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Best External SSDs under £150 (2026)

The External SSDs we've reviewed that cost £150 or less, best first. Each is scored against products at a similar price, so a high score here means good for the money. Where we don't have today's price, we use the typical UK price we found when researching it.

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

  1. #1

    SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD

    7.3/10verdict: wait for deal

    This is a portable USB-C SSD for people who carry large files between machines and want a rugged, password-protected drive. It suits photographers, video editors and travellers who value the listed IP65 and 3 m drop figures on the V3. Buyers must confirm which generation they are getting, because speed, ratings and OS support differ between V2 and V3.

    2TBUSB Type-C (V3); V2 is listed as USB 3.2 Gen 2. The V3 Gen level is not stated in the sources read.V3: up to 2000MB/s. V2: up to 1050MB/s.V2 2TB: up to 1000MB/s. V3 2TB not confirmed.
    Read the full review ›
    SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD
    £149typical UK price when researchedCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

    Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

  2. #2

    Lexar ES3 Portable SSD

    5.5/10verdict: skip

    The Lexar ES3 is a small USB 3.2 Gen 2 portable SSD for people who move files between a laptop and a phone. It suits everyday backups, photo libraries and project folders rather than workloads that need the fastest transfers. Linux users, console owners and anyone who wants hardware encryption should check the limits first.

    512GBUSB 3.2 Gen 2up to 1,050MB/sup to 1,000MB/s
    Read the full review ›
    Lexar ES3 Portable SSD
    £123typical UK price when researchedCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

    Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

  3. #3

    Netac Z Slim USB 3.2 Gen 2 Portable SSD 500GB

    4.8/10verdict: skip

    The Netac Z Slim 500GB is for people who want a very small, light external drive for everyday file carrying and backups. It suits buyers who value the aluminium casing and the two included cables over top transfer speed. It is a poor fit if you need encryption, a rugged rating or the fastest sustained transfers.

    500GBUSB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (backwards compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 2.0); ssd-tester.com lists USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 (5 Gbit/s)up to 550MB/s (manufacturer); ssd-tester.com measured 511.94MB/s
    Read the full review ›
    £53.29typical UK price when researchedCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

    Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details