Quick Answers
Yes, solid state drives (SSDs) are commonly used in external hard drives nowadays. External SSDs connect to a computer through USB or Thunderbolt and provide extra storage space like a traditional hard disk drive (HDD). However, SSDs are faster, more durable, and energy efficient than HDDs. Major brands like Samsung, SanDisk and WD sell portable SSDs in various form factors with large storage capacities of up to 2TB. SSD technology has improved tremendously in recent years, making external SSDs a popular choice over HDDs for many users.
What is an external hard drive?
An external hard drive is a type of computer storage device that plugs into your computer externally, unlike an internal hard drive which is installed inside the computer case. It connects to the computer through a USB port, Firewire port, or wirelessly. External hard drives come in two main types – traditional hard disk drives (HDD) and solid state drives (SSD).
External HDDs and SSDs function as extra storage space for your files, photos, videos, music, documents, and programs. You can store or backup important data on an external drive and take it with you on the go. Top benefits of using an external hard drive are:
– Extra storage space: External HDDs and SSDs provide abundant extra storage for your laptop or desktop computer. For example, a 2TB external drive can store over 500,000 photos or 500 hours of videos.
– Portability: Their compact size allows easy portability so you can carry your files anywhere.
– Backup: External drives provide an excellent means to backup your system or important data as a safety measure against computer crashes or data loss.
– Convenience: Plug and play functionality allows easy connection to different computers via USB port. No need to install the drive.
– Durability: External HDDs and SSDs are less prone to failures or damage compared to internal drives.
So in summary, an external HDD or SSD gives you portable, versatile extra storage space for your computer system.
Do they make external SSDs?
Yes, external solid state drives (SSDs) are a very popular portable storage option nowadays and all major manufacturers like Samsung, SanDisk, Seagate and Western Digital offer external SSDs.
Compared to traditional external hard disk drives (HDDs), external SSDs have higher data transfer speeds, better durability, compact size and silent operation. Let’s look at some key advantages of external SSDs over HDDs:
Speed
SSDs can reach transfer speeds of up to 550 MB/s over the USB 3.0 interface, nearly 5 times faster than HDDs which max out at 100 MB/s. This makes moving or accessing your files and programs almost instant.
Size and Weight
With no moving parts, SSDs are lighter and smaller than HDDs. For example, a 2TB SSD weighs around 3 ounces versus 7 ounces for a 2TB HDD. The compact build makes SSDs highly portable.
Durability
Absence of moving parts in SSDs makes them more shock and vibration resistant. They can withstand accidental drops better than HDDs which can suffer damage due to the presence of platters and heads.
Noiseless operation
SSDs run silently and are noiseless unlike HDDs which produce audible spinning sounds during operation. This makes them ideal for quiet environments.
Power efficiency
SSDs consume less power and have longer battery lives compared to HDDs. This extends the usage time when running on laptop or mobile device batteries.
Faster file transfer
The speed advantage of SSDs is most noticeable when transferring large files like videos, photos, ISO files or during file management tasks like copying/moving big folders containing thousands of files. SSDs can cut file transfer times by more than half versus HDDs.
So in summary, all the advantages clearly demonstrate that external SSDs are a better choice compared to old school HDDs for on-the-go storage needs. Top PC and Mac accessory makers like Samsung, WD and Seagate offer external SSDs with USB 3.0/3.1, USB-C and Thunderbolt interfaces. Storage capacities go up to 2TB. The portable drives come in slick, compact designs and work seamlessly with both Windows PCs and Mac computers.
Examples of popular external SSD models
Here are some of the best external SSD options from reputed brands:
Samsung T5 Portable SSD
The Samsung T5 is one of the most popular and top-rated portable SSDs. It provides transfer speeds up to 540 MB/s via the USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface. Shock resistant metal body and compact size make it highly portable. Available capacities are 500GB, 1TB and 2TB.
Western Digital My Passport SSD
This sleek and stylish external SSD from WD reaches speeds up to 515 MB/s and offers 256-bit AES hardware encryption. It is drop resistant up to 6.5 feet and available in 512GB, 1TB and 2TB models.
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD
With ruggedized silicon rubber coating and IP55 rating for dust/water resistance, the SanDisk Extreme SSD is built to last. It delivers speeds up to 550MB/s over USB 3.1 Gen 2 and is available in 250GB to 2TB capacities.
Seagate Fast SSD
The Seagate Fast SSD comes in a compact and lightweight design with transfer speeds up to 540 MB/s over USB-C. It provides 1TB of storage and folder syncing capability across devices.
