USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 external SSDs like the Samsung T9 feature maximum performance restricted by the inherent limitations of the USB protocol over which data is transferred. This can make it tough to stand out from the crowd, but Samsung doesn’t seem to have a problem with it. It had no problems with the incredibly tough T7 dial and didn’t struggle with the newest addition, the T9.
Reason? It is filled to the brim with high-quality components. We don’t have to look inside to know this either; quality manifests itself in efficiency. This may seem strange, considering I just said that performance is restricted by the USB connection, but performance is more than just high peaks: there is also consistency. The T9 meets these requirements.
It reeks of quality, also in terms of look and feel. Unpacking and holding it, I immediately noticed how pleasantly – but not intrusively – bulky it felt, weighing 122 g. Durable thanks to the rubberized and textured coating. All this ensures resistance to falls from a height of up to 3 meters.
It also doesn’t have the irritating, downright military aesthetic that you might expect from such a solid disc. No frames crossed out with ribbons or vivid colors. Just a nice, decent, pocket-sized drive that shouldn’t break if you drop it on the go.
Samsung T9 specifications
Capacity: 1TB / 2TB / 4TB (tested)
USB Generation: 3.2 generation 2×2
Rated Performance: 2000 MB/s
Flash memory: Own memory (Samsung) 3D NAND
Controller: Internally (Samsung)
Suggested retail price: $550 | 475 pounds
Price: $300 | 368 pounds (at time of writing)
Unfortunately, it doesn’t have an official IP rating, which is disappointing considering it’s supposed to be a drive that allows you to: as Samsung claims“Protect your data with confidence.” However, as long as you keep it out of the rain and don’t drop it on the beach, you should be fine.
Now we come to the meat and potatoes: efficiency. And boy, does this thing work. That’s a really good job considering it’s not a budget-friendly drive compared to the competition, especially with the 1TB and 2TB versions
I tested the 4TB version, which is only slightly more costly than other options like the wonderful Adata SD810. Considering the price/performance ratio of the 4TB version, I would definitely recommend this capacity unless the prices of the 1TB and 2TB drop.
Maximum drive speeds are maintained by a pseudo-SLC cache, part of the NAND flash that acts as faster memory, making transfers a breeze. This keeps the speed at around 1800MB/s.
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When this pSLC memory runs out, the native NAND flash speed for the T9 kicks in. This is astonishing, as you can see in the IOMeter test below. While other USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 drives I’ve tested drop to below 500 MB/s – and often much lower – once the pSLC cache runs out, the T9 maintains a constant speed of around 900 MB/s at all times.
This probably has to do with the excellent cooling, which Samsung says includes “Dynamic Thermal Guard.” Whatever that means, it works well because it takes a long time for the temperature to reach 60°C and the peak is only a little higher. There doesn’t seem to be any thermal throttling involved, as even when transferring files up to 1.2TB sequentially, I didn’t notice any. This should cover most apply cases.
For sequential transfers, consider the file sizes that will be transferred most frequently. First, and most obviously, if you’re thinking of regularly transferring more than 250GB at a time – such as during multiple game installs or system backups – then the T9 will be ideal. This will keep everything running smoothly at around 1GB/s for as long as you need.
On the other hand, if you’re only going to transfer 50GB or less of data at a time, any old-generation 2×2 drive will probably suffice and the T9 will be overkill.
The tricky place is the area around 200GB. The SD810 can transfer about 260GB before the speed drops. The T9 only manages about 175GB. So I think for the niche market of users who know they will always want to transfer files in 200-250GB chunks, Adata may be a better choice.
However, I think most people would prefer around 175GB of super-fast speeds and then a solid 1GB/s for the odd transfer of very gigantic files where they need it. In other words, the T9 covers all the bases, while the SD810 only covers most of it.
When it comes to gaming performance, you have nothing to worry about. The T9 had a lower average access time than any other USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 SSD I tested in the 3DMark Storage benchmark, and while it loaded slightly slower in FFXIV, it wasn’t by much. I also did my usual Crab Champions test and found that the 1.73GB game was transferred to the drive in just a few seconds, with the game running sleek as butter and loading up-to-date levels instantly.
Overall, the Samsung T9 4TB is the highest-quality USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 drive I’ve tested. Yes, the Adata SD810 maintains its peak speeds longer, but the T9 maintains them for a lot of time – longer than most other drives – and then its speeds don’t drop as low as other drives.
Buy if…
✅ You apply it for gigantic backups: The T9 maintains phenomenal speeds seemingly indefinitely, and 4TB is a huge capacity for backing up your entire drive or game folders.
✅ You are clumsy: This drive is tough and has a drop resistance rating of 10 feet. I can really feel it too.
Don’t buy if…
❌ You don’t have a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port: Without this, you will not be able to apply the maximum speeds of this disk.
❌ You don’t do many gigantic file transfers: There are much cheaper, smaller capacity drives that will be more cost-effective for most users doing average file transfers and not requiring data to be stored on two PCs.
Apart from this ample sequential performance, it also delivers admirable 4K random and gaming performance, and it manages to achieve all this without much effort thanks to its cooling solution. Add to that a great-feeling, solid casing and you’ve got a truly premium drive.
The only question is whether it is worth the premium price. At MSRP, the 4TB version of the T9 should cost $550, and at that price, I’d probably recommend closing the laptop lid and touching the grass and inhaling fresh air to prevent yourself from vomiting. But luckily the T9 doesn’t seem to be worth that much right now.
It currently retails for around $300, which is only slightly more costly than other similar 4TB drives of lower overall quality. However, when you reduce the capacity, you are looking at $231 for the 2TB version or approximately $135 for the 1TB version. That’s about $80 and $55 more than you can currently buy an SD810. That’s a price difference I can’t quite justify, unless you’re sure you’ll be regularly transferring well over 250GB of data at a time and need the T9’s consistent speeds.
The 4TB version I tested, however, is actually reasonably priced compared to other high-quality external SSDs. T9 is very much a “go big or go home” deal, which will exclude many people from considering it. However, for those who are in the market for such a gigantic capacity drive, the Samsung T9 seems to be the best of the bunch.
