SanDisk vs. Samsung SSD: Which is Better?

Key Points

• SanDisk and Samsung are leaders in the computer storage industry, known for their reliable and high-quality products.
• SSD drives are more compact, faster, and more reliable than older HDD drives.
• The SanDisk Extreme Pro is the top choice in the SanDisk vs. Samsung SSD comparison, offering the largest storage capacity, fastest read/write speed, and durability.

SanDisk vs. Samsung SSD portable hard drive comparisons are not new. They are likely the most common devices of their kind in use. Both SanDisk and Samsung are leaders in the computer storage industry, and their reliable products are hard to beat. SSD drives are actually manufactured for both internal and external use. This article will review the best SanDisk vs. Samsung SSD portable external drives. You can use our comparison to help you choose which is better for your purposes. 

External storage solutions are immensely popular, and the portable SSD is by far the leading product in demand. The acronym “SSD” stands for solid-state drive. This type of storage device is vastly different than older HDD internal drives. SSDs are more compact, operate faster, load your files more quickly, and can easily be taken with you. 

Older HDD hard disks read data magnetically. They use a disk that spins while a reading head moves over it on a mechanical arm. SSDs have no internal moving parts to jam up or cause problems. They feature a simple flash controller and memory chips that are stacked together to make them more compact. SSDs also operate silently, use less electricity (because your computer powers it), and have much less chance of failing. 

Comparing SanDisk vs. Samsung SSD Drives

For our comparison, We’ve narrowed down the options to include the Samsung T5 and T7, and the SanDisk Extreme and Extreme Pro. Which SSD wins between the SanDisk vs. Samsung SSD? We compare them side by side and let you decide. 

SanDisk Extreme vs. Samsung T5: Side-by-Side Comparison

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SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD

$69.99

• Read speeds up to 1050MBps
• Up to 2-meter (6.5 feet) drop protection
• IP55 water and dust resistance
• 256‐bit AES encryption
• USB 3.2

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11/26/2023 11:17 pm GMT

Fast Transfer Speeds

SAMSUNG T5 Portable SSD 1TB, Black

$172.52

• Storage: 1TB
• Speed: 540MB/s
• USB 3.1
• Features AES 256-bit encryption with password protection

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11/26/2023 11:11 pm GMT

Extreme Pro vs. T7: Side-by-Side Comparison

Powerful and Reliable

SanDisk 2TB Extreme PRO Portable SSD

$112.37

• Read and write speeds up to up to 2000MBps
• Up to 2-meter (6.5 feet) drop protection
• IP55 water and dust resistance
• 256‐bit AES encryption
• USB-C and USB-A connectivity

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11/26/2023 11:26 pm GMT

Durable and Secure

SAMSUNG T7 1TB Portable SSD

$99.99

• Read speeds up to 1050MBps
• Supports USB 3.2 Gen2
• Includes USB Type-C to C and USB Type-C to A cables
• Password security
• Withstands drops from 6 feet

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11/26/2023 11:27 pm GMT

SanDisk vs. Samsung SSD: What’s the Difference?

All four drives in our comparison have notable features that any user will find acceptable. All offer fast data transfer speeds, reliable storage with high capacities available, portability, a sleek design, impressive software features, affordable pricing, and a solid warranty. SanDisk vs. Samsung SSD — how do they compare and what is different? See for yourself. 

Design

Portable SSD products are small, compact, and easy to carry by design. Comparing the physical design of SanDisk vs. Samsung SSD drives reveals few differences. All fit comfortably in the hand, a pocket, or a sleeve in your computer bag. Each one is thin enough to slip into a small pack with other hardware tools and cords. 

The SanDisk drives feature a durable ID55 case that is water and dust resistant. It also has up to two-meter (6.5 feet) drop protection. The extremely handy carabiner-style loop in the upper corner lets you clip it onto a backpack. Keeping up with it is easy. The Samsung T7 is drop-resistant up to six feet. Both the SanDisk Extreme and Extreme Pro come with a single USB-C to USB-C cable with a USB-A adapter for connecting to your computer or other devices. 

The Samsung T5 and T7 are relatively the same size and shape. Both are smooth, thin rectangles with no grips or loops. They include two USB cables: one USB-C to USB-C and the other USB-C to USB-A. The Samsung SSDs also have a blinking light beside the USB port to indicate it is operating. 