LaCie Portable SSD
LaCie offers this sleek black external SSD with USB 3.0 speeds up to 540 MB/s and capacities from 500GB to 2TB. The attractive diamond cut design complements Mac laptops.
So in summary, all leading storage companies offer external SSD models with ample storage capacities, ultra fast transfer speeds, portable and durable construction, and compatibility with Windows and Mac computers.
Are all external SSDs compatible with MacBooks?
The good news is that the majority of external SSD models today work seamlessly with MacBooks and iMacs without any special software or drivers required.
Most external SSDs come with USB-C or Thunderbolt connections which ensures native compatibility with modern MacBooks that only have USB-C/Thunderbolt ports and no traditional USB-A ports. Even SSDs featuring just USB-A connectivity can still work with MacBooks using a simple USB-C to USB-A adapter.
Moreover, external SSDs are plug and play devices. Once connected through the USB or Thunderbolt port, the Mac will automatically detect and mount the external SSD without needing any special driver installation. You can access the drive and directly copy files like you would with a USB flash drive.
Leading external SSD brands like Samsung, WD and SanDisk specially mention Mac compatibility for their portable SSDs. For example:
Samsung T5 SSD – Compatible with Mac OS X 10.9 and above
WD My Passport SSD – Works with Mac models running macOS 10.12+
SanDisk Extreme SSD – Compatible with MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and iMac models
However, its still a good idea to check reviews and product documentation to confirm compatibility before purchasing any particular SSD model. Some older external SSDs may have issues with very latest Macs. But most modern external SSDs connecting via USB-C work flawlessly with MacBooks.
So in summary, there are excellent external SSD choices available today that offer full cross-platform compatibility and seamless performance when used with MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air or iMac systems.
Can you boot a Mac from an external SSD?
Yes, booting your Mac computer from an external SSD is completely possible. Here are some key pointers on booting Macs from external drives:
– The external SSD will need a Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C connection to boot recent Macs. Older Macs with Thunderbolt 2 ports may also support booting from external SSDs.
– You will need to create a bootable macOS installer on the external SSD drive. The SSD needs to be formatted using GUID partition table and HFS+ or APFS file systems.
– Newer T2-equipped Macs like MacBook Pro/Air introduced extra security restrictions and may require some extra steps to enable booting from external drives. You may need to enable Secure Boot and allow booting from external media in Startup Security Utility.
– When booting the Mac, press and hold the Option (Alt) key after powering on to bring up Startup Manager. This will allow selecting the external SSD drive to boot from.
– Once booted, the external SSD will function as the startup disk and you can run macOS, install apps etc. just like on the internal system drive. It provides a portable workstation.
– If the SSD is removed, the Mac will not boot up. You will need to reconnect the SSD or reboot from the internal system drive instead.
So in summary, booting from an external SSD is handy to test out different macOS versions, troubleshoot Mac problems, run maintenance tools or have a portable workspace. Thunderbolt 3 SSDs offer the fastest boot speeds and full functionality.
How to choose an external SSD for Mac
Here are some important criteria to select the best external SSD for your Mac system:
Storage Capacity – Choose the right capacity based on your storage needs. Options are available from 240GB up to 4TB. Greater capacity means higher cost.
Interface – Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C SSDs offer native compatibility and fastest speeds with modern Macs. USB 3.0 SSDs work too via adapters.
Speed – Aim for SSDs with advertised read/write speeds of at least 500 MB/s for optimal transfer performance.
Portable Size – Mac-friendly SSDs come in compact and lightweight designs making them easy to carry around.
Ruggedness – Pick an SSD with durable build quality that can withstand accidental drops, shocks or scratches during travels.
Manufacturer – Stick with reputed brands like Samsung, WD, SanDisk, LaCie etc. for proven macOS compatibility.
Security – Look for SSDs featuring hardware encryption to keep your data extra secure.
Warranty – Longer warranty periods like 3-5 years give greater peace of mind.
Price – External SSDs have gotten cheaper but are still pricier than HDDs. Shop around for best deals.
In summary, always verify macOS compatibility before purchasing an external SSD. Also check reviews from credible technology sites like PCMag and CNET to pick the best SSD for your specific usage.
Do you need to format external SSD for Mac?
Most external SSDs designed for Macs will be pre-formatted out of the box to work seamlessly. However in some cases, you may need to manually format the external SSD drive to use it with Mac computers:
– If you purchase an external SSD designed for Windows, it will typically come formatted in NTFS format by default which is not natively readable on Mac. You will need to reformat it in HFS+ or APFS formats.
