Best External SSD in India (500 GB and 1TB) | Best Portable SSD

Are you searching for the best External SSD in India that can give you the best portability and the highest speed?

Great, 

Buying an external SSD is one of the best ways to have more storage with blazing fast speed.

In a nutshell, an SSD can complete the HDD’s 20 minutes of transferring data in just 3-5 minutes, provided that you should have a compatible laptop with an SSD.

Now the question is how to buy the best external SSD at the best price.

To save you time and money, we have listed the best external and portable SSDs you can buy without worrying.

What’s the ideal storage size of an external SSD?

The ideal storage size is 500 GB. It’s a perfect amount of storage that can be used for multiple things like installing programs and storing media files.

But if you are a very heavy user who stores a lot of 4K videos, then at least 1 TB of storage would be ideal for you.

Don’t worry, this list of best external SSD contains both 500 GB and 1 TB options.

Best External SSD 500 GB

Let’s move to the list of best 500 GB external SSD that will give you the best performance at a reasonable price.

1. Samsung T5

Main Highlights

Samsung needs no introduction as it’s a leading company in electronics.

If you want the best SSD at the best price, go for the Samsung T5. It’s one of the most popular external SSD from the most trusted brand.

Now, why should you buy the Samsung T5?

Firstly, the design of the T5 is so small that it can easily fit in your pocket. You won’t notice it in your jeans pocket because it weighs only 50 grams.

On holding the SSD in your hands, you will realize how well built it is. It’s completely made of metal and gives a very premium feel. 

Because of its rugged design, it can handle drops easily.

Talking about the speed, the Samsung T5 can achieve up to 540 MB per second speed, which is nearly 4.9 times faster than a traditional HDD.

The speed may vary depending on the device you have connected the SSD to, but overall, it delivers fast speed.

It comes with a USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface which is not but amongst the latest version of the USB. 

For data security, T5 offers password protection and AES 256-bit hardware encryption.

To set a password, you need to install a software on a Windows laptop or MAC. There is a dedicated app for smartphones also.

Once you install this software, you can easily set a password so that no one can access your data.

Verdict: Looking at the overall features of the Samsung T5, we have to say that it’s one of the best external SSD in India.

Pros and Cons

2. Sandisk Extreme 500GB

Main Highlights

A 34 year old brand, Sandisk, has mastered how to deliver the best storage devices like memory cards, pen drives, SSDs, and more.

When it comes to storage devices, most people, including us, trust this brand more than any other.

So, if you want the absolute best SSD, then the Sandisk 500 GB SSD is an excellent choice. It offers all the features that you would need.

But first, this SSD is slightly more expensive than the Samsung T5. So what does it offer for that extra money? 

Well, it comes with a compact rugged design, which is capable of absorbing falls. It is specially designed for rough usage.

As rough usage also includes water splashes, this SSD covers that with an IP55 rating. Also, it’s dust resistant.

The size is also small enough to fit in your pocket. Compared to Samsung T5, it’s taller but thinner. It resembles the shape of a smartphone but in a much smaller size.

The Sandisk 500GB SSD comes with a USB 3.1 interface, which transfers data at a high speed. On paper, this SSD can go up to 1050 Mbps Read and 1000 Mbps Write data transfer speed.

In real life, the average read-write speed is 550Mbps, which is fast enough for most users.

The SSD comes with Type-C to Type-C data cable, but an additional Type-C to USB Type-A adaptor is included in the box. So you don’t need to buy anything extra.

Like the Samsung T5, the Sandisk Extreme also uses AES 128-bit password protection and AES 256-bit hardware encryption.

Verdict: The Sandisk 500GB Extreme is slightly expensive compared to Samsung T5, but it offers more features that are worth paying extra money. It’s a feature-rich and best portable SSD in India.

Pros and Cons

3. Transcend ESD240C

Main Highlights

Every external SSD listed here is small and compact, but the Transcend ESD240C takes the portability to another level.

So, if portability and speed matter to you the most, then Transcend ESD240C portable SSD is the best option.

The size of this SSD is so small that it feels only slightly bigger than a traditional pen drive. 

Nobody will be able to tell that this small piece is actually an external SSD.

The build quality is also premium. It’s made of lightweight aluminum and feels rock solid. 

No worry if you drop it accidentally because it comes with optimum shock-resistant qualities.

Not only the size and build but the specs are also impressive.

It comes with a USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface with the support of UASP (USB Attached SCSI Protocol), which can give the 520 MB/s read and 460 MB/s write speed.

We know it’s not a phenomenal speed, but it’s on par with other SSDs in this price range.

One thing to note is that the storage size is only 480 GB, which is 20GB less than other SSDs. 20GB can make a significant difference in many cases.

This SSD bundles a Transcend Elite software that you can use to manage data, backup and restore, data encryption, and perform cloud backup functions.

Verdict: Considering the overall specs and portable size, the Transcend ESD240C is definitely worth buying. It’s the best option for frequent travelers.

Pros and Cons

4. Seagate Ultra Touch

Main Highlights

Seagate Ultra Touch is the upgraded version of Seagate One Touch.

The One-touch is an excellent SSD that comes with a great price-to-performance ratio, but the Ultra Touch is even better.

