Samsung T5 1TB: external miniature SSD

External SSDs are a very handy proposition, as they not only serve as a storeroom for your data, but are also great for expanding limited console drives via USB interface. The T5 from Samsung not only offers a strong data transfer rate, but is also shapely and extremely compact. We took a closer look at the Winzling.

The Samsung T5 comes in four different sizes (250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB). We have received from the manufacturer for our test the 1TB variant, which is specified with an RRP of 199.99 euros. The street price is however clearly lower, in the trade the SSD is already to get for 150-160 euro.

Striking are immediately the extremely compact dimensions of just 57.3 x 74 x 10.5 mm. The Winzling fits so easily in your pocket and is also quite light 51 grams. In terms of size, the T5 is virtually the bridge between external SSD and USB stick. Nonetheless, a sturdy aluminum housing encloses the interior, which is also responsible for cooling and heat dissipation. Even falls from up to two meters high, the T5 is to survive. Samsung even gives a three-year manufacturer's warranty on the SSD.

The connection is made via a Type-C connector on the housing, whereby Samsung attaches two different cables, on the one hand a Type-C to Type-C cable, on the other Type-C on Type-A, ie the classic USB port , Thus, you can easily connect the T5 SSD to PCs, notebooks, consoles, but also newer Android smartphones with Type-C port.

The Samsung T5 uses the fast USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface along with V-NAND memory technology, which ensures a neat tempo. Depending on the connection option, data transfer rates of up to 540 MB / s are achieved, while we were still able to achieve good 440 MB / s via USB 3.0. Thus, the T5 is of course a lot faster than external HDDs and is thus synonymous for console players as an external drive. This works well with appropriate formatting and speeds up the load times of games considerably.

If you only want to use the T5 as a data storage device on your PC or notebook, you will find pre-installed software. Not only are firmware updates possible, but you can also easily enable password management to protect your data – the T5 offers 256-bit AES hardware encryption and password protection.

Conclusion

by Andreas Philipp

Fast and compact data storage

Alone in terms of size, the Samsung T5 is an impressive bridge between external drive and USB stick. Despite the size, thanks to the aluminum housing, you do not have to forego resistance to operation on the road. The Winzling also offers a strong transfer rate and is the corresponding connection options versatile. All in all, an absolute recommendation as far as external SSDs are concerned and also best suited for consoles.