The first thing I did after I unboxed Samsung’s all-new Portable SSD T7 was move a 5.22GB file from my MacBook to this drive. I timed it; it took all of 11.78 seconds. The T7 is the latest generation of Samsung’s ultra-fast SSD drives; does it make a strong case to switch to an SSD? Many of us have finally found the time to organise tonnes of files and images during the COVID-induced lockdowns. It’s also a time that reopens the debate of the External HDD vs the SSD. It’s why Samsung’s timing couldn’t have been more appropriate.
The average consumer doesn’t usually pick a laptop based on whether the device features an SDD (Solid State Drive) or HDD (Hard disk drive). There are other factors like weight, battery life and everyday performance that supersede this decision. It’s different when you buy an external drive to augment the storage on your laptop or store important files or back-ups. SSDs have gained traction because of obvious benefits. They’re faster, lighter and use less energy. They’re almost like large USB drives with a similar storage solution. NAND, the tech in SSDs is a type of flash memory. But External SSDs are much pricier than HDDs – sometimes as much as 4-5X the cost. It’s why a blended model might be the best solution. Use HDDs for files or back-ups you don’t need on a regular basis and an SSD to supplement your laptop or portable device’s storage. You can run games or apps or event edit 4K videos directly from your SSD.
Samsung’s Portable SSD T7 is almost weightless (just 58 gm) and the size of an average business card. We dig the premium, brushed-metal finish (We checked out the grey, 1TB variant). It slipped into my tightest jeans and is also drop-proof up to 2 metres. Samsung has kitted the T7 with DTG (Dynamic Thermal Guard) and ePCM (Encapsulated Phase Change Material). It protects user data from thermal damage by maintaining optimal operating temperature to avoid low-temperature burns. Aside from durability (with a three-year warranty) and shock resistance, it has a password protection option and AES 256-bit hardware encryption for better security.
But ultimately it’s speed that makes the biggest case to switch to an SSD drive. It’s where the T7 stands out; it can reach maximum read and write speed of 1,050MB/s and 1,000MB/s, respectively, nearly twice as fast as its predecessor, the Portable SSD T5. Samsung is pitching this as a daily driver whether you’re a pro-user like a photographer or just the everyday avid gamer. Those who might be willing to pay a premium for their need for speed.
The Samsung Portable SSD T7 comes in three colours – grey, blue and red. There are three storage variants – 500 GB/Rs 9,999, 1TB/Rs 17,999 and 2TB/Rs 29,999
