed with the update. You’ll also need to set a new password once the update finishes, which we suggest doing by generating a password with one of our best password managers, such as Dashlane (read our Dashlane review). 

Samsung 2TB external hard drive performance review

Using a USB Type-C Gen 1 connector (therefore limited to 5Gbps), the T5 drive achieved respectable read/write speeds of 433MBps and 323MBps respectively in CrystalDiskMark, and up to 462Mbps and 323MBps under ATTO. It also managed to transfer a 10GB file using Teracopy in 47 seconds, giving it a real-life transfer rate of just over 212MBps. How much is Samsung portable SSD T5 2TB price?

Note that you will achieve much higher numbers if you use a compatible USB Type-C Gen 2 connector, up to 540MBps/515MBps respectively in read/write speeds according to Samsung.

You get USB Type-C to Type-C and Type-C to Type-A cables, both about a foot long, plus a 256-bit AES hardware encryption and software suite for Windows, macOS, and Android (Samsung T5 2TB review).

Software is relatively sparse. The drive includes the Samsung Portable SSD software utility, which activates and manages the drive’s built-in AES 256-bit encryption via password, but that’s about it. The encryption software works on Android tablets and phones, Macs, and Windows PCs. The T5 SSD is exFAT formatted, so it will work with all three operating systems out of the box. Samsung backs the drive with a three-year warranty, which is on par for this class of portable SSDs. Since there are no moving parts, there’s not a lot that can go wrong.

Samsung 2TB external hard drive data transfer review

We tested using USB-C on a Windows PC and an Apple MacBook Pro, as well as using a USB 3.0 port on the Windows laptop. Samsung claims up to a 540MBps data-transfer rate. We were able to get close on the Mac-based Blackmagic hard drive test (505.6MBps read; 477.2MBps write) using the USB-C interface. With that throughput score, the T5 trounced the Samsung T3 ( at Amazon) (430MBps read; 376MBps write) and Sandisk Extreme 900 (425.8MBps read; 417.3MBps write), though the latter two were still incredibly speedy. For comparison, these three SSDs were also noticeably faster at writing than the VisionTek USB Pocket SSD (138MBps), the LaCie Rugged RAID (245MBps), and the G-Technology G-Drive slim SSD (290MBps). How much is Samsung portable SSD T5 2TB price?

What is the best portable external hard drives?

1. Samsung T5 Portable SSD (500 GB) – The best portable solid-state drive

The 500 GB Samsung T5 Portable SSD is about as expensive per gigabyte as other external SSDs. It’s also very light and compact, so you can easily throw it in your bag (or even tuck it inside your pocket) when you’re on the go. The T5 has one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port that supports USB transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps, and unlike other portable SSDs we tested, it includes cables to connect to both new and old devices, as well as useful AES 256-bit hardware encryption to protect your sensitive data.

The T5 had software that was pleasant to navigate, with a clean layout; other portable SSDs we tested didn’t include software, or their software was bloated and less intuitive. With the T5, it’s a breeze to set up encryption or check for updates. Plus it has an indicator that lights up when it’s connected and blinks while it’s actively transferring (a minor perk, but one that makes life easier), and it comes with a three-year warranty.

2. Samsung T5 Portable SSD (1 TB) – More storage for more money

If you want more storage and you’re willing to pay for it, we recommend the 1 TB Samsung T5 Portable SSD. Since higher-capacity solid-state drives often provide slightly improved performance, we expect the 1 TB version to be a little faster than the 500 GB model, although we weren’t able to test it. It’s otherwise identical to the 500 GB model in size and features, and it costs about the same per gigabyte as the 500 GB version.

3. Western Digital My Passport SSD (512 GB) – A more portable, but slightly slower, drive

If the Samsung T5 is sold out or unavailable, or if the T5 is significantly more expensive, we recommend the 512 GB Western Digital My Passport SSD. Like the T5, the My Passport SSD supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 transfer speeds, and in our testing it was about 10 MB/s slower than the Samsung T5, a borderline imperceptible difference. The My Passport SSD is longer, thinner, and a bit lighter than the Samsung, but they’re both pretty darn compact—and they’re smaller than everything else we tested that performed comparably.

It has one USB-C port and comes with a USB-C–to–USB-C cable, as well as a tiny USB-C–to–USB-A adapter, which seems easy to lose compared with the USB-C–to–USB-A cable that comes with the Samsung T5. Like the Samsung—and unlike its competition—the My Passport SSD has AES 256-bit hardware encryption to reliably protect your sensitive information. And it comes with a solid, three-year warranty. But some Amazon reviewers found its software annoying, and it lacks the Samsung’s helpful activity indicator light.

4. Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC external hard drive

Wireless security

Capacity: 2TB | Interface: USB 3.0

If you’re looking for the best external hard drive that will save you a ton of cash, Buffalo’s MiniStation Extreme NFC could be your match made in heaven. With compatibility for both Mac and Windows machines, the Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC is very flexible, and comes with a rugged case that’s dust and water resistant, along with a built-in USB 3.0 cable.

Not only is your data kept protected from knocks and drops with the rugged shell, but it’s also got 256-bit AES security features and NFC (Near Field Communication) features as well. Essentially it allows you to unlock the drive to get to your files quickly and easily by tapping the supplied NFC card onto the drive’s body. Pretty neat!

5. Samsung T5 SSD external hard drive

Capacity: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | Interface: USB Type-C

If you’d rather have an external hard drive that takes advantage of solid state drive (SSD) speeds, then the Samsung Portable SSD T5 is certainly among the best external hard drive for you.

Samsung has an excellent reputation for external SSDs, thanks to products like the T3, and the T5 builds on its predecessor by adding a fast USB Type-C connection that ekes out every last drop of performance from the solid state drive inside. Of course, it’s also backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 if your PC doesn’t have USB Type-C. Be prepared to shell out a bit more cash, but it’s well worth it. How much is Samsung portable SSD T5 2TB price?

6. Adata SD700 External SSD

A terabyte in the palm of your hand

Capacity: 256GB, 512GB or 1TB | Interface: USB 3.0

The Adata SD700 will suit those looking for a rugged storage device that can provide ample capacity without costing too much. It performs incredibly well and remains the only SSD we’ve seen that is IP68 rated. 

Thanks to the solid state drive that resides in this external hard drive, it’s a lot faster than external drives that use traditional spinning hard drives, which means that you’re getting great transfer speeds as well as rugged protection.

It also comes in capacities up to 1TB, so you don’t have to worry about missing out on storage space just because it uses an SSD – this drive really does hit all the right notes.

7. WD My Book Duo 4TB external hard drive

The most space you can get

Capacity: 4TB | Interface: USB 3.0 x 2

If you’re looking for the absolute largest capacity external hard drive, then the WD My Book Duo 4TB is the one to get, offering a sizeable 4TB (you can also get versions with up to 20TB) of storage space over two hard drives.

You might sacrifice some of the ample storage space, if you don’t mind losing some, so you can set the drives up in a RAID array, so you have file backups of your files should one of the drives die.

This USB 3.0 drive has many of the features of a fully-fledged NAS device (including a high price), and if you have a router with a USB 3.0 port you could use this as a network attached storage device in its own right.

The device, which comes with two-year warranty, has 256-bit AES hardware encryption, and automatic backup software (WD SmartWare Pro).

Worth noting that the enclosure used is fully serviceable and that WD ships the drive already pre-formatted for Windows users (NTFS).

8. Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive 5TB

Best performance

Capacity: 5TB | Interface: USB 3.0

If you want to combine speed and capacity, then the Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive 5TB is definitely worth considering. It comes in a range of sizes up to 8TB and it beats the competition when it comes to read and write speeds as well.

On top of this storage and speed, you get a decent amount of peace of mind thanks to Seagate’s lower than average failure rates, especially in bigger capacity hard drives.

You also get backup software, and the drive is compatible with both Windows and Macs, though it’s formatted for Windows out of the box unless you go for a Mac-specific hard drive – though these are more expensive.

9. LaCie Porsche Design Mobile Drive 4TB

USB-C star

Capacity: 4TB | Interface: USB-CFast USB-C connection

You may have stumbled upon the LaCie Porsche Design Mobile Drive when perusing the Apple website for USB-C accessories. There’s a reason for that: the Porsche Design ships with both USB Type-C to Type-A and USB Type-C to Type-C connectors, making it a worthy candidate regardless of your setup.

It’s expensive for an external hard drive, don’t get us wrong, especially if you’re in the market for the top-end 4TB option. On the other hand, this is an HDD that could theoretically output speeds of up to 5Gbps, if it weren’t hindered by the limits of SMR (Shingled Magnetic Recording) technology.

Comprising five 800GB platters in a 15mm form factor, the LaCie Porsche Design Mobile is an excellent challenger to the Seagate M3, though it’s notably bigger in both weight and dimensions.

Sure, it packs an extra convenience factor in the form of USB-C, but it should be noted that the Porsche Design Mobile is still limited to USB 3.0 speeds. Plus, even an aluminum finish can’t prevent it from clashing with your Rose Gold MacBook. Nevertheless, LaCie’s offering is the best USB-C external HDD money can buy, at least for the time being.

