New Samsung T5 EVO Puts up to 8TB of Rugged Storage in Your Pocket

Samsung today unveiled its T5 EVO portable state drive (SSD)—the first on the market that can hold up to 8TB of storage space—double that of the second largest portable SSDs.

Other than that, per Samsung, the new external storage device also comes in a sleek and rugged design, ready to take on any rough environment.

Samsung T5 EVO: A new portable SSD entirely

The Samsung T5 EVO has no resemblance to the Samsung T5, which came out five years ago and has already been superseded by the T7 and T9.

The new drive is now slightly thicker and noticeably longer but much narrower, creating a more slender shape that fits well in any pocket. It also has a hook—you can attach it to a bell or a backpack via a clip. The new drive weighs much more than its older namesake brother, but it’s still super light at a mere 3.6 ounces.

The T5 EVO has a USB-C port for power and data, and this is where it’s inferior: It supports USB Gen 1, which caps at 5Gbps, or half of the original T5. Samsung says the new T5 Evo can deliver copy speeds of up to 460MB/s. If that’s true, you’d still need about 5 hours to fill up 8TB of storage space.

The real-world rates will likely be lower, close to that of the similarly-specced and much older Samsung T3 that came out in early 2016, which sustained at around 350MB/s in testing. Still, it’s safe to say the new drive will be much faster than any hard drive-based portable drive.

The table below shows the T5 EVO’s full hardware specs.

Samsung Portable SSD T5 EVO: Hardware specifications

Interface	USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps)
Hardware Information	Capacities		2TB, 4TB, 8TB
	Dimensions		1.57 x 3.74 x .67 inches
	Weight		3.6 ounces
Performance	Sequential Read		Up to 460 MB/sec
	Sequential Write		Up to 460 MB/sec
Durability	Drop Resistant		Up to 6.5 feet
Security	Encryption		AES 256-bit hardware encryption
	Software		Samsung Magician Software
Compatibility	Operating System		Windows, macOS, Android
	Device		PCs, Laptops, Tablets, Smartphones
Reliability	Temperature	Operating	0°C to 60°C
		Non-Operating	-40°C to 85°C
	Humidity		5% to 95% non-condensing
	Shock	Non-Operating	1,500G, duration: 0.5ms, 3 axis
	Vibration	Non-Operating	20~2,000Hz, 20G
Certifications			CE, BSMI, KC, VCCI, RCM, FCC, IC, UL, TUV, CB, EAC, UKCA, BIS
RoHS Compliance			RoHS 2
Warranty			Three-Year Limited Warranty

A familiar Samsung Portable SSD

Aside from the hardware specs and new design, the new T5 EVO is slated to be similar to other Samsung Portable SSDs.

It’s a rugged drive that will work right away when plugged into a host, be it a Windows computer, a Mac, or an Android, thanks to the low power consumption and the preformatted exFAT file system.

Additionally, you can use the helpful Samsung Magician desktop software to manage its features and turn on password protection for its data. That said, if you’re looking for a portable, rugged, yet super-spacious external storage device, the T5 EVO is an excellent option.

Availability and pricing

Samsung says the new T5 EVO portable SSD is available today in 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB, carrying the suggested retail price of $189.99, $349.99, and $649.99, respectively.

Have lots of stuff to care about on the go? Check one out today! Below is the rating of the original Samsung T5 for reference.