Samsung T5 EVO 8TB Portable SSD: features, specs and who it suits

The Samsung T5 EVO is a portable external solid state drive, and the model covered here holds 8TB. It is meant for people who carry large files between places: photos and video from a shoot, game libraries, or project folders that outgrew a laptop's internal storage. The drive is small enough to slip into a pocket, and the range runs from 2TB to 8TB.

What 8TB in a pocket-sized drive means

Samsung gives the size as 3.7 x 1.6 x 0.7 inches (about 9.4 x 4.1 x 1.8 cm) and the weight as 0.2 lb (roughly 90 g). Eight terabytes is a large amount of space. As a rough guide, it holds many hours of high-resolution video or a very large photo archive. As with any drive, some capacity is used for formatting, so the usable figure shown by your computer is a little lower.

USB 3.2 Gen 1 and the 460MB/s figure

The T5 EVO connects over USB 3.2 Gen 1, which is the same 5 Gbit/s standard once labelled USB 3.0. Samsung quotes sequential read speeds of up to 460MB/s. That is the best case for large, continuous files; many small files transfer more slowly. Samsung says the drive uses an improved Intelligent TurboWrite, a technique where the drive writes to a fast buffer first to speed up large transfers, and presents it as faster than an external hard drive. Solid state drives generally also have no moving parts and start up quickly.

The speed also depends on your computer's port and cable. A port that only supports older USB standards will limit the drive.

Drop protection

Samsung says the drive offers shock resistance and fall protection up to 6 feet (about 1.8 m), based on a free-fall test conducted under controlled conditions. That figure comes from the brand's test, so treat it as a margin for everyday bumps rather than a guarantee against damage.

Devices it works with

Samsung says the T5 EVO works with desktops, cameras and gaming consoles, with the note that host device compatibility may vary. Before relying on it for a particular camera or console, check that device's manual for supported external storage, formats and size limits. Large drives may need to be formatted in a particular way for some devices.

Who it suits

It suits content creators who move large files, gamers who want extra storage for a console or PC, and anyone consolidating an archive onto one portable drive. Samsung markets it to gamers and content creators.

What to check before you buy

• Port and cable: confirm your device's USB port and that the right cable is included or available.
• Device support: check your camera or console's limits for external drive capacity and file systems.
• Real speeds: 460MB/s is a maximum for sequential reads; everyday results vary.
• Backups: a single drive can fail or be lost, so keep important files in a second place.
• Capacity: the 8TB model is one of several sizes between 2TB and 8TB; pick the one that matches your files.
• Warranty: check the terms for your region.

The short version

• Samsung T5 EVO 8TB portable SSD, model MU-PH8T0S/AM.
• USB 3.2 Gen 1 with sequential reads of up to 460MB/s.
• Capacities from 2TB to 8TB; about 0.2 lb and 3.7 inches long.
• Shock resistance and fall protection up to 6 feet in Samsung's test.
• Works with desktops, cameras and consoles, though host compatibility may vary.

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