Samsung’s best-selling external SSD is the T7 Shield 2TB and there’s a good reason why that’s the case. The diminutive storage device currently sells for $99.99, down from $126, a 21% discount, its cheapest price ever, and a deal made even sweeter by the inclusion of free Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan subscription for 60-days, an offer worth just under $40 (note that you can stack only two of these - I’ve learnt it the hard way).
What’s surprising is that Samsung sells the T7 Shield cheaper than the normal T7; in a surprising twist, the traditional T7 costs a whopping $140, 40% more and therefore gets a don’t buy sticker from me. The T7 Shield is slightly bulkier and lacks the sophistication of its normal sibling (thanks to its rubber protection) but other than that, both are identical.
When I reviewed it last year, I wrote that it is “an iteration, a marginal improvement on the T7 range; it adds IP65 rating to the T7 and that’s about it. It is not intrinsically a bad product, just one that is not competitive enough. Unless you want to stick to Samsung as a brand, there are more affordable and better protected options available, even from Samsung.”
Well that was when the SSD sold for a staggering $289.99. At $99.99 though (65% off its original suggested retail price), it is an outright steal. Yes, there are cheaper portable SSDs out there and models that sport IP68 rather than IP65, but overall, the T7 Shield - at this price - gets my vote.
More SSD deals
If you’re after a new storage drive that’s equally pacey, but won’t break the bank, check out these alternative SSD deals available in your region:
