Tech & Gadgets · Head-to-head
Samsung T9 Portable SSD vs Lexar Professional SL500
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Portable SSDs: Fast, Rugged, and Which One to Skip comparison.
The Samsung T9 is the best all-around portable SSD: it hits real 20Gbps speeds, holds them under sustained load, and has a clean reliability record. The Lexar SL500 is the value runner-up, matching most of that speed in a slimmer magnetic body for less.
Samsung T9 Portable SSD
Buy itThe fastest mainstream 20Gbps drive that also holds its speed under load.
- Sustained ~2,000 MB/s reads with Dynamic Thermal Guard limiting throttling
- Rubberized grip shell rated for drops up to around 3m
- Needs a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 host to hit rated speed
- Bulkier than slim aluminum rivals
Lexar Professional SL500
Buy itA slim, magnetic 20Gbps drive that delivers near-T9 speed for less money.
- Rated ~2,000/1,800 MB/s over USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 in a 43g, 7.8mm aluminum body
- MagSafe-style magnetic back and Apple ProRes capture support for phone-first shooters
- Passive cooling can throttle on very long continuous writes
- Only reaches rated speed on a 20Gbps host
Side by side
| Samsung T9 Portable SSD | Lexar Professional SL500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Creators and pros who want the fastest widely compatible drive without gambling on firmware. | Value-minded creators who want flagship 20Gbps speed in a pocketable, phone-friendly design. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Samsung T9 Portable SSD - The fastest mainstream 20Gbps drive that also holds its speed under load. Choose the Lexar Professional SL500 instead if value-minded creators who want flagship 20Gbps speed in a pocketable, phone-friendly design.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Portable SSDs: Fast, Rugged, and Which One to Skip.