Movies, photos, personal videos, without forgetting our working documents … these files always require more space to be stored. In the absence of a cloud hosting solution, the external drive remains the best solution for increasing the memory of a laptop or desktop computer, tablet or console.
Faced with physical hard drives called “HDD” for Hard Disk Drive, aging, more bulky and fragile, “SSD” drives (for Solid State Drive) combine the benefits. With flash memory, they have the privilege of compactness, resistance and increased write and read speeds. They also heat up less. The other side of the coin: SSDs are also more expensive … “20 Minutes” has selected five for all uses.
The difficult one: Samsung T7 Shield
This SSD disk (88 x 59 x 13 mm, to 98 grams) has the special feature of being extremely robust. With the IP65 standard, the accessory is resistant to dust and water splashes, but also to drops of up to three meters. Can be used with a Mac or PC, but also with an Android smartphone or a game console, it also offers enhanced data encryption (AES 256-bit).
Speed: up to 1050 MB / s read; 1000 MB / s write. 169 euros (1 TB); 319 euros (2 TB).
Our opinion: Available in beige, black and blue, this hard drive comes with two cables (USB-C and USB-C to USB-A) and is recommended primarily for professional use.
Player: Western Digitals WD_Black D30
Western Digital’s WD_Black SSD is dedicated to the video game world and allows you to no longer worry about the capabilities of your console. Compatible with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series (but also PC Windows 8.1 / 10 and Mac), the device (58 x 96 x 35 mm to 125 grams), which is connect and use is weighted with non-slip pads, which are particularly remarkable.
Speeds: up to 900 MB / s for reading and writing. 99 euros (500 GB); 154 euros (1 TB); 274 euros (2 TB).
Our opinion: Although a bit thick, this disc stands out for its unique design. In addition, there is a version surrounded by white (to fit the aesthetics of the Xbox). We regret the absence of a USB-C cable, where most competitors offer one.
Mac Addict: LaCie Portable SSD
Underneath its aluminum chassis with beveled ends and room gray finish (probably to better match a MacBook!), This SSD drive will meet the needs of the creators (photo, video). Owners of the latest generation of iPad can even use it to increase the memory capacity of their tablet. The disc measures 106 x 80 x 50 mm and weighs 103 grams, and the disc is a little more sumptuous than others and seems more suitable for sedentary use. It comes with two cables: a USB-C and a USB-C to USB-A.
Speed: up to 1050 MB / s read; 1000 MB / s write. 135 euros (500 GB); 249 euros (1 TB); 409 euros (2 TB).
Our opinion: Although slightly larger than other SSDs, this model looks good. Comes with two wires of about fifty centimeters, it is suitable for both laptops (Mac and PC) and desktops. If its performance remains classic, LaCie offers a three-year service warranty Save includes. Thus, the manufacturer will make sure to recover your data on the defective device and thus mark the difference with its competitors.
The Traveler: SanDisks Extreme Portable SSD V2
With its Extreme Portable SSD, Sandisk (96 x 49 x 9 mm) increases the speeds of its classic backup solution. Complies with the I55 standard, this model is resistant to dust, water spray and drops up to 2 meters. Equipped with a USB-C cable and a USB-C to USB-A adapter, the device is recommended, which is capable of transferring large files in a short time, especially for photo use.
Speed: up to 1050 MB / s read; 1000 MB / s write. 89 euros (500 MB); 149 euros (1 TB); 269 euros (2 TB); 626 euros (4 TB).
Our opinion: In addition to its good technical performance, this external drive has been well designed, with its double hard plastic and soft plastic shell providing good grip and shock absorption. Its structure is based on recycled aluminum. The notch for a wrist strap and a carabiner is a plus, although this accessory is missing in the box. Note a reassuring 5-year warranty, against 2 in general.
The Collector: Seagate’s The Mandalorian Drive Special Edition
Manufacturer Seagate celebrates the Star Wars universe with this disc bearing the image of The Mandalorian (14.50 x 80 x 122.5 mm by 176 grams). For Force to be with its user, the officially licensed accessory is compatible with all computers, but also PlayStation and Xbox consoles. It has a USB-3.2 Gen 1 interface.
Charges: not specified. 119 euros (2 TB).
Our opinion: Note for fans: In addition to The Mandalorian, this SSD also has Grogu and Boba Fett! Seagate in particular has succeeded in designing this storage solution, which is also adorned with a blue LED strip on the front when the disk is working. Despite our requests, the manufacturer did not want to specify the read / write speeds of his device. Should we be wary of that?