This is a selection of excellent SSD drives if you are looking to store your games externally on PS5.
The update that allowed you to use an external SSD to save PS5 games was received with great joy. The 825 GB of the SSD unit of the PS5 does not give much room for maneuvering because its games are launched with impeccable graphic quality and take up a lot of space. But what are the best external SSD drives for PS5 users on the market right now?
Sony’s new console also supports NVMe SSD drives from a wide range of manufacturers, as long as the drive is fast enough and physically fits inside the PS5. But in this list, we are going to focus on external SSDs.
What are the best SSD external hard drives for the PlayStation 5?
First of all, Sony’s PS5 doesn’t offer many storage variants. Consequently, 825 GB is the maximum storage space that the console can have. However, that is not the worst. Almost 350 GB of this 825 GB is used for the PS5 operating system and system files. Thus, you have around 660 GB of storage space on your PlayStation 5.
Considering that a typical AAA title takes up between 50 and 100 GB of space, that’s barely enough for those who play a lot of games. If you are one of them, you have to think about expanding the storage of your PS5, and the best way is to use an external hard drive for your PS5. Let’s see what the best external SSDs for PlayStation 5 are that you can buy.
Samsung T7 Touch
The Samsung T7 Touch is one of the best external SSDs out there for any purpose, and this includes expanding your PS5 storage. It stands out for its fast transfer speed, with read and write speeds of up to 1,050 Mbps and 1,000 Mbps, respectively.
Another interesting fact about this external SSD is that it offers biometric security since it incorporates a fingerprint scanner, which makes it extremely secure. All this in a small portable drive that hardly takes up space and for a fairly acceptable price. A true marvel. It is the best option for most people.
Pros
- Tiny chassis
- Consistently fast performance
- Easy-to-use software
- Cheaper than some rivals
Cons
- Outperformed by some newer units
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OWC Envoy Pro
Imagine you don’t want to spend a lot on an external hard drive for the PS5, but you need a high-speed one. In that case, the OWC Envoy Pro Elektron Portable NVMe SSD is a great option for your console. Compared to other products on this list, this external hard drive has a more compact design.
You can get the SSD in four storage variants, but only three of them are compatible with the PS5. Also, 2TB is the maximum storage option you can get with this device. In terms of speed, the SSD does not disappoint. It can reach a maximum speed of 1000MB per second, thanks to the USB 3.2 10Gbps interface.
Although the OWC Envoy Pro Elektron Portable NVMe SSD isn’t quite as rugged as the first pick, it can withstand routine usage patterns.
Pros
- Affordable for the price you have to pay
- It is available in three variants of storage space
- Uses USB 3.2 10Gbps SuperSpeed interface
Cons
- The base version does not work with PS5
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Samsung T5
The Samsung T5 is the little brother of the previous unit, an external SSD whose performance is beyond doubt. Its speeds reach 540 Mbps, and its dimensions make it especially attractive since it is as bulky as a credit card.
Its aluminum casing has a reinforcing inner frame, so this unit is designed to be shockproof. Compact, thin, and light, it’s perfect for compact storage for PS5. In addition, it includes software for Mac and PC that allows you to easily set a password and update your firmware.
Pros
- Streamlined, metal enclosure
- Excellent performance
- Easy-to-use software
- Full hardware-based encryption
Cons
- No backup software
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Crucial X6
This portable SSD reaches blazing speeds. Specifically, a sequential write speed of 540 Mbps. It is designed in a compact format. So you can always carry it with you without worrying about losing everything you store in its 2 TB capacity. It resists falls of up to two meters and is resistant to shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures.
It only weighs 39 grams, and due to its size, it literally fits in the palm of your hand. So you can always carry up to 2 TB of games with you. All for a more than reasonable price.
Pros
- Light and highly pocketable
- Enhanced performance
- Highly affordable
Cons
- Product update confusion
- Lacks hardware encryption
- No activity light
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SanDisk Extreme
The SanDisk Extreme is a well-priced external SSD that is also very durable and extremely compact in design, making it, in fact, one of the tiniest and most portable drives on the market. In addition, it is easily attached to any bow, backpack, bag, or key chain thanks to a hook.
It’s ideal for moving your collection from one place to another, whether it’s at home, at a LAN party, or anywhere else. Also, its price is really good considering how strong and reliable it is.
Pros
- Excellent read/write speeds.
- Small and very lightweight
- USB-C
Cons
- Expensive
- No activity light
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G-DRIVE Mobile SSD
If you’re a bit clumsy and prone to dropping things, or if your external drive might take more of a beating than you’d like, this rugged and durable SSD is just what you’re looking for.
