We all love saving tons of photos, videos, and even movies on our laptops. So the default in-built storage on a MacBook can quickly run out, especially if you’ve been using it for a while. That’s why it’s handy to get an external drive too on which you can easily transfer all your big files. This will ensure your computer always has sufficient space. So without further delay, let’s go ahead and find out the best external SSDs for Mac.
SSD Storage Make quicker work of everything. The 13-inch MacBook Pro includes a solid-state drive that’s blazing fast, with sequential read speeds up to 3.0GB/s. 10 The standard configurations have twice the capacity of the previous generation (256GB, 512GB or 1TB), and with up to 4TB of storage, you can take all your photos and videos with you no matter where you go. The interface of SATA 3.0 Gb/s provide the SSD with the most accommodative feature. It has a fast start-up and loading capacity. It’s ideal for Macbook PRO 2011 and can be advanced to several storage sizes. It’s reliable and durable due to the material used in its production. I have a MacBook Pro (model 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (15-inch DDR3) MB471LL/A Late-2008) and I know from your guide about buying an SSD that there are two types of SSD's - MLC & SLC.
#1. SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable External SSD
Enjoy seamless transfers with this USB C SSD that gives up to 550MB/s read speeds. This external SSD for Mac is rugged and resistant to both water and dust with an IP55 rating.
Along with being compact and pocket-sized, it’s also durable and shock-proof. So your data can stay safe during minor falls or drops. It comes with a 3-year limited warranty. You can choose from varied capacities from 250 GB to 1 TB, according to your needs.
Pros How to log into a macbook pro without password.
- Water and dust resistant
- Shock-proof
- 4 storage capacities available
- Good price
Cons
- Slower read/write speeds
Price: $329.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
#2. Samsung X5 Portable SSD 2TB – Thunderbolt 3
Take your storage to the next level with this SSD. Designed with Thunderbolt 3 ports, the X5 is made for busy professionals who want to render high-resolution content quickly. Its thermal management and password protection features ensure safety and security.
Further, it offers impressive read/write speeds of 2,800/2,300 MB/s. So you can transfer a 20GB 4K UHD video from your computer to the SSD in as little as 12 seconds, depending on your system configurations. The innovative design is inspired by supercars!
Pros
- Thermal management
- Impressive read/write speeds
- 3 storage capacities available
- Sleek look
Cons
- Expensive
Price: $699.99 for 2TB capacity
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Check out on Amazon
#3. Seagate STJD1000400 1Tb Solid State Drive
This high-speed, portable solid-state drive is perfect for streaming stored videos directly to your Macbook. It’s an excellent choice for backing up your data on the go.
Moreover, its a mini USB 3.0 SSD with a lightweight, minimalist design that’s convenient to carry every day Finally, you can enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included three-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Multiple storage capacities available
- Good price
Cons
- No USB C – you’ll need a separate adaptor
Price: $144.99 for 1TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
#4. LaCie Water Resistant Rugged 2TB SSD
For those who want ultimate protection on their external SSD for Mac, this rugged one can withstand the pressures of life! It can survive a 3-meter drop and a two-ton car crash. Moreover, it is IP67-rated dust water-resistant.
You can take advantage of a one-month complimentary membership to Adobe creative cloud apps when you get this drive. Further, it comes with a 5-year limited protection plan so you can have long-term peace of mind about it’s functionality.
Pros
- Drop protection
- Multiple storage capacities available
- 5-year protection plan for data recovery
Cons
- Slightly pricey
Price: $451.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
#5. Crucial 1TB X8 Portable SSD
Incredible performance with read speeds of up to 1050 MB/s makes this one of the best SSDs for Mac. It has a durable design featuring an aluminum core. It offers drop protection for up to 7. 5 feet, and can also withstand extreme temperature. It’s shock and vibration proof so you can carry it around in your bag with ease.
Finally, you can rest assured about quality because this SSD is backed by Micron, one of the well-known storage tech manufacturers in the world. It also includes a 3-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Withstands extreme temperatures
- High-speed
- Sleek design
Cons
- Only available in 2 capacities
Price: $164.95 for 1TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
#6. WD 2TB My Passport Go SSD Cobalt
Check out this pocket-sized SSD for Mac and Windows computers. It’s convenient to carry and is also capable of surviving drops up to 2 meters. The protective bumper acts as a cushion and absorbs shocks and bumps.
It offers a transfer rate of 400MB/s which is pretty decent. Further, it comes with a 3-year warranty and you can get it in 2 cool color options namely cobalt blue and amber. All in all, it’s an excellent everyday choice for your storage needs.
Pros
- Protective bumper
- Good price
- Color options
Cons
- Transfer rate on slower side
Price: $329.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
#7. Samsung T5 2TB Portable SSD
For the stylish and modern professional, this is one of the best SSDs for your Mac! With a USB 3.1 interface, the T5 provides transfer speeds of up to 540 MB/s depending on your system. So transfers and backups of large-sized data including 4K videos and high-resolution photos will be much quicker and faster.
Furthermore, the impressive performance comes in a compact package that’s easy to carry with you. Perhaps the best part is the classy color options such as blue, gold, and red.
Pros
- Good speed
- Value for money
- Color options
Cons
- Looks a bit delicate and may not have drop protection
Price: $319.85 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
#8. Sabrent Rocket Nano 512GB USB 3.2 SSD
For ultimate portability, check out this ultra-slim SSD. It’s sleek and durable – an ideal travel companion whether for work or leisure. Easily transfer your media with the smooth plug-and-play technology.
It provides speeds of up to 1000MB/s, depending on your system configurations. Further, you can get it in 3 convenient storage capacities of 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2TB. You can also choose either black or silver color options.
