Best Portable SSD · SSDs
Samsung T7 Shield 2TB
The T7 Shield is a tough, pocket-sized external SSD that's many times faster than a portable hard drive, ideal for carrying games, photos and backups between a PC, laptop and console.
- Brand
- Samsung
- Best for
- Fast, rugged portable storage
- Price range
- Mid-range
- Our score
- 8.5/10
Our take
The Samsung T7 Shield is a tough, pocket-sized external SSD that's many times faster than a portable hard drive. It's ideal for carrying games, photos, video and backups between a PC, laptop, console and phone.
Performance
The T7 Shield connects over USB 3.2 Gen 2 and is rated for up to 1,050MB/s read and 1,000MB/s write, about eight to ten times faster than a portable hard drive. Copying a large photo library or a 50GB game takes minutes rather than tens of minutes. Unlike some cheaper portable SSDs, it holds its speed well during long transfers.
To reach full speed, plug it into a 10Gbps USB port (often labelled USB 3.2 Gen 2 or SS10). On older USB 3.0 ports it runs at around 400MB/s, still much faster than a hard drive.
Toughness
The T7 Shield's rubberised shell gives it an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, and Samsung says it survives drops of up to 3 metres. It's small and light at 98g, easy to carry in a pocket.
Compatibility
It works with Windows PCs, Macs, Android phones and tablets, iPhones and iPads with USB-C, and game consoles. On a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S you can store and play older-generation games from it, and keep new-generation games on it to copy back quickly. Samsung includes USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cables, and its software adds optional password protection with hardware encryption.
Who should buy it
Buy the T7 Shield for fast, durable portable storage: backups, moving files between computers, extending console storage or offloading video from a phone or camera. If you need even faster external storage for video editing on a Mac or Thunderbolt laptop, consider a Thunderbolt or USB 4 SSD.
Key specifications
| Type | External portable SSD |
|---|---|
| Connection | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps, USB-C) |
| Sequential read | Up to 1,050MB/s |
| Sequential write | Up to 1,000MB/s |
| Protection | IP65 dust and water resistance, survives drops of up to 3m |
| Cables included | USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A |
| Size and weight | 88 x 59 x 13mm, 98g |
| Encryption | AES 256-bit hardware encryption, optional password |
| Warranty | 3 years |
Strengths and weaknesses
Pros
- Rugged rubberised design
- Works with PC, Mac, consoles and phones
- Much faster than portable hard drives
- Both USB-C and USB-A cables included
Cons
- Slower than an internal NVMe drive
- Needs a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port for full speed
- Faster USB 4 and Thunderbolt drives exist for Mac and laptop users who need them
Verdict
The T7 Shield is a tough, pocket-sized external SSD that's many times faster than a portable hard drive, ideal for carrying games, photos and backups between a PC, laptop and console. It earns our Best Portable SSD award in our guide to the best SSDs.
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