REASONS TO BUY
Incredibly durable
Fast transfer rates
Travel friendly size
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Heavier than other travel-focused options
Samsung T7 Shield Review
A durable, travel-sized SSD that doesn't compromise on performance in the name of portability
Credit: Zach Joseph Lovell
RELATED: Best External Hard Drives of 2024
Our Verdict
The Samsung T7 Shield makes no compromises in performance despite its small profile and extremely durable construction, making it one of the best all-around SSDs we have tested. This hard drive ranked near the top in read/write speeds both before and after we performed a 9.8-foot drop test and sprayed it with water for three minutes. Samsung was even able to shrink this hard drive down to fit in the palm of your hand. We'd highly recommend this option for someone in need of a high-performance SSD for travel and/or is expecting some harsh environments for their electronics. To see how the Shield stacks up against the competition, check out our article on the best external hard drives.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product Samsung T7 Shield | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Rugged Design at Lightning Speed |  Best Overall External SSD | Best for Storage Capacity | Best Overall External HDD |  Best Bang for the Buck |
| Price | $170 List $155.50 at Amazon | $200 List $151.97 at Amazon | $135 List $125.99 at Amazon | $85 List | $80 List $79.06 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A true all-around SSD with fast transfer rates and heavy duty construction in a small package | One of the best SSDs all across the board, it boasts excellent performance in the read and write, and also offers portability and convenience | A non-portable model with lots of space and great speed | A great option for those searching for an HDD that's highly compatible and performs well | An affordable model that performs well and looks good |
| Rating Categories | Samsung T7 Shield | SanDisk Extreme Por... | Western Digital My... | Western Digital P10 | Western Digital Ele... |
| Read/Write Performance (60%) | |||||
| Convenience (30%) | |||||
| Portability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Samsung T7 Shield | SanDisk Extreme Por... | Western Digital My... | Western Digital P10 | Western Digital Ele... |
| Measured Max Speed in MB/sec | 1063.64 MB/s | 1066.51 MB/s | 193.28 MB/s | 135.84 MB/s | 124.36 MB/s |
| Measured Max Drag and Drop | 625.00 MB/s | 1000.00 MB/s | 166.67 MB/s | 100.00 MB/s | 113.64 MB/s |
| Drive Type | SSD | SSD | HDD | HDD | HDD |
| Compatibility | Windows and MacOS. Bonus: Playstation 4/4Pro & 5. Xbox One & Series X|S. Works with Android (tested on Note 10+) | Windows and MacOS. Bonus: Works with Android (tested on Note 10+) | Windows and MacOS. Bonus: Works with Android (tested on Note 10+) | Windows and MacOS. Bonus: Playstation 4/4Pro & 5. Xbox One & Series X|S. Works with Android (tested on Note 10+) | Windows and MacOS. Bonus: Works with Android (tested on Note 10+) |
| Size | 2.3" x 3.5" x .5" | 3.96" x 2.06" x 0.36" | 6.70" x 5.47" x 1.93" | 4.64" x 3.46" x 0.48" | 4.34" x 3.22" x 0.59" |
| Volume | 4.02 cu. in. | 2.94 cu.in. | 70.73 cu.in. | 7.71 cu.in. | 8.25 cu.in. |
| Weight | 3.49 oz | 2.02 oz | 29.94 oz | 4.97 oz | 4.71 oz |
| Storage Size Tested | 1 TB | 2 TB | 4 TB | 2 TB | 2 TB |
| Storage Options | 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | 4TB, 6TB, 8TB, 12TB, 14TB, 16TB, 18TB | 2TB, 4TB, 5TB | 1TB, 2TB, 3TB, 4TB, 5TB |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Samsung T7 Shield confirms again that Samsung is a leader in electronics innovation. This model is an extremely durable SSD that's compatible with Mac, PC, and gaming consoles- making this a great option for a wide variety of applications. The T7 Shield's standout attribute is its highly durable construction that doesn't compromise its read/write speed. Where many hard drives have designs favoring performance or portability, this option can do it all.
Performance Comparison
We confirmed this drive's IP65 rating by spraying it with water for three minutes and then reevaluating the read and write speeds.
Credit: Zach Joseph Lovell
Read/Write Performance
The primary function of an external hard drive is to read and write information quickly, so we naturally weighed this category the heaviest at 60% of our total score. In this metric, we measured read and write speeds using two different programs: AmorphousDeskMark for Mac and CrystalDiskMark for PC computers. Lastly, we timed drag-and-drop file transfers with different file sizes up to 10 gigabytes with both Mac and PC operating systems.
