Samsung

Samsung T5 EVO

Ranked #27 in External SSDs

70 LP on the category ladder what's LP?

While it is a generation older, the T5 EVO still offers 950 MB/s speeds at a very low price point. For users who only need “good enough” performance and want to save money, it remains the best bang-for-buck option.

Consolidated from 26 cited sources across 24 outlets

Where the cited sources landed, as we read them

1 glowing source
16 positive sources
9 mixed sources

See the sources

Flagged as a product to avoid

3 of 7 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. A trap is a product buyers genuinely cross-shop but should not buy, ranked honestly alongside the real picks rather than dropped to the bottom. Why the boards include them

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Pros & cons

✓ 950 MB/s speed
✓ Very low price
✓ Puts 8 TB in a pocketable form factor

✗ Slow QLC-based design capped around 460 MB/s, barely faster than a good SATA drive
✗ Price per terabyte only makes sense if you never look at the spec sheet
✗ Flagship Samsung branding misleads cross-shoppers expecting T9-class product
✗ Better served by two T7 Shield 4 TB units for capacity or the T9 for speed

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.

Evidence 4 articles, 21 video reviews and 1 community source

1 glowing source

Qbit QbitAdmin · reviewer · Aug 2025

The Samsung Portable SSD T5 EVO 4TB delivers exceptional storage capacity, rugged durability, and blazing fast performance in a sleek, compact form factor. Whether you’re a content creator, gamer, or business professional, the T5 EVO is designed to securely store and access your data wherever you go.

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16 positive sources

Macworld Macworld · reviewer · Jul 2022

T5 EVO isn’t as fast as some of its SSD rivals, but it’s great as a general-purpose backup device and provides a faster and more portable alternative to a conventional hard drive. Unlike many solid-state drives, it provides up to 8TB of storage, making it a good option for people who need a lot of storage space for their work files, photos and videos.

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High Tech RJ High Tech RJ · 72.4K subscribers · Apr 2025

So I tested it on my smartphone using both Android and iOS and there I had a 43 GB file which I tried transferring. And it took 4 minutes and 26 seconds to transfer that file. On an average, the speed I got was 170 to 180 MB per second. The device is connected to the laptop. And this show is also happening here. And inside it is a file that I am going to copy. First let me tell you its file size.

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9to5Toys Karthik Iyer · reviewer · Feb 2026

This is about as good as it gets right now if you’ve been waiting to grab a high-capacity portable SSD, so grab it after getting more details below.

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History and Reviews History and Reviews · 7K subscribers · Nov 2025

I thought that was a great deal. I couldn't pass it up. It does um connection via USBC and it is compatible with Gen 2 uh USBC and also USB 3.2 USBC. Let's see if there's anything else important. It came out, this one, in 2024, aka 2024 if you're me. Let's open it up and see how big and or small it is. I got it at Walmart in person, in case you're wondering. In person.

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tpstech.in Article

✨ Super‑fast transfers – USB 3.

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History and Reviews History and Reviews · 7K subscribers · Dec 2022

today we're going to be testing out multiple USB ssds to find out which one is the best for your dollar among the USB ssds being tested today will be the ONN 500 GB SSD the Samsung T5 SSD the Samsung t7 SSD and the PNY SSD the OS being used to test these ssds will be windows 11.

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Tech Loomers Tech Loomers · 1.7K subscribers · Nov 2025

While the T5 EVO might not be the absolute fastest portable SSD available, its massive storage capacity, rugged design, and broad compatibility make it a compelling option. It's a reliable and convenient way to carry your digital life with you.

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Top Reviewer Best Top Reviewer Best · 1.7K subscribers · Apr 2025

In realworld usage, the T5 performs admirably. Whether you're backing up your computer, editing photos on location, or playing games directly from the drive, the T5 delivers a smooth and responsive experience. The speed difference compared to a traditional hard drive is truly noticeable, especially when dealing with large files.

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RBL Reviews RBL Reviews · 757 subscribers · May 2025

Overall, if you're looking for an affordable, durable, and high-capacity portable SSD, the Samsung portable SSDT5E4 TB is a fantastic option. It's perfect for users who don't need bleeding edge speeds, but still want to store everything in a compact, secure package. Whether for backup purposes, extra storage, or gaming, it's a smart choice. Check out the video description for updated price.

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Future Gear Picks Future Gear Picks · 374 subscribers · Aug 2025

Overall, the Samsung T5 EVO8 TB is a great option for anyone needing a large amount of portable storage. Its compact size, decent speeds, and robust design make it a versatile tool for gamers, content creators, and anyone who needs to carry their data with them.

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Tech Compass Pro Tech Compass Pro · 352 subscribers · Aug 2025

The Samsung Portable SSDT5EVO is a great option for those seeking a reliable, high-capacity, and portable storage solution. While it may not be the fastest SSD on the market, its combination of speed, capacity, portability, and compatibility make it a compelling choice for a wide range of users. Check out the video description for updated price.

