Top 5 Best Thunderbolt 5 SSD Enclosures in 2025

Need to increase the local storage on your PC or Mac for music and movies, or all of the photos and videos that accumulate on your phone? An external solid-state drive (SSD) is a quick and convenient solution. the gadgetex has been testing and reviewing SSDs since the first models were released, subjecting internal and external drives to rigorous benchmark testing. Speed, capacity, and cost per gigabyte are all important considerations in our evaluations, as are physical size, style, ruggedness, security features, and interface.

 This guide makes sense of these and many more factors. The Crucial X9 Pro is our current overall top pick for most buyers, but we stand behind all our recommendations, selected for specific use cases and budgets. See them all below, then read on for a detailed guide to shopping for the drive that best meets your needs.

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Last update on 2025-03-14 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Top 5 Best Thunderbolt 5 SSD Enclosures in 2025

1.Crucial X9 Pro

Last update on 2025-03-14 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The Crucial X9 Pro has almost everything in an external SSD: a compact and lightweight yet sturdy frame, capacities up to 4TB, 256-bit hardware-based encryption, and good benchmark results. While the X9 Pro lacks the raw speed of the Editors’ Choice-winning Crucial X10 Pro, which is aimed at videographers and creative types, it does not require any special hardware to perform well, and it is less expensive. This makes it a better choice for the majority of users, and it receives its own Editors’ Choice award for a general-purpose solid-state drive.

The rectangular, matte-gray X9 Pro, which measures 0.3 by 2.6 by 2 inches (HWD) and weighs only 1.5 ounces, is made of anodized aluminum and has a black, rubberized base. Its simple but appealing design features beveled corners, one of which has a hole through which you can string a lanyard. The drive’s status LED indicator is also visible through the hole.

A USB-C port is located in the center of one of the X9 Pro’s short ends, and a very short USB-C-to-USB-C cable is provided. The X9 Pro supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 and should work with almost any laptop or desktop computer that has a USB-C or USB-A port. (The latter requires a C-to-A adapter plug or cable.) The Crucial X10 Pro supports the faster USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 standard, but to take advantage of its incredible throughput, you’ll need either a compatible computer (few models, even recent ones), or a Gen 2×2 expansion card. Check out our USB-C explainer to learn more about the differences between USB interfaces.

The X9 Pro has some ruggedness cred, with an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of IP55. This indicates that the drive is certified to provide water and dust resistance, although it is not totally impervious to fine dust and its water resistance is limited to being sprayed or splashed with water rather than complete submersion. Some external SSDs, such as the ADATA SE800 with its IP68 rating, are even more ruggedized, providing even better protection from both water and dust. The X9 Pro is also certified drop-proof up to 7.5 feet.

The X9 Pro supports 256-bit AES hardware encryption, which is widely regarded as the gold standard for civilian-level data encryption solutions. Micron backs the drive with a five-year warranty, which is generous given that many external-drive manufacturers only offer three years.

We tested external SSDs on PC Labs’ Windows 10 storage testbed, which is a desktop built on an Asus Prime X299 Deluxe motherboard with an Intel Core i9-10980XE Extreme Edition CPU and housed in a SilverStone case. The system features 48GB of DDR4 Corsair Dominator RAM clocked at 3,600MHz and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB graphics card. We test compatible drives like the Crucial X9 Pro using the motherboard’s 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 port; for Gen 2×2 drives, we use a 2×2 port added via an Orico PCIe expansion card.

We put the Crucial X9 Pro through our usual suite of external solid-state drive benchmarks, including Crystal DiskMark 6.0, PCMark 10 Storage, BlackMagic’s Disk Speed Test, and our own folder transfer test. The first two are run on the PC with the drive formatted in NTFS, and the latter two on an Apple MacBook Pro using exFAT. Crystal DiskMark’s sequential speed tests provide a traditional measure of drive throughput, simulating best-case, straight-line transfers of large files.

2.ADATA Elite SE880 External SSD

Last update on 2025-03-14 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The ADATA Elite SE880 external solid-state drive impressed us This tiny, featherweight portable SSD offers the zippiness of the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface at a reasonable price, though you may need to upgrade your desktop to fully utilize it. which evaluates a drive’s speed in common tasks such as program loading and file copying.

The SE880 measures 0.5 by 1.4 by 2.6 inches (HWD), making it roughly the same size as the Kingston XS2000 Portable SSD, and weighs slightly more than an ounce. The drive is only available in one color, titanium gray. The frame is made of a single, seamless piece of metal with black end caps.
A USB Type-C port in the center of one end supports USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 transfer speeds of up to 2,000MBps (read and write). The drive includes both USB-C-to-USB-A and USB-C-to-USB-C cables. As previously stated, the SE880 lacks the SE800’s tethered, rubberized port cover and does not have an ingress protection (IP) rating, which indicates resistance to sand, dust, and water.

