Solid state drives, also known as SSDs, have become a popular choice for external storage in recent years. As the name suggests, SSDs use solid state memory rather than mechanical moving parts like traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). This makes them faster, lighter, and less prone to damage from drops or vibration. But SSDs are also typically more expensive per gigabyte than HDDs. So is a solid state external drive worth the higher cost compared to a traditional external hard drive? Here we’ll examine the pros and cons of external SSDs to help you decide if one is right for your needs.
SSD vs HDD: Speed
One of the biggest advantages of a solid state drive over a hard disk drive is speed. SSDs can read and write data much faster than HDDs, often by a factor of 2-3 times or more. This is because SSDs don’t have any moving parts and can access data instantly. HDDs use physical read/write heads that have to move into position over the disk platters to access data, which takes time.
This speed advantage is very noticeable when booting up your computer or opening programs and files. Activities that involve a lot of small file reads and writes will benefit the most from an SSD. This includes booting up, loading apps, file transfers, and file searches. External SSDs also have faster interface speeds over their cable connections, from USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 and Thunderbolt 3/4 reaching up to 20Gbps. HDDs max out at around 5Gbps over USB.
So if you frequently work with large files like videos, photos, or graphics, an external SSD can save you significant time waiting for files to load and save. The faster performance will be immediately noticeable coming from a mechanical hard drive.
SSD vs HDD: Reliability
Being solid state with no moving parts, SSDs are less prone to mechanical failure or damage from vibration, bumps, and drops. A hard drive contains rapidly spinning platters and heads that can crash into the platters during a drop or shock, destroying the drive. SSDs have no risk of this type of mechanical failure.
However, SSDs do carry risks of their own. While modern SSDs are very reliable, they have a limited number of write cycles before cells start to fail and data gets lost. The drive controllers manage this well though and this is only an issue after many years of heavy use. HDDs can theoretically endure more writes over time before failure occurs. But due to their mechanical parts, real-world failure risks tend to be higher than SSDs.
So in general, SSDs are the safer choice for external storage you’ll be transporting or subject to drops and bumps. But HDDs may have an advantage for archival storage that gets infrequent writes. Overall SSDs are recommended for their durability and shock resistance.
SSD vs HDD: Capacity
HDDs continue to offer far larger capacities than SSDs. While external SSDs are now available at capacities up to 4TB, external HDDs scale much higher, with models up to 16TB or more. So if you need very high capacity external storage for archiving large files like videos, photos, and disc images, HDDs remain the only practical option. The much higher cost per gigabyte of SSDs makes them impractical for massive archival storage needs.
However, for most purposes 4TB is sufficient external storage capacity, and this amount is affordable with SSDs. Unless you specifically need more than 4TB of portable storage, an external SSD has enough capacity for things like backing up your computer, storing important files,offloading working files from your computer, and carrying large media collections with you.
So capacity and price do still favor hard drives for truly massive storage needs. But for general external storage purposes, SSD capacities have reached the point where most users will have enough space.
SSD vs HDD: Cost
The major tradeoff with solid state drives remains their higher cost per gigabyte compared to hard drives. Although SSD prices have been steadily falling for years, HDDs remain significantly cheaper per GB when you’re looking at high capacities. A speedy 1TB portable SSD currently costs $100 to $200, while a 1TB portable hard drive costs around $50.
So if you need many terabytes of external storage, an SSD still incurs a significant price premium over an HDD. This premium applies to the drives themselves as well as the enclosures. External SSDs with large capacities will always cost more than hard drives of the same capacity. This cost premium is the main reason HDDs remain popular.
However, at lower capacities like 500GB to 1TB, external SSDs have reached an affordable price point for many. The speed and reliability benefits can make the modestly higher cost over a hard drive worth it for an external drive you’ll rely on regularly. Although HDDs are cheaper per GB, the actual dollar difference is now minor compared to the extra benefits you get with an SSD.
SSD vs HDD: Use Cases
Here are some examples of use cases where an external SSD would provide benefits over an external hard disk drive:
– Storing and working with large media files like photos, videos, and graphics – The faster speeds will save you time when transferring and editing large files.
– Transferring files between computers and devices – The faster interface speeds cut down on transfer times.
– Backing up your computer – The fast speeds help regular backups complete quicker.
– Storing important documents and files – The ruggedness provides safer storage when traveling or moving between locations.
– Quickly starting applications at another computer – Programs and files will load faster from the SSD.
– Gaming – Games will load faster and level changes will have less lag.
– Storing private/sensitive information – SSDs lack the recovery risks of magnetic HDDs.
Here are some use cases where a large capacity external hard drive could be a better choice than an SSD:
– Archiving old photos, videos, and files – Higher capacities are available at lower costs.
– Storing entire music, game, or movie collections – HDDs offer more storage for large libraries.
– Daily backups from a high capacity computer – More space is needed for full system backups.
– Backing up multiple computers – The higher capacity handles more backups.
– Archiving old disk images and drives – Cost-effective solution for imaging many drives.
So in summary, if you need speed, durability, and reasonable capacity from portable storage, an SSD is likely the best choice. But if you need the highest possible capacity for backups and archives, HDDs remain cheaper for 5TB+ storage needs.
External SSD vs Portable SSD
If you’ve decided on getting a solid state drive for external storage, you’re faced with another decision: whether to get a portable SSD or a traditional external SSD. What’s the difference, and which is better for your needs?
