Samsung Electronics today unveiled its first NVMe-based portable solid state drive (SSD) - the Samsung Portable SSD X5 - achieving new levels of performance and reliability for external storage solutions.

Based on the Thunderbolt 32 technology, the new X5 features very high speeds in a compact and durable form factor.

Thanks to Thunderbolt 3's 40Gbps bandwidth - up to four times faster than USB 3 - the X5 offers a read speed of up to 2,800 MB/s, which is up to 5.2 times faster than the widely used SATA interface portable SSDs and up to 25.5 times faster than external HDDs. The drive also boasts the fastest maximum write speed of 2,300 MB/s. It is designed for Macs and PCs with Thunderbolt 3 ports, and it is availabe in capacity options up to 2TB.

The X5 features a full-metal body with a glossy finish and non-slip bottom mat. A shock-resistant internal frame and rugged metal housing can withstand accidental drops of up to two meters (6.6 feet). In addition, the Dynamic Thermal Guard technology and a heat sink - a mechanical internal solution - safeguard the X5 from overheating, ensuring reliability while maintaining optimal operating temperatures. The X5 also offers powerful data protection with 'Sasung Portable SSD Software', based on the AES 256-bit hardware data encryption, including optional password protection and easy configuration of security settings.

The X5 comes with a three-year limited warranty and will be available globally from Sept. 3, 2018, with a manufacturers' suggested retail price (MSRP) starting at $399.99 for the 500GB model, $699.99 for the 1TB model and $1,399.99 for the 2TB model.

Key Specifications

Capacity: 2TB/1TB/500GB
Interface: Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps)
Dimensions (LxWxH): 119 x 62 x 19.7 mm (4.7 x 2.4 x 0.8 inches)
Weight: 150 grams (5.3 oz.)
Compatibility (H/W): Macs and Windows PCs with Thunderbolt 3 ports (Not backward compatible / Not compatible with PCs only with USB interface)
(O/S) MacOS Sierra (10.12) or higher
Windows 10 64 bit RS 2 or higher
Performance: Up to 2,800 MB/s sequential read speeds
Up to 2,300 MB/s sequential write speeds (500GB: up to 2,100 MB/s)
Encryption: AES 256-bit hardware encryption
Security: Samsung Portable SSD Software10
Password protection (optional)
Certifications CE, BSMI, KC, VCCI, C-tick, FCC, IC, UL, TUV, CB
RoHS Compliance RoHS2
Warranty Three-Year Limited Warranty