Samsung T9 Portable SSD

The Samsung T9 hits 2,000 MB/s sequential speeds on the right hardware, but random performance is near the bottom of our database. It's a solid portable drive for big file transfers, not for running apps or console gaming. Shop around, prices vary by USD 32 in the US and CAD 47 in Canada.

The headline number is 2,000 MB/s read and write, but you only get that if your host device supports USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 and UASP mode. On a standard USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, you're looking at roughly half that speed. The drive is DRAM-less, which usually hurts sustained write performance and random I/O. And our random score backs that up, it's at the 2nd percentile, which is basically the bottom of the barrel. For big sequential file transfers like video footage, it'll feel quick. For lots of small files or running apps directly off the drive, it'll feel sluggish. The Dynamic Thermal Guard keeps temps in check, so you won't see thermal throttling during long transfers.

Stacked against the Western Digital Black SN850X, the T9 looks like a portable drive trying to play in an internal SSD's league. The SN850X is an internal NVMe drive with much stronger random performance, but it's not portable out of the box. The Micron T710 and Crucial T710 are also internal drives, so they're not direct competitors for someone who needs a pocketable external. The Lexar NM1090 PRO and Corsair MP700 PRO are PCIe 5.0 internal drives that absolutely crush the T9 on speed, but again, different form factor. For a true portable SSD, the T9's main competition is other USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 drives, and in that space, it's a solid but not spectacular option.

Pricing is a bit scattered right now. In the US, we're seeing USD 228 to USD 260 across two listings. That's a USD 32 spread for the exact same drive, so shop around before you click buy. The lower end of that range is reasonable for a 1TB portable SSD with these specs, but the higher end feels steep when you consider the random performance weakness. In Canada, the spread is CAD 343 to CAD 390, a CAD 47 gap. If you're paying top dollar for this drive, you're overpaying. Find the cheaper listing.

The Samsung T9 Portable SSD is a pocket-sized drive that promises 2,000 MB/s reads and writes over USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. It's aimed at creators, gamers, and anyone who needs to move big files without waiting around. The 1TB version we're looking at has a 5-year warranty and hardware encryption, which is a nice combo for a portable drive.

But here's the thing. Our database puts this drive's speed at the 47th percentile, which is dead average for external SSDs right now. The portable score is solid at 76.8 out of 100, but the console score is rough at 21.4. So it's a mixed bag depending on what you're plugging it into.

Skip this if you need a drive for console gaming or running applications directly from the drive. The random I/O performance is at the 2nd percentile in our database, which means load times and small file operations will feel sluggish. Also skip it if your devices don't have USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports, you'll be paying for speed you can't use.

If you're a creator who needs to offload footage from a camera or laptop with a Gen 2x2 port, the T9 is a decent pick. The 2,000 MB/s sequential speeds are real, and the 5-year warranty gives peace of mind. But if you're planning to run games or apps directly from this drive, or you're plugging it into a console, look elsewhere. The random performance is just too weak for that kind of workload.