Best external SSD for gaming in 2024: top portable drives

The Samsung Portable T7 Shield offers the same specs as the Samsung T7 in sixth place in our guide and uses USB 3.2 for transfer speeds of up to 1000MB/s and 1050MB/s read and write respectively. We’ve picked this rugged external SSD as the top choice because it combines a reasonable price, durable design, fast transfer speeds, and a generally seamless experience.

In terms of looks, it’s not an SSD designed exclusively with gamers in mind and therefore is a little on the utilitarian side. The exterior is made from rubber, and Samsung’s Dynamic Thermal Guard controls heat to maintain performance even for big transfers. The SSD’s IP65 rating also means a certain level of water and dust resistance, so you can be sure that it’ll maintain performance even after an accidental spill or drop.

If you’re after a versatile, well-protected, and affordable external SSD for gaming, the Samsung Portable T7 Shield is for you. If you don’t need the extra protection, go for the standard T7 below.

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 to more devices.

We’d recommend the 1TB capacity model, although it’s also available as a 512GB or 2TB drive. The RGB lighting covering the top of the drive is a flashy touch, making it look at home with the best gaming keyboard and best gaming mouse.

We love the Sandisk Extreme Portable, which is now on V2 thanks to its continued popularity. Despite its small size of 2.07 x 3.97 inches, the Extreme Portable still packs a punch. Thanks to the NVMe drive under the hood, it’s capable of swift sequential read and write speeds of 1,050MB/s and 1,000MB/s respectively.

It can also take a beating with two-meter drop protection, and IP55 water and dust resistance, making it the perfect travel companion for the best gaming laptop – not that we recommend chucking it around. We’ve used our original drive every single day for years, and have never once had any issues.

It connects via USB Type-C, although there’s a Type-A adaptor included too. You can pick the drive up in capacities ranging from 500GB up to a whopping 4TB, and sizes from 1TB now come in two funky blue colorways. It truly is portable and is designed with a hole in the corner so that you can clip it onto your keys or a bag. 

The Lexar Blaze SL660 is the perfect choice for you if you want a dedicated portable gaming SSD. Compatible with PC, as well as PS5, PS4, and Xbox, it’s a versatile drive that combines reliability and performance with a great price. It’s not the fastest SSD in this guide, but the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 support ensures fast read and write speeds.

Like the Asus ROG Strix Arion below, the Blaze has a gorgeous RGB design. At just 2.5 inches wide, it also boasts a truly portable form factor, comes with a detachable stand for added functionality, and its aluminum construction ensures protection from shock and drops. Security-wise, it offers 256-bit AES encryption software solution to protect your data.

The downside of the Lexar Blaze SL660 gaming SSD is that it needs a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 connection to get the best performance. The capacity also maxes out at 1TB, which may be too low for some, but if you want a truly portable SSD to complement a larger hard drive, this might not be a problem.

The Samsung T7 uses USB3.2 to allow zippy transfer speeds  NVMe form factor, but this helps to keep the price low. It’s the best budget external SSD that’s almost nine times faster than an external hard drive, rated at 1000MB/s sequential read and 1050MB/s sequential write speeds – double the previous Samsung T5 for around the same price.

The T7 is well-built, with a sturdy metal enclosure that you can buy in several bright colorways. Although it isn’t as rugged as the T7 Shield SSD that takes the top spot in our guide, it’s a brilliantly affordable option. And with a three-year guarantee, you can be reassured against your purchase for some time to come.

The all-metal body gives it a solid feel and helps it withstand drops of two meters. And, if security is at the front of your mind, you can use Samsung’s software to lock the drive with a 256-bit encrypted password.

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.