Buying Guide
The Best 2TB Portable SSDs
From the X9 2TB to the T7 Shield 2TB: three external drives ranked on capacity and rated read speed, with who should skip each one.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
2TB is the capacity that decides how many games or projects travel with you. Every drive here holds 2TB, ordered from the lowest price.
We sorted these picks by drive type, capacity (as reviewed) and max read speed, working from the makers' own data; nothing here was tested in-house, and any figure a maker omits is noted as missing.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
Crucial X9 Portable SSD 2TB
Undercutting the SanDisk Extreme 2TB on price when we checked.
Best for: Spending as little as possible.
Our take Check price for Crucial X9 Portable SSD 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 2TB (1050MB/s)
An IP65 water and dust rating.
Best for: Buyers who want IP65 water and dust rating.
Our take Check price for SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 2TB (1050MB/s) (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD 2TB
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with an IP65 water and dust rating.
Best for: Buyers who want the most complete package.
Our take Check price for Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD 2TB (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undercutting the SanDisk Extreme 2TB on price when we checked. | Spending as little as possible. | Check price for Crucial X9 Portable SSD 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
| An IP65 water and dust rating. | Buyers who want IP65 water and dust rating. | Check price for SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 2TB (1050MB/s) (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with an IP65 water and dust rating. | Buyers who want the most complete package. | Check price for Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD 2TB (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
Crucial X9 Portable SSD 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The 2TB X9 keeps the 1,050MB/s rating and IP55 build of the 1TB model.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
It has room for a larger game library. It is rated IP55 for water and dust and survives drops of up to 7.5 feet, so it can travel in a camera bag. It works with consoles as well as Windows, Mac and iPad Pro.
It reads at up to 1050MB/s and carries an IP55 water and dust rating with drop resistance to 2 meters. It works with Windows, Mac, PS5 and Xbox over USB-C or USB-A. You get a USB-C (USB 3.2) connection here, which sets it apart from the T7 Shield 2TB and its a USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection. It undercut the SanDisk Extreme 2TB and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Drive type: SSD
- Capacity (as reviewed): 2TB
- Max read speed: 1,050MB/s
- Connection: USB-C (USB 3.2)
- Durability claim: IP55, drops up to 7.5ft
- Security: None stated
Pros
- IP55 rating
- Drop resistance up to 7.5ft
- 2TB for a larger game library
- USB-C (USB 3.2) connection, the only one here
Also Consider2 of 3
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 2TB (1050MB/s) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The earlier SanDisk Extreme offers 1,050MB/s reads, an IP65 rating and 3m drop protection.
Best for
- Buyers who want IP65 water and dust rating.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the X9 2TB cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
The 2TB size suits games and video. SanDisk rates it for 3-metre drops and IP65 water and dust resistance, up from the earlier 2-metre and IP55 ratings. A carabiner loop lets you clip it to a bag.
Password protection uses 256-bit AES hardware encryption, and the Memory Zone app helps manage files. A USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C) connection is unique to it among these picks, while the T7 Shield 2TB uses a USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection. It also offers NVMe performance in a small body. Its price falls between the X9 2TB and the T7 Shield 2TB, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Drive type: SSD
- Capacity (as reviewed): 2TB
- Max read speed: 1,050MB/s
- Connection: USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C)
- Durability claim: IP65, drops up to 3m
- Security: None stated
Pros
- IP65 water and dust rating
- Drop protection up to 3m
- NVMe performance in a small body
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C) connection, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the X9 2TB at the time of writing
Premium Pick3 of 3
Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Samsung's T7 Shield runs at 10Gbps USB speeds, rated to 1,050MB/s reads, a speed that many laptop USB-C ports support.
Best for
- Buyers who want the most complete package.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the X9 2TB, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
Its IP65 rating and 9.8ft drop protection suit a drive that lives in a camera bag. It uses an internal PCIe NVMe drive for reads up to 1,050MB/s and writes up to 1,000MB/s over USB 3.2 Gen 2. The rubber shell adds water, dust and drop resistance.
You get a USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection here, which sets it apart from the SanDisk Extreme 2TB and its a USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C) connection. It also comes with Magician software for drive health and firmware updates. It was the highest-priced of the 3 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the SanDisk Extreme 2TB and the rest. The trade-off is capacity; for more, the X9 2TB is rated for 2TB.
