Use-Case Guide
Best Thunderbolt & USB4 SSD for Mac
Professional Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, and USB4 external SSDs validated for Mac workflow compatibility and APFS performance.
Mac professionals need Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, or USB4 external SSDs that deliver maximum throughput for video editing, audio production, and large file workflows. These drives offer 40Gbps bandwidth with validated macOS compatibility.
Ranked by Score
Sabrent
Sabrent Rocket Nano XTRM-Q
Corsair
Corsair EX400U USB4
Our Take
Best Thunderbolt & USB4 SSD for Mac — after testing 2 models side by side, the Sabrent Rocket Nano XTRM-Q earned our recommendation with a 9.4/10 rating.
Shopping Guide
A balance of speed, capacity, and price defines the best best thunderbolt & usb4 ssd for mac options. With read speeds spanning 4.0 GB/s to 3.0 GB/s, the right choice depends on whether your priority is raw throughput, storage volume, or portability.
Speeds in this range typically require a Thunderbolt or USB4 host port. Standard USB 3.2 Gen 2 caps out around 10 Gbps, leaving performance on the table.
Before buying a USB4 drive, confirm your computer's port supports 40 Gbps. Many USB-C ports on older hardware top out at 10 Gbps, which defeats the purpose of a high-speed external SSD.
Sabrent Rocket Nano XTRM-Q at a Glance
- 3.0 GB/s reads, 2.8 GB/s writes via USB4
- 9.4/10 overall score from our testing lab
- 1.0TB capacity with 700 TBW endurance
- USB4 interface with 40 Gbps bandwidth
All drives listed are battle-tested in our lab for real-world performance. Prices and availability may vary by retailer.
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Not Sure Which External SSD to Choose?
Visit our spec comparison tool to compare drives side-by-side, or browse our full library of buying guides and rankings.