Best external SSD for gaming – the top portable drives in 2024

The best external SSD for gaming is the Adata SE900G.

Adata’s NVMe-based model is one of the fastest external drives we’ve seen, with both the sequential read and write speeds coming in at 2,000MB/s. It connects via a USB Type-C cable, although Adata includes a Type-A adapter in the box to better cater for more devices. We’d recommend the 1TB capacity model, although it’s also available as a 512GB or 2TB drive.

The best portable SSD is the Sandisk Extreme Portable.

The fastest external SSD is the Samsung X5.

The Samsung X5 is one of the fastest on the market when it comes to outright speed, but it has a premium price tag attached and some compatibility considerations with a Thunderbolt 3 connection. If your wallet and computer can support it, this drive is capable of sequential read and write speeds of 2,800MB/s and 2,300 MB/s respectively, loading your games and transferring your files in the blink of an eye.

The X5 is still surprisingly small at 4.7 x 2.4 inches, and the good-looking glossy casing is also designed to withstand drops of up to two metres.

The best NVMe enclosure is the Asus ROG Strix Arion.

If you’ve already got a spare internal NVMe drive, the Arion can convert into an external SSD that looks a treat compared to other enclosures. The USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 connection transfers up to 10Gb/s, letting it take full advantage of even the fastest NVMe models.

The aluminium casing also has some adjustable RGB lighting for extra flair, while thermal pads inside help to keep temperatures low to avoid thermal throttling.

The best cheap external SSD is the Samsung T5.

The T5 uses SATA technology over the zippier NVMe form factor, but this helps to keep the price per GB low. In fact, it’s the best budget external SSD that’s almost five times faster than an external hard drive, rated at 540MB/s sequential read and 515MB/s sequential write speeds.

The all-metal body gives it a solid feel, and helps it withstand drops of two metres. And, if security is on the front of your mind, you can use Samsung’s software to lock the drive with a password.

The best SSD for Xbox Series X is the Seagate Storage Expansion Card.

The Xbox Series X / S won’t allow you to install and play current generation games on any random external SSD, instead making use of the expansion slot on the rear of the console. Seagate’s NVMe is currently the only model that fits into Microsoft’s proprietary port, and offers read and write speeds identical to the console’s internal NVMe solid state drive.

There’s no USB connection, however, so this is solely an external SSD for the latest Xbox consoles rather than one for your PC.

SATA or NVMe external SSD?

SATA-based external SSDs, like the Samsung T5, are a great option if you’re strapped for cash but still need more storage space for larger games, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator and Stalker 2. They’re not as quick as NVMe alternatives, but still offer speeds almost five times that of a conventional hard drive.

While the Samsung X5 is one of the priciest NVME external drives on the market, you don’t have to pay hundreds for a drive with four-figure read and write speeds, thanks to models such as the Sandisk Extreme Portable.

Can I use external SSDs on the Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X?

External SSDs aren’t just a good fit for the best gaming PC or laptop – they’re a great option for expanding storage on your next gen console too.

On PlayStation 5, you’re able to download any PS4 titles onto your external storage device and play them from there, and you could see improved loading times with one of the models listed here. You can’t play PS5 games directly from external storage, but you can store them there and swap them onto your internal NVMe storage when you’re ready to play.

It’s a similar story on the Xbox Series X / S, with Xbox One and 360 games playable from any external storage device while still benefiting from the flagship Quick Resume feature. Meanwhile, you can only play Series X / S-exclusive titles on internal storage, or Seagate’s proprietary Xbox SSD, using other external drives on this list as temporary storage.

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