Portability
As the name implies, portable SSDs are designed for easy transport and maximum mobility. They use flash memory like regular SSDs, but in a much smaller form factor. Many are about the size of a credit card and less than 1/2 inch thick, easily fitting in a pocket or bag. They also typically have no external power requirements.
External SSDs are generally larger at around 2.5 inches and an inch thick. They require a USB or Thunderbolt cable for data transfer and power. While still portable, they are bulkier to transport than a miniaturized portable SSD.
So if you need external storage while traveling as light as possible, a portable SSD provides the most compact and convenient solution. They are very easy to toss in a bag or even pocket for storage on the go.
Housing and Connections
The housing for portable SSDs is tough and ruggedized for travel with shock/drop protection. External SSDs have more standard enclosures not quite as ruggedized, but still offering good protection with rubber edges etc.
External SSDs typically use USB or Thunderbolt connectors. Many are compatible with both USB and Thunderbolt ports for easy connectivity. Portable SSDs have USB-C or USB-A connectors, relying on the more compact USB interface. USB 3.2 Gen2 speeds of 10Gbps are common for the latest models.
So if you need Thunderbolt compatibility for the fastest speeds on high end devices, an external SSD is the way to go. But a portable SSD gives you streamlined portability with fast enough USB performance for many users.
Features
External SSDs often include backup software for easy file transfers and cloning. And some have advanced features like hardware encryption to secure sensitive data. Portable SSDs provide basic quick backup capabilities but overall less software features.
Finally, external SSDs tend to have longer warranties of 3 to 5 years, while portable SSD warranties are 1 to 3 years. So if you want more software functionality and longer guaranteed reliability, an external SSD may be the better choice. Portable SSDs provide faster transfers than external HDDs, while still being highly portable. But they lack some of the extras of full sized external SSD models.
Use Cases
Here are some examples where a **portable SSD** would make the most sense over an external SSD:
– Frequently transporting or traveling with large amounts of data
– Working with files at multiple locations where a highly portable drive is needed
– Quick backups and file transfers while on the go
– For photographers, videographers, drone pilots, and content creators working in the field
– Students needing external storage to carry between home and school
– As supplementary storage for gaming laptops when traveling
And here are examples well suited for a **traditional external SSD**:
– Storage that stays on your desk for everyday backups and file storage
– Working with large media files that benefit from the fastest speeds
– Quickly expanding the storage on a desktop computer
– Time Machine or image backups of your computer
– Safely storing sensitive documents and archives
– Video editing workflows that require moving large files between drives
So in general, if you need an ultra portable drive for frequent transport, get a portable SSD. But if it will mainly sit on your desk for everyday use, an external SSD is likely the better choice.
Should you get an external SSD or hard drive?
Based on the differences covered above, here are some general guidelines on when to choose an external SSD over an external hard drive:
– If you need to frequently move and transport external storage, an SSD is much better for durability and shock resistance. Portable SSDs provide the ultimate portable storage solution.
– For working with large media files like photos, videos, and graphics, an SSD will significantly speed up your workflow when transferring and editing files.
– If you’ll be using the drive to store important or sensitive documents and files, the more resilient SSD is a safer choice.
– For quick backups and transfers or expanding the storage of your computer, an SSD is the best option for fast transfer speeds.
– If you need to run programs off the external storage, apps and games will load much faster from an SSD.
– For storing private/encrypted data, SSDs lack the magnetic recovery risks of HDDs.
But there are cases where a traditional hard drive still makes more sense:
– If you need many terabytes of storage to archive media or backup multiple computers and drives, HDDs remain much cheaper for huge capacity needs.
– For rarely accessed cold storage, the lower cost per GB of HDDs makes them better for infrequent bulk storage needs.
– If you have an older computer with only USB 2.0 ports, an HDD can take advantage of their full speed. USB 2.0 is too slow for SSDs to show benefits.
Overall, for most external storage purposes today, an SSD provides noticeable speed, durability, and safety benefits over HDDs. The costs have come down enough that they have become the default choice for most users’ external storage needs of 1-4TB. Hard drives remain useful for specialized high capacity archival storage purposes. But SSD is generally the better choice for any external storage that will be used actively and transported.
Conclusion
Solid state drives have clear advantages in speed, reliability, and ruggedness over traditional hard disk drives. Although their cost per gigabyte remains higher, their real-world price difference for typical capacities has narrowed significantly. This makes SSD the preferred choice for most external storage uses today.
The only exceptions are users needing multi-terabyte external storage for high capacity archives and backups. In those cases, HDDs retain a significant price-per-gigabyte advantage. But at capacities of 1-4TB, external SSDs have hit an affordable sweet spot for many, with the benefits far outweighing the modest cost premium.
Models like portable SSDs provide ultrathin and compact alternatives well-suited for travel and transportation. While traditional external SSDs offer higher capacities and connections like Thunderbolt for lightning fast transfers. With external solid state drives now readily available up to 4TB, they meet the capacity needs of most users looking for external storage today.
Thanks to their speed, reliability, and falling prices, external SSDs are now the smartest choice for external storage. They make working with large media files faster, keep important documents safe when traveling, and provide reliable portable storage for backups. Unless you specifically need multi-terabyte storage for archives, a solid state drive is now the best way to add external storage to your computer or workflow.