Customer Ratings & Reviews

I have been using Samsung SSD in laptops and gaming desktops and got Samsung - T7 Shield 2TB for transferring photos / videos between systems. It came with Samsung - T7 Shield 2TB, USB-C to USB-C cable and USB-C to USB-A cables. Setup is very easy. My windows 11 laptop recognized the drive immediately. I have installed Samsung Portable SSD software which will allow to name the drive as well as to configure with password for added security while accessing the files. I have tested the drive performance with Crsytal Disk Mark and impressed with read and write speeds. With USB 3.2 Gen2 and and PCIe® NVMe™, the sequential read / write speeds reached up to 1050/1000 as advertised. I have transferred large files from PC to T7 and all files transferred much faster than other SSD drives. The high-tech rubber exterior with dynamic thermal guard controls the heat to main steady performance for larger video editing projects. T7 Shield is IP65 rated, and data is protected again water and dust. The rugged design and advanced outer elastomer provide additional durability to endure a 9.8-foot drop. I have tested this drive windows PC, MacBook Pro and Android Phone. It is compatible with all platforms including gaming consoles. It comes various colors with blue, beige, or black and the stylish rubberized grip prevents slipping from hand. It has 3 years manufacturer warranty. I was impressed with design, sequential read / write speeds, and large storage. I have been using this drive to edit large video files / photos and it is working flawlessly without any issues. Samsung make quality SSDs and Samsung T7 shield is another outstanding product from Samsung.

This drive is fast, durably built and light at 2 oz and is about the size of a credit card. It would be a great addition for anyone but especially those traveling. Samsung is a leader in hard drives and this unit does not disappoint. I recommend but be sure your computer can take advantage of the speed. Drive is preformatted as GPT and exFAT. I tried speed tests with exFAT and NTFS (after reformatting) and saw little difference. In the box; Minimal instruction manual that has print so small it was virtually unreadable to my old eyes. So out came the strong reading glasses. 2TB black T7 drive – 2 oz and 3.4 x 2.2 x 0.3 inches in size. Claimed 1050 MB/sec read and 1000 MB/sec write speeds. Comes with a USB-C to USB-C and a USB-C to USB 3 cables. The cables are around 17 inches in length, which should be more than long enough for most. Positives; I would suggest installing Samsung Magician app. I already had Samsung Magician installed as I have internal Samsung drives. It will check firmware, etc. for drive as well as giving you the option to encrypt the drive with a password. The drive is nicely constructed with a protective rubber cover that is wrapped around an aluminum unibody case. The cover not only protects but helps you get a nice grip on the drive as well as helping secure it wherever placed – no sliding. It easily fits in your pocket and is built to be tossed around stating it can be dropped from 6 feet, is water/dust resistant. I have to say that I did not test any of these but given its construction I don’t doubt its claims. Internally I assume there is a 2TB M.2 PCIe SSD drive, but I could not determine the exact model. Speed tests: I like to use CrystalDiskMark for my speed tests as writing to/from other drives to test speed is impacted by the speed of the other drive. This way only this drive is test. I used my new Samsung Galaxy 360 laptop. It has Thunderbolt 4.0, USB C and USB 3.2 connections. Using Thunderbolt, I got 1070 MB/s read and 1016 MB/s write – both a touch higher than rated top speeds for T7. Using USB C & USB 3.2 connection I got nearly identical 463 MB/s read and 455 MB/s write speeds- still fast. I did not notice any change in temp on the drive when running my speed tests. To give some context to those speeds; I ran same test using a Samsung 2TB USB 3.0 external “spin” drive I have had for a while. There was little difference between Thunderbolt, USB C and USB 3.2 – they were all around 113 MB/s read and 114 MB/s write. I also ran a test using a self-built external SSD using a KIOXIA 512GB PCIe drive I had left over from an upgrade to another laptop, using a SSK case. Thunderbolt gave 1075 MB/s read and 979 MB/s write. The USB C and USB 3.2 speeds again were nearly identical with 457 MB/s and 444 MB/s write. Speed tests for the Samsung Laptop using internal model MZVLQ512HBLU-00B 500GB drive I got 2207 MB/s read and 1191 MB/s write. Interesting that the read was more than twice the speed of the T7 but write was about the same, probably due to buffering(?). Also, to give a little context on pricing – in November 2018 I received a G-drive 500GB portable SSD drive with price of $150. My Samsung 2TB USB 3.0 external drive was $110 a few years ago. 3-year limited warranty Negatives; Activity light is on the same side as cable connection, so just a tad hard to see unless you flip drive Yes, the T7 is a tad pricey but considering size, weight and speed advantage as well as the nearly 0 chance of it being damaged if dropped – it is a great option, and I would highly recommend it. My only caveat is to be sure your system can take advantage of the speed this drive can provide.

