If you’re cutting 4K multicam footage, compositing heavy VFX in DaVinci Resolve, or color grading RAW files in Premiere Pro, your external SSD is part of your creative engine. Yet, choosing the right one? That’s where things get murky.
And, if you’ve ever stared at a stuttering timeline, waited for endless render bars, or lost your cool watching playback glitch during a critical color correction, you already understand: your storage device isn’t just a container. It’s a collaborator.
Not all SSDs are created equal, especially not for video editing. You’re not just moving vacation photos here. We’re talking about sustained read/write speeds, thermal throttling, I/O bottlenecks, and compatibility across editing suites and operating systems.
Creators like you need more than just capacity. You need real-time performance, ruggedness on the go, and the assurance that your footage is safe, accessible, and editable—whenever inspiration strikes or deadlines loom.
We’ve sifted through benchmark scores, real-world reviews, endurance ratings, and interface standards so you don’t have to. Our recommendations aren’t just fast on paper, they’re fast where it counts: in your editing bay, on set, and in post.
This guide is built for you; the editor who lives inside Adobe Premiere Pro timelines, the YouTuber cutting cinematic B-roll, the indie filmmaker working from a MacBook Pro or a Windows desktop. Whether you’re on the go or in a home studio, we’re here to help you choose the right external SSD with confidence.
We assess each SSD using five core performance and usability metrics, chosen specifically for creative professionals:
- Sustained Read/Write Speeds – Not just burst transfers, but stable throughput during heavy workloads like editing 8K footage or transferring large project folders.
- Interface & Connectivity – Thunderbolt 3/4, USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, and USB-C—your port matters. We prioritize SSDs that eliminate bottlenecks and optimize cross-device compatibility.
- Thermal Performance – Heat throttles speed. We look for SSDs with passive or active cooling that maintain performance even under long render sessions.
- Durability & Portability – On-location editors and mobile creators need SSDs that are rugged, water/dust resistant, and compact.
- Capacity & Value – A good SSD should offer at least 1TB of space, with options scaling to 4TB or more, without compromising performance per dollar.
Why these? Because they’re the pillars of editing efficiency, and they directly align with the core use cases in video production workflows: editing directly from the drive, fast media ingestion, and archiving.
The Following are External SSDs designed to meet the needs of today’s high-performance video editors:
Contents
- Western Digital 1TB Elements SE - Portable SSD, USB 3.0, Compatible with PC, Mac
- Crucial X9 Pro 4TB Portable SSD – Up to 1050MBs ReadWrite, USB 3.2
- Crucial X9 Pro for Content Creators and Photographers - Mac 4TB Portable SSD – Speeds up to 1050MBs, iPad CompatibleCrucial X9 Pro for Mac 2TB Portable SSD - Up to 1050MBs Read and Write
- SanDisk 4TB Creator Pro Portable SSD - Up to 2000MBs - USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance - External Solid State Drive
- SanDisk Professional 2TB G-DRIVE SSD
- SABRENT 4TB External Aluminum SSD, Rocket Nano V2, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, 1500 MBs
- Western Digital 2TB My Passport SSD Portable External Solid State Drive
- SK hynix Tube T31 2TB Stick Type SSD
- ORICO 2TB Portable SSD, Up to 2000MBs, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, Ultra-Mini, Compact
- Lenovo P6 Portable External Solid State Drive, 2TB SSD
- Corsair EX100U 2TB Portable USB Type-C Storage Drive - Blazing-Fast Storage
- SABRENT 1TB Rocket Nano XTRM External SSD, USB 3.2 Thunderbolt 3
- Western Digital 1TB My Passport SSD Portable External Solid State Drive
- PNY RP60 2TB Portable SSD - Up to 2000MBs, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen2x2
- ADATA HD710 Pro 2TB USB 3.1 IP68
Western Digital 1TB Elements SE - Portable SSD, USB 3.0, Compatible with PC, Mac |
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| Storage Capacity | 1TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Mac OS |
| Data Transfer Speed | 400MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2 |
| Color | Black |
| Casing Material | PVC, |
| Weight | 0.952 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | Encryption ready |
| Reasons to Buy | Reliable storage device, fast read and write speeds |
Crucial X9 Pro 4TB Portable SSD – Up to 1050MBs ReadWrite, USB 3.2 |
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| Storage Capacity | 4TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Android |
| Data Transfer Speed | 1050MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB C |
| Color | Gray |
| Casing Material | PVC |
| Weight | 1.34 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | Good performance |
| Reasons to Buy | External Solid State Drive for PC, Mac, PS5, Xbox |
Crucial X9 Pro for Content Creators and Photographers - Mac 4TB Portable SSD – Speeds up to 1050MBs, iPad CompatibleCrucial X9 Pro for Mac 2TB Portable SSD - Up to 1050MBs Read and Write |
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| Storage Capacity | 2TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Mac, iPad, iPhone |
| Data Transfer Speed | 1050MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB C |
| Color | Light Gold |
| Casing Material | PVC |
| Weight | 1.34 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | High speed read and write |
| Reasons to Buy | Made for Apple devices (Mac, Ipad) |
SanDisk 4TB Creator Pro Portable SSD - Up to 2000MBs - USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance - External Solid State Drive |
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| Storage Capacity | 4TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Mac OS, Android |
| Data Transfer Rate | 2000MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB-C, USB 3.2 |
| Color | Blue |
| Casing Material | Silicone Rubber |
