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Black Friday External SSD and Hard Drive Deals 2026
Portable SSD prices are far above where they were a year or two ago. Here are TechRadar's tested picks, today's Amazon prices, and when a hard drive makes more sense.
The bottom line
Portable SSDs cost much more than they used to. TechRadar describes the 1TB Lexar SL500 as an option under $100, but Amazon's price has been far above that (see the live price below), and Engadget's Black Friday 2024 list had a 1TB SanDisk Extreme Pro at $109.99. TechRadar's best overall pick is the Samsung T9 (1,700 to 2,000 MB/s reads in its testing). If you need speed for video or games, wait for a Black Friday cut on one of the picks here. If you only need backup space, a portable hard drive costs far less per terabyte: Engadget's Black Friday 2024 list had a 2TB WD Elements portable drive at $64.99.
External SSDs and drives to watch this Black Friday
Samsung T9 Portable SSD, 1TB
Best for: The fastest everyday portable SSD for video and big files
$241.95 on Amazon (checked Oct 30)
16% under Amazon's list price of $287.99
Why
- TechRadar's best portable SSD overall: reads of 1,700 to 2,000 MB/s and writes of 1,300 to 1,900 MB/s in its testing
- Highly resilient exterior, up to 4TB, and both USB-C and USB-A cables, per TechRadar
- Sold by Amazon itself
Watch out
- Expensive next to the Samsung T7, larger than rivals and no IP rating, per TechRadar
- Full speed needs a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port; on other ports it runs slower
Lexar SL500 Portable SSD, 1TB
Best for: Thin and light storage for cameras and iPhone video
$249.99 on Amazon (checked Oct 30)
Why
- TechRadar's best portable SSD on a budget: ultra slim and light
- Works with an iPhone 15 Pro for ProRes recording at up to 4K 60fps, per TechRadar
- Read 1,034 MB/s and wrote 942 MB/s in TechRadar's testing
Watch out
- The port connection is a possible weak point, per TechRadar
- TechRadar calls it an under-$100 option for 1TB, but Amazon's price has been far higher; check the live price above and wait for a lower one
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD, 2TB
Best for: A rugged, pocket-size drive, including for PS5 games
$329.99 on Amazon (checked Oct 30)
Why
- TechRadar's best portable SSD for gamers: rubberized, about 50 grams and under 9 mm thick
- Rated up to 1,050 MB/s with IP65 water and dust resistance, per the Amazon listing
- Sold by Amazon itself
Watch out
- TechRadar wasn't convinced by the cable
- Slower than the T9; SanDisk also sells a newer 2,000 MB/s model under a similar name, so check the speed on the listing
Prices come from Amazon and are checked three times a day. Amazon's price at checkout is the one that counts.
Which one is right for you
| If you... | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Edit video or move huge files from a fast laptop | Samsung T9 | The fastest results in TechRadar's testing. |
| Shoot on a camera or iPhone and need a thin drive | Lexar SL500 | TechRadar's slim pick, and it records iPhone ProRes. |
| Want a tough drive for travel or a PS5 | SanDisk Extreme | IP65 rated, tiny, and TechRadar's gaming pick. |
| Just need backups | A portable hard drive | Far cheaper per terabyte than any SSD here. |
Why SSDs cost more this year
On Black Friday 2024, Engadget's list of Amazon storage deals had a 1TB SanDisk Extreme Pro at $109.99 and a 4TB Samsung T7 Shield at $263.44. Prices have risen since: PC Games Hardware reported on November 20, 2025 that demand from AI servers had made memory, hard drives and SSDs more expensive than a few months earlier, with few SSDs at record-low prices.
So a Black Friday SSD price that looks like a big percentage off may still be well above what these drives cost two years ago. Compare with the lowest price this page has seen.
SSD or hard drive
For backups that sit on a desk, a portable hard drive still gives far more space for the money. Engadget's Black Friday 2024 list had a 2TB WD Elements portable drive at $64.99 and a 4TB Seagate portable drive at $99.90. Hard drive prices rose too, per PC Games Hardware, so compare today's prices against those numbers.
Check the port
The T9 and SL500 use USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, rated up to 2,000 MB/s. TechRadar notes you may not reach that in practice; it measured the SL500 at about 1,034 MB/s. The SanDisk Extreme uses USB 3.2 Gen 2, rated up to 1,050 MB/s.
Before you check out
- Decide speed (SSD) or space for the money (hard drive).
- Check your computer's USB port speed before paying for a Gen 2x2 drive.
- Pick the capacity you need; compare price per terabyte across sizes.
- Check the seller is Amazon.com or the brand.
- Compare with the lowest price we've seen on this page.
How we put this guide together
We don't test storage drives. The picks come from TechRadar's speed-tested guide to portable SSDs (updated August 14, 2026), limited to drives sold on Amazon by Amazon. Past prices come from Engadget's Black Friday 2024 storage deals list, syndicated on Yahoo Tech. Today's prices come from Amazon and are checked three times a day. We earn a commission if you buy through our Amazon links, which doesn't change the price you pay.
Quick answers
Why are SSDs so expensive right now?
Prices have risen sharply. Engadget's Black Friday 2024 list had a 1TB SanDisk Extreme Pro at $109.99; compare that with the live prices on this page. PC Games Hardware linked the rise to AI server demand in November 2025.
What's the best portable SSD?
TechRadar picks the Samsung T9 overall, the Lexar SL500 on a budget and the SanDisk Extreme Portable for gamers.
Should I buy an external hard drive instead?
For backups, usually yes; portable hard drives cost far less per terabyte. Pick an SSD when you need speed.
When is Black Friday 2026?
Friday, November 27, 2026, with Cyber Monday on November 30. In 2025 Amazon's Black Friday Week ran November 20 to December 1.
Sources
- TechRadar, 'Best portable SSDs 2026: Speed-tested', updated August 14, 2026
- Engadget via Yahoo Tech, Black Friday deals on external hard drives and SSDs, November 30, 2024
- PC Games Hardware, Amazon Black Friday 2025 SSD deals (German)
- Samsung T9 1TB, Amazon listing
- Lexar SL500 1TB, Amazon listing
- SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 2TB, Amazon listing (speed, IP65)
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