Samsung T9 Portable SSD 2TB

Pros

• +Rated 2,000MB/s reads on a 20Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 host — among the fastest portable SSDs here
• +Rubberized shock-resistant housing shrugs off desk knocks and bag jostling
• +Samsung Magician software adds AES 256-bit encryption and drive-health monitoring
• +Sold in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB, so the line scales with a growing library
• +The most rounded package in this roundup — speed, rugged build, and software in one drive

Cons

• −Needs a 20Gbps host for full speed; 10Gbps laptops and many Macs see roughly 1,050MB/s
• −Pricier per terabyte than the value picks
• −No official IP water/dust rating, unlike the SanDisk Extreme Pro or Crucial X10 Pro
• −Encryption and management rely on Samsung Magician, which is Windows and Mac only