Best Thunderbolt External 2024 - Top 10 Picks

This is the ultimate buyer's guide to finding the right thunderbolt external to suit your needs. We review the 10 best thunderbolt external on the market so you know that your next decision will be a smart one!

When you're trying to select the good thunderbolt external, there are a lot of factors to consider. This page has everything you need to know in one place.

This guide will help you avoid the pitfalls that come with researching thunderbolt external.

You don't have to try out every thunderbolt external to find one that meets your needs. After extensive research and hours of in-person tests, we've found the best thunderbolt external to be SanDisk Professional 2TB PRO-G40 SSD - Up to 3000MB/s, Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps), USB-C (10Gbps), IP68 dust/Water Resistance, External Solid State Drive - SDPS31H-002T-GBCND. There are a lot of sub-par products out there, but this product is one of the highest quality you'll find. Next best option is Fantom Drives Extreme 1TB External SSD - 2800MB/s, Thunderbolt 3 and 4, USB Type-C, Aluminum, 3D NAND TLC, TB3X-2300N1TB.

Choosing the thunderbolt external can be a daunting task, especially if you're doing it for the first time. Here's what we recommend based on our extensive research. We've compiled a list of the highest rated thunderbolt external. The following products are some of the best you can get right now.

List of Top 10 Thunderbolt External

Review of Best Thunderbolt External

1. SanDisk Professional 2TB PRO-G40 SSD - Up to 3000MB/s, Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps), USB-C (10Gbps), IP68 dust/Water Resistance, External Solid State Drive - SDPS31H-002T-GBCND

  • Super-fast speeds up to 3000MB/s(1) read and 2500MB/s(1) write with Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps), capable of moving 50GB in 1 minute or less.Specific uses: Business,Multimedia,Personal
  • Dual-mode compatibility with both Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) and USB-C (10Gbps)
  • Ultra-rugged design with high-level IP68 dust/water resistance, 4000lb crush resistance, and 3m drop resistance (On a carpeted concrete floor.)
  • Cool aluminum core pulls heat away from the internal drive to help maintain super-fast transfer speeds
  • Pro-grade enclosure for premium strength you can feel

2. Fantom Drives Extreme 1TB External SSD - 2800MB/s, Thunderbolt 3 and 4, USB Type-C, Aluminum, 3D NAND TLC, TB3X-2300N1TB

  • Fantom Drives eXtreme Thunderbolt 3 external solid state drive has blazing fast read speed of over 2800MB/s and write speed of over 2300MB/s
  • eXtreme SSD is backward compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C at 1050MB/s read and write
  • eXtreme portable SSD is compact yet built like a tank with high-quality aluminum. Measures at 0.5" x 2.5" x 4.25" and no power supply is needed
  • eXtreme external solid state drives have Thermal Dissipation Technology to keep the SSD cool and efficient
  • Comes with Thunderbolt 3 cable. 5 Year Warranty from Fantom Drives

3. SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 4TB, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 External Solid State Drive, Seq. Read Speeds Up to 2,000MB/s for Gaming, Students and Professionals,MU-PG4T0B/AM, Black

  • NONSTOP SPEED: Race through projects with our fastest SSD for creators; Load, edit and transfer with sustained read and write speeds of up to 2,000MB/s1; The T9 Portable SSD performs at high speeds even during longer processes
  • DYNAMIC THERMAL GUARD: When you’re elbow-deep in a passion project, the T9 Portable SSD stays cool; Its advanced thermal solution withstands and controls heat to keep the SSD at ideal temperatures—even in heavy use2
  • ADAPTS TO EVERY NEED: Whether you’re using a desktop, camera or a gaming console3, count on the T9 Portable SSD for extensive compatibility; It’s a true team player when it comes to heavy-duty application usage or file-saving
  • STRONG. SOLID. STABLE: From concept to completion – the T9 Portable SSD gives you the longevity to last through heavy use with one convenient drive that dares to go the distance
  • WORKS LIKE MAGIC: Your T9 Portable SSD performs like new with the always up-to-date Magician Software; With firmware updates, extra encryption and continual monitoring of your drive health, it works like a charm

4. SAMSUNG SSD T7 Portable External Solid State Drive 1TB, Up to USB 3.2 Gen 2, Reliable Storage for Gaming, Students, Professionals, MU-PC1T0T/AM, Gray

  • PORTABLE STORAGE ON THE GO: The light, pocket-sized Portable SSD T7 delivers fast speeds with easy and reliable data storage for transferring large files, including crucial business documents, games, or movies
  • TRANSFER IN A FLASH: Transfer massive files with the incredible speed of USB 3.2 Gen 2; PCIe NVMe technology delivers blazing fast sequential read/write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s1, making the T7 2x as fast as the previous T5 model2
  • STRONG & SECURE: Unlike HDDs, the Portable SSD T7 has no moving parts so it's more resistant to shock; Plus, its solid aluminum unibody adds more protection, keeping it safe from falls of up to 6 ft3 and is backed by a 3-year limited warranty4
  • RELIABLE THERMAL SOLUTION: The T7’s advanced thermal solution uses the Dynamic Thermal Guard to withstand and control heat, so the portable SSD stays at an optimal temperature even at fast speeds5
  • SLEEK & COMPACT STYLE: Roughly the size of a credit card and only weighing 2 ounces, the T7 fits comfortably in the palm of your hand and is light enough to take your files on the go

5. SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD - Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance, Updated Firmware - External Solid State Drive - SDSSDE61-2T00-G25

  • Get NVMe solid state performance with up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
  • Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance mean this tough drive can take a beating(3) (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
  • Use the handy carabiner loop to secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind.
  • Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.(3)
  • Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5). Non-Operating Temperature -20°C to 85°C

6. SanDisk Professional 6TB G-Drive Project - External HDD, Thunderbolt 3, USB (10Gbps), 7200RPM Ultrastar Hard Drive, Up to 250MB/s Read - SDPHG1H-006T-NBAAD

  • Up to 6TB of space to back up and save your valuable project work. (1TB = 1 trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.)
  • Ultra-reliable 7200RPM Ultrastar enterprise-class hard drive inside for long-term storage and up to 250MB/s transfer speeds. (1 MB/s = 1 million bytes per second. Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon host device & other factors.)
  • PRO-BLADE SSD Mag slot (10Gbps) to easily add SSD capacity and performance for fast transfers, editing, and backup without adding to your workspace. (PRO-BLADE SSD Mag sold separately.)
  • High-performance Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) interface and USB (10Gbps) compatibility.
  • Color-coded cable indicators to connect the right cables and get the most out of your device performance.

7. TEKQ [Intel Certified] 1TB Thunderbolt 3 External Portable SSD, Bus Powered, Read up to 2800 MB/s, Write up to 2300 MB/s (Compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 Devices)

  • 【Ultra-fast Solid State Drive】-Certified by Apple and Microsoft.Transferring data at Reading 2,400MB+/s and Writing 2,300MB+/s, TEKQ Rapide SSD is 4x-5x FASTER than normal portable SSDs in the market. Built with NVMe PCIe and thunderbolt 3 interface, Rapide allows you to transfer a Blue-ray movie within 1 mins and saves you tons of time, which is your best choice for transferring films, photos and huge data.
  • 【Great Mobility. Easy to Carry】 - Sized only slightly larger than a credit card(3.81in*2.16in/9.7cm*5.5cm), TEKQ Rapide SSD is a light and portable gadget for you to carry everywhere. It is palm-sized, pocket-friendly, and won’t occupy too much room in your bag. Very ideal for use in both office and travel.
  • 【Plug-and-Play Device】 -TEKQ Rapide is a bus-powered drive for your Mac & Windows, allowing you to plug in Rapide on your Thunderbolt 3 devices without the need for a power adapter, helping you back up precious data with ease.
  • 【Elegant Look & Excellent Heat Dissipation】- Housed in all-aluminum case, TEKQ Rapide represents you a sturdy yet stylish look. It not only matches your Mac but also offers excellent heat dissipation without fan. What’s more surprising is that TEKQ Rapideso is completely silent while functioning, being both useful and elegant.
  • 【Compatibility & 3 years Warranty】Powered by Intel Thunderbolt 3 technology and certified by MacOS and Windows, Rapide is 100% compatible with both devices with Thunderbolt 3. Check us out on TheSSDReview, TweakTown, Anandtech and see the performance. NOTE: Rapide IS NOT BACKWARD COMPATIBLE WITH Thunderbolt 1, 2, and USB-C Devices. To recognized by PC, Thunderbolt3 chip on PC is REQUIRED.Providing 3 years Warranty.

8. SanDisk 2TB Extreme PRO Portable SSD - Up to 2000MB/s - USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance, Updated Firmware - External Solid State Drive - SDSSDE81-2T00-G25

  • Powerful NVMe solid state performance featuring up to 2000MB/s read/write speeds.(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device, interface, usage conditions and & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
  • A forged aluminum chassis acts as a heatsink to deliver higher sustained speeds in a portable drive that’s tough enough to take on any adventure.
  • Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance(4), and a handy carabiner loop. (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
  • Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.(3)
  • Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5) (Download and installation required.)

9. LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C 5TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – USB 3.0 compatible, Drop Shock Dust Water Resistant, 1 Mo Adobe CC (STFS5000800)

  • Enjoy high-speed file transfers and extreme in-field durability with Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C, an external hard drive
  • For those who have a need for speed, transfer files with speeds of up to 130MB/s using the integrated Thunderbolt cable that seamlessly wraps around the enclosure when not in use
  • Trek confidently with a portable external hard drive that’s drop, dust, and water resistant
  • Includes a one-month complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps Plan for access to awesome photo and video editing apps
  • Enjoy long-term peace of mind with an included three-year limited warranty protection plan and Rescue Data Recovery services

10. OWC 2.0TB Envoy Pro FX Thunderbolt 3 + USB3.2 Gen 2 USB-C Portable NVMe SSD up to 2800MB/s

  • Flexible compatibility: Plug and play with yesterday’s, today’s, and tomorrow’s Macs; Windows and Linux PCs; and iPad Pro, Chromebook, and Surface devices.
  • Xtremely fast: supports the max performance capability of any Thunderbolt and USB interface up to 2800MB/s
  • OWC Aura SSD powered: advanced storage technology with TRIM support combined with Thunderbolt delivers the fastest and most reliable performance available in a portable drive
  • Silently cool: fanless, heat dissipating aluminum housing for distraction-free operation
  • Connected: included Thunderbolt / USB cable plugs into to any machine anywhere

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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