[2024 Top 4] The Best External SSD Review with Guidance of Data Transferring

What can be regarded as the best external SSD?

What's the best external SSD in 2024 that's fast and dependable? Generally, the best external SSD should be portable yet deliver strong performance for easy file sharing across different devices. Besides, here are some other benchmarks for the best external SSD drive to consider.

What can be regarded as the best external SSD:  ✍ Speed: Top external SSDs provide rapid data transfer speeds, measured in MB/s or GB/s. Seek SSDs with USB 3.1 Gen 2 or Thunderbolt 3 support for faster transfers. ✍ Capacity: Choose an external SSD with ample storage, ranging from 500GB to several terabytes, to meet your storage needs for documents, photos, videos, games, and applications. If you are interested in "Should I get a 500GB or 1TB SSD?", you can click to read. ✍ Durability and reliability: Ensure durability for on-the-go use with shock-resistant designs and rugged casings that withstand drops and bumps. ✍ Compatibility: Confirm compatibility with your devices, including PCs, Macs, and gaming consoles, and check compatibility with various operating systems and connection interfaces. ✍ Noise and heat control: The best external SSD should have efficient heat dissipation mechanisms to prevent overheating and generate less noise during operation. ✍ Warranty: Seek external SSDs with longer warranty periods for added assurance against defects or failures, and prioritize models with reliable customer support. ✍ Aesthetics: While not a critical factor, you may prefer external SSDs with sleek and stylish designs that complement your workspace or personal style preferences. ✍ Price: Affordable price with a balanced performance and features

You can use these standards to pick the best external SSD. We will thoroughly test and review numerous drives and update our list with top recommendations for portable SSDs and hard drives. If you need an external hard drive for your PC or NAS, you can check out our review about the best external SSD drive. Once you decide which one you want to choose, you can follow the guidance to quickly transfer data.

How to effectively transfer data after choosing the best external SSD?

If you want to transfer all data to the desired external SSD, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional can be the most ideal choice for you. It is a multifunctional computer management tool compatible with Windows OS. Its Clone Disk feature can help you transfer the OS, configurations, programs, files, and anything you need to the external SSD. You can easily create a full system backup of your computer and not be afraid of any unexpected events causing important data loss.

There is no brand limitation during the cloning process. You can choose whatever you like, such as WD, Samsung, Crucial, SanDisk, or other brands. This tool also provides the 4K Alignment option when cloning for disk performance optimization, and you just need to click the option.

Note: 

If you only want to transfer the OS to the external SSD, you can choose the Migrate OS feature.

For users who want to choose Samsung disks, this passage might be of interest to you: Does Samsung Data Migration Work with Other SSD?

Step 1. Install and run AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. Then, go to "Clone" > "Clone Disk".

Step 2. Choose the hard disk that you need to clone as the source disk and click "Next". However, if you clone hard drive with a bad sector, please select the second way.

Step 3. Select the destination disk to store the data on the source disk, and then click "Next".

Step 4. Then, you can check the source and destination disk in the next window or change to “Sector to Sector clone”, and click the "Confirm" button to continue if there is no problem.

Here, you can also click the "Settings" button to adjust the partition size on the destination disk or tick "4k alignment" to improve the reading and writing speed of SSD if the target disk is an SSD drive.

Step 5. At last, click "Apply" and "Proceed" in the main interface to start cloning the hard drive.

You’ll be prompted by a note about how to boot from the cloned disk after cloning, read it and keep it in mind.

The best external SSD reviews

There are a lot of reviews about the best external SSD. Today, we would like you share you the most straightforward information with things you most concern to help you quickly make the decision among top 4 best external solid state drive.

Lexar SL660 Blaze Game Portable SSD

If you're searching for a great external SSD for gaming without breaking the bank, consider Lexar's SL660 Blaze Game Portable SSD. On Amazon, the 1TB model is priced at $114.99.

Why is it suitable for gaming? This SSD is equipped with blazing-fast USB 3.2 Gen2x2 performance, offering speeds of up to 2000MB/s read and 1900MB/s write, which brings you the next-level gaming experience. What's more, it's built tough to endure shocks and vibrations, ensuring reliable performance even during intense gaming sessions.

But it's not just about performance. The Lexar SL660 Blaze Game Portable SSD offers more than just looks. It includes a convenient removable stand, a protective pouch, and stylish RGB lighting that complements any gaming setup, making it a hit among trendy gamers. Besides, it boasts 256-bit AES hardware encryption and comes with a generous five-year warranty for added peace of mind.

