Wondering if you can buy more SSD storage for your Mac? The short answer is yes—but not by upgrading the internal drive on most modern Macs (especially those with Apple Silicon). Instead, the best way to expand your storage is by using high-quality external SSDs that connect via USB-C or Thunderbolt. Whether you’re a creative professional handling 4K video, a student backing up projects, or just running out of space for apps and photos, adding external SSD storage is fast, reliable, and surprisingly affordable. In this guide, we’ve tested and reviewed the top options to help you find the perfect fit for your Mac.
Quick Product Comparison
Our Top 5 Can You Buy More Ssd Storage On Mac Reviews – Expert Tested & Recommended
1. 1TB Portable SSD for Mac with USB-C, 2100MB/s Speed, 4K ProRes Support
This lightning-fast 1TB portable SSD is built specifically for Mac users who need serious speed and reliability. With read speeds up to 2100MB/s, it handles 4K ProRes video editing, large photo libraries, and game backups without breaking a sweat. The included USB-C and USB-A adapters make it compatible with everything from MacBook Pros to iPhones and gaming consoles.
Key Features That Stand Out
- ✓ Blazing 2100MB/s transfer speeds—ideal for 4K video and RAW photo workflows
- ✓ USB-C with USB-A adapter included for universal compatibility
- ✓ Rugged aluminum casing protects against drops, heat, and daily wear
- ✓ Compact and lightweight—perfect for travel or on-the-go creators
- ✓ Plug-and-play setup with no drivers needed for Mac
Why We Recommend It
If you’re serious about expanding your Mac’s storage without sacrificing performance, this SSD delivers desktop-grade speed in a pocket-sized package. We’ve used it for video editing in Final Cut Pro and noticed instant load times—even with multi-stream 4K timelines.
Best For
Content creators, photographers, and professionals who need fast, reliable external storage that keeps up with demanding workflows.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Extremely fast read/write speeds
- Durable, sleek aluminum design
- Includes both USB-C and USB-A cables
- Works seamlessly with macOS
Cons:
- Can get warm during prolonged use (normal for high-speed SSDs)
- Slightly pricier than budget options
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “Works great! Transferred over 180 Gb of photos and videos. Easily organize and save in your file(s) app on iPhone. You can label each folder for your memories. Transferred 4K 120FPS videos quick! No connection problems and perfect size to store in your backpack or desk. Gets a tad hot but not a prob”
Customer Review: “This has become my new favorite drive. I love the fact that it protects both connection types without extra caps or some ineffective methodology that prohibits use and looks. The slide to extend and retract them is a sensitive when pulling the connections in. I often slide too far and expose the other.”
2. UGREEN SSD Enclosure, Tool-Free USB C External, 10Gbps M.2 NVMe to USB Adapter/Reader
This isn’t a pre-built SSD—it’s a smart enclosure that turns any M.2 NVMe SSD into a high-speed external drive for your Mac. With tool-free installation and 10Gbps speeds, it’s perfect if you already have an SSD lying around or want to customize your storage capacity. The aluminum shell keeps things cool, and it works plug-and-play with macOS.
Key Features That Stand Out
- ✓ Tool-free design—install your SSD in seconds with no screws or tools
- ✓ Supports 10Gbps transfer speeds via USB 3.2 Gen 2
- ✓ Compatible with 2230/2242/2260/2280 M.2 NVMe SSDs (B&M or M key)
- ✓ Lightweight aluminum body with excellent heat dissipation
- ✓ Includes both USB-C and USB-A cables for broad device support
Why We Recommend It
If you’re comfortable buying a separate SSD, this enclosure gives you the most flexibility and value. We paired it with a 2TB NVMe drive and got near-identical performance to premium external SSDs—at half the cost. It’s also great for recovering data from old SSDs.
Best For
Tech-savvy Mac users who want customizable storage, DIY upgraders, or anyone looking to reuse an existing NVMe SSD.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Highly customizable storage capacity
- Tool-free installation is surprisingly sturdy
- Excellent cooling and build quality
- Great value compared to pre-built SSDs
Cons:
- Requires purchasing a separate NVMe SSD
- Not as rugged as fully enclosed portable SSDs
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “I bought this enclosure and I’m really impressed. Installing the drive was completely tool-free and straightforward, thanks to the simple sliding design. The aluminum shell is lightweight and not burdensome. Once I plugged it in via USB-C, it was instantly recognized (no drivers required). Solid build.”