Storage

Portable drives are used for computer data storage, and the SanDisk vs. Samsung SSD comparison reveals some versatility. The Samsung T5 offers more options with 500GB and 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB capacities, all in the same small case. The SanDisk Extreme is narrower in its offerings with only 1TB or 2TB. The Extreme Pro expands offerings to three choices while the Samsung T7 drops to only three capacity choices. 

Today’s terabyte storage capacities are a far cry from earlier HDD drives. They were large, heavy, slow, and struggled with only a few hundred megabytes storage levels. Newer technology innovations make drives smaller, faster, safer, and with vastly higher storage capacities. 

Speed

Of course, an SSD is all about speed and storage capacity. Old drives took long minutes to read or write smaller amounts of data. Users had plenty of time to enjoy a snack or restroom break while working on large data projects. SSDs of today read and write data at incredibly high speeds. Work is completed faster, and projects take less time. 

SanDisk vs. Samsung SSD drive speed isn’t much of a contest. Users can enjoy a respectable 540MB per second from the SanDisk Extreme at the low end. Or, an incredible 2000MB per second at the high end — interestingly from the SanDisk Extreme Pro. Both the Samsung T5 and T7 top out at 1050MB per second, which is not at all shabby. 

Features and Performance 

Performance is a key consideration when choosing between SanDisk vs. Samsung SSD drives, or any other brand and model. Speed is essential, but what about data protection? 

The Samsung T5 SSD uses the latest ASMedia bridge chip and 64-Layer V-NAND flash technology for a small design with big density. Similar technology is found in the T7, but with additional advanced overheating protection that automatically slows your data transfer when necessary to protect your drive and data from extremely high temperatures. 

The SanDisk Extreme and Extreme Pro SSDs use a similar bridge chip from ASMedia but with an additional controller and 64-layer 3D TLC flash technology. 

All four drives in our comparison include secure AES 256-bit hardware encryption and password protection to keep your data safe. 

Warranty

Both Samsung and SanDisk have been around the block and know how to build extremely reliable and long-lasting SSD products. Unsurprisingly, they demonstrate confidence in their products with a comprehensive three-year limited warranty on the T5, T7, Extreme, and Extreme Pro SSDs. 

Price

Technology improves, and pricing comes down. All four of these portable SSD drives are easily within reach of most budgets. At the time of writing, two are less than $100 (Samsung T7 and SanDisk Extreme) while the Sandisk Extreme Pro is only $175. Interestingly, the Samsung T5 is priced higher, although it has been available for over two years and is outclassed by the T7. Mark that up to it being harder to find for specific applications. 

SanDisk vs. Samsung SSD: 6 Must-Know Facts

• SanDisk was purchased by Western Digital in 2016, so newer SanDisk products are even more reliable. 
• The SanDisk Extreme and Extreme Pro SSDs have the lowest and highest read/write speeds of the four products we reviewed (540MB and 2000MB). 
• The Samsung T5 and T7 offer slightly more storage capacity options than the SanDisk products. 
• An impressive three-year warranty protects all the Samsung and SanDisk products we reviewed. 
• Both the SanDisk Extreme and Extreme Pro are built for extreme environments and have a handy carabiner loop for easy carry or clip-on security. 
• Our SanDisk vs. Samsung SSD comparison reveals that all four products we reviewed are close in all functional respects. 

SanDisk vs. Samsung SSD: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Choose?

The question of SanDisk vs. Samsung SSD will not ultimately be answered here. Minimalist designs, extreme reliability, fast read/write speeds, and options in storage capacities are neck and neck between the products we reviewed. All four SanDisk and Samsung products are prime examples of modern technology’s advancements in portable SSDs and what users should expect. 

How frequently users will carry a portable SSD drive into extreme conditions is up for debate, but the SanDisk Extreme and Extreme Pro are the clear winners in that regard. They are clearly more rugged and survivable, plus easier to secure on your person or in a pack. 

Pricing is not much of an issue when all four portable drives can currently be purchased for less than $200 each. The Samsung T5 is over two years old and more expensive to buy than the T7 or either SanDisk product. 

Our choice by a slim margin is the SanDisk Extreme Pro. It has the largest available storage capacity at 4TB, the fastest read/write speed at 2000MB per second, and is built tough to last. The built-in hard loop offers more options for carrying and securing the drive so it doesn’t get lost. These few perks place it at the top of our comparison.