Rugged Portable SSDs

The alternatives

Other contenders

• LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 2TB

  For a Thunderbolt 5 host, choose the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 2TB when you want its advertised read ceiling of 6,700 MB/s.⁵⁶

• LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 4TB

  Choose the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 4TB when you need the larger capacity on a Thunderbolt 5 host; its stated IP68 and 3m drop ratings also suit exposed work.⁷⁸ Its 5,300 MB/s write rating applies within a 50GB cache; the manufacturer specifies 1,800 MB/s after that cache fills.⁸ On Windows, the Pro5 requires Windows 11 23H2 or later and does not support Thunderbolt 3 ports.⁹ For a Windows USB-C 10Gbps or 20Gbps connection, the port must supply at least 15W; connector shape alone is insufficient.⁹

• LaCie Rugged SSD4 2TB

  Choose the LaCie Rugged SSD4 2TB for a compatible USB4 computer when you want included recovery support; its advertised rates are 4,000 MB/s read and 3,800 MB/s write.¹⁰ Its included three-year data-recovery service is another reason to choose it for files you cannot readily replace.¹⁰

Buying advice

• A large rated write speed can mask a much slower long copy: the Extreme PRO with USB4 2TB was measured at about 800 MB/s after its write cache filled.¹⁵

For shoots in rain and spray

For outdoor shoots with rain or spray, choose a drive with a stated water-resistance rating.²²² For a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 setup, choose the Lexar ARMOR 700 4TB for its IP66 rating and stated 3m drop rating; the default SanDisk has an IP65 rating.²¹⁸²²

• SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 2TB
• LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 4TB
• Lexar ARMOR 700 Portable SSD 4TB
• Lexar ARMOR 700 Portable SSD 8TB
• PNY RP60 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C Portable SSD 2TB
• Samsung T7 Shield 2 TB USB 3.2 Gen 2
• SanDisk Extreme PRO with USB4 2TB

How they compare

Scroll the table to see every product and specification.