Best External Ssd For Macbook Pro

The LaCie Rugged Pro is the fastest SSD we've tested. LaCie's Rugged drives have been popular with Mac users for many years, thanks to their combination of high-performance and that now-familiar. Samsung Portable SSD T5. Starting off Samsung Portable SSD T5 which is an. The best Thunderbolt 3 SSDs LaCie Rugged SSD Pro The Rugged SSD Pro is the fast, featuring a Seagate FireCuda NVMe SSD with up to 2800MB/s in transfer speeds. It also has IP67 dust and water.

• Best External Ssd For Macbook Pro
• Best External Ssd For Macbook Pro
• Best External Hard Drives For Mac
• Best External Ssd Drive For Macbook Pro

We all love saving tons of photos, videos, and even movies on our laptops. So the default in-built storage on a MacBook can quickly run out, especially if you've been using it for a while. That's why it's handy to get an external drive too on which you can easily transfer all your big files. This will ensure your computer always has sufficient space. So without further delay, let's go ahead and find out the best external SSD for Mac.

#1. SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable External SSD

Enjoy seamless transfers with this USB C SSD that gives up to 550MB/s read speeds. This external SSD for Mac is rugged and resistant to both water and dust with an IP55 rating.

Along with being compact and pocket-sized, it's also durable and shock-proof. So your data can stay safe during minor falls or drops. It comes with a 3-year limited warranty. You can choose from varied capacities from 250 GB to 1 TB, according to your needs.

Free hd video editing software mac. Pros

• Water and dust resistant
• Shock-proof
• 4 storage capacities available
• Good price

Cons

• Slower read/write speeds

Price: $329.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon

#2. Samsung X5 Portable SSD 2TB – Thunderbolt 3

Take your storage to the next level with this SSD. Designed with Thunderbolt 3 ports, the X5 is made for busy professionals who want to render high-resolution content quickly. Its thermal management and password protection features ensure safety and security.

Further, it offers impressive read/write speeds of 2,800/2,300 MB/s. So you can transfer a 20GB 4K UHD video from your computer to the SSD in as little as 12 seconds, depending on your system configurations. The innovative design is inspired by supercars!

Pros

• Thermal management
• Impressive read/write speeds
• 3 storage capacities available
• Sleek look

Cons

• Expensive

Price: $699.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon

#3. Seagate STJD1000400 1Tb Solid State Drive

This high-speed, portable solid-state drive is perfect for streaming stored videos directly to your Macbook. It's an excellent choice for backing up your data on the go.

Moreover, its a mini USB 3.0 SSD with a lightweight, minimalist design that's convenient to carry every day Finally, you can enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included three-year limited warranty.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Multiple storage capacities available
• Good price

Cons

• No USB C – you'll need a separate adaptor

Price: $144.99 for 1TB capacity
Check out on Amazon

#4. LaCie Water Resistant Rugged 2TB SSD

For those who want ultimate protection on their external SSD for Mac, this rugged one can withstand the pressures of life! It can survive a 3-meter drop and a two-ton car crash. Moreover, it is IP67-rated dust water-resistant.

You can take advantage of a one-month complimentary membership to Adobe creative cloud apps when you get this drive. Further, it comes with a 5-year limited protection plan so you can have long-term peace of mind about it's functionality.

Pros

• Drop protection
• Multiple storage capacities available
• 5-year protection plan for data recovery

Cons

• Slightly pricey

Price: $451.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon

#5. Crucial 1TB X8 Portable SSD

Incredible performance with read speeds of up to 1050 MB/s makes this one of the best SSDs for Mac. It has a durable design featuring an aluminum core. It offers drop protection for up to 7. 5 feet, and can also withstand extreme temperature. It's shock and vibration proof so you can carry it around in your bag with ease.

Finally, you can rest assured about quality because this SSD is backed by Micron, one of the well-known storage tech manufacturers in the world. It also includes a 3-year limited warranty.

Pros

• Withstands extreme temperatures
• High-speed
• Sleek design

Cons

• Only available in 2 capacities

Price: $164.95 for 1TB capacity
Check out on Amazon

#6. WD 2TB My Passport Go SSD Cobalt

Check out this pocket-sized SSD for Mac and Windows computers. It's convenient to carry and is also capable of surviving drops up to 2 meters. The protective bumper acts as a cushion and absorbs shocks and bumps.

It offers a transfer rate of 400MB/s which is pretty decent. Further, it comes with a 3-year warranty and you can get it in 2 cool color options namely cobalt blue and amber. All in all, it's an excellent everyday choice for your storage needs.

Pros

• Protective bumper
• Good price
• Color options

Cons

• Transfer rate on slower side

Price: $329.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon

#7. Samsung T5 2TB Portable SSD

For the stylish and modern professional, this is one of the best SSDs for your Mac! With a USB 3.1 interface, the T5 provides transfer speeds of up to 540 MB/s depending on your system. So transfers and backups of large-sized data including 4K videos and high-resolution photos will be much quicker and faster.