| Weight | 5.6 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | IP65 Water and Dust Resistance |
| Reasons to Buy | Fast speeds, Large storage |
SanDisk Professional 2TB G-DRIVE SSD |
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| Storage Capacity | 2TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Mac OS, Android |
| Data Transfer Speed | 1,050 MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2, Type C |
| Color | Black |
| Casing Material | Silicone Rubber, Metal |
| Weight | 0.45 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | Ultra-rugged durability with IP67 water/dust resistance, up to 3M1 drop, and 2000lb crush resistance |
| Reasons to Buy | Durable, Fast Speeds |
SABRENT 4TB External Aluminum SSD, Rocket Nano V2, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, 1500 MBs |
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| Storage Capacity | 4TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Mac OS, Android |
| Data Transfer Speed | 1500MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2, |
| Color | Black |
| Casing Material | PVC |
| Weight | 1.76 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | High speed, Rugged |
| Reasons to Buy | Large storage capacity, Reliable, Portable |
Western Digital 2TB My Passport SSD Portable External Solid State Drive |
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| Storage Capacity | 2TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Mac OS |
| Data Transfer Speed | 1050MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2, USB TyPE C |
| Color | Black |
| Casing Material | PVC |
| Weight | 0.3 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | Hardware encryption |
| Reasons to Buy | Large storage |
SK hynix Tube T31 2TB Stick Type SSD |
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| Storage Capacity | 2TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Mac OS, Android, Xbox, PS5 |
| Data Transfer Speed | 1000MBs |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2 |
| Color | Black |
| Casing Material | PVC, Metal |
| Weight | 4.6 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | High speed |
| Reasons to Buy | Reliable, Good performance |
ORICO 2TB Portable SSD, Up to 2000MBs, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, Ultra-Mini, Compact |
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| Storage Capacity | 2TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Mac OS, Android |
| Data Transfer Speed | 2000MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2, Type C |
| Color | Black |
| Casing Material | Silicone Rubber, PVC, Metal |
| Weight | 2.82 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | High speed, Encryption |
| Reasons to Buy | Good performance |
Lenovo P6 Portable External Solid State Drive, 2TB SSD |
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| Storage Capacity | 2TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Mac OS, Android |
| Data Transfer Speed | 550MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2 |
| Color | Black |
| Casing Material | Metal |
| Weight | 1.27 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | Compatible with PC, Mac, Android |
| Reasons to Buy | Large storage capacity, Design, Performance, Reliability |
Corsair EX100U 2TB Portable USB Type-C Storage Drive - Blazing-Fast Storage |
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| Storage Capacity | 2TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Mac OS, Android |
| Data Transfer Speed | 1600MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2, Type C |
| Color | Black |
| Casing Material | PVC |
| Weight | 0.705 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | Protective cap, small footprint, secure data transfer |
| Reasons to Buy | High spped, large storage, value for money, highly functional |
SABRENT 1TB Rocket Nano XTRM External SSD, USB 3.2 Thunderbolt 3 |
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| Storage Capacity | 1TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Mac OS, Android |
| Data Transfer Speed | 2700MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2, Type C Thunderbolt |
| Color | Black |
| Casing Material | PVC |
| Weight | 2.2 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | High speed |
| Reasons to Buy | Performance, Reliable, Portable |
Western Digital 1TB My Passport SSD Portable External Solid State Drive |
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|---|---|
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| Storage Capacity | 1TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Mac OS |
| Data Transfer Speed | 1050MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2, USB TyPE C |
| Color | Black |
| Casing Material | PVC |
| Weight | 0.3 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | Hardware encryption |
| Reasons to Buy | Reliable storage |
PNY RP60 2TB Portable SSD - Up to 2000MBs, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen2x2 |
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| Storage Capacity | 2TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Mac OS, Android |
| Data Transfer Speed | 2000MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2 |
| Color | Black |
| Casing Material | PVC |
| Weight | 1.93 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | Rugged, IP65 Rated, Water/Dust/Drop Resistant |
| Reasons to Buy | Fast transfer speeds, reliable |
ADATA HD710 Pro 2TB USB 3.1 IP68 |
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|---|---|
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| Storage Capacity | 2TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Android |
| Data Transfer Speed | 1000MBs |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2 |
| Color | Blue |
| Casing Material | Silicone Rubber, PVC, Metal |
| Weight | 9.5 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | Rugged, Waterproof |
| Reasons to Buy | Shockproof, Dustproof, Good speeds, Value for money |
You should also take a look at the top external ssds for content creators in addition to the top ones for mac and windows.