Pros
- Slim and compact
- Good price
- Color options
Cons
- No drop protection
Price: $299.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
#9. G-Technology 2TB G-DRIVE mobile SSD
Carry your data worry-free on this shock and vibration resistant SSD for Mac. The durable design comes with iP67 dust and water resistance.
![Pro Pro](https://www.setaswall.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/828x1792-Wallpaper-008-380x822.jpg)
Best Ssd For Macbook Pro 2020
The USB C connectivity offers transfer rates of up to 560MB/s. Further, you can buy with confidence given the industry-leading 5-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.
Best video editing software for windows 7 free download. Pros
- Dust and water-resistant
- Shock-proof
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Bulky
Price: $329.95 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
#10. Seagate Barracuda Fast 500GB SSD
Best Ssd For Macbook Pro 13
With reliable performance and a speed of up to 540MB/s, you can enjoy smooth data transfer on this external SSD for Mac. It features a minimalist design and green LED accent light.
It’s a perfect solution for carrying media on the go or even for external Xbox or PlayStation storage. It offers seamless installation and loading. Moreover, you get a limited product protection plan too.
Pros
- Minimalist design
- LED light indicator
- Reliable performance
Cons
- No drop protection
Price: $109.99 for 500 GB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
Summing Up
Well, as you can see, there’s a wide variety of external SSDs for Mac. Most come with warranties so are a valuable accessory to get. Let us know in the comments below which one you prefer and why.
I have been writing about tech for over 10 years now. I am passionate about helping people solve their tech problems with easy and practical solutions. At iGeeksBlog, I write and edit how-to guides and accessory reviews for all things Apple. My work has previously appeared in Live IT and Woman’s Era magazines. When not working, I love reading and traveling.
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Upgrade Ssd Macbook Pro 2015
Don’t enjoy working on your old MacBook Pro that seems to have drastically lost both the charm and speed? You can easily upgrade your notebook to make it run faster. I’m not suggesting you go for a new MBP. Instead, explore some of these best internal SSDs for MacBook Pro and handpick the most suitable one for your specific needs.
We have already made a list of the best external SSDs for MBP. And, it’s time to take a look at some of the top internal solid state drives. As compared to the former, the latter is more optimized to get the most out of your laptop. So, what are you waiting for mate?
#1. Crucial MX300
When it comes offering trusted performance, Crucial MX300 is at par with the best in the business. It’s said to be 90x more energy efficient than an ordinary hard drive. The high-quality Micron 3D NAND technology ensures the internal SSD can retain its top functionality for long.
While the sequential reads/write speed is up to 530/510 MB/s, the random read/write speed is up to 92K/83Kon on all file types. Thanks to the brilliant write acceleration, it can offer faster file transfer and saves.
With the AES 256-bit hardware-based encryption, it keeps your data protected. This top quality SSD is available in four storage capacities such as 275GB, 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB.
USP: Highly efficient
Price: $159.97 on Amazon at the time of writing this.
Buy it from Amazon
Price: $159.97 on Amazon at the time of writing this.
Buy it from Amazon
#2. WD Blue
I find WD Blue a safe bet from all angles. Whether it’s the ability to let you significantly optimize the performance of your laptop or providing a consistent output, it stands up to the expectation. The other important aspect of this high-quality SSD is the sequential read and write speed that clocks at up to 545MB/s and 525MB/s respectively.
Courtesy of the dependable performance and desired acceleration, your MBP will run high-end apps, video games, HD media players more smoothly. Lastly, WD Blue SSD comes only in three storage tiers such as 250GB, 500GB, and 1TB.
USP: Consistent performance
Price: $89.99 on Amazon while we are writing this.
Buy it from Amazon
Price: $89.99 on Amazon while we are writing this.
Buy it from Amazon
#3. SanDisk Ultra II
Powered by nCache 2.0 technology, SanDisk excels in delivering improved speed and desired endurance. With a good sequential read 550MB/s and write 500MB/s speed, it is fully equipped to carry out the task in top gear.
Due mainly to the NCQ support, it can manage queue length for smooth-sailing multitasking. Ultra II enables your laptop to boot-up faster, load apps quickly and transfer data with the unmatched swiftness. Being shock and vibration resistance, your drive lasts long.
This SSD comes with the 3-year warranty (US). Moreover, it is available in five storage tiers such as 240GB, 250GB, 500GB, 960GB, and 1TB.
USP: nCache 2.0 technology
Price: $119.99 [$84.95 on Amazon at the time of writing this.]
Buy it from Amazon
Price: $119.99 [$84.95 on Amazon at the time of writing this.]
Buy it from Amazon
#4. Samsung 850 EVO
Equipped with V-NAND technology, Samsung 850 EVO enables your laptop to run a lot faster and smoothly. The internal SSD can deliver sequential read/write speed up to 540MB/s and 520MB/s respectively. It provides random read/write IOPS speed up to 97K and 88K respectively.
The SSD is highly efficient and offers reliable performance. It comes with 5-year warranty. Besides, it’s available in five storage capacities starting from 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB.
USP: Lightning fast speed
Price: $104.75 on Amazon while at the time of writing this.
Buy it from Amazon
Price: $104.75 on Amazon while at the time of writing this.
Buy it from Amazon
Picked Up Your Top Bet?
Assuming you have chosen one of these solid state drives to empower your laptop? Which one is it and what are the qualities you have liked in it? Share your feedback in the comments below.
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Jignesh Padhiyar is the co-founder of iGeeksBlog.com who has a keen eye for news, rumors and all the unusual stuff that happens around Apple products. During his tight schedule, Jignesh finds some moments of respite to share side-splitting contents on social media.
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