Tech Gadgets

Best USB Flash Drives, microSD Cards, and Portable SSDs

Fast, reliable pocket storage from Samsung and SanDisk: flash drives for quick transfers, microSD cards for consoles and cameras, and rugged portable SSDs.

7 picks · Published

  • SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD V3 with its orange carabiner loop, front view
  • Samsung Portable SSD T9 in black, angled view
  • Samsung BAR Plus USB flash drive in champagne silver
  • SanDisk Extreme 256 GB microSDXC A2 V30 card

Top picks at a glance

Compare specs

Best USB Flash Drives, microSD Cards, and Portable SSDs: spec comparison
Product#1SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD (V3)Best for travel#2Samsung Portable SSD T9Fastest portable SSD#3Samsung BAR Plus USB Flash DriveBest everyday flash drive#4SanDisk Extreme microSD CardBest high-capacity microSD#5Samsung Portable SSD T7 ShieldBest portable SSD#6SanDisk Extreme PRO Flash Drive (USB-A)Fastest flash drive#7Samsung PRO Plus microSD CardBest microSD card
Our rating
Price$$$$$$$$$$$$
TypePortable SSDPortable SSDUSB flash drivemicroSD cardPortable SSDUSB flash drivemicroSD card
ReadUp to 2,000 MB/sUp to 2,000 MB/sUp to 400 MB/sUp to 190 MB/sUp to 1,050 MB/sUp to 1,000 MB/sUp to 180 MB/s
WriteLower than read (check listing)Up to 2,000 MB/sLower (not published)Up to 130 MB/sUp to 1,000 MB/sUp to 900 MB/sUp to 130 MB/s
InterfaceUSB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (USB-C)USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (USB-C)USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-A)UHS-IUSB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C)USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-A)UHS-I
DurabilityIP65, up to 3 m dropUp to 9.8 ft dropWaterproof metal bodyCheck listingIP65, drop protectedCompact 28 g bodyCheck listing
Warranty5-year limited5-year limitedCheck listingLifetime limited3-year limitedLifetime limitedCheck listing
BuyCheck pricefor SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD (V3) (opens in a new tab)Check pricefor Samsung Portable SSD T9 (opens in a new tab)Check pricefor Samsung BAR Plus USB Flash Drive (opens in a new tab)Check pricefor SanDisk Extreme microSD Card (opens in a new tab)Check pricefor Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield (opens in a new tab)Check pricefor SanDisk Extreme PRO Flash Drive (USB-A) (opens in a new tab)Check pricefor Samsung PRO Plus microSD Card (opens in a new tab)

The picks, reviewed

#1
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD V3 with its orange carabiner loop, front view
Best for travel

SanDiskSanDisk Extreme Portable SSD (V3)

$$

The new third-generation Extreme Portable SSD: the same compact carabiner-loop design, now twice as fast at up to 2,000 MB/s, with up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance.

Pros

  • Up to 2,000 MB/s reads over USB 3.2 Gen 2x2
  • IP65 water and dust resistance, 3 m drop protection
  • Carabiner loop and 256-bit AES password protection

Cons

  • Full speed needs a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps) port
Type
Portable SSD
Read
Up to 2,000 MB/s
Write
Lower than read (check listing)
Interface
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (USB-C)
Check price on Amazon(opens in a new tab)
#2
Samsung Portable SSD T9 in black, angled view
Fastest portable SSD

SamsungSamsung Portable SSD T9

$$$

Samsung’s fastest portable SSD, reaching 2,000 MB/s reads and writes on a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port, which suits pro video and big project files.

Pros

  • Up to 2,000 MB/s read and write
  • Survives drops of up to 9.8 ft
  • Available up to 4 TB

Cons

  • Needs a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port for full speed (many Macs and PCs lack one)
  • No IP water-resistance rating
Type
Portable SSD
Read
Up to 2,000 MB/s
Write
Up to 2,000 MB/s
Interface
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (USB-C)
Check price on Amazon(opens in a new tab)
#3
Samsung BAR Plus USB flash drive in champagne silver
Best everyday flash drive

SamsungSamsung BAR Plus USB Flash Drive

$

A compact, waterproof metal flash drive with a key-ring loop and fast reads, at a fraction of the price of SSD-style drives.

