What is the best external SSD? Portable SSDs are an easy way to expand your gaming PC, laptop, or gaming handheld’s storage without the hassle of rummaging around the insides of your system. Simply plug one into a free USB port and you can access your files with ease and even use these drives for offloading your game libraries from apps like Steam, letting you play games on a system with limited internal storage.

The best external SSD overall is the Samsung T9, thanks to its incredibly fast speed, light and portable design, and tough rubberized exterior. For even more protection, the Samsung T7 Shield offers IP65 water and dust resistance. Meanwhile, for slower bulk storage, our best external hard drive pick is the WD My Passport. For more recommendations, check out the list below. Meanwhile, if you want some guidance on what to look for in an external SSD, check out the how to choose section of this guide, along with the FAQ that answers all your external SSD questions.

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 These portable SSDs and HDDs plug straight into your laptop or handheld USB port to provide storage, with drives from Samsung, WD, and more.  PCGamesN