Portable SSD deals: compare capacity and the speed your computer supports

Name the capacity and interface together

Samsung's UK T9 1TB page specifies USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 at 20Gbps and a sequential read speed of up to 2,000MB/s. That identifies the interface needed for its headline capability. A USB-C-shaped socket on your computer is not enough evidence that the complete connection supports that mode; check the computer's exact port specification as well as the cable.

For a fair retailer comparison, include the drive family, capacity, full part code and condition. A headline 'Samsung T9 from £...' may refer to a different capacity from the one selected in your basket. Likewise, a faster interface is an alternative feature, not proof that your existing drive or a lower-interface model has become poor value.

Sources: Samsung UK: Portable SSD T9 1TB

Calculate cost per terabyte, then check what you need

Illustrative offers, not live listings: a 1TB drive is £70 delivered and a comparable 2TB version is £110. The first is £70 per advertised TB; the second is £55 per advertised TB. The 2TB option has better capacity value, but it also needs £40 more of your budget today. If your foreseeable storage needs fit comfortably on the smaller drive, that extra spend may have little immediate benefit.

Count the files you intend to keep and leave room for growth rather than planning to fill the drive on day one. Samsung explains that computer-reported capacity can be lower because of different measurement standards. Keep your calculation on the advertised capacity basis when comparing offers, and expect formatting and the device's reporting convention to affect the available figure you see.

Sources: Samsung UK: Portable SSD T9 1TB

Pay for a speed difference you can use

Look up the connection path you will actually use: the computer port, any dock or hub, and the supplied cable. Check that path before paying a premium for a headline transfer rate. Manufacturer 'up to' figures come from specified conditions; they are not a time estimate for your collection of files.

Ask how often you move large folders and how much a faster transfer would change your routine. Occasional archive storage and daily work with large media files can justify different budgets. Tillio has not benchmarked these drives, so this is a specification and cost comparison. Use relevant independent testing separately if sustained performance is the deciding factor.

Check the full storage purchase

Confirm included cables and any required software compatibility before buying. Read the guarantee for your selected seller and condition; Samsung's cited T9 page states a five-year limited warranty, which should not be transferred automatically to every used listing. Plan a separate copy of irreplaceable data rather than treating a discounted portable drive as the entire backup plan. Then set a target for the exact capacity and part code so an alert refers to the storage you intended to buy.

• Match family, capacity and part code.
• Compare delivered cost per advertised TB.
• Check the complete port-and-cable path.
• Keep maximum speed claims separate from your expected results.

Sources: Samsung UK: Portable SSD T9 1TB