The Best Portable SSDs for Gaming

Crucial names PS4, PS5 and Xbox support. Full speed needs a 20Gbps USB port. Registering it adds three months of Mylio Photos+ and Acronis True Image backup software.

Its matte blue shell is compact enough for a pocket. On capacity it ties with the T7 2TB, the SanDisk Extreme 2TB and the X9 2TB at 2TB. Nothing else here matches its 2,100MB/s rated read speed; the T7 2TB comes closest at 1,050MB/s.

It is the only pick here with a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (USB-C) connection; the T7 2TB has a USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C) connection instead. Its top speed needs a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20Gbps) port; most laptops and all Macs run it at 10Gbps speeds instead. Only the T7 2TB came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks.

The extra space suits a larger game library. On capacity it ties with the X10 2TB, the SanDisk Extreme 2TB and the X9 2TB at 2TB. On rated read speed it ties with the SanDisk Extreme 2TB and the X9 2TB at 1,050MB/s.

Like the SanDisk Extreme 2TB, it has a USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C) connection, while the X10 2TB uses a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (USB-C) connection. A drops up to 6ft durability claim is unique to it among these picks, while the Buffalo SSD uses a shock resistant durability claim. It also comes with PCIe NVMe inside and drop protection up to 6ft. It was priced above the SanDisk Extreme 2TB and below the X10 2TB at the time of writing.

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. On capacity it ties with the X10 2TB, the T7 2TB and the X9 2TB at 2TB. On rated read speed it ties with the T7 2TB and the X9 2TB at 1,050MB/s.

Like the T7 2TB, it has a USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C) connection, while the X10 2TB uses a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (USB-C) connection. It also offers NVMe performance in a small body. It was priced above the X9 2TB and below the T7 2TB at the time of writing.

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. On capacity it ties with the X10 2TB, the T7 2TB and the SanDisk Extreme 2TB at 2TB.

On rated read speed it ties with the T7 2TB and the SanDisk Extreme 2TB at 1,050MB/s. No other pick in this guide offers a USB-C (USB 3.2) connection; compare the SanDisk Extreme 2TB, which has a USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C) connection. When we checked, only the Buffalo SSD cost less, and the SanDisk Extreme 2TB cost more.

The warranty is three years when registered. It works with PS4 and PS5 as well as Mac and PC, and its compact shell suits backup on the go. It is a low-cost way to add console storage.

On capacity it trails the group at 1TB, while the X10 2TB is rated for 2TB. It is the only pick here with a USB-C and USB-A (USB 3.2) connection; the X10 2TB has a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (USB-C) connection instead. A shock resistant durability claim is unique to it among these picks, while the T7 2TB uses a drops up to 6ft durability claim. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the X9 2TB the next step up.