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The 10 Best Portable SSDs as of June 2026

Updated 18 June 2026 ยท Reviewed by the Pickarank team ยท Prices in GBP, subject to change

We compared the best portable ssds you can buy in 2026, scoring each out of 10 on performance, value, build quality and features. Here are the ten worth your money โ€” with an at-a-glance table and the current best prices.

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Our top picks at a glance

Top pick

Samsung T7 Shield

9.0Best overall
Check price on Amazon โ‰ˆ ยฃ100 (1TB)
Best value

Crucial X9 Pro

8.7Best value
Check price on Amazon โ‰ˆ ยฃ90 (1TB)
Also great

Crucial X10 Pro

8.7Best for creators
Check price on Amazon โ‰ˆ ยฃ140 (1TB)

Prices were correct at the time of writing and change often โ€” tap through for today's price on Amazon.

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How we ranked these portable ssds

Each pick earns a score out of 10 from weighted criteria:

  • Performance (35%) โ€” how well each portable SSD does its core job.
  • Value (25%) โ€” quality and features for the price.
  • Build & reliability (20%) โ€” materials, longevity and warranty.
  • Features (20%) โ€” meaningful extras that improve the experience.

At a glance: top 10 compared

Swipe across to see all columns, including Amazon links โ†’

#Portable SSDsScoreBest forSpeedApprox. PriceAmazon links
1Samsung T7 Shield9.0Best overall~1,050 MB/s (rugged)ยฃ100 (1TB)View Price
2Samsung T98.8Best high-speed~2,000 MB/sยฃ150 (1TB)View Price
3SanDisk Extreme Pro8.8Best fast & rugged~2,000 MB/sยฃ130 (1TB)View Price
4Crucial X9 Pro8.7Best value~1,050 MB/sยฃ90 (1TB)View Price
5Crucial X10 Pro8.7Best for creators~2,100 MB/sยฃ140 (1TB)View Price
6WD My Passport SSD8.6Best for backups~1,050 MB/sยฃ100 (1TB)View Price
7SanDisk Extreme8.6Best rugged value~1,050 MB/sยฃ90 (1TB)View Price
8WD Black P408.6Best for gaming~2,000 MB/sยฃ130 (1TB)View Price
9Kingston XS20008.5Best compact~2,000 MB/sยฃ120 (1TB)View Price
10Lexar SL5008.4Best budget fast~2,000 MB/sยฃ80 (1TB)View Price

The full ranking

1
Best overall

Samsung T7 Shield

9.0Our number one pick.

The Samsung T7 Shield pairs quick, consistent transfer speeds with a tough, rubberised, water- and dust-resistant body and broad compatibility, the portable SSD most people should buy. It isn't the fastest on paper, but the speed, durability and value are exceptional.

Speed: 9.0Build: 9.4Capacity options: 9.0Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Rugged, water-resistant
  • Fast, consistent speeds
  • Broad compatibility
Cons
  • Not the fastest available
  • USB-A adapter not always included
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ ยฃ100 (1TB)
2
Best high-speed

Samsung T9

8.8A superb runner-up.

The Samsung T9 doubles the T7's speed for fast offloading of large files and video, with a grippy, durable casing. It needs a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port to hit top speed, but the performance and build are excellent.

Speed: 9.4Build: 9.2Capacity options: 9.0Value: 8.6
Pros
  • Very fast transfers
  • Durable casing
  • Great for big files
Cons
  • Needs a fast port for top speed
  • Pricier
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ ยฃ150 (1TB)
3
Best fast & rugged

SanDisk Extreme Pro

8.8Rounds out our top three.

The SanDisk Extreme Pro combines high speeds with a forged-aluminium core and IP55 water/dust resistance, great for creators working outdoors. It runs a touch warm under sustained load, but the speed and ruggedness are excellent.

Speed: 9.4Build: 9.2Capacity options: 8.8Value: 8.6
Pros
  • Fast and rugged
  • IP55 resistance
  • Carabiner loop
Cons
  • Warm under heavy load
  • Pricier
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ ยฃ130 (1TB)
4
Best value

Crucial X9 Pro

8.7A standout in the upper half.

The Crucial X9 Pro offers reliable speeds and a tidy, durable aluminium design at a keen price, strong value for everyday storage and backups. It isn't the fastest, but the reliability and value are excellent.

