Best 1TB External SSDs by Price per TB
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Pick your speed tier first — a 10Gbps 1TB external SSD covers most school, work, and travel needs, and 20Gbps only pays off with a matching port — then buy the lowest price per TB in that tier, and check 2TB, which often costs less per TB.
A 1TB external SSD is the default pick for students, office workers, and travelers who need a pocket-size drive for documents, a laptop overflow folder, a photo backup on the road, or a small game library. One terabyte holds roughly 250,000 photos at 4 MB each, or about 7 hours of 4K video at a typical 300 Mbps. The list below ranks new 1TB portable SSDs by price per TB, re-ranked on every snapshot refresh.
1TB is the most common portable SSD size, so the field is crowded. Work through it in two steps: decide your speed tier — 10Gbps is enough for most people, and 20Gbps helps only if your computer's port supports it — then take the lowest price per TB in that tier. Watch the math, too: the cheapest 1TB drive often costs more per TB than a 2TB model.
Verbatim Pocket 1TB External SSD USB 3.2 Gen 2 Up to 1000MB/s
$139.99 · $139.99/TB as of Sep 26, 01:31 PM EDT
Ranks #1 at $139.99/TB — 29% below the typical 1TB external SSD. New condition, USB.
ORICO M25PRO 1TB Portable External SSD, Up to 460MB/s
$149.99 · $149.99/TB as of Sep 26, 01:31 PM EDT
Ranks #2 at $149.99/TB — 24% below the typical 1TB external SSD. New condition.
GARMESE 1TB External SSD Up to 2000MB/s, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Portable SSD USB C
$153.99 · $153.99/TB as of Sep 26, 01:31 PM EDT
Ranks #3 at $153.99/TB — 22% below the typical 1TB external SSD. New condition, USB.
Sandisk 1TB Portable SSD, Up to 1000MB/s Read Speeds, Black (New Model)
$159.99 · $159.99/TB as of Sep 26, 01:31 PM EDT
Ranks #4 at $159.99/TB — 19% below the typical 1TB external SSD. New condition.
ADATA SE880, Portable External Solid State Drive, Titanium, 1TB
$162.99 · $162.99/TB as of Sep 26, 01:31 PM EDT
Ranks #5 at $162.99/TB — 17% below the typical 1TB external SSD. New condition.
Sandisk 1TB Portable SSD, Up to 800MB/s Read Speeds, Black (Old Model)
$165.70 · $165.70/TB as of Sep 26, 01:31 PM EDT
Ranks #6 at $165.70/TB — 16% below the typical 1TB external SSD. New condition.
WD 1TB Elements SE - Portable SSD, USB 3.0, Compatible with PC, Mac - WDBAYN0010BBK-WESN
$169.99 · $169.99/TB as of Sep 26, 01:31 PM EDT
Ranks #7 at $169.99/TB — 14% below the typical 1TB external SSD. New condition, USB.
SSK Portable SSD 1TB External Solid State Hard Drive USB C Up to 1050MB/s
$169.99 · $169.99/TB as of Sep 26, 01:31 PM EDT
Ranks #8 at $169.99/TB — 14% below the typical 1TB external SSD. New condition, USB.
Crucial X9 1TB Portable SSD, Up to 1050MB/s, USB 3.2 USB-C, External Solid State Drive, Compatible with Windows, Mac, & Android, Reliable Storage for Games, Files, & Backups, Black - CT1000X9SSD902
$171.23 · $171.23/TB as of Sep 26, 01:31 PM EDT
Ranks #9 at $171.23/TB — 13% below the typical 1TB external SSD. New condition, USB.
Lexar ES3 1TB Portable SSD Silver, USB 3.2 Gen 2 up to 1050MB/s
$179.99 · $179.99/TB as of Sep 26, 01:31 PM EDT
Ranks #10 at $179.99/TB — 9% below the typical 1TB external SSD. New condition, USB.
Compare live hard disk prices for all matching deals →
What to look for
Match the drive's speed tier to your computer's port, not to the box. 5Gbps drives top out around 460 MB/s, 10Gbps drives around 1,050 MB/s, and 20Gbps drives around 2,000 MB/s — but you only get the tier your port and cable support. A 20Gbps drive falls back to 10Gbps on most Macs and on Thunderbolt 4 PC ports, so for many buyers the extra cost buys nothing.
Even the slowest SSD tier beats a portable hard drive. A 2.5-inch portable hard drive is rated around 130 MB/s maximum sustained, so a 10Gbps SSD copies school and work files several times faster, fits in a pocket, and has no moving parts to damage in a bag.
Check how the drive behaves on long copies, not just peak speed. Some portable SSDs slow sharply once their write cache fills — Tom's Hardware measured one 20Gbps model holding about 2,000 MB/s for roughly 800 GB, then dropping to 200 to 300 MB/s. For everyday files that rarely matters; for copying big video folders, look for reviews that test long writes.
FAQ
Is 1TB enough for an external SSD?
For most people, yes. It holds roughly 250,000 photos at 4 MB each or about 7 hours of 4K video, which covers school files, a laptop overflow drive, or a travel backup. For a large game library or lots of 4K video, compare 2TB drives, which often cost less per TB.
How fast is a 1TB external SSD?
It depends on the USB tier: 5Gbps drives are rated around 460 MB/s, 10Gbps around 1,050 MB/s, 20Gbps around 2,000 MB/s, and USB4 around 3,800 to 4,000 MB/s. Your port and cable must support the same tier, and long copies can slow once the write cache fills.
Should I buy a 1TB or 2TB external SSD?
Compare price per TB, not the sticker price. The cheapest 1TB drive often costs more per TB than a 2TB model, so 2TB can be the better value if you'll use the space. Check the 2TB external SSD page alongside this one.
Can I use a 1TB external SSD for Time Machine or Windows backup?
Yes, if it's formatted right. Apple recommends APFS for Time Machine. exFAT works on both Windows and Mac, but Seagate notes it isn't journaled and doesn't recommend it for Time Machine or Windows File History. Make sure 1TB covers the data you're backing up.