I wanted to use it for encryption on my Mac. The software doesn't work with my Mac. So far, it works as a regular external drive. It is great for an external drive. In my case, it doesn't work for encryption on a Mac

One thing with most external drives is that they can be easy to damage. They slip off the edge at the wrong time and that spinning platter corrupts your project. Could be years worth of stuff gone because you bumped your knee on the table. Then you might choose a thumbdrive, but they are usually limited in size and the bigger they are, the slower they tend to get. This Samsung T7 kind of brings both of those examples together and keeps up the speed. Straight out of the box and ready to go. This comes with USB-A to C and USB-C to C cables. Hooked it up to multiple Windows based PCs and Android phones and had files transferred everywhere in minutes. With 2 TB you can store a lot and with read/write speeds similar to some internal hard drives you can do it faster or work from it directly. Of course, this is all dependent on what your device is capable of as using a USB2 port will still work, just not give you the same speeds. On the drive there is the application for Windows and Mac so that you can manage the security of the device by adding password and encryption. There is a link to the Google Play store of the Android app as well. Though not required, it is beneficial if you are traveling with sensitive information as this drive is meant to travel. The rubber casing on this drive really makes it feel like you could throw it across the room and still be good to go. I’m not trying it myself, but it feels a whole lot safer than the plastic shells of most external drives and sturdier than a thumbdrive. The size is easy enough to keep in a pocket and with the grip, probably not just going to slip out like your phone without a case. Overall, this drive is exactly what I need when working on the go. It relieves some of the anxiety other drives give me while giving the speed and capacity to work on practically anything digital. I feel that the only weak point would be the USB cables themselves over time and those can easily be replaced.

The 2TB Samsung T7 Shield checks all the boxes for high-performance external storage: Spacious. Fast. Reliable. Speeds are rated up to 1,050 MB/s read and 1,000 MB/s write, and it comes with a three-year warranty. I benchmarked the drive on two different systems. First was a Windows 10 laptop. On the correct port, results are acceptable: USB 3.2 Type-C Sequential Read: 971.41 MB/s (92.5% rated speed) Sequential Write: 925.28 MB/s (92.5% rated speed) USB 3.0 Type-A Sequential Read: 972.96 MB/s (92.7% rated speed) Sequential Write: 925.61 MB/s (92.6% rated speed) Results are predictably slower on a USB 2.0 connection: USB 2.0 Type-A Sequential Read: 43.35 MB/s (4.1% rated speed) Sequential Write: 40.84 MB/s (4.1% rated speed) My Windows 11 computer has Thunderbolt 3 ports. (Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 support PCIe.) These ports were the only ones to provide full rated speed: Thunderbolt 3 Sequential Read: 1072.26 MB/s (102% rated speed) Sequential Write: 1019.88 MB/s (102% rated speed) At 2 TB, the Samsung T7 Shield has ample room for data, photo, and video storage. This is a high-performance external SSD and using it for something as mundane as backup or media storage/delivery feels criminal. I tested real-world performance of the drive by moving my Steam library onto it. These days I’m exploring the Lands Between. Elden Ring loads and runs smoothly. The performance hit versus the internal SSD was evident but negligible. I played for hours and experienced no thermal issues with the T7 Shield. I have tried this in the past with other external SSDs and ran into heat dissipation problems that eventually caused thermal throttling and intolerable usability issues. This drive stays cool under use. I cannot say anything negative about the Samsung T7 Shield. It has room to spare, and in my testing it performs flawlessly. I can recommend it without hesitation.