But the capacity of the disk only ranges from 500GB to 2TB. If you need lots of space for many bulky games, a 4TB drive from another brand might be better.

WD Black D50 Game Dock NVMe SSD

The WD Black D50 Game Dock NVMe SSD functions as both a rapid NVMe SSD storage option and a flexible gaming dock. As of now, a 1TB WD Black D50 Game Dock NVMe SSD costs $331.07 on Amazon, which might seem a bit pricey.

But, if your computer doesn't have a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port, you won't be able to use the WD Black D50 Game Dock. If it does, though, you can get up to 2TB of high-speed storage along with lots of extra ports for connecting other devices and monitors.

It would be even better if the D50 Game Dock had an HDMI port for monitors, but it still offers super-fast read and write speeds, plus flashy RGB lighting that you can customize to match your gaming style. You can tweak the RGB lighting and monitor performance using software controls. It's a smart mix of storage and docking for games or movies.

Samsung Portable SSD T7 Touch

Samsung is renowned for producing dependable SSDs, and the T7 Touch lives up to this reputation. It delivers durability and consistent performance, even during prolonged gaming sessions. On Amazon, the 1TB Samsung SSD T7 Portable External SSD is priced at $165.99, which sounds more appealing compared to the other options.

When it comes to Samsung Portable SSD T7 Touch, one of its standout features is the built-in fingerprint sensor. The T7 Touch protects your data in a way few others can: with a built-in fingerprint reader that ensures your sensitive files are for your eyes only. Technically, fingerprints aren't as secure as complex passwords, but they're a lot more convenient, and you can't forget them.

Note:

If you need plug-and-play access to your documents on any nearby PC, the T7 Touch isn't for you—you must have Samsung's Windows, macOS, or Android software installed to use the fingerprint reader.

The T7 Touch is compatible with a wide range of devices, including PCs, gaming consoles, and mobile devices, making it versatile for different gaming setups. It offers fast read and write speeds, thanks to its NVMe technology, making it suitable for applications where quick data access is essential.

This disk is compact and portable. ith its sleek and lightweight design, the T7 Touch is highly portable, making it convenient for gamers who need to take their data library on the go.

It comes in various capacities, ranging from 500GB to 2TB, allowing gamers to choose the size that best suits their storage needs.

SanDisk Professional Pro-G40 Portable SSD

The SanDisk Professional PRO-G40 SSD is a real powerhouse when it comes to external storage. It's fast, tough, and super versatile, ticking all the boxes for anyone who needs a top performance. The 1TB disk on Amazon now is $179.99.

Let's talk speed. This disk can transfer data that hit up to 3000MB/s for reading and 2500MB/s for writing, thanks to Thunderbolt 3. That means shifting hefty 50GB files takes a minute or less. Perfect for folks handling massive multimedia projects or anyone who hates waiting around for transfers.

And it's not just Thunderbolt 3—it plays nice with USB-C too, offering compatibility across the board. So whether you're plugged into a high-end workstation or a sleek laptop, you're covered.

About Durability? Oh yeah, it's built tough as well. We're talking IP68 dust and water resistance, along with serious crush and drop resistance. This thing can handle a 4000lb crush and falls from up to 3 meters onto concrete. So whether you're in the office or out in the field, your data's safe.

Besides, it stays cool under pressure, thanks to its aluminum core that keeps things running smoothly even during heavy use. And that pro-grade enclosure? It's solid as a rock, giving you peace of mind that your data is secure.

So whether you're a business pro, a creative genius, or just someone who wants reliable storage on the go, the SanDisk Professional PRO-G40 SSD has you covered with fast, rugged, and reliable features.

Conclusion

What is the best external SSD for you among the top 4 disks? If you have specific requirements such as fashion, durability, gaming, or budget-friendliness, it will not be difficult to choose. Once you decide which disk you choose, you can use the aforementioned powerful software AOMEI Partition Assistant to quickly transfer data.

It can not only serve as a data porter but also monitor your disk health and speed. What’s more, it can act as an SSD repair tool. If your SSD unfortunately becomes corrupted, it also allows you to fix it at home with the Make bootable Media and Rebuild MBR functions. For Windows Server users, this software offers the AOMEI Partition Assistant Server edition.