The issue with USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 is that it is a largely overlooked specification, appearing on only a few desktop PCs. The most common way to get support for it is to upgrade to a new motherboard or add an expansion card with one or more Gen 2×2 ports, like the Orico card we used to test these drives.

With the upcoming USB4 standard, which can reach Thunderbolt 4 speeds (up to 40GBps) and shares some characteristics with that interface, already making inroads, particularly in high-end laptops, USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 has been superseded without gaining traction. You’ll always be able to use Gen 2×2 devices on a desktop with a compatible board or card, but on other machines, they’ll revert to USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds, which aren’t bad but aren’t what you paid for.

We tested external SSDs on PC Labs’ main Windows 10 storage testbed, which is a desktop with an Asus Prime X299 Deluxe motherboard and an Intel Core i9-10980XE Extreme Edition processor. The system features 16GB of DDR4 Corsair Dominator RAM clocked at 3,600MHz and an Nvidia GeForce discrete graphics card. We test compatible drives using its native 10GBps USB 3.2 Gen 2 port; for Gen 2×2 drives such as the ADATA, we add a Gen 2×2 port via an Orico PCIe expansion card.

3.Samsung Portable SSD T9

Last update on 2025-03-14 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The Samsung Portable SSD T9 is a stylish external solid-state drive designed for content creators. It includes an update to the already excellent Samsung Magician software suite, and the drive supports AES 256-bit encryption. In terms of speed, our testing revealed that the T9 is in a class of its own as an external SSD, with high speeds on both our Windows testbed, which supports the speedy USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 standard, and our Apple MacBook Pro via a Thunderbolt 3 port.

The Samsung Portable SSD T9 is small and light, measuring 0.3 by 3.5 by 2.4 inches and weighing 4.3 ounces, but it is slightly larger and heavier than some competing drives, such as the Crucial X10 Pro. The T9 resembles the Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield in that it is black and has a rubberized frame with a textured wave pattern. The textured surface also makes it easier to hold the drive. The T9’s top displays the Samsung name, while the bottom displays the model name.

An oval-shaped USB-C port sits in the center of one end of the drive, flanked by a status light. The port officially supports the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface (and possibly USB4 and/or Thunderbolt unofficially, as discussed below). Few modern laptops have native support for that interface, but some high-end desktop motherboards do, and desktop PCI Express expansion cards (such as the Orico-branded card we use in our external drive testbed) can add it to an older system. You can use the drive with a computer that only supports USB 3.2 Gen 2, but the SSD will revert to Gen 2 speeds (10Gbps). Check out our USB-C explainer to learn more about the differences between the various interfaces.

The prices listed above are Samsung’s suggested retail prices (MSRPs) as of the drive’s release on October 3. These are pricier than other Gen 2×2 external SSDs. However, only time will tell how close these are to the actual prices charged by retailers.
The T9 is available in three different capacities, the largest of which is 4TB. According to the list prices, the cost per gigabyte decreases as capacity increases, which is good; however, some manufacturers charge a premium for the highest capacity. Until recently, 4TB external SSDs were uncommon, but a growing number of drive families now offer a 4TB member as an option, including the Crucial X9 Pro and X10 Pro, as well as the Kingston XS2000.

Although Samsung doesn’t claim any ingress protection (IP) rating, which certifies a drive’s protection from water and dust, the T9 does have one claim to ruggedness. Thanks to its rubberized sheath, it is rated as shock-resistant for drops up to 9.8 feet.

The T9 supports 256-bit AES hardware encryption, which is widely regarded as the gold standard for civilian-level encryption solutions. The Samsung Magician utility suite is included in the package, and it can monitor drive health, help optimize performance, control power usage, and protect data. With the release of version 8.0 last month, the Magician software suite now includes all Samsung software features (such as Data Migration, portable SSD software, and a card authentication tool). Magician supports Windows, Mac, and Android, so the new features improve an already excellent suite regardless of device.

4.Lexar SL660 Blaze Game Portable SSD

Last update on 2025-03-14 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Lexar is demonstrating that its product design versatility extends to external solid-state drives, transitioning from 2020’s plodding, entry-level Lexar SL200 to the zippy RGB-lit Lexar SL660 Blaze Game portable SSD. The SL660 Blaze supports USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 speeds if you have the necessary hardware, and it includes a handy removable stand and protective pouch.which assesses a drive’s speed when loading games and other apps. It’s an appealing product with a gamer’s aesthetic, but if you want to store a large number of games, more spacious options are available.

The SL660 Blaze is housed in a dark aluminum chassis that Lexar refers to as graphite gray. It measures 0.4 by 2.3 by 4.4 inches and weighs 2.8 ounces. One of the stand’s functions is to showcase the Blaze’s RGB LED light show.