Samsung has come out with a great option for a more active lifestyle way of transporting your external drive data. It's the new Samsung T7 Shield. The packages includes the SSD external T7 drive, USB-to-USBC cable, USBC-to-USBC cable, and a brief user manual which comes in various languages. Both cables are approximately 17-inches. The SSD drive come with a manufacturer's 3-year limited warranty. It can come in 3 colors (black, blue, and beige) and in 1TB or 2TB sizes. I am using the black 2TB. PROS: ----------- * Simple plug-n-play interface for USB-C or USB 3.2. * I do not believe in using CrystalDiskMark in testing speeds though one can definitely do that. These programs may damage the drive in some instances. Instead of using stats from CDM, which I'm sure other users will post, I'll give a real-world test case that might give you similar information. I copied a folder from my SSD hard drive on my high-end gaming desktop that had 591 files in 27 folders and tallied 7.2GB of data. I was able to copy all of the data in 35 seconds. The write speed is very impressive. I got the same speed using both the USB-C and the USB-A cables provided. I was able to copy that same data back to my desktop SSD internal drive in 45 seconds. * This SSD does offer possible updates which can be installed using the executable program that's already on the drive. * For the outdoors people, this is a great option with rugged durability and IP65 rating. If you film things in damp areas, this may be a great option for extra SSD space for 4K video. With its high speeds, it's also possible to edit massive projects directly from the drive itself instead of putting on a PC hard drive first. * Samsung claims the outer rubber-like surface can help protect the drive after a drop of 9.8 feet (under "controlled conditions"). I'm obviously not going to test that. The best thing is to simply not drop it - but if you do, this one should have a better chance of surviving normal drops. * In addition to connecting to PC's and Macs, it will also connect to Android phones. If you need to backup your Samsung phone, simply connect using the USBC-to-USBC cable, and it works easily. This is another option instead of (or in addition to) cloud backup - just don't lose the drive! CONS: ----------- * After plugging in the drive multiple times, I noticed that I lost function of my Logitech wireless mouse seconds later. I'm unsure what driver collision is causing this or why it is happening, but once the SSD is unplugged, the issue goes away. I'm able to temporarily retain movement of my mouse if I unplug then plug back in my wireless mouse dongle... enough time to safely disconnect the drive. I would be happy to know what can be done to avoid this T7 SSD drive making my mouse freeze. * It does pick up dust and dirt pretty easily and sticks to the outer surface as shown by my pictures. * There is no rubber cap or cover to go over the USB-C end of the SSD. If you're on-the-go in a dirty area, just keep it clear of dust and dirt when possible. OTHER OBSERVATIONS: ----------- * The drive has its own password protection software built-in which you can install on your PC or Mac. From there, you can setup a password to keep others from seeing your data; however, if you forget that password and lose access to your drive due to forgetting your password, the drive can only be reset back to factory settings by sending it back to Samsung. There is no factory reset button or any other way to do this. This option will also erase any data that was already on there. So if you create a PW, don't forget it. You can rename the drive from that same program if needed. There isn't much else the program does that's of significant use IMO. CONCLUSION: ===================== There's not much to this device usage-wise. It's a single cable used to connect to another device to store data. It's nothing we haven't seen before. The great thing about this SSD is the "shock-proofing" it offers in case the SSD is dropped or hit with something. Speeds are as good as you'll find out there at advertised ~1000MBs speeds. My only issue is with this device freezing up my wireless Logitech mouse when it is used - which means I likely won't be able to use it much unless I use another mouse or a wired setup. I'm unsure how this might affect other mice including touchpads on laptops. Given this one major issue with my mouse, it's not a 5-star product until I can use both at the same time and without issue. Other than that, everything else is top notch.

I recently purchased the Samsung T7 Shield 2TB External USB 3.2 Gen 2 Rugged SSD, and I’m absolutely blown away by its performance and durability. As someone who frequently transfers large files and needs fast, reliable storage, this SSD has been a total game-changer. First, the speed is exceptional. With USB 3.2 Gen 2 support, the transfer rates are incredibly fast—easily handling 4K video files, high-resolution photos, and large software backups in a fraction of the time it took with my previous drives. Whether I’m moving data between my laptop and desktop or editing directly from the drive, everything runs smoothly without any lag. What really sets this drive apart, though, is the rugged design. The IP65 water and dust resistance, combined with the shock-resistant casing, means I can take it just about anywhere without worrying about damage. I’ve dropped it a few times already (not intentionally, of course!), and it’s still performing flawlessly—no dents, no issues. It’s the perfect external drive for someone who needs to work on the go or outdoors. The 2TB storage capacity is more than enough for all my data, and I love how compact the T7 Shield is—it’s small enough to easily fit in my bag or pocket. Plus, it’s powered by a USB-C connection, so it’s easy to plug into modern laptops, tablets, and even some smartphones for quick, on-the-go access to files. Overall, the Samsung T7 Shield 2TB SSD is a fantastic investment for anyone looking for fast, reliable, and durable external storage. Whether you’re a photographer, videographer, or someone who simply needs high-capacity storage with the peace of mind that it can withstand the elements, this drive delivers on every front. I highly recommend it!

