Samsung's new external NVMe-based TB3 X5 SSDs are screamers

Samsung speedy new X5 portable SSD is made using NVMe storage technology. (Source: Samsung)

Samsung’s new X5 portable SSD is equipped with Thunderbolt 3 and is screamingly fast. According to the company, the drive can transfer a 3 GB video in just 2 seconds and a 20 GB video in only 12 seconds.

by Sanjiv Sathiah, 2018/08/29

Storage Thunderbolt

Samsung has launched its latest external SDD, and it is a screamer. The Samsung Portable SSD X5 is the first NVMe portable drive from the company and is being targeted at content creators and IT pros. Maximizing its read speeds of 2,800 MB/s and write speeds of 2,300 MB/s, the drive features Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. The one-two punch of NVMe and TB3 tech makes it up to 25.5 times faster than a traditional HDD hooked up over USB 3.0.

The X5 is made using an all-metal design with a glossy finish, but a non-slip bottom mat. Built with a shock-resistant internal frame, it can withstand accidental drops from as high as two meters (6.6 ft). It is fitted with Dynamic Thermal Guard technology to maximize performance and overall reliability. Data protection software is included and is based on AES 256-bit hardware data encryption.

The Samsung Portable SSD X5 is available in sizes up to 2 TB and will be available globally from September 3. The 500 GB model starts at US$400; the 1 TB model comes in at US$700 while the 2 TB model will set you back a more eye-watering US$1,400, which is to be expected for such cutting-edge tech. Each drive is backed by a 3-year warranty.