Furthermore, the impressive performance comes in a compact package that's easy to carry with you. Perhaps the best part is the classy color options such as blue, gold, and red.

Pros

• Good speed
• Value for money
• Color options

Cons

• Looks a bit delicate and may not have drop protection

Price: $319.85 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon

#8. Sabrent Rocket Nano 512GB USB 3.2 SSD

For ultimate portability, check out this ultra-slim SSD. It's sleek and durable – an ideal travel companion whether for work or leisure. Easily transfer your media with the smooth plug-and-play technology.

It provides speeds of up to 1000MB/s, depending on your system configurations. Further, you can get it in 3 convenient storage capacities of 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2TB. You can also choose either black or silver color options.

Pros

• Slim and compact
• Good price
• Color options

Cons

• No drop protection

Price: $299.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon

#9. G-Technology 2TB G-DRIVE mobile SSD

Carry your data worry-free on this shock and vibration resistant SSD for Mac. The durable design comes with iP67 dust and water resistance.

The USB C connectivity offers transfer rates of up to 560MB/s. Further, you can buy with confidence given the industry-leading 5-year limited manufacturer's warranty.

Pros

• Dust and water-resistant
• Shock-proof
• 5-year warranty

Cons

• Bulky

Price: $329.95 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon

#10. Seagate Barracuda Fast 500GB SSD

With reliable performance and a speed of up to 540MB/s, you can enjoy smooth data transfer on this external SSD for Mac. It features a minimalist design and green LED accent light.

It's a perfect solution for carrying media on the go or even for external Xbox or PlayStation storage. It offers seamless installation and loading. Moreover, you get a limited product protection plan too.

Pros

• Minimalist design
• LED light indicator
• Reliable performance

Cons

• No drop protection

Price: $109.99 for 500 GB capacity
Check out on Amazon

Summing Up!

Best External Ssd For Macbook Pro

Well, as you can see, there's a wide variety of external SSDs for Mac. Most come with warranties so are a valuable accessory to get. Let us know in the comments below which one you prefer and why.

I have been writing about tech for over 10 years now. I am passionate about helping people solve their tech problems with easy and practical solutions. At iGeeksBlog, I write and edit how-to guides and accessory reviews for all things Apple. My work has previously appeared in Live IT and Woman's Era magazines. When not working, I love reading and traveling.

• https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mehak/

  Using 'Rebuild' Feature of Database Utility in Mac Entourage
• https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mehak/
• https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mehak/
• https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mehak/

Online content production requires a lot of storage. Video and photo files can very quickly fill the limited internal SSD storage of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, making an external drive of some description an essential purchase.

While an external hard drive may be sufficient for storing larger files, the speed is just too slow for working with gigabytes of photos, or for video editing, especially at higher resolutions. For that, you really need an SSD.

Although the majority of external SSD's are USB drives, the fastest external SSD's currently available use Thunderbolt 3 for read and write speeds several times several times faster than USB, often even approaching the performance of internal PCIe drives.

In this article, we'll be taking a look at the best external Thunderbolt 3 SSD's you can buy today in 2021 for your Mac.

The best Thunderbolt 3 SSD's for the Mac

Speed comparison

The speed test results listed below were calculated using BlackMagic Desk Speed Test, from an average of multiple runs over a 5 minute period.

Glyph Atom Pro NVME SSD

Read speed: 2,470MB/s, Write speed: 2,304 MB/s

The Glyph Atom Pro is our choice for the best external Thunderbolt 3 SSD. While the write speed is not quite as fast as the Samsung X5, the read speed is significantly faster, offering more balanced performance. The aluminium enclosure acts as a heatsink, helping to reduce temperatures and maintain performance without throttling. The sleek dark grey aesthetics look right at home next to the space gray MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, and it includes a removable rubber bumper for shock protection from drops or falls.

G-Technology G-Drive Mobile Pro

Read speed: 2,445MB/s, Write speed: 2,300 MB/s

• Looks a bit delicate and may not have drop protection

Price: $319.85 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon

#8. Sabrent Rocket Nano 512GB USB 3.2 SSD

For ultimate portability, check out this ultra-slim SSD. It's sleek and durable – an ideal travel companion whether for work or leisure. Easily transfer your media with the smooth plug-and-play technology.

It provides speeds of up to 1000MB/s, depending on your system configurations. Further, you can get it in 3 convenient storage capacities of 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2TB. You can also choose either black or silver color options.

Pros

• Slim and compact
• Good price
• Color options

Cons

• No drop protection

Price: $299.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon

#9. G-Technology 2TB G-DRIVE mobile SSD

Carry your data worry-free on this shock and vibration resistant SSD for Mac. The durable design comes with iP67 dust and water resistance.