The Samsung T7 Solid State Drive exceeds expectations with its remarkable speed and reliability. Its sleek design and compact size make it a perfect companion for professionals on the go. The impressive data transfer rates ensure quick and efficient file management, while the robust security features provide peace of mind. In my experience, the Samsung T7 SSD stands out as a top-tier choice for anyone seeking high-performance storage solutions. Price was a little steep when I picked it up

I have been using this T7 for several years, carrying it back and forth from work with no problems ever. It's fast and compact. Thanks, Samsung.

The Samsung T7 Shield 2TB external hard drive combines speed, durability, and portability. Its rugged design is shock-resistant and IP65-rated for water and dust protection, making it ideal for outdoor and travel use. With transfer speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s via USB 3.2 Gen 2, it handles large files quickly and efficiently. The compact size ensures easy portability, and the included software supports password protection and encryption for added security. While slightly pricier than standard drives, the T7 Shield is an excellent choice for those needing robust performance on the go.

I've been using NVME drives for awhile, including a 1tb drive in an usb-type c enclosure, so I had big expectations of this drive's performance. I'm still impressed. It's exactly as fast as you'd expect, and it's in this great form factor. Build quality is that rubberish rubberized kind of material. I still wouldn't go tossing this around in the rain or anything, but it does feel nice and durable. I love that it's just straight c to c cabling on this instead of some proprietary nonsense, great job there samsung - keep it up. You get two cables in the box (a to c - and c to c), they're pretty short but will get the job done if you don't have anything else laying around. For best results you'll want that c to c cable in most situations, those ports are usually the fastest. So how fast? I've attached a photo of the full benchmark, but according to the manufacturer it's rated at 1050MB/s sequential up and 1000MB/s sequential down and my unit exceeds both of those numbers by a fair bit, so yeah it's great. No this is not internal NVME speed, which is roughly 3x as fast ... or more with gen 4 drives, but for most people this will be perfect. To put it in practical terms I run a media server on a laptop from time to time and I keep all of my media on a external drive - a traditional external drive. So it took about 48 minutes to transfer hundreds of gigabytes of data from that thing to my PC. Sending that from my PC to the T7 took about 12 minutes. It's fast. You can even play games from it, but I don't have need to. But this would be a great option if you're on a thin and light laptop or newer console. Storage is only 1.81TB as formatted, don't be thrown by that it's completely normal. Temps are good as well. It's sitting at 26C after being "on" for about 20 minutes and having run those synthetic benchmarks. Ambient temp is only about 10C though so keep that in mind. It's a fair sight cooler than my two internal NVME drives which are running at 33C and 43C in the same room. So make of that what you will. The drive does get noticeable warm to the touch, but that's just how it maintains it's temperature, it's letting that heat out. It's good. Yeah it's just a great drive. I don't know what else I can say about it. It's exactly what it's supposed to be. I wish I had a few more.

Had to get this when my 2TB External Hard Drive stopped working (after only 2 years with minimal use). This is faster, much more secure, smaller, and designed for transport. Considering getting a second one for business purposes.

Excellent SSD. Drop resistant, easy to use, and fast enough to game off of. Need I say more?

Super fast transfers, does get a little warm but that’s a given when moving a lot files to and from a hard drive. Works super great for my mobile gigs when using it to access my music from my laptop. Probably gonna buy another one to be a backup

The speed is outstanding. Compact and working as expected.

Totally recommend it. The cover adds an extra layer of protection in case we drop it but based on ssd itself, it is fast and portable. I put all my back up files here

Super fast, safe storage and very portable. Feels solid and performance is incredible.

Works great! Compatible with all my devices with fast transfer speeds. Smaller than I thought. Fits in the palm of your hand. Very satisfied!

This is my favorite external hard drive due it's size and ease of use. This easily travels with me and comes with a variety of cords to hook into whatever device you are pairing it with. The outside cover is also durable so I never worry if I accidentally drop it. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a compact hard drive.

This is a wonderful portable SSD hard drive does what it’s supposed to do very fast connection to my laptop. I have not dropped it yet, but I’m confident it can withstand a fair amount of drops. You definitely get what you pay for with this product.