It delivers all the useful features that you require from an SSD.

Despite being a feature-rich SSD, it remains one of the cheapest options on this list.

The new Seagate Ultra Touch SSD now includes 3 years of Rescue Data Recovery Services and an extra layer of protection for your data.

Like other SSDs, it’s android ready, which means you can easily manage the phone’s content using the included android app.

This SSD offers a data transfer speed of 400 MB per second, which is slightly less than the competition, but still, it’s far ahead of being the worst.  

The size is also compact enough to fit in your pocket. It’s similar to the size of a credit card, but with added thickness. 

Carrying it around in your pocket isn’t going to be a problem.

The build quality is different from other SSDs, in a good sense. This SSD is made of fabric material and has a clothes-like texture. It gives a unique feel to touch.

The build quality is solid, but note that this SSD isn’t made for rough use like Sandisk. So handle it with care.

When it comes to speed, the Seagate Ultra Touch doesn’t disappoint. 

It comes with a USB 3.0 interface, which performs the data transfer speed at a higher speed. It would have been great to see a 3.2 or at least 3.1 interface, but this is what it is.

With the right device attached, it can achieve a data transfer speed of 400-500 Mbps.

Unfortunately, we haven’t seen any sort of data protection on this SSD.

On a positive note, you can edit, manage, and share photos with a four-month membership to Adobe CC Photography plan and a one-year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create.

Verdict: The Seagate Ultra Touch is a fast and reliable SSD. It performs all the tasks that you would want an SSD to do.

Pros and Cons

So these are the best 500 GB external SSD in India. You can’t go wrong with any of the above external SSDs.

But,

If you are a very heavy user and never want to run out of storage in the future, then you should consider buying a 1 TB SSD.

In that case, here are the best 1 TB external SSD that offers amazing speed and portability.

Best External SSD 1 TB

Before buying a 1TB external SSD, make sure to increase your budget to Rs 13-17000. It’s the best price to get 1 TB SSD.

1. Samsung T7

Main Highlights

Samsung T7 SSD is the latest offering by Samsung. It comes with the best specs and speed right now.

The Samsung T7 uses the USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface, which the latest as of now.

Because of the the embedded PCIe NVMe technology, the speed on T7 can goes up to whopping 1050 MB/s, which is nearly 9.5x faster than traditional HDD.

The look and the size are very similar to the T5. The T7’s Shock resistant internal frame lets it withstand falls from up to 2 meters.

It also comes with optional password protection and AES 256 bit hardware encryption.

There is another variant of T7, which is Samsung T7 Touch. It will cost you around Rs 3000 more. 

T7 Touch comes with the same specs of original T7, but with the additional security of a fingerprint scanner.

So if you want additional security, then you can go for the T7 Touch variant. 

Pros and Cons

2. SanDisk 1TB Extreme PRO

Main Highlights

If you want the best portable design, best speed, and best specs, then SanDisk 1 TB Extreme PRO is the excellent option for you.

It comes with a USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface, which is one of the latest and best.

Just like the Samsung T7, SanDisk Extreme PRO also comes with NVMe technology. Because of it, you can get a blazing fast speed of 1050 MB/s. 

The Extreme PRO SSD is IP55 rated for dust and water resistance. Its aluminum structure protects the device from the falls and also helps to dissipate heat while running at top speed.

The size is also small to fit in your pocket. It’s also available in a 500GB variant. 

Looking at the overall specs, it’s an excellent 1TB external SSD overall.

Pros and Cons

3. Adata SD700

Main Highlights

If you have a limited budget, but still you want a great 1TB SSD, then Adata SD700 is an excellent buy.

The price of this SSD is lower than other SSDs, but it doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on specs.

The specs are on point. Even you will get some extra features like military-grade design, which ensures that this SSD can handle any drop or harsh condition.

Adata SD700 comes with a USB 3.2 Gen 1 interface, which can give the speed of 440MB/s.

We know the speed is less, but because this SSD is specially made for handling harsh conditions, it’s acceptable. And yes, it’s also dust and waterproof.

One thing that you should keep in mind is this SSD uses an older port, not the type-C port.

Overall, It’s a small and lightweight SSD that comes with good amount of features at a lesser price.

Pros and Cons

Final Verdict on Best External SSD 500 GB and 1TB

All of the mentioned SSDs are the best. But before buying any SSD, know your needs first.

We think 500 GB is enough for most people. But if it isn’t, then go for the 1 TB storage option.

The Samsung T5 is the best-in-class 500GB SSD. You can also go for the Sandisk 500 GB SSD if you want to.

If your requirement is 1 TB, then again, we would recommend the Samsung or Sandisk SSD. The 1TB Samsung T7 and 1TB Sandisk SSDs are some excellent options.

But as said earlier, all the listed SSDs are the best in the market. You can pick anyone as all are worth buying.

Also Read: Best Curved Gaming Monitor under 10000

Now we are sure that you know which is the best External SSD for you.

Connect these SSDs with laptops or smartphones, and feel the high-speed data transfer.

Do you agree with this list? Do let us know. If you still have any questions, then feel free to ask in comments.