Think 4K video footage, CAD renders, RAW image sequences, machine learning datasets, or massive audio sessions, require a high-performance external SSD that can handle huge transfers, maintain consistent speed, and keep up with demanding applications without lag or failure.
Large file workflows are about throughput, integrity, and consistency. You can’t afford dropped frames, corrupt chunks, or unstable speeds when you’re ingesting terabytes of footage, duplicating massive project archives, or running real-time assets from external storage,.
That’s why creators, engineers, researchers, and post-production teams rely on high-bandwidth, thermally stable, and format-flexible SSDs, solutions that are engineered not just for peak speed, but for sustained performance over long sessions.
To make the cut for this guide, SSDs needed to demonstrate not just raw speed, but the ability to sustain that speed over long transfers. Every drive in our shortlist supports minimum sustained sequential read/write speeds of 1000 MB/s, with many models reaching 2000+ MB/s using USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 or Thunderbolt 3/4 interfaces.
That level of performance ensures that transferring a 100 GB file doesn’t take 20 minutes—it takes a couple. It also supports real-time streaming of media, multi-layer editing, and on-the-fly rendering from external drives.
Thermal performance was equally important. The drives we chose are built with aluminum enclosures, internal heatsinks, or thermal pads to prevent speed throttling under load. This is crucial when moving gigabytes at a time or backing up entire project directories.
File system compatibility and large volume formatting were part of the spec. These SSDs easily work across Windows, macOS, and Linux, and support formatting into exFAT, APFS, HFS+, and NTFS. This ensures compatibility across editing suites, render farms, and cross-platform project teams.
We also prioritized capacity and scalability. Drives in this category start at 1TB and scale up to 4TB or more, giving you the space to stage footage, run project files externally, or back up entire systems without juggling multiple volumes.
Finally, we examined build quality, warranty support, and professional software integration. These SSDs are backed by 3- to 5-year warranties, often include drive health monitoring software, and are produced by manufacturers known for consistent performance and firmware reliability.
The Following are the Best External SSDs for Large Files:
Contents
- SanDisk 2TB Creator Pro Portable SSD - Up to 2000MBs - USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance - External Solid State Drive
- 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
- SK hynix Beetle X31 2TB Portable SSD
- SAMSUNG T7 Touch Portable SSD 2TB ,up to 1050MBs, USB 3.2 External Solid State Drive
- Crucial X6 4TB Portable SSD - Up to 800MBs - PC and Mac - USB 3.2 USB-C External Solid State Drive
- PNY RP60 2TB Portable SSD - Up to 2000MBs, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen2x2
- Kingston XS1000R 2TB SSD Pocket-Sized USB 3.2 Gen 2 External Solid State Drive
- Western Digital 1TB My Passport SSD Portable External Solid State Drive
- Crucial X10 Pro 4TB Portable SSD – Up to 2100MBs Read, 2000MBs Write, Water and Dust Resistant
- Western Digital 1TB My Passport SSD Portable External Solid State Drive
- Crucial X6 1TB Portable SSD - Up to 800MBs - PC and Mac - USB 3.2 USB-C External Solid State Drive
- SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD - Up to 1050MBs, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance
- 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
SanDisk 2TB 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 | 2TB |
| 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 | Top Notch Data Transfer rates |
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) |
SK hynix Beetle X31 2TB Portable SSD |
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| Storage Capacity | 2TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Mac OS, Android |
| Data Transfer Speed | 1050MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2, Type C |
| Color | Darke Grey |
| Casing Material | Metal |
| Weight | 5.6 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | High speed, encryption |
| Reasons to Buy | Functionality, Size, Speed |
SAMSUNG T7 Touch Portable SSD 2TB ,up to 1050MBs, USB 3.2 External Solid State Drive |
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| Storage Capacity | 2TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Mac OS, Android |
| Data Transfer Speed | 1050MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2 |
| Color | Black |
| Casing Material | PVC, Metal Casing |
| Weight | 2 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | Fingerprint Security |
| Reasons to Buy | Secure, encryption |
Crucial X6 4TB Portable SSD - Up to 800MBs - PC and Mac - USB 3.2 USB-C External Solid State Drive |
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| Storage Capacity | 4TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Mac OS |
| Data Transfer Speed | 800MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2 |
| Color | Black |
| Material | Silicone Rubber, PVC, Metal Casing |
| Weight | 1.48 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | Shock proof, dust proof |
| Reasons to Buy | Large storage |
PNY RP60 2TB Portable SSD - Up to 2000MBs, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen2x2 |
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|---|---|
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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 |
Kingston XS1000R 2TB SSD Pocket-Sized USB 3.2 Gen 2 External Solid State Drive |
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| Storage Capacity | 2TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Mac OS, Android |
| Data Transfer Speed | 1050MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2 |
| Color | Red |
| Casing Material | Silicone Rubber, PVC |
| Weight | 1.58 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | High speed, compact |
| Reasons to Buy | Easy to use, Value for money, Large storage |
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 |
Crucial X10 Pro 4TB Portable SSD – Up to 2100MBs Read, 2000MBs Write, Water and Dust Resistant |
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| Storage Capacity | 4TB |
| 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 |
| Material | PVC |
| Weight | 1.48 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | Suitable for iPhone |
| Reasons to Buy | High read and write speeds |
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 |
Crucial X6 1TB Portable SSD - Up to 800MBs - PC and Mac - USB 3.2 USB-C 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, Android |
| Data Transfer Speed | 800MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2 |
| Color | Black |
| Material | Silicone Rubber, PVC, Metal Casing |
| Weight | 1.48 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | Shock proof, dust proof |
| Reasons to Buy | Lightweight |
SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD - Up to 1050MBs, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance |
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| Storage Capacity | 1TB |
| Storage Drive Type | SSD |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows OS, Mac OS, Android |
| Data Transfer Rate | 1050MB/s |
| Data Encryption | Yes |
| Encryption | AES 256 Bit |
| Interface | USB 3.2, USB-C |
| Color | Black |
| Casing Material | Silicone Rubber, PVC, Metal Casing |
| Weight | 1.76 ounces |
| Power Source | USB Port |
| Features | IP65 Water and Dust Resistance |
| Reasons to Buy | Dust Resistant, Water Resistant, Portable, Hardware Encryption |
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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|---|---|
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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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|---|---|
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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 |
You can also have a look at the top ssds for tablets and also the best portable and lightweight ones.
