SSDs are pretty much becoming the future of storage! SSDs have shoved flash drives, thumb drives, clunky hard disks, and even expensive cloud storage into near extinction. An SSD provides everything they did, except it’s impressively faster, more compact, and convenient, and promises larger capacities. However, a typical SSD design doesn’t raise many eyebrows anymore, hence they’re getting more innovative, unique, and efficient by the day! From a next-gen super-fast portable SSD that lets you wirelessly transfer files between multiple devices to a rugged SSD that you can carry with you to remote internet-free locations– we’ve curated a whole collection of groundbreaking and impressive SSD designs for you!
1. The AIRmini
Occupying about the same amount of space as a Snickers bar, the AIRmini packs up to a whopping 4 terabytes of storage in its waterproof, dustproof, rugged outer body. With its high-storage capacity and wireless design, however, the AIRmini offers a unique alternative to cloud-based storage. Unlike a cloud server that exists in a remote location and needs an internet connection to be accessed, AIRmini is a portable storage device that you own (in perpetuity too, unlike cloud storage and its pesky annual fees) and can access without an active internet connection.
2. LAMBOGO
LAMBOGO comes with a card slot and a single button interface for quickly dumping data from your DSLR and Drone, and lets you easily preview your files on your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or even desktop and edit them on third-party apps… without connecting wires. If you’re a shutterbug who travels to the wilderness or someone who needs to quickly backup their heavy RAW footage without any wires, cables, or cloud subscriptions, the LAMBOGO couldn’t be more of a perfect fit in your tech arsenal.
3. The Razer BELiEF
When design meets innovation, the result is functional joy served on the platter! The Razer BELiEF designed by creative studio Smooth Way is a testament to that fact. This cool conceptual gadget is a mouse pad that doubles as an external solid-state drive (SSD), something that no one asked for but everyone needed. This super thoughtful product design is the brainchild of designers Jaehee Kim and Seungho Choi who’ve adapted Razer’s philosophy, highlighting the use of technology for digital nomads for this fantastic creation.
4. The Samsung Portable SSD T5
The Samsung Portable SSD T5 boasts transfer speeds of up to 540 MB/s! In fact, it can even transfer and backup huge data such as 4K videos and high-resolutions with ease and speed. It comes in 4 versions – 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB. You can pick one according to your need and requirement! You can even protect your data and ensure it’s always safe by utilizing the optional password protection with AES 256-bit hardware encryption. The portable SSD is economically priced, and also extremely easy to carry around. It is compatible with PCs, MacBooks, smartphones, and more.
5. The LaCie Rugged SSD Pro External Solid State Drive
The LaCie Rugged SSD Pro External Solid State Drive is a USB-C SSD that works with Thunderbolt 3 ports that have USB-C connectors, as well as USB-C ports. It’s an SSD that is compatible with both Mac and Windows. Once you store your high-res files on this SSD, you can even edit them! The rugged SSD is quite sturdy and can be carried with you almost anywhere. It’s a rough and tough tech gadget! It has an IP67 waterproof rating and a two-tonne car crash resistance. Pretty cool, no?
6. The Satechi Stand & Hub for Mac mini
The silver lining with the Satechi Stand & Hub for Mac mini with SSD enclosure is the matching design and silver finish – reminiscent of the 2020 M1 Mac mini. However, it is sized exactly like the Mac mini and looks a natural extension for Apple’s smallest desktop computer. This useful accessory for your Apple ecosystem increases the Mac mini’s storage without the need to depend on an external hard drive courtesy of the M.2 SATA SSD enclosure. Plug it into the USB-C port, and you get additional ports in one simplified hub.
7. The HybridDrive
Compatible with most USB-C devices, the HybridDrive offsets your need for multiple hubs, dongles, and drives. With a multiport on one end, an SSD on another, and a USB-C interface connecting the two, the HybridDrive bridges the gap between your portable devices (laptop/tablet/phone) and your desktop – in the sense that it gives you extra ports and expandable storage… something most desktops have in common. The multiport setup comprises a 4K 60Hz HDMI port, two USB-A ports with 10Gbps data transfer, a MicroSD card reader, an SD card reader, and a USB-C which supports 100W of power output along with high-speed video and data transferring. On the other end of the HybridDrive is an SSD that comes in 4 sizes, starting from 128Gb and going all the up to a whopping 2Tb.
8. The ECLLPSE
Designed to be as compact as a pen-drive, with the capacity of a cloud-storage service, and without those nagging subscription costs, the ECLLPSE is a ridiculously small, universally compatible SSD with a robust outer construction that can go wherever you go. The SSD sits within rugged, IP67 water and dust resistant enclosure that’s roughly the size of your thumb, boasting storage as high as 2 terabytes fitting right within the palm of your hand. A USB-C interface allows the ECLLPSE to work with a wide variety of devices (there’s even a USB-A dongle for broader compatibility), ranging from mobiles to computers and even specialized gear like gaming consoles, cameras, and high-end recording equipment.
9. The Cléxi
We’ve featured external SSDs on this website before, but the Cléxi is something completely new. Perhaps one of the first SSDs to take encryption and security incredibly seriously, Cléxi uses a 2-factor authentication system to grant you access to the drive’s data. Once enabled, the security measures require two steps to let you access your files. First, you need to tap your phone on the Cléxi, which then sends a prompt to your phone to scan your face. Once the Cléxi knows it’s you accessing your files, it automatically unlocks for you, protecting your data from being accessed or copied by anyone… and that’s just the first step in Cléxi’s multi-pronged approach to protect your files.
10. The Rapid SSD
Quite like the SSDs we’ve spoken about here before, the Rapid SSD puts up to 2 terabytes worth of storage right in your pocket. It’s about the size and shape of a pack of chewing gum but takes care of virtually all your storage needs. It also has 3 different ports that let you connect to virtually every device you own, from your smartphone to laptop, and from your tablet to your DSLR… and even your gaming console! The Rapid SSD sports a USB-A on the front, which pops open to reveal a USB-C behind it, as well as a fold-out lightning connector on the reverse end, so it’s perfect for both Android phones and iPhones, allowing you to store all your camera-roll images without worrying about shelling out money to Google or Apple.