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BudgetBuys BudgetBuys · 231 subscribers · Aug 2026

The biggest highlight is obviously the 8 TB capacity. That's an enormous amount of portable storage, giving you enough room for large video libraries, high-resolution photos, game installations, project files, backups, and other data-heavy workloads. For content creators, having 8 TB in a single portable drive can make organizing large collections considerably easier.

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BudgetBuys BudgetBuys · 231 subscribers · Aug 2026

The biggest highlight is obviously the 8 TB capacity. That's an enormous amount of portable storage, giving you enough room for large video libraries, high-resolution photos, game installations, project files, backups, and other data-heavy workloads. For content creators, having 8 TB in a single portable drive can make organizing large collections considerably easier.

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Tech Zazz Tech Zazz · 127 subscribers · Dec 2025

If you're looking for the most portable way to carry 8 TB of data without the fragility of a spinning hard drive, this is the ultimate companion.

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Pulse Agency Pulse Agency · 19 subscribers · Jun 2026

First off, the biggest draw here is the sheer amount of space in a form factor that still fits in the palm of your hand. 8 terabytes of solid state storage in a device that's about the size of a credit card means you can keep an entire video editing library, a collection of high-resolution games, or a family photo archive without needing a separate desktop tower.

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angelic angelic · 9 subscribers · Dec 2025

Industry-leading capacity, this is the highest capacity portable SSD Samsung offers. With 8 terabytes, you can store over 2 million photos or thousands of hours of 4K video, effectively replacing smaller drives. Reliable speed, while it's built for capacity, it still delivers solid performance with sequential read and write speeds up to 460 megabytes per second.

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9 mixed sources

F Facebook Jim Collins · owner

It is no longer recognized in the current beta version. On the bright side the wifi seems to connect more easily.

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9to5Mac 9to5Mac · 969K subscribers · Aug 2017

You're going to note that the read speeds fall well short of the 540 megabytes per second, which no coincidence is around the maximum throughput for the previous generation model. So, ladies and gentlemen, the entry-level 250 gigabyte model starts around 130 bucks, but it quickly rises in price as you get higher up the ladder.

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Reviewsinside Reviewsinside · 4.6K subscribers · May 2025

However, while it excels in portability, the price tag can be a bit steep, especially at the higher capacities like 8 tab.

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Product Insight Product Insight · 344 subscribers · Dec 2025

On the downside, the price point may be higher compared to traditional external hard drives. And although 460 megabytes per second is fast, it's not the fastest SSD speed available in the market today, which might matter for extremely demanding workflows.

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Best Tech Now Best Tech Now · 260 subscribers · Aug 2026

However, users who require the highest possible speeds for demanding professional workflows may want to consider SSD options designed specifically for faster interfaces. Overall, the Samsung T5 EVO portable SSD 4TB offers a practical approach to portable storage by focusing on generous capacity, dependable solid-state performance, and easy connectivity.

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Amazon Absolute Must-Haves Amazon Absolute Must-Haves · 21 subscribers · Jan 2026

However, while the "t5 evo ssd" excels in speed, it's not optimized for heavy "video editing ssd" workloads, so consider your usage needs!

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Techozea Techozea · 19 subscribers · Jul 2025

Now, the only thing I don't like about the T5 Evo is the material that's covering it. I've seen this material before, like on my T7 Shield and on the T9 drives, and I hate it because it attracts dust like crazy.

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PixelLogic PixelLogic · 8 subscribers · Jul 2026

But, the same drive can be a waste of money for a user whose data needs are modest. If your daily workflow revolves around office documents, a few photos, and occasional music, a one or two terabytes drive already covers the need and you'll likely never see the advantage of 8 terabytes.

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Calculated cooking Calculated cooking · 1 subscribers · Aug 2025

But keep in mind this is not NVM only. That means do n't expect blazing fast speeds. It is made for backup and transfer. Not for high end editing. Apart from this, it also has Dynamic Thermal Guard technology which manages heat so that the device does not heat up during heavy usage and it also has Intelligent TurboWrite technology, which means TurboWrite actually boosts the speed in small bursts.

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Frequently asked questions

It ranks #27 of 28 on our external SSDs tier list, in F tier. That placement draws on 26 cited sources across 24 outlets.

None of the 26 sources with a clear view is critical of it. Slow QLC-based design capped around 460 MB/s, barely faster than a good SATA drive. Price per terabyte only makes sense if you never look at the spec sheet. Flagship Samsung branding misleads cross-shoppers expecting T9-class product. Better served by two T7 Shield 4 TB units for capacity or the T9 for speed.

On our external ssds board, Samsung T9 ranks #1 (S tier) ahead of Samsung T5 EVO at #27 (F tier). Samsung T9: Ranked here on pure ownership merit, because the hardware and warranty are genuinely excellent. It is still a trap because you pay the Samsung tax for what the Crucial X10 delivers. Buy the X10 or the T7 Shield.

On our external ssds board, Samsung T7 Shield ranks #6 (A tier) ahead of Samsung T5 EVO at #27 (F tier). Samsung T7 Shield: The most proven platform in the category: years in the field with a strong failure record, IP65 ruggedization, a long warranty, and Samsung's firmware support behind it. The default answer for a drive you never want to think about again.