Samsung recently announced the Portable SSD X5 – the company’s first-ever NVMe-based portable solid state drive. In addition to NVMe technology, the X5 uses Thunderbolt connectivity, making it possible to offer speeds of up to 2,800MB/s sequential read and up to 2,300MB/s sequential write. That’s basically around 5.2x (read) or 4.5x (write) faster than the Samsung PSSD; or up to 25.5x (read) faster than the typical external HDD. At these speed, users can transfer a 20GB-sized 4K UHD video in just a matter of seconds. The body is made of full-metal with glossy finish and non-slit bottom mat. It’s also shock resistant and the metal housing is somewhat rugged, enough to withstand accidental drops. The Samsung Portable SSD X5 also features Dynamic Thermal Guard to maintain optimal operating temperature. The X5 is definitely fast, but it’s not cheap though. It comes with a retails price of $400 for the 500GB capacity, $700 for the 1TB and $1,400 for the 2TB capacity. Check out more details of the Portable SSD X5 below.
Samsung Advances External Storage Innovation with New Portable SSD X5
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., unveiled its first NVMe-based portable solid state drive (SSD) – the Samsung Portable SSD X5 – achieving new levels of performance and reliability for external storage solutions. Based on the cutting-edge Thunderbolt™ 3 technology, the new X5 features exceptional speeds in a compact and durable form factor, making it an ideal portable storage for content creators and IT professionals on the go.
“As a leader in high-performance and reliable storage solutions, we are thrilled to continue to advance the external SSD market with the introduction of our first Thunderbolt 3 portable SSD,” said Dr. Mike Mang, vice president of Brand Product Marketing, Memory Business at Samsung Electronics. “The X5 is yet another testament to Samsung’s commitment to providing innovative portable storage solutions that enable faster transfer of large data files, saving users’ valuable time.”
Whether editing 4K videos, creating real-time 3D rendering images or compiling high-resolution photos, consumers want fast and convenient ways to store and transfer their data. Leveraging synergies between NVMe and Thunderbolt 3 technologies, Samsung’s X5 delivers maximized performance levels for professionals working with heavy multimedia files. Thanks to Thunderbolt 3’s 40Gbps bandwidth – up to four times faster than USB 3.1 – the X5 offers a read speed of up to 2,800 MB/s, which is up to 5.2 times faster than the widely used SATA interface portable SSDs and up to 25.5 times faster than external HDDs. The drive also boasts the fastest maximum write speed of 2,300 MB/s, enabling users to transfer a 20GB-sized 4K UHD video in just 12 seconds. Designed for Macs and PCs with Thunderbolt 3 ports, the X5 allows users to enjoy the speed benefits in a lightweight and portable design, with capacity options up to 2TB.
The X5 features a full-metal body with a glossy finish and non-slip bottom mat. A shock-resistant internal frame and rugged metal housing can withstand accidental drops of up to two meters (6.6 feet). In addition, the Dynamic Thermal Guard technology and a heat sink – a mechanical internal solution – safeguard the X5 from overheating, ensuring reliability while maintaining optimal operating temperatures. The X5 also offers powerful data protection with ‘Samsung Portable SSD Software’, based on the AES 256-bit hardware data encryption, including optional password protection and easy configuration of security settings.
Price and Availability
The Samsung Portable SSD X5 comes with a manufacturers’ suggested retail price (MSRP) starting at $399.99 for the 500GB model, $699.99 for the 1TB model and $1,399.99 for the 2TB model. Samsung is offering a three-year limited warranty and will be available globally from Sept. 3, 2018.
Samsung Portable SSD X5 Specifications
| Name | Samsung Portable SSD X5 |
| Capacity | 2TB/1TB/500GB |
| Interface | Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) | 119 x 62 x 19.7 mm (4.7 x 2.4 x 0.8 inches) |
| Weight | 150 grams (5.3 oz.) |
| Compatibility | H/W) Macs and Windows PCs with Thunderbolt 3 ports (Not backward compatible / Not compatible with PCs only with USB interface) (O/S) Mac OS Sierra (10.12) or higher Windows 10 64 bit RS 2 or higher |
| Performance | Up to 2,800 MB/s sequential read speeds Up to 2,300 MB/s sequential write speeds (500GB: up to 2,100 MB/s) |
| Encryption | AES 256-bit hardware encryption |
| Security | Samsung Portable SSD Software Password protection (optional) |
| Certifications | CE, BSMI, KC, VCCI, C-tick, FCC, IC, UL, TUV, CB |
| RoHS Compliance | RoHS2 |
| Warranty | Three-Year Limited Warranty |