While testing read/write performance on Mac OS, The Samsung T7 Shield was at the top of the pack with an average sequential read speed of 676 MB per second, essentially tying with the Sandisk Extreme Portable V2. In random read speeds, the T7 Shield came in third place with a 20 MB per second average.
This is one of the best all-around SSDs we reviewed due to its combination of portability and performance.
Credit: Zach Joseph Lovell
The Samsung T7 Shield continued to operate well on the Windows operating system with an average sequential read speed of 1061 MB per second and an average of 222 MB per second in random read speeds. These times were impressively close to our fastest external hard drive- the Sandisk Extreme Portable V2.
The drag-and-drop test was an equally important aspect of our testing process, with manually timed drag-and-drop file transfers of 1 GB, 5 GB, and 10 GB. While using a Mac OS, the Samsung T7 Shield was able to transfer 1GB in 2 seconds, 5GB in 6 seconds, and 10GB in 8 seconds for an incredible average speed of 583 MB a second, the fastest of any hard drive we tested. This blazing-fast speed wasn't quite reproduced when we tested the T7 Shield's drag and drop with a PC. With a PC, the Samsung T7 Shield transferred 1GB at 3 seconds, 5GB at 26 seconds, and 10GB at 53 seconds for an average time of 236 MB a second. The T7 Shield's PC speed during the drag and drop test, while much slower than the Mac pairing, was similar to many of the other hard drives tested, but the Sandisk Extreme Portable V2 was literally twice as fast.
This SSD boasted impressive transfer speeds during our various tests. We also noticed seamless connectivity when running different programs such as Adobe Lightroom.
Credit: Zach Joseph Lovell
Convenience
For the next metric of our hard drive review, we analyzed the features of each product that make them more amicable companions for one's electronics. For each model, we looked at the set-up time, compatibility, connection options, and nuances such as warranties and storage size options. Given that convenience is a significant factor when making purchase decisions, we gave this metric a 30% weight of the total score.
In the convenience category, the Samsung T7 Shield topped the charts. Straight out of the box, this model can be used with Mac, PC, Android phones, and gaming consoles- making it as easy as it gets to use an SSD for any application besides iPhone storage. It also comes with USB-C and USB-A cords and comes in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB options. The ability to have up to 4TB in such a small package really impressed our testing team and pushed the Samsung T7 Shield to the top. Lastly, Samsung offers an excellent warranty period of 3 years.
Simply take this SSD out of the box and plug it in!
Credit: Zach Joseph Lovell
Portability
For many of us, wherever we go, our hard drives go too- this is why we created the portability metric for this review and weighted it 10% of the total score. We first looked at the overall size of each hard drive before looking at durability. Whether traveling to the coffee shop or to the other side of the planet, hard drives have a certain likelihood they'll be dropped or soaked in a beverage spill, so we wanted to see which options could hold up to the abuse.
The Samsung T7 Shield was a leader in the portability metric. Its profile is among the smallest in our review and can neatly fit into any computer bag or pants pocket- especially given that it's smaller than a cell phone.
We confirmed Samsung's claimed 9.8-foot drop test rating.
Credit: Zach Joseph Lovell
One of the T7 Shield's greatest attributes is its durability- which we tested ourselves rather than relying on the manufacturer's claims. The 9.8-foot drop test went off without a hitch, and we sprayed water on it for three minutes to test the water resistance of its IP65 rating. The IP65 rating means it's completely dustproof and can withstand three minutes of light water spray. We did need to let the T7 Shield dry a bit before testing its speed again, but it operated perfectly normally. Simply put, the portability of the Samsung T7 Shield couldn't be beat when combining its durability and its size.
This drive passed our 9.8 foot drop tests with no issues.
Credit: Zach Joseph Lovell
Should You Buy the T7 Shield?
If you want the best all-around hard drive for travel and harsh electronics conditions, consider the Samsung T7 Shield. This option is the best blend of size, durability, and performance we've seen- making virtually no compromises in any category. The T7 Shield isn't the cheapest option, but we bet it'll outlast many other SSDs when an accidental drop or beverage spill occurs.
What Other External Hard Drives Should You Consider?
For the fastest SSD, we'd encourage you to look at the Sandisk Extreme Portable V2, which also offers some protection in a rubber-coated housing.
We sprayed the T7 Shield for three minutes with light water spray to test the IP65 rating.
Credit: Zach Joseph Lovell
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Zach Lovell
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