Customer Review: “I haven’t had a chance to use it much but the standout use I did have was when it managed to bring a drive online and retrieve data off that drive that other enclosures could not even detect. When pulling the files off it was speedy and consistent. They also include a USB C and USB A cable to make s”
3. SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD – Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistant
SanDisk’s Extreme Portable SSD offers a sweet balance of speed, durability, and affordability. With 1050MB/s read speeds, IP65-rated resistance to water and dust, and drop protection up to 3 meters, it’s built for real-world use. The bright blue color makes it easy to spot in a bag, and the carabiner loop lets you attach it to your backpack.
Key Features That Stand Out
- ✓ Fast 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds
- ✓ IP65 rating protects against water splashes and dust
- ✓ Survives drops up to 3 meters—great for travel or fieldwork
- ✓ Includes a carabiner loop for easy attachment
- ✓ Compact, lightweight, and Mac-ready out of the box
Why We Recommend It
For under $100, this SSD delivers premium features at a budget-friendly price. We’ve dropped it, spilled coffee near it, and used it daily for months—it still performs like new. It’s the best value if you need reliable external storage without overspending.
Best For
Students, travelers, and casual users who want durable, fast storage for photos, documents, and media without breaking the bank.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent price-to-performance ratio
- Rugged and weather-resistant design
- Bright color helps prevent loss
- Consistently fast transfers
Cons:
- Slower than Thunderbolt or 2000MB/s+ drives
- No hardware encryption
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “I picked up the SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD as an upgrade from my older external hard drives, and it’s easily one of the best storage devices I’ve used. The speed difference alone makes it worth it—transfers that used to take minutes on my traditional hard drives now finish in seconds. Large fi”
Customer Review: “Well made and easy to use portable SSD. Nice bright blue color helps quick identification in a dark pack. Reasonable fast read and right speeds for a USB 3.2 product. Bought this SSD to transfer my photos to from my camera when I am traveling. Light weight and small SSD make a great traveling st”
4. SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD – Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistant
Double the capacity, same great performance. This 2TB version of SanDisk’s Extreme Portable SSD is perfect if you need more space for video projects, photo archives, or game libraries. It maintains the same rugged design, IP65 rating, and fast 1050MB/s speeds, making it a reliable workhorse for heavy users.
Key Features That Stand Out
- ✓ Massive 2TB capacity in a pocket-sized drive
- ✓ Same 1050MB/s speeds and IP65 durability as the 1TB model
- ✓ Drop-resistant up to 3 meters
- ✓ Carabiner loop for secure attachment
- ✓ Seamless compatibility with Mac and Time Machine backups
Why We Recommend It
If you’re constantly running out of space, this 2TB model eliminates the need to juggle multiple drives. We use it for full macOS backups and large Adobe Creative Cloud projects—it handles everything smoothly and reliably.
Best For
Power users, videographers, and anyone who needs large-capacity external storage for backups, editing, or archiving.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Huge storage in a compact form
- Consistent performance under heavy load
- Rugged and travel-ready
- Great for Time Machine or full system backups
Cons:
- Higher upfront cost than smaller drives
- Still limited by USB 3.2 speeds (not Thunderbolt)
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “I picked up the SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD as an upgrade from my older external hard drives, and it’s easily one of the best storage devices I’ve used. The speed difference alone makes it worth it—transfers that used to take minutes on my traditional hard drives now finish in seconds. Large fi”
Customer Review: “Well made and easy to use portable SSD. Nice bright blue color helps quick identification in a dark pack. Reasonable fast read and right speeds for a USB 3.2 product. Bought this SSD to transfer my photos to from my camera when I am traveling. Light weight and small SSD make a great traveling st”
5. Samsung T7 1TB Portable SSD for Mac, USB 3.2, 1050MB/s, Compact Design
Samsung’s T7 is a favorite among Mac users for its sleek design, consistent performance, and trusted reliability. With 1050MB/s speeds and a shock-resistant metal body, it’s built for creators who value both style and substance. It comes pre-formatted for Mac (but can be reformatted for Windows if needed) and supports hardware encryption via Samsung’s software.
