While you have a high-speed SSD on your PC, you must not rely on slower HDDs or smaller USB drives when sharing some large files. Getting an external SSD can be essential for you, depending on how frequently you transfer files between devices and your backup requirements.

Top 6 features to consider when choosing an external SSD.

While choosing an external solid-state drive, consider the following factors for the best decision.

1. Durability

Solid-state drives are expensive compared to traditional HDDs, and when you get an external one, you must consider the durability factor. It is because your external drive will always be in the laptop bag, and you may also need to share it with others. A durable one will protect the internals from all the jerks and bumps, so your data will stay safe.

2. Compatibility

Next up is compatibility. It matters the most when buying external solid-state drives for unique things like gaming consoles, as they have specific sizes and other technical requirements. Consider the I/O and data transfer capabilities, as every external drive may not be compatible with your PlayStation.

It becomes extremely important when using one external solid-state drive with multiple devices.

3. Reading and writing speeds.

SSDs are known for their fast reading and writing speeds, but they can also vary. While it stays much faster than HDDs, there could be up to 2 times the speed difference, but going for the most up-spec one can be overkill for you.

So, think of how long you will be using the device you are buying, that external solid-state drive. Thus, you can stay safe from a bottleneck of around 300-400 MBs per second.

4. Capacity

External solid-state drives can vary from 128GB to 4TB in capacity. It is a feature that solely depends on your requirements. For instance, if you are a content creator shooting all day in 4K for high video quality, then a 1TB solid-state drive may only hold a few days of video. On the other hand, for students and individuals working with documents in an office, 1TB may seem like a never-ending capacity.

5. Security

Whether you plan to share your drive or not, get one with the latest security and encryption features. It is because anyone can steal your data; if it is confidential, you can be in trouble. Additionally, a lack of security may cause your SSD to get infected and result in data corruption. So, see which encryption tool you will use and the external drive's compatibility with it.

6. Portability

Lastly, you must consider portability; it does not mean that you can carry the drive in your laptop bag. Sometimes you may need to carry it with your laptop in your hands on the go. So, depending on the usage requirements, carefully select the size of your external solid-state drive.

Buy the right SSD for your needs here!

The external SSD market today is saturated with lots of options. So, consider the features discussed above whenever you buy one, and you will choose the best one from all the available options.