An external portable SSD is the ideal companion today for carrying data, backups and expanding a laptop’s capacity. It is fast, small and durable. When choosing, however, it pays to know what to look at. Here is an overview.

Why an SSD instead of a classic drive

A classic external drive (HDD) has spinning platters inside, is slower and more fragile. An external SSD has no moving parts, so it is significantly faster, quiet, lighter and more resistant to shocks. For carrying around in a bag this is a big difference. More on the advantages of SSDs in the article on whether it is worth switching to an SSD.

What to look at when choosing

Capacity

Choose based on what you will carry. For documents a smaller capacity is enough, for video and backups go for a larger one. The article on how much disk capacity I need helps.

Speed and type

  • Ordinary external SSDs (SATA) are fast enough for most people.
  • NVMe external SSDs are significantly faster, suitable for working with large files and video. They only show their full potential over a fast port.

Connector and port

Watch the connector (most often USB-C) and the USB version, because it determines the real speed. The fastest drive over a slow port will slow down. The differences are explained in the article on USB versions and connectors. Also check the port on your computer.

Durability and build

If you carry the drive often, a more rugged rubber body pays off, possibly resistance to dust and water. Compactness also matters for carrying.

Data safety on the go

A portable drive is easily lost, so think about protection:

  • Encrypt the content so a finder cannot reach the data. More in the article on disk encryption.
  • Do not keep the only copy of important data on it. A portable SSD is a great supplement, but keep a backup elsewhere too, see how to back up correctly.

External SSD versus internal drive

If you are expanding the computer itself, you are dealing with choosing an internal drive. An external SSD, by contrast, is about mobility and transfer between devices.

Choosing an external drive or dealing with reliable backups? Get in touch, we will advise based on what and where you transfer.