External SSDs offer dramatically faster transfer speeds than traditional hard drives, making them ideal for laptop backups, file transfers, and portable storage. With USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Thunderbolt options available, you can get read speeds over 2,000 MB/s.
Top External SSDs for 2026
| Drive | Speed | Interface | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung T7 Shield 1TB | 1,050 MB/s | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | ~£80 |
| SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB | 2,000 MB/s | USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 | ~£110 |
| WD My Passport SSD 1TB | 1,050 MB/s | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | ~£75 |
How to Choose the Right External SSD
Consider your laptop’s ports first — Thunderbolt 4 laptops can take advantage of faster drives. USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) is the sweet spot for most users, offering excellent speed at reasonable prices. Look for drives with hardware encryption and IP65+ ratings if you travel frequently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What speed external SSD do I need?
For most laptop users, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 drive offering around 1,000 MB/s is ideal. Thunderbolt users can benefit from drives exceeding 2,000 MB/s.
Can I boot from an external SSD?
Yes, most laptops support booting from USB drives. You’ll need to configure the boot order in BIOS/UEFI settings.