Key dimensions & specs
- Drive type: SSD
- Capacity (as reviewed): 2TB
- Max read speed: 1,050MB/s
- Connection: USB 3.2 Gen 2
- Durability claim: IP65, drops up to 9.8ft
- Security: None stated
Pros
- IP65 water and dust rating
- Drop protection up to 9.8ft
- Magician software for drive health and firmware updates
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the X9 2TB at the time of writing
How We Chose These 2TB Portable SSDs
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We set side by side three drives on drive type, capacity, rated read speed and connection as the makers state them. We did not test them in-house.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the X9 2TB to the T7 Shield 2TB, state drive type, capacity and rated read speed and share None stated security.
- Who each pick suits
- The X9 2TB for undercutting the SanDisk Extreme 2TB on price when we checked; the SanDisk Extreme 2TB for an IP65 water and dust rating; the T7 Shield 2TB for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with an IP65 water and dust rating.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the X9 2TB ($150 to $250) to the T7 Shield 2TB ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a 2TB Portable SSD
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Features beyond the spec table
The X9 2TB: drop resistance up to 7.5ft. The SanDisk Extreme 2TB: drop protection up to 3m. The T7 Shield 2TB: drop protection up to 9.8ft.
How much to spend
$150 to $250 buys the X9 2TB; $250 to $500 buys the SanDisk Extreme 2TB and the T7 Shield 2TB at our last check.
Match the pick to your priority
Spending as little as possible: the X9 2TB. Buyers who want the most complete package: the T7 Shield 2TB.
Mac and Windows formatting
Many drives ship formatted for Windows. On a Mac, reformat to APFS for Time Machine, or exFAT to share the drive with a Windows PC.
Password and encryption
Hardware encryption with a password protects a drive that could be lost. Software-only encryption depends on an app being available on each computer.
How to Choose a 2TB Portable SSD
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending as little as possible | X9 2TB | Undercutting the SanDisk Extreme 2TB on price when we checked |
| Buyers who want IP65 water and dust rating | SanDisk Extreme 2TB | An IP65 water and dust rating |
| Buyers who want the most complete package | T7 Shield 2TB | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with an IP65 water and dust rating |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The X9 2TB, the SanDisk Extreme 2TB and the rest, as their makers list them.
| Drive | Drive type | Capacity (as reviewed) | Max read speed | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X9 2TB | SSD | 2TB | 1,050MB/s | USB-C (USB 3.2) |
| SanDisk Extreme 2TB | SSD | 2TB | 1,050MB/s | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C) |
| T7 Shield 2TB | SSD | 2TB | 1,050MB/s | USB 3.2 Gen 2 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The X9 2TB was the lowest-priced pick and the T7 Shield 2TB the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Drives |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | X9 2TB |
| About $250 to $500 | SanDisk Extreme 2TB, T7 Shield 2TB |
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the X9 2TB the Lowest Price Here?
It earns the label for undercutting the SanDisk Extreme 2TB on price when we checked. It suits spending as little as possible.
Do the X9 2TB and the SanDisk Extreme 2TB differ on connection?
The X9 2TB uses USB-C (USB 3.2); the SanDisk Extreme 2TB uses USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C); the T7 Shield 2TB uses USB 3.2 Gen 2.
Beyond the specs, what sets the X9 2TB and the SanDisk Extreme 2TB apart?
The X9 2TB: an IP55 rating. The SanDisk Extreme 2TB: an IP65 water and dust rating. The T7 Shield 2TB: an IP65 water and dust rating.
Who should choose the T7 Shield 2TB?
The T7 Shield 2TB carries our Premium Pick label for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with an IP65 water and dust rating. It ranks third of 3 here.
Should I pick the X9 2TB or the T7 Shield 2TB?
The X9 2TB suits spending as little as possible; the T7 Shield 2TB suits buyers who want the most complete package.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the X9 2TB, chosen for undercutting the SanDisk Extreme 2TB on price when we checked. Look at the SanDisk Extreme 2TB for an IP65 water and dust rating and the T7 Shield 2TB for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with an IP65 water and dust rating if those matter more to you.
Use the shortest cable that reaches; long cables can drop speed.