G-Technology has struck a similar tactic as SanDisk, balancing ruggedness and speed, and this drive is especially strong when it comes to drop protection. It’s also well priced and a comfortable size, which is the real key to getting on this list.
In fact, this external SSD is designed for rugged terrain, with an IP67 rating that is resistant to water and dust. Without a doubt, a unit that shines for its robustness and that will protect all your games from any incident.
Pros
- Fast
- Excellent build quality
- USB-C and USB-A cables included
- Dedicated knowledgebase
- Great support resources
Cons
- Expensive
- No password protection
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WD MyPassport
The WD My Passport offers a clean aesthetic at a much more affordable price. This external hard drive is slower than previous SSDs in transfer and load times for PS5 games, but you’ll get more TB per dollar, perfect if you’re more archiving-oriented.
With a 3-year warranty and a reasonable price per TB, the WD My Passport is a solid choice if you’re looking for a portable SSD that’s clean enough to fit into your PS5 setup.
The WD My Passport can be found for a good price in the 500GB model, but the 4TB model is quite expensive. We don’t recommend getting the 4TB My Passport, as it’s not as good value for money as their other storage levels.
Pros
- Ultra-compact, portable, and lightweight
- Generous five-year warranty
- Attractive design
- Solid read and write speeds
- 256-bit AES hardware encryption
Cons
- Gets warm fast.
- A bit pricey.
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Seagate Game Drive 4TB
It is interesting what many manufacturers seek and achieve with the sale of some of their products. Those who play on PlayStation will recognize the innovative design of this hard drive, since it has the primary colors of this console, black and metallic blue. Also, if this design is not the one you like the most, you can always try another of the ones that this famous brand presents to you. A point in favor is that you will not need a power cable to work. You can pair it with your gaming console easily and conveniently.
You will also have two years of warranty, something that is essential in this type of product, especially when you transfer a lot of data per day. In the 4TB it contains, you can save about 100 games, or you can choose the 2TB option if you do not need a lot of space and have a tight budget. That is quite convenient! This model of Seagate takes only 3 minutes to configure, and its design is the most attractive. Just connect and play!
Pros
- Simple to set up.
- Fast USB 3.0 interface.
- PS4 4.50+ software
- Store 100+ games
- Plug-and-play setup
Cons
- Slightly more expensive
- It can’t be used for game and media storage at the same time.
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Why choose an external SSD for the PS5?
There are two types of hard drives on the market: traditional mechanical drives, or HDDs (hard drive disk acronyms), and solid state drives, or SDDs (solid state disk acronyms).
HDD drives use magnetic fields to record information and are made up of mechanical parts. Currently, they have been displaced by SSDs since they are much faster, although HDDs usually offer greater storage capacity at a more affordable price. However, they are louder and more fragile.
On the other hand, SSD drives use a technology that stores data on memory chips that can be accessed instantly. As a result, they are much faster, quieter, and more durable, as well as consume less power and offer easier data recovery if data is damaged, all in a more compact size. As a disadvantage, they are more expensive.
Both types of hard drives are valid alternatives for data storage, so we would not rule out any of them out of hand. However, in this list, we are going to focus on external SSDs for PS5, leaving HDD hard drives aside.
How do you choose an external SSD drive for your PS5?
If you want to know how to choose an external SSD for your PS5, we recommend that you ask yourself these questions, the answers to which will help you when choosing the right external SSD drive for your new console.
Here’s how to choose an external SSD drive for your PS5.
How much extra storage do you need?
The first thing you should study is how much extra space you think you need. If you have to delete games too often because new-generation titles are taking up more and more space, you can calculate how much extra space will be useful.
Most SSD drives are available in versions ranging from 250GB to 1TB, so make sure you choose the one that best suits your needs. This is important, since the more space you offer, the more expensive your price will be.
Is an internal or external SSD better?
Remember that you can also expand the space of your PS5 with an internal NVMe SSD, although its limitations are more restrictive.
This option is worth considering, especially if you mainly want to store PS5 games, since you will be able to play them from the internal SSD drive itself.
Are you going to store PS4 games as well?
If your game collection is mostly from the latest generation, an external SSD drive is perfect for your PS5, since you can plug it in and play directly from the SSD itself.
On the other hand, if you also have PS4 games in your library that you don’t want to lose, we recommend you give it a spin and think about whether an external HDD drive is more worthwhile for you.