Portable SSD prices are way up, but we still found some deals.
Image: Samsung/Kingston/Cult of Mac
Need a portable SSD to add terabytes of capacity to your Mac or iPad? Prepare yourself for sticker shock — prices have taken quite a jump. Blame it on the severe global shortage of memory.
But you don’t have to pay more than necessary for that portable SSD. We can point you toward a few deals. Save up to 34%.
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SSD deals: Why you want a portable SSD
A portable SSD is a great addition to your Mac, iPad or iPhone … or all three. It’s an easy way to add storage space without having to buy a whole new computer. Maybe your older Mac is jammed full, but its performance is good enough that you don’t feel the need to replace it. Plug in a portable SSD and add years to its useful life.
If you’re already a fan of portable SSDs, you may have noticed that prices have taken quite a jump in previous months. Blame the AI boom.
Demand for memory is surging as data centers consume vast quantities of flash storage. With chipmakers prioritizing more profitable AI products, fewer NAND chips are available for consumer-grade SSDs. The shortage is driving up prices. Way up.
Still, there are deals to be found on portable SSDs. Here are the best prices we could track down.
Get a deal on a Samsung portable SSD
Portable, affordable SSD
Samsung T9 Portable SSD (2TB)
4.5
The Samsung T9 solid-state drive is small enough and tough enough to go almost anywhere. Connect it to your Mac, iPad or even iPhone via its USB-C port to transfer data at up to 10Gb/s. Available in a range of capacities from 1TB to 4TB.
- Small and portable
- Fast USB-C connectivity
- Works with all your computers
Cult of Mac’s review of the Samsung T9 shows that it’s one of the best on the market. It’s fast, rugged and portable.
Or choose a Kingston portable SSD deal
Kingston XS2000 (2TB)
The Kingston XS2000 offers high-speed storage options up to 4TB for offloading and editing high-res images, 8K videos, and large documents in a flash. The drive is future-proofed to keep up with storage demands, and connects with USB Type-C allowing content creators to access their data anywhere on a PC or mobile device.
The XS2000 includes a removable ruggedized sleeve and IP55-rating to withstand water and dust, making it the perfect companion for on-location photoshoots or adventures.
The Kingston XS2000 is a tiny drive you can slip into your pocket. it comes from a company trusted to make quality SSDs.
Kingston XS1000 portable SSD (2TB)
4.5
This portable SSD fits comfortably in your palm, making it incredibly easy to take your files on the go. And it can expand your digital library with capacities up to 2TB to preserve life’s cherished moments.
- Terabytes of affordable storage
- Fast transfers
- Cheap-looking plastic exterior
The Kingston XS1000 is a cheaper alternative. It’s also speedy and portable… and even more affordable. Check the Cult of Mac review for more details.
Get a deal on Sandisk Creator Phone SSD
Store ProRes video from iPhone
Sandisk Creator Phone SSD (1TB)
4.5
The Sandisk Creator Phone SSD is designed for producing content on the go, attaching effortlessly to your MagSafe-compatible smartphone. Capture stunning 4K at 60fps videos in Apple ProRes and save content directly to your drive to start editing instantly. Rugged and reliable for wherever inspiration takes you, your drive features a durable silicone shell.
- Magnetically attaches to iPhone
- Rugged
- Store a terabyte of ProRes video
- Cable unnecessarily bulky
The Sandisk Creator Phone SSD uses MagSafe to magnetically attach to the back of an iPhone. It’s intended for people recording large amounts of 4K ProRes video with a recent iPhone Pro/Pro Max model. Don’t miss our review.
- 2TB SanDisk Creator Phone SSD — $313.50 (Regular price)
- 1TB SanDisk Creator Phone SSD — $224.99 (Regular price)
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 26 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That’s because he’s a “tablet first” type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don’t try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