The Blaze is thinner and slightly smaller than the ADATA SE900G, but very similar in size to the Seagate FireCuda Gaming SSD. One of its short ends has an asymmetrical loop through which you can attach a carabiner clip or other fastener.

When you connect the drive to your PC and turn it on, the RGB lighting emanates from the inner edge of the loop and cycles through different colors. The display is bright and tasteful, and it should blend seamlessly into the atmosphere of a gaming setup.The other end of the drive has a USB Type-C port that supports the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 specification. To achieve the fastest transfer speeds, the Blaze must be plugged into a compatible port. However, it is fully backward-compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2, as well as USB versions 3.1 and 3.0, and will automatically default to the fastest speed your system allows.

Few modern laptops have native support for USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, but some high-end desktop motherboards do, and desktop PCI Express expansion cards (such as the Orico-branded card we used in our testbed) can add the interface to an older system. As with other Gen 2×2 drives we’ve tested, you may need to invest in an upgrade to fully utilize the Lexar’s capabilities.

Few modern laptops natively support USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, but some high-end desktop motherboards do, and desktop PCI Express expansion cards (like the Orico-branded card we used in our testbed) can add the interface to an older system. As with other Gen 2×2 drives we’ve tested, you may need to upgrade to take full advantage of the Lexar’s capabilities.

The P50’s drive internals use the PCI Express bus and support NVMe, making it similar to the company’s internal SSDs designed for gamers and power users, such as the WD Black SN750. The P50 is rated for maximum read speeds of 2,000MBps, but this requires the PC you’re connecting it to to have a spare USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port with a USB-C style connector. These, also known as “20GBps USB” ports, are rare. Many new desktops and laptops now support the slower USB 3.2 Gen 2 standard, with a maximum speed of 10GBps. Both interfaces share the same USB-C oval-shaped port.

5.WD Black D50 Game Dock NVMe SSD

Last update on 2025-03-14 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

With an abundance of useful connectors and—except on the base version—a fast solid-state drive, the WD Black D50 Game Dock is an excellent way to improve the connectivity and storage of your laptop or mini desktop. Whether you have a large game library or a lot of videos and photos to store, the 2TB SSD model we tested offers plenty of speed and capacity. The D50 can power a laptop via its interface, connect to a LAN, and easily attach a mouse, keyboard, monitor, and other peripherals. Just two caveats: it’s not cheap, and it won’t work with computers that don’t have a Thunderbolt port.

The WD Black D50 has a square box with dimensions of 2.2 by 4.7 by 4.7 inches (HWD), similar to a mini PC or a palmtop projector. This all-black drive mimics the industrial-chic aesthetic of WD Black-family gear, such as the WD Black P50 Game Drive SSD, which resembles the type of shipping container you might use as cover in an FPS game. The D50’s top and bottom have the same corrugated texture as a packing crate, and the model name is printed in white lettering on the upper lid.

The dock’s numerous ports occupy the front and rear, particularly the latter. In addition to a jack for the 180-watt power adapter and a cooling fan grille, there’s an RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet jack, two Thunderbolt 3 ports (one of which delivers 87 watts of USB power), a DisplayPort 1.4 connector, a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, and two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports. There are additional USB-C and USB-A ports up front, as well as a headphone jack. One of the two remaining sides has no ports or slots, while the other only has a large ventilation grille.

Oddly, the drive’s left-side labeling is upside-down compared with the lettering on the right, implying that the D50 will work just as well when turned over. For that matter, you can stand it on end, resting it on the featureless side, with the grille edge facing upward.

With this profusion of ports—though I noted the absence of an HDMI port and a security lock slot—you can attach a keyboard, a mouse, a headset, a monitor (supporting up to 5K resolution at 60Hz), or other peripherals and connect to a wired LAN, a handy option for environments where Wi-Fi is intermittent or absent.

When you first connect the D50 to a computer’s Thunderbolt port, an RGB light strip will cycle through a rainbow pattern (best visible when the drive is stood on end or the WD name faces upward). The WD Black SSD Dashboard, which is available for free download from the company’s website, allows you to choose from a dozen other lighting patterns. The dashboard also allows you to connect to third-party RGB control systems (Razer, MSI, Asus, or Gigabyte), check drive status (space allocated, volumes, and temperature), run S.M.A.R.T. diagnostics, and update firmware.

If your computer lacks a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port (a USB-C connector with a Thunderbolt-branded lightning-bolt icon), this drive is not for you, unless you want a $680 doorstop. If you plug it into a standard USB-C connection, Windows will not recognize the drive. Thunderbolt is a high-speed interface developed by Intel in collaboration with Apple that transmits PCI Express 3.0 and DisplayPort signals as well as DC power over a single cable. It can be found on current Apple laptops as well as many midrange and high-end Intel notebooks. (Current AMD-based laptops are not supported.) However, the port’s physical interface is identical to that of USB-C.