10. iStorage diskAshur 2TB external hard drive

Best for security

Capacity: 2TB | Interface: USB 3.0

Typically, iStorage hard disks cater best to governments and multinational organizations around the world, for good reason too – they offer tight security like no other drives around.

If someone tries to tamper with your iStorage drive, you can configure it to self-desturct. What’s more, the data is encrypted by the 256-bit AES protocol, with multiple forms of protection in place to ensure the bad guys don’t get in no matter how persistent. When you consider all that extra security, the prices won’t scare you away either.

Sure, it’s still expensive, four times the price of an equivalent 2TB drive, and unlikely to be the most nimble performer. But, you’re paying for a product that’s virtually uncrackable. Bear in mind, though, you’ll get no help from the manufacturer if things go awry and you lose your password.

Buying guide for best portable external hard drives

This is what you should look for in a portable solid-state drive:

Reliability: A portable SSD must keep your data safe.

Toughness: Since portable SSDs lack moving parts, they are less susceptible than mechanical drives to total failure when dropped, jostled, or subjected to changes in temperature or vibration. A portable SSD should also be sturdily built and not feel creaky or hollow. Manufacturers like Samsung, SanDisk, and Western Digital control every aspect of SSD development by creating their own SSD controllers, firmware, and NAND. This means that they can design their portable SSDs to work reliably from the start.

Endurance: Flash memory cells can be written to only so many times before wearing out. You’d have to write hundreds of terabytes of data to even begin to wear out the drive, though, and very few people will ever get near that limit. But high endurance is a bonus, especially if you’re performing a high-intensity task on the drive, like 4K video editing. SSD manufacturers don’t report durability ratings for external drives (only for internal ones), but we wish they would. We’ll keep an eye on customer reviews for reliability data.

Drive speed: Speed is the reason you’re spending a lot more for a portable SSD over a portable or desktop hard drive, so we tested both sequential and random speeds. Although fast sequential speeds are important for transferring and backing up large blocks of data to your drive, quick random speeds are essential if you must run programs or games directly off of the portable SSD. (That’s not ideal; your internal solid-state drive will be faster and not susceptible to corruption if a cable gets jostled.)

Connection type: We considered both USB-A and USB-C models in this review. This indicates the shape of the physical connector, but not necessarily the data transfer speed or power delivery speed. USB-C ports can support data transfers of anywhere from 480 Mbps (USB 2.0) to 40 Gbps (Thunderbolt 3).¹ In this review, we considered only external SSDs that support USB 3.1 Gen 1 or faster (also known as USB 3.0 or USB 3.2 Gen 1). USB 3.1 Gen 1 can theoretically transfer data at a maximum speed of 625 MB/s (5 Gbps), USB 3.1 Gen 2 is twice as fast, with a maximum theoretical speed of 1,250 MB/s (10 Gbps), and USB 3.2 2×2 is four times as fast, at 2,500 MB/s (20 Gbps). Thunderbolt 3 has a maximum theoretical speed of 5,000 MB/s (40 Gbps).

Price: More expensive portable SSDs can offer faster speeds, but you shouldn’t overpay to get extra speed or other features you may not notice. For instance, Samsung claims the X5 Portable SSD has read and write speeds of 2,800 MB/s and 2,100 MB/s, respectively—more than five times as fast as the Samsung T5’s. But for most people, paying about three times as much for that speed isn’t necessary.

Capacity: An SSD with a capacity of around 500 GB and a price tag of $100 or so currently represents the best mix of affordability, space, and speed. Drives with capacities of 1 TB and 2 TB tend to be about as cost-effective, but they usually cost about $200 and $330, respectively. On the other hand, 250 GB versions are too small for many people; they’re less widely available and typically more expensive per gigabyte.

Size and weight: A portable SSD should be light and compact—many are roughly the size of a stack of sticky notes, or even smaller.

Encryption: Portable SSDs that support the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), can more reliably protect your sensitive information. External solid-state drives with AES don’t require software to set it up, although they should include password-protection software to enable encryption to keep your data safe from unauthorized access, even if the drive is removed from its housing. Not all portable SSDs offer this feature, and we prioritize drives that do.

Software: Backup software is a nice addition to a portable SSD, but it’s not essential. If you want, you can find lots of backup service alternatives online.

Indicator light: Some drives feature an LED indicator that will light up when the drive is connected to your device, and although it’s not a requirement, we found this to be very useful.

Warranty and customer service: Three-year warranties are standard among portable solid-state drives, although we came across a handful with less impressive warranties. Strong customer service is also valuable for when something goes wrong.

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