Key Features That Stand Out
- ✓ Reliable 1050MB/s read/write speeds with NVMe technology
- ✓ Sleek, credit-card-sized aluminum casing
- ✓ Optional password protection and AES 256-bit hardware encryption
- ✓ Works plug-and-play with macOS
- ✓ Available in multiple colors (blue, red, gray, black)
Why We Recommend It
The T7 feels premium, performs consistently, and just works—no fuss, no setup headaches. We’ve used it across multiple Macs (Intel and Apple Silicon) and never had a compatibility issue. It’s also quiet, cool, and barely noticeable in a laptop sleeve.
Best For
Mac users who want a stylish, secure, and dependable SSD for everyday use, backups, or creative work.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent build quality and design
- Hardware encryption adds security
- Consistently fast and stable
- Wide color options
Cons:
- Encryption software is Windows-focused (limited on Mac)
- Slightly more expensive than non-branded alternatives
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “Top quality, no issues, uploading is fast, as well as downloading. The memory is huge. 200 hours of video, and it didn’t even use 1% of storage space.”
Customer Review: “The T7 was received in Fat32 Format with MBR Partition. I’m using this as a backup drive for a Win 11 Pro Desktop PC, so the first thing I did was reformat the Drive as NTFS with GPT partitions which is better suited for the Win 10/11 OS. With that out of the way, I turned to the provided USB C to C”
Complete Buying Guide for Can You Buy More SSD Storage On Mac
Essential Factors We Consider
When choosing external SSD storage for your Mac, focus on speed, compatibility, durability, and capacity. Look for USB-C (preferably USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Thunderbolt) for fastest speeds. Ensure the drive is formatted for macOS (APFS or HFS+) or easily reformattable. Rugged features like drop protection and water resistance matter if you travel often. Finally, match the capacity to your needs—1TB is great for most users, while 2TB+ suits professionals.
Budget Planning
External SSDs range from around $80 for budget 1TB models to over $200 for high-speed, high-capacity drives. Set a budget based on your usage: casual users can save with options like the SanDisk Extreme, while creatives should invest in faster drives like the 2100MB/s model or Samsung T7. Remember, cheaper isn’t always better—look for reliability and warranty support.
Final Thoughts
While you can’t upgrade the internal SSD on most modern Macs, adding external SSD storage is the next best thing—and often more flexible. Whether you need speed, space, or portability, there’s a perfect drive out there. Our top picks cover every need and budget, so you can keep your Mac running smoothly without compromise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I upgrade the internal SSD on my Mac?
A: On most Macs released since 2016—especially those with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, etc.)—the internal SSD is soldered to the logic board and cannot be upgraded. Your best option is using a high-quality external SSD via USB-C or Thunderbolt.
Q: Will an external SSD work with Time Machine?
A: Yes! Most external SSDs are fully compatible with macOS Time Machine. Just format the drive as APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) using Disk Utility before setting it up.
Q: Do I need Thunderbolt for fast speeds?
A: Not necessarily. USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) offers excellent speeds (up to 1050MB/s), which is sufficient for most users. Thunderbolt is faster (up to 40Gbps) but more expensive—ideal for 4K/8K video editors.
Q: Can I use one external SSD with both Mac and PC?
A: Yes, but you’ll need to format it as exFAT for cross-platform compatibility. Note that exFAT doesn’t support macOS encryption or Time Machine, so it’s best for file transfers only.
Q: Are external SSDs reliable for long-term storage?
A: Modern SSDs are very reliable, but they’re best used for active projects and backups—not long-term archival storage. For critical data, follow the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies, 2 different media, 1 offsite.
Ready to give your Mac the storage boost it deserves? Whether you’re editing videos, backing up photos, or just need more space for apps, one of these top-rated external SSDs will do the job—fast, safely, and stylishly. Click any “Check Price” button above to find the best deal and start expanding your Mac’s storage today!