If you're the clumsy sort that's always dropping things, you'd be pleased to know that the Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield will survive it. That is, if it's dropped from less than three metres. As an added bonus, it's also water- and dust-resistant, too.
Quick specs
- 1TB capacity
- 1,050MB/s sequential read, 1,000MB/s sequential write
- 98g
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps)
Clad in a rubber material, the T7 Shield offers a grippy hold. Odds are, you won't drop it accidentally. The rubber finish also serves to help regulate heat, according to Samsung. While the SSD did become hot during my write tests, it wasn't uncomfortably so compared with the Flujo CH-62 Signature Pro 7-in-1 Multi-function Adapter.
Inside the T7 Shield is a NVMe SSD capable of up to 1,050MB/s sequential read and 1,000MB/s sequential write speeds. To take advantage of these speeds, you will need a computer with a USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) port. My tests with the Apple MacBook Pro (2021) showed speeds of around 772MB/s write and 684MB/s read, which are nowhere near the maximum speeds.
The SSD comes with two cables, a USB-C to USB-C, and a USB-A to USB-C. The T7 Shield uses a USB-C port, but it's not very secure. It feels loose and the SSD falls off with just a little shake. I also had to push it in quite hard to ensure that it's plugged in, but it doesn't stay in if you lift up the SSD by the cable. To be sure, I tried shaking a heavier power bank with the same cable, and it stayed on much longer than the T7 Shield. I also tested with both cables to be sure, as well as with other USB-C cables. Luckily, the Samsung SSD will likely survive the drop. I‘ve been told that this is an issue with the early review samples and has been fixed for the mass production units, but I will be leaving my observations in until this can be verified.
At S$239, you're paying slightly more for the casing on top of the Samsung NVMe SSD inside. If you have butter fingers, and need an SSD on-the-go, then the Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield is ideal. Otherwise, you can probably save a bit by buying the SSD and a third-party casing. Get it from Shopee, Lazada, or directly from Samsung. A 2TB version is also available.
Note: Review unit provided by Samsung.
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