Performance Rankings
Fastest USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 SSDs
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 external SSDs ranked by speed - 20Gbps interface performance for prosumers and creators.
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 doubles standard USB-C bandwidth to 20 Gbps. These drives offer Thunderbolt-like speeds at a more accessible price point, making them ideal for content creators and power users.
Ranked by Score
Crucial
Crucial X10 Pro
Crucial
Crucial X10 Pro 4TB
Samsung
Samsung T9 Portable SSD
Samsung
Samsung T9 Portable 4TB
SanDisk
SanDisk Extreme Pro 4TB
Corsair
Corsair EX100U
Our Take
Fastest USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 External SSDs ranked by sequential read speed. The Crucial X10 Pro leads at 2.1 GB/s, with 5 drives within 5% of the top speed.
Performance Breakdown
Raw sequential numbers tell only part of the story. The Crucial X10 Pro delivers 2.1 GB/s reads over USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, but sustained throughput under heavy loads depends on thermal design and controller firmware. In our testing it maintained 1.9 GB/s+ during extended writes.
Storage Economics
At capacities above 2 TB, the price premium for SSD storage over HDDs narrows the value gap. For active project storage, the speed advantage justifies the cost. For cold backups, a HDD still offers lower per-terabyte pricing.
Performance Comparison
| Drive | Read Speed | Write Speed | Interface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crucial X10 Pro | 2.1 GB/s read | 2.0 GB/s write | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 |
| Crucial X10 Pro 4TB | 2.1 GB/s read | 2.0 GB/s write | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 |
| Samsung T9 Portable SSD | 2.0 GB/s read | 1.9 GB/s write | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 |
| Samsung T9 Portable 4TB | 2.0 GB/s read | 1.9 GB/s write | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 |
| SanDisk Extreme Pro 4TB | 2.0 GB/s read | 2.0 GB/s write | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 |
A 20 Gbps port is mandatory for Gen 2x2 speeds. On standard USB-C (10 Gbps) the drive still works but tops out at roughly half the rated throughput.
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