Speed: 8.8Build: 9.0Capacity options: 8.8Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Great value
  • Durable build
  • Reliable speeds
Cons
  • Not the fastest
  • Plainer design
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ ยฃ90 (1TB)
5
Best for creators

Crucial X10 Pro

8.7A well-rounded mid-table pick.

The Crucial X10 Pro delivers some of the fastest sustained speeds in a compact, rugged body, excellent for offloading and editing large video and photo files. It is pricier, but the speed and build are excellent.

Speed: 9.4Build: 9.0Capacity options: 8.8Value: 8.6
Pros
  • Very fast sustained speeds
  • Compact and rugged
  • Great for creators
Cons
  • Pricier
  • Needs a fast port
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ ยฃ140 (1TB)
6
Best for backups

WD My Passport SSD

8.6Great value in the middle of the pack.

The WD My Passport SSD is a dependable, well-built drive with handy backup software and password protection, ideal for keeping a secure copy of your files. It is mid-speed, but the reliability and software are excellent.

Speed: 8.8Build: 9.0Capacity options: 8.8Value: 8.8
Pros
  • Reliable for backups
  • Backup software included
  • Password protection
Cons
  • Mid-tier speed
  • Plain design
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ ยฃ100 (1TB)
7
Best rugged value

SanDisk Extreme

8.6A dependable pick if the price is right.

The SanDisk Extreme brings IP55 water/dust resistance and a carabiner loop to a more affordable drive, great value for taking storage outdoors. It is slower than the Pro, but the ruggedness and value are excellent.

Speed: 8.6Build: 9.0Capacity options: 8.8Value: 9.0
Pros
  • Rugged for less
  • IP55 resistance
  • Carabiner loop
Cons
  • Slower than Extreme Pro
  • Warm under load
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ ยฃ90 (1TB)
8
Best for gaming

WD Black P40

8.6Solid, if outshone by pricier rivals.

The WD Black P40 offers fast speeds and customisable RGB in a gamer-focused design, great for expanding game storage on Xbox and PC. The RGB and styling won't suit everyone, but the speed and gaming focus are excellent.

Speed: 9.2Build: 8.8Capacity options: 8.6Value: 8.6
Pros
  • Fast for game loading
  • Customisable RGB
  • Sturdy
Cons
  • Gamer styling
  • Pricier
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ ยฃ130 (1TB)
9
Best compact

Kingston XS2000

8.5A budget-friendly option worth a look.

The Kingston XS2000 is tiny and very fast, easily disappearing into a pocket while delivering high transfer speeds with a protective sleeve. It is small enough to misplace and warms up, but the speed-to-size is excellent.

Speed: 9.2Build: 8.6Capacity options: 8.6Value: 8.6
Pros
  • Very small and fast
  • Protective sleeve
  • Pocketable
Cons
  • Easy to misplace
  • Warms up
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ ยฃ120 (1TB)
10
Best budget fast

Lexar SL500

8.4Rounds out our top ten.

The Lexar SL500 offers high speeds in a slim body at a lower price than premium rivals, good value if you want fast transfers cheaply. The build is less rugged, but the speed and value are good.

Speed: 9.0Build: 8.4Capacity options: 8.4Value: 9.0
Pros
  • Fast for the price
  • Slim design
  • Good value
Cons
  • Less rugged
  • Lesser-known brand
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ ยฃ80 (1TB)

Frequently asked questions

What's the best of the portable ssds in 2026?

Our top overall pick is the Samsung T7 Shield, which leads on our combined score for performance, value and features. The Samsung T9 and SanDisk Extreme Pro are excellent alternatives depending on budget and needs.

How did we choose these?

We weight performance, value, build quality and features, drawing on hands-on use and independent testing. See the methodology box above for the full breakdown.

Are these prices accurate?

Prices are approximate UK figures at the time of writing and change frequently. Click through to Amazon for the current price.

The bottom line

If you just want the best portable ssds without overthinking it, the Samsung T7 Shield is our top recommendation โ€” it earns the highest overall score for performance, value and features. Have a look at the current price and see what you think.

Check price on Amazon โ‰ˆ ยฃ100 (1TB)

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