Pros

  • Up to 400 MB/s reads
  • Waterproof metal body with a key-ring loop
  • Affordable, in 64 GB to 512 GB sizes

Cons

  • Write speeds are much lower than read speeds
Type
USB flash drive
Read
Up to 400 MB/s
Write
Lower (not published)
Interface
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-A)
Check price on Amazon(opens in a new tab)
#4
SanDisk Extreme 256 GB microSDXC A2 V30 card
Best high-capacity microSD

SanDiskSanDisk Extreme microSD Card

$

SanDisk’s go-to fast microSD card for phones, action cameras, and drones, available in capacities up to 2 TB.

Pros

  • Up to 190 MB/s read and 130 MB/s write (64 GB–1 TB)
  • Capacities up to 2 TB
  • Lifetime limited warranty

Cons

  • Top read speeds need a SanDisk QuickFlow-compatible reader
Type
microSD card
Read
Up to 190 MB/s
Write
Up to 130 MB/s
Interface
UHS-I
Check price on Amazon(opens in a new tab)
#5
Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield in black, angled view
Best portable SSD

SamsungSamsung Portable SSD T7 Shield

$$

A rugged, rubber-armored NVMe portable SSD with IP65 water and dust resistance and Dynamic Thermal Guard to keep speeds steady during long transfers.

Pros

  • IP65 water and dust resistance
  • Drop-protected rubberized body
  • Fast 1,050 MB/s reads over USB 3.2 Gen 2

Cons

  • Half the speed of the T9 on a Gen 2x2 port
Type
Portable SSD
Read
Up to 1,050 MB/s
Write
Up to 1,000 MB/s
Interface
USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C)
Check price on Amazon(opens in a new tab)
#6
SanDisk Extreme PRO USB-A flash drive in gray, side view
Fastest flash drive

SanDiskSanDisk Extreme PRO Flash Drive (USB-A)

$$

The newest Extreme PRO flash drive delivers portable-SSD speeds in a pocketable 28 g stick, more than double the speed of the model it replaces.

Pros

  • Up to 1,000 MB/s read and 900 MB/s write
  • Capacities from 256 GB up to 2 TB
  • Lifetime limited warranty

Cons

  • Full speed needs a USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) port
Type
USB flash drive
Read
Up to 1,000 MB/s
Write
Up to 900 MB/s
Interface
USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-A)
Check price on Amazon(opens in a new tab)
#7
Samsung PRO Plus 256 GB microSD card with its SD adapter
Best microSD card

SamsungSamsung PRO Plus microSD Card

$

A fast UHS-I microSD card for handheld consoles, drones, and action cams, with an SD adapter in the box.

Pros

  • Up to 180 MB/s read and 130 MB/s write
  • Great for 4K video, drones, and handheld consoles
  • Available up to 1 TB

Cons

  • Hitting top read speeds needs a compatible reader
Type
microSD card
Read
Up to 180 MB/s
Write
Up to 130 MB/s
Interface
UHS-I
Check price on Amazon(opens in a new tab)

Flash drive, microSD, or portable SSD?

  • Flash drives are for quick file moves between computers. Pick one that’s rated for high write speeds if you copy large files often.
  • microSD cards go in handheld consoles, drones, action cams, and phones. Look for A2 for apps and V30 or higher for 4K video.
  • Portable SSDs are for backups, big photo and video libraries, and editing directly from the drive.

Match the port

A drive only runs as fast as the port you plug it into. The Samsung T9 needs USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 to reach 2,000 MB/s. On a regular USB 3.2 Gen 2 port it runs at roughly T7 Shield speeds.

Don’t skip backups

Portable drives get lost and dropped. Keep anything important in at least two places.