Samsung launches 'Portable SSD T5' with USB-C and up to 2TB storage capacity

Portable solid state drives are better than mechanical hard drives for a few reasons. Obviously they are faster, but more importantly, they are more durable, as there are no moving parts. For those that travel a lot, for instance, a portable SSD is a safer product for throwing in a bag. Another big benefit is size -- modern portable SSDs are getting quite small, meaning they take up less room on a desk or in a backpack.

Today, Samsung launches its newest such drive, called the "Portable SSD T5." This beautiful drive features a USB-C connector and comes in two color options -- Deep Black and Alluring Blue. Since this is a Samsung product, it should last. If there are any issues, however, the company is including a three year warranty.

"Delivering stunning speeds of up to 540 MB/s -- up to 4.9 times faster than external HDD products -- the new T5 is designed especially for content creators, business and IT professionals as well as mainstream consumers to give instant, easy access to data. Also, the T5 is smaller than an average business card at 74 x 57.3 x 10.5 millimeters (3.0 x 2.3 x 0.4 inches) and incredibly lightweight at a mere 51 grams, comfortably fitting in the palm of your hand. The aluminum exterior comes in two distinct metal finishes -- Deep Black (1TB and 2TB models) and Alluring Blue (250GB and 500GB models)," says Samsung.

The company further says, "With no moving parts and a shock-resistant internal frame, the T5 offers users peace of mind as it can withstand accidental drops of up to 2 meters (6.6 feet). The Samsung Portable SSD Software for PCs and Macs based on the AES 256-bit hardware data encryption makes it easy to configure security settings and receive the latest firmware and software updates. A mobile app is also available for Android smartphones and tablets for even further convenience. In addition, the T5 includes two connection cables -- USB-C to C and USB-C to A -- for enhanced compatibility across numerous devices."

Samsung shares the following specifications.

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Unfortunately, the larger 1TB and 2TB capacities are limited to the Deep Black color. Prefer Alluring Blue? Sorry, you are limited to 500GB max. This is unfortunate, as the blue color really tickles my fancy, and I am sure many other consumers will feel the same.

If you want to buy this drive, you can get it today starting at $130 for the 250GB model. Pricing increases based on capacity, of course.