Samsung 2TB SSD USB 3.2 Gen 2x2

The Samsung T9 is a blazing-fast, durable portable SSD that's worth every penny at USD 250 and a ripoff at USD 490. Shop smart, and you'll love it.

The headline number is 2,000 MB/s both ways, and Samsung actually delivers sustained speeds here, not just a burst that falls off a cliff after 10 seconds. The MLC NAND helps with endurance, though the DRAM-less design is a bit of a head-scratcher at this price. In our database, speed lands right around the middle of the pack for external SSDs, which sounds underwhelming until you realize most of the faster stuff is internal NVMe drives bolted into enclosures. The thermal solution does its job. Multiple owners mention no overheating issues even during long transfers, which is more than I can say for some cheaper drives that turn into tiny space heaters.

Stacked against internal drives like the WD Black SN850X or Crucial T700, the T9 gives up raw speed. Those Gen 4 and Gen 5 drives can hit 7,000 to 12,000 MB/s, but they're not portable, and you'll need an enclosure to take them anywhere. The Kingston Fury Renegade and Team Group MP44 are closer in spirit, but again, internal. For a true portable drive that just works on Mac and PC without driver headaches, the T9 is the pick. The Lexar NM1090 PRO is faster on paper but runs hotter and lacks the T9's polish. If you need a drive that lives in your bag and survives real life, the T9 wins. If you need maximum throughput on a desk, get an internal NVMe and an enclosure.

This is where things get spicy. The same 2TB T9 sells for anywhere from USD 250 to USD 490 across US retailers, and Best Buy is where you'll find the lowest everyday price. In Canada, the spread runs CAD 555 to CAD 780, with Memory Express typically landing on the cheaper end. At USD 250, this drive is a solid buy for creators who need speed and reliability. At USD 490, you're getting fleeced. Shop around before you click buy, because the price gap between vendors is basically a whole other budget SSD.

The Samsung T9 is the portable SSD you buy when you're done messing around with slow transfers and flimsy enclosures. It hits 2,000 MB/s reads and writes over USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, which means a 50GB video project moves in about 25 seconds. That's not just fast for a portable drive, it's fast enough to edit 4K footage directly off the thing without wanting to throw your laptop out a window. The catch? You'll pay for it. Prices swing from USD 250 to USD 490 depending on where you shop, and the CAD spread is just as wild at CAD 555 to CAD 780.

If you're looking for a cheap external drive to back up photos once a month, this isn't it. Go grab a basic USB 3.2 Gen 1 SSD for half the price and call it a day. Same goes for console gamers. The T9's speed is wasted on a PS5 or Xbox, and you'll pay a premium for performance you can't even use. Budget buyers should look at Samsung's own T7 or a Crucial X6 instead.

Buy the Samsung T9 if you're a photographer, videographer, or gamer who wants a fast, reliable, pocketable drive and doesn't mind paying a premium for it. The 2,000 MB/s sustained speeds are real, the build quality is excellent, and the 5-year warranty means Samsung actually stands behind it. Just don't pay full retail. Hunt for the USD 250 to USD 300 range in the US or CAD 555 to CAD 650 in Canada, and you've got a winner.