The USB C connectivity offers transfer rates of up to 560MB/s. Further, you can buy with confidence given the industry-leading 5-year limited manufacturer's warranty.

Pros

• Dust and water-resistant
• Shock-proof
• 5-year warranty

Cons

• Bulky

Price: $329.95 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon

#10. Seagate Barracuda Fast 500GB SSD

With reliable performance and a speed of up to 540MB/s, you can enjoy smooth data transfer on this external SSD for Mac. It features a minimalist design and green LED accent light.

It's a perfect solution for carrying media on the go or even for external Xbox or PlayStation storage. It offers seamless installation and loading. Moreover, you get a limited product protection plan too.

Pros

• Minimalist design
• LED light indicator
• Reliable performance

Cons

• No drop protection

Price: $109.99 for 500 GB capacity
Check out on Amazon

Summing Up!

Best External Ssd For Macbook Pro

Well, as you can see, there's a wide variety of external SSDs for Mac. Most come with warranties so are a valuable accessory to get. Let us know in the comments below which one you prefer and why.

I have been writing about tech for over 10 years now. I am passionate about helping people solve their tech problems with easy and practical solutions. At iGeeksBlog, I write and edit how-to guides and accessory reviews for all things Apple. My work has previously appeared in Live IT and Woman's Era magazines. When not working, I love reading and traveling.

• https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mehak/

  Using 'Rebuild' Feature of Database Utility in Mac Entourage
• https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mehak/
• https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mehak/
• https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mehak/

Online content production requires a lot of storage. Video and photo files can very quickly fill the limited internal SSD storage of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, making an external drive of some description an essential purchase.

While an external hard drive may be sufficient for storing larger files, the speed is just too slow for working with gigabytes of photos, or for video editing, especially at higher resolutions. For that, you really need an SSD.

Although the majority of external SSD's are USB drives, the fastest external SSD's currently available use Thunderbolt 3 for read and write speeds several times several times faster than USB, often even approaching the performance of internal PCIe drives.

In this article, we'll be taking a look at the best external Thunderbolt 3 SSD's you can buy today in 2021 for your Mac.

The best Thunderbolt 3 SSD's for the Mac

Speed comparison

The speed test results listed below were calculated using BlackMagic Desk Speed Test, from an average of multiple runs over a 5 minute period.

Glyph Atom Pro NVME SSD

Read speed: 2,470MB/s, Write speed: 2,304 MB/s

The Glyph Atom Pro is our choice for the best external Thunderbolt 3 SSD. While the write speed is not quite as fast as the Samsung X5, the read speed is significantly faster, offering more balanced performance. The aluminium enclosure acts as a heatsink, helping to reduce temperatures and maintain performance without throttling. The sleek dark grey aesthetics look right at home next to the space gray MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, and it includes a removable rubber bumper for shock protection from drops or falls.

G-Technology G-Drive Mobile Pro

Read speed: 2,445MB/s, Write speed: 2,300 MB/s

While the transfer speeds of this drive are right up there among the best, in our tests the G-Drive Mobile Pro has an unfortunate tendency to spontaneously disconnect at random. Judging by the Amazon reviews, this is an experience shared by many owners of this drive,

Very close in performance to the Glyph drive.

Samsung X5 Thunderbolt 3 SSD

Read speed: 2,560MB/s, Write speed: 1,998 MB/s

Best External Ssd For Macbook Pro

With its glossy, bright red and grey appearance, the X5 would appear to be more at home next to a flash gaming PC than a MacBook Pro. If you're comfortable with that, for your money you'll be getting top notch performance and stability. It's only let down by the write speed, which is somewhat slower than most of the other drives tested.

Lacie Rugged SSD Pro

Read speed: 2,442MB/s, Write speed: 1,928 MB/s

Lacie's Rugged SSD Pro is encased entirely in rubber for protection from drops or falls of up to 3 metres and it also features an IP67 waterproof rating for use in tough environments. The speed and reliability are excellent, with no connection issues and performance on a par with the other drives tested.

OWC Envoy Pro EX

Read speed: 2,430MB/s, Write speed: 1,918 MB/s

OWC have a long history of producing high quality peripherals for Mac computers, and the Envoy Pro EX is no exception. The drive features a fully aluminium enclosure, finished in grey to match the space grey MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, and also includes a removable rubberised bumper for drop protection from up to four feet.

Best External Hard Drives For Mac

Plugable Thunderbolt 3 NVMe External SSD

Best External Ssd Drive For Macbook Pro

Read speed: 1,470MB/s, Write speed: 1,250 MB/s

The most competitively priced drive out of all those tested, Plugable's Thunderbolt 3 NVMe SSD offers excellent performance without decimating your bank balance.