Solid-state drives (SSD) are increasing in popularity because they are faster and lighter than many of the traditional hard-disk drives (HDD) on the market today. If you have been on the hunt for an inexpensive SSD, here are the best under $100.
Samsung T5 Portable Solid-State Drive – 500GB – USB 3.1 External SSD (MU-PA500B/AM)
I am a big fan of of this Samsung model in its 1TB version, but if you want to keep your external storage device under $100, this drive is for you. It comes with Samsung’s great name and is just $90 for the 500GB model. And as you can see in the photo, this SSD is tiny.
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SanDisk 500GB Extreme Portable External SSD – Up to 550MB – USB-C, USB 3.1
The great thing about many of the big-brand manufacturers is they offer their solid-state drives in a range of storage options and prices. So you can get this SanDisk Extreme SSD with 500GB for $90, but you could shrink down or scale up if you want to spend less or more. As I have mentioned in other posts in this series, I love the look and feel of this hard drive.
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ADATA SD600Q 960GB 3D NAND USB3.2 Ultra-Speed External Solid-State Drive
At $100 for 960GB, this drive is an excellent deal. For one thing, it provides almost 1TB. Second, it is housed in a rugged case that complies with tough, military-grade standards. It also works with PC, Mac and Android. I like the square shape, too.
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WD 500GB My Passport Go Cobalt SSD Portable External Storage
If you don’t mind getting a slightly older model from WD, this 500GB drive is now only $70. There is a newer model (at a higher price), but depending on your tech needs, this version should work just fine for you.
KESU External SSD 512G, Portable Solid State Drive, USB 3.1 Gen 2,540M/s
Buying an external hard drive, for some consumers, is a combination of needing more space, but also wanting something that is not– well, ugly. This little Kesu drive is elegant and a decent value in this list of SSDs. At $85 for 500GB, it should help you store files on everything from your laptop to your smartphone. It also includes USB 3.1 Type C to C and USB 3.1 Type C to A cables.
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HP P600 250GB Portable USB 3.1 External SSD
HP is well rated in most of its products, and in my opinion, this is a screaming good deal—a 250GB Solid-State Drive for $40. Now, technically, HP configures this SSD as two separate 125GB drives (plus an additional 49MB controller barely worth worrying about). If you need a lightweight hard drive to quickly boost your storage capacity, take a look at this one from HP.
