Best External SSDs UK (2026)
A drive's rated speed is only part of the story: many cheaper SSDs slow down dramatically once their fast cache fills up on a large transfer. This guide compares drives tested by Tom's Hardware, which measures sustained write performance with a 15-minute Iometer benchmark rather than just peak burst speeds.
We have not hands-on tested these products. Our picks are based on published independent tests and reviews, listed at the bottom of this page. How we pick.
Our top pick
SanDisk Pro-G40 SSD
Best portable SSD
Tom's Hardware's overall pick, with both Thunderbolt 3 and USB modes so it works across a wide range of devices. Write performance is exceptional and consistent, wrapped in a metal and rubberised casing that stays cool and protects against knocks, though it commands a premium price.
- Works via Thunderbolt 3 or USB
- Exceptional, consistent write performance
- Rugged metal and rubberised casing
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Key spec | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| SanDisk Pro-G40 SSD | Best portable SSD | 1TB/2TB, Thunderbolt 3 with USB fallback, up to 2,700 MBps reads, 5-year warranty | Check price |
| Corsair EX400U | Best USB4 SSD | 1TB/2TB/4TB, USB4, 4,000 MBps reads, MagSafe-compatible | Check price |
| Sharge Disk Pro | Best for travel | 1TB/2TB/4TB, 10 Gbps USB, built-in USB/HDMI hub, magnetic back | Check price |
| LaCie Rugged SSD4 | Best cross-platform speed | 1TB/2TB/4TB, USB4, ~4,000 MBps on Windows, ~3,440 MBps on Mac, 3-year warranty with data recovery | Check price |
| Samsung T7 Touch | Most conveniently secure | 500GB/1TB/2TB, USB 3.2 Gen 2, built-in fingerprint scanner, AES 256-bit encryption | Check price |
| LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 | Best Thunderbolt 5 | 2TB/4TB, Thunderbolt 5, up to 6,700 MBps reads, 5-year warranty with data recovery | Check price |
Our picks in detail
Best portable SSD
SanDisk Pro-G40 SSD
Tom's Hardware's overall pick, with both Thunderbolt 3 and USB modes so it works across a wide range of devices. Write performance is exceptional and consistent, wrapped in a metal and rubberised casing that stays cool and protects against knocks, though it commands a premium price.
- Capacities
- 1TB, 2TB
- Connector
- USB-C (Thunderbolt 3 / USB 3.2 Gen 2x1)
- Sequential reads
- Up to 2,700 MBps (TB), 1,050 MBps (USB)
- Warranty
- 5 years
Pros
- Works via Thunderbolt 3 or USB
- Exceptional, consistent write performance
- Rugged metal and rubberised casing
Cons
- Pricey compared to USB-only rivals
Best USB4 SSD
Corsair EX400U
Tom's Hardware measured read speeds above 4,000 MBps and sustained writes holding between 1,600-1,700 MBps for a full 15 minutes without drastically slowing down. A magnetic back lets it snap onto compatible phones for video recording, though the metal top gets hot during long sustained writes.
- Capacities
- 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
- Connector
- USB4
- Sequential reads
- 4,000 MBps
- Warranty
- 3 years
Pros
- Strong, consistent sustained write speeds
- Compact, MagSafe-compatible shell
- More affordable than Thunderbolt 5 rivals
Cons
- Metal top gets hot during lengthy writes
- Exterior finish looks a little cheap
Best for travel
Sharge Disk Pro
Tom's Hardware called this one of the most genuinely useful drives it's tested, thanks to a built-in USB and HDMI hub that's handy when travelling with a laptop that's short on ports. Sustained writes stayed above 900 MB/s for the full 30-minute test, aided by active cooling.
- Capacities
- 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
- Connector
- 10 Gbps USB-C
- Sequential reads
- Up to 1,000 MBps
- Warranty
- 2 years
Pros
- Built-in USB/HDMI hub is genuinely useful
- Excellent sustained write performance
- MagSafe-friendly magnetic back
Cons
- Expensive
- Cramped USB-C port won't fit bulky cable connectors
Best cross-platform speed
LaCie Rugged SSD4
Tom's Hardware found this the fastest drive it's tested across both Windows and Mac, with around 4,000/3,700 MBps read/write on Windows 11 and still-fast 3,440/3,093 MBps on a current Mac. The 3-year warranty includes data recovery, at a high price.
- Capacities
- 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
- Connector
- USB4
- Sequential reads
- ~4,000 MBps (Windows)
- Warranty
- 3 years, includes data recovery
Pros
- Fastest cross-platform drive tested
- Very fast on both Windows and Mac
- Warranty includes 3 years of data recovery
Cons
- Expensive
Most conveniently secure
Samsung T7 Touch
Blends solid USB 3.2 Gen 2 performance with a built-in fingerprint scanner Tom's Hardware calls the most convenient way to unlock a drive it's seen, in an elegant aluminium shell available in several colours. The write cache is relatively small, and rivals like G-Technology's ArmorLock use phone-based unlocking that may be more secure.
- Capacities
- 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Connector
- USB 3.2 Gen 2
- Sequential reads
- 1,050 MBps
- Warranty
- 3 years
Pros
- Convenient fingerprint-unlock security
- AES 256-bit hardware encryption
- Attractive aluminium design
- Includes both USB-A and USB-C cables
Cons
- Smaller write cache than rivals
- Only a 3-year warranty
Best Thunderbolt 5
LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5
The fastest single-drive speeds Tom's Hardware has recorded on an external SSD, tested on a Thunderbolt 5-equipped Mac, backed by 5 years of Seagate's data recovery service. Compatibility on older hardware is complex, and in Windows 11 over Thunderbolt 4 it was slower than newer native USB4 drives.
- Capacities
- 2TB, 4TB
- Connector
- Thunderbolt 5
- Sequential reads
- 6,700 MBps
- Warranty
- 5 years, includes data recovery
Pros
- Fastest external SSD speeds tested
- Rugged, premium design
- 5 years of included data recovery service
Cons
- Slower than USB4 rivals without a Thunderbolt 5 port
- Not supported over Thunderbolt 3 or low-power USB ports in Windows
Buying guide
Why does sustained write speed matter more than the advertised spec?
Most external SSDs use a fast cache that absorbs the first chunk of a transfer at top speed, then drops to much slower 'native' speeds once that cache fills up. If you regularly move large files or full folders, a drive's sustained performance under a long transfer matters more than its peak burst number on the box.
USB, USB4 or Thunderbolt: what's the difference?
Standard USB (up to 20 Gbps on recent drives) covers most everyday needs. USB4 roughly doubles that to 40 Gbps and is increasingly common on newer laptops. Thunderbolt adds guaranteed bandwidth and, at Thunderbolt 5, even higher speeds, but needs a Thunderbolt-equipped port on both ends to deliver its full performance.
Do I need an external SSD or would a hard drive do?
An external HDD, like the WD My Passport, is cheaper per terabyte and fine for archival storage or backups you rarely access. An SSD is faster, more durable against knocks since it has no moving parts, and far better suited to running programs or games directly from the drive.
Is a MagSafe-compatible drive worth it?
If you record video on a compatible iPhone or Android phone, a magnetic drive like the Corsair EX400U or Sharge Disk Pro here lets you snap it directly to the back of your phone for fast, cable-free offloading. It's a nice-to-have rather than essential for general laptop or desktop use.
Sources
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