Samsung T7 1TB Portable USB 3.2 Gen 2

The Samsung T7 1TB external SSD is a compact, reliable portable drive with hardware encryption and solid everyday performance. It's not the fastest option anymore, but it's easy to use and works across PC, Mac, and Android. Shop around, because prices vary by over USD 100 depending on the retailer.

The T7's headline numbers are 1050 MB/s read and 1000 MB/s write over USB 3.2 Gen 2. In practice, that means a 10GB file moves in roughly 10 seconds, assuming your computer's port can keep up. If you're coming from a spinning hard drive or even an older SATA SSD, this feels like a massive jump. But here's the thing: those numbers put it at the 43rd percentile for speed in our database. That's solidly middle of the pack, and it's because newer drives using USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 or Thunderbolt are pushing 2000 MB/s or more.

The MLC NAND and DRAM cache help keep performance consistent during longer transfers, which is something cheaper drives without a cache struggle with. You won't see the write speed crater halfway through a big file copy like you might on a budget DRAM-less drive. For video editors working directly off the drive, it's usable but not ideal. For photographers dumping memory cards or anyone backing up files, it's more than enough. The endurance rating also lands at the 42nd percentile, so this isn't a drive we'd recommend for constant, heavy write workloads like running a database off it.

The T7's biggest competition right now comes from the Crucial T500 and the Western Digital WD_BLACK SN7100. The Crucial T500 is a newer drive that pushes faster speeds and often sells for less than the T7's higher price points. If raw transfer speed is your priority, the T500 is the better pick. The WD_BLACK SN7100 is aimed more at gamers and creative pros, and it trades blows with the T7 on portability while offering better sustained performance.

The Lexar Professional NM1090 PRO and Kingston FURY Renegade G5 are also in the mix, but those are more specialized drives. The Lexar leans into professional workflows with higher endurance, while the Kingston targets gamers who want a drive that can handle frequent large file moves. The Micron T710 is another option, but it's less common in retail channels. Where the T7 still wins is the combination of hardware encryption, the tiny form factor, and the sheer reliability track record. Samsung has sold a ton of these, and the 4.8 out of 5 rating across 9,135 reviews backs that up.

Pricing on the T7 is all over the place depending on where you look. In the US, we're seeing listings from USD 125 to USD 260 for the same 1TB drive. That's a USD 135 spread, which is frankly ridiculous. The best deal in our data comes from Best Buy, so if you're shopping in the US, that's where we'd point you. In Canada, the range is CAD 260 to CAD 375, with Memory Express offering the lowest price we've seen. At the low end, the T7 is a solid buy. At the high end, you're paying too much for a drive that's been around for a few years. For context, the Crucial T500 and WD_BLACK SN7100 are both faster drives that sometimes undercut the T7 on price, so it's worth checking those before you commit.

The Samsung T7 is one of those rare gadgets that just works, and it's been the default answer for portable storage for years now. This 1TB model sits in the external SSD category, and while it's not the newest kid on the block, it's still one of the most recognizable names when someone asks what drive to grab for moving files around. The T7 uses USB 3.2 Gen 2, which means you're looking at up to 1050 MB/s read and 1000 MB/s write speeds. That's not the fastest thing out there anymore, but for most people it's plenty.

Is the Samsung T7 good for everyday file transfers? Honestly, yes. It's small enough to toss in a bag without thinking about it, it's USB-powered so there's no wall wart to lug around, and it works with PC, Mac, and Android without any drama. The hardware encryption is a nice touch too, especially if you're carrying work documents or anything you'd rather not have floating around unsecured.

We've seen this drive in our database for a while, and the feature set lands it in the 97th percentile for its category. That's the absolute best right now when it comes to things like the encryption, the compact design, and the overall polish. But the speed and capacity rankings tell a different story, and we'll get into that below.

Skip the T7 if you're a console gamer looking for expanded storage, our data shows console support is this drive's weakest area by a long shot. Video editors and creative pros who need sustained high-speed writes should look at the Crucial T500 or WD_BLACK SN7100 instead. And if you're planning to run heavy, constant write workloads like a database or frequent large video renders, the average endurance rating means this isn't the drive for that job. Anyone who finds the T7 priced near USD 260 or CAD 375 should also walk away, because you're paying a premium for an older drive when faster options cost less.

Should you buy the Samsung T7? If you need a reliable, pocket-sized external SSD for everyday file transfers, backups, or moving photos and videos between devices, yes. It's not the fastest drive anymore, but it's dependable, it's secure, and it's easy to use. The hardware encryption is a genuine selling point if you carry sensitive data.

But if you're chasing maximum speed or you plan to hammer the drive with constant writes, look elsewhere. The T7's endurance and speed rankings are both average, and there are faster options at similar or lower prices. For console gamers, this is a weak pick too, our data shows console support is the T7's weakest area by a wide margin. For everyone else, especially at the lower end of that price range, the T7 remains a safe, smart buy.