– Reformatting may be required if you want to completely wipe and erase all content on a used external SSD before using it with your Mac.
– Formatting also optimizes the SSD by writing fresh filesystem structures to ensure peak performance.
– If the drive is being used across both Mac and Windows systems, a common filesystem like exFAT is preferable over APFS or HFS+.
– You may sometimes need to reformat if the SSD is not mounting correctly or showing errors when connected to your Mac.
On macOS, you can easily format an external SSD using the Disk Utility app. Simply launch Disk Utility, select the SSD, click Erase, pick the filesystem format, rename the drive if needed and click Erase. This will completely wipe the SSD and reformats it for Mac compatibility. The SSD will now show up ready to use in Finder.
So in summary, formatting external SSDs is not mandatory but can be useful in certain situations to enhance compatibility, change formats, wipe content or troubleshoot issues when using the drive with your Mac system.
Is Thunderbolt 3 better for connecting external SSD to Macs?
Thunderbolt 3 is considered the best choice for connecting external SSDs to modern MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and iMac systems for the following reasons:
Faster speeds – Thunderbolt 3 via USB-C allows blistering transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps, 4 times higher than the 10 Gbps bandwidth of USB 3.0/3.1 Gen 2 ports. This results in blazing fast file transfers ideal for large multimedia and data files.
More power – Thunderbolt 3 provides up to 100W power delivery. This enables easy daisy chaining of multiple devices including power hungry peripherals without need for external power.
Display capabilities – You can connect up to two 4K displays via a Thunderbolt 3 SSD. Useful for MacBook users who want to boost productivity by attaching external monitors.
Backwards compatibility – Thunderbolt 3 ports on new Macs are compatible with USB-C devices. So you can use Thunderbolt 3 SSDs even with older USB-C only Macs without Thunderbolt.
Future-proof – Thunderbolt 3 is the latest I/O standard ensuring you get the fastest speeds and best performance from modern SSDs both now and in the long term.
Daisy chaining – Up to 6 Thunderbolt devices can be daisy chained together to a single port allowing flexible connections.
However, Thunderbolt 3 SSDs have higher costs. More affordable USB 3.0 SSDs with USB-C can still provide decent speeds around 500 MB/s for general usage. Unless you need to transfer huge 100GB+ files constantly or use multiple peripherals together, USB 3.2 SSDs work great for most users.
So in summary, while Thunderbolt 3 is technically the fastest interface, USB 3.0 SSDs still offer sufficient speeds for the majority of external SSD storage use cases with modern Macs at cheaper price points in a compact form factor.
Tips for using external SSD with MacBook Pro/Air
Here are some useful tips when using an external SSD drive with a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air or other Mac laptop:
– Connect your SSD to one of the Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C ports on your MacBook for fastest speeds. Avoid adapters.
– Position the SSD carefully when plugged in so that the connector cable doesn’t bend or strain too much to prevent damage.
– Eject the external SSD properly through the macOS menu before unplugging it to prevent corruption.
– Use Time Machine for scheduled backups to the SSD to protect your important laptop data.
– Utilize built-in macOS encryption or encrypted SSDs for keeping private files secure if carrying the SSD around.
– Store large media files like photos, videos and project files on the SSD instead of the internal drive to save space.
– Plug the SSD into a USB-C hub to access it along with other ports like USB-A, HDMI, card slots etc.
– Match the peak write and read speeds mentioned for the SSD before purchase to ensure maximum performance.
– Register for manufacturer’s warranty on the external SSD for coverage in case of any defects.
– Avoid exposing the SSD to moisture, spills or extreme heat/cold to reduce risk of damage when travelling.
– Carry the SSD in a protective case or pouch within your backpack to minimize physical shocks.
So in summary, external SSDs greatly complement MacBook Pro and Air laptops by providing abundant extra speedy storage in a tiny portable form factor. Taking some basic precautions will ensure you can enjoy the SSD’s performance benefits and convenience while on the move.
Conclusion
In conclusion, external SSDs are a popular portable storage option that offer much faster speeds, improved durability and compact form factors compared to traditional external hard disk drives. Leading SSD brands like Samsung, WD, SanDisk and LaCie offer excellent external SSD models with large capacities of up to 2TB and USB 3.0/Thunderbolt connectivity to work seamlessly with MacBooks and iMacs. While external SSDs entail higher costs, their manifold advantages make them a wise long term investment for Mac users who want fast, reliable and travel-friendly storage. Carefully matching your performance needs and usage scenarios to the right SSD features will ensure you pick the optimal model to complement your Apple system.