Deciding whether to buy a hard drive or SSD can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re balancing speed, storage capacity, budget, and durability. While traditional hard drives (HDDs) offer large amounts of storage at lower prices, SSDs deliver blazing-fast performance, better reliability, and improved energy efficiency. Whether you’re upgrading your laptop, backing up precious photos, or building a high-performance gaming rig, choosing the right storage solution is crucial. In this guide, we break down the top SSDs on the market today to help you make an informed decision that fits your needs and budget.
Quick Product Comparison
Our Top 5 Should I Buy Hard Drive Or Ssd Reviews – Expert Tested & Recommended
1. SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD – Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance
This rugged, high-capacity SSD is perfect for photographers, videographers, and travelers who need fast, reliable storage on the go. With 2TB of space and speeds up to 1050MB/s, it outperforms most portable drives while surviving drops, water, and dust.
Key Features That Stand Out
✓ NVMe-powered performance with 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds
✓ IP65-rated water and dust resistance
✓ Survives drops up to 3 meters
✓ Includes a carabiner loop for secure attachment
✓ USB-C connectivity with USB 3.2 Gen 2 support
Why We Recommend It
If you’re deciding whether to buy a hard drive or SSD for travel or field work, this SanDisk model makes the case for SSDs clear: speed, durability, and peace of mind in one compact package. It’s built to handle real-world abuse without sacrificing performance.
Best For
Outdoor professionals, content creators, and anyone needing fast, rugged external storage that won’t fail when it matters most.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Exceptional build quality and rugged design
- High-speed transfers ideal for 4K video and large files
- Large 2TB capacity in a portable form factor
- Includes useful accessories like a carabiner loop
Cons:
- Slightly more expensive than non-rugged SSDs
- No included USB-C to USB-A adapter
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”
2. Samsung T7 Portable SSD, 1TB External Solid State Drive, Speeds Up to 1,050MB/s, USB 3.2 Gen 2
Samsung’s T7 combines sleek design with serious speed, making it ideal for creatives and professionals who need fast access to large files. With PCIe NVMe technology and AES 256-bit encryption, it’s both powerful and secure.
Key Features That Stand Out
✓ Blazing-fast read speeds up to 1,050MB/s
✓ Compact, pocket-sized aluminum design
✓ Password protection with AES 256-bit hardware encryption
✓ Compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and gaming consoles
✓ Available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities
Why We Recommend It
When comparing whether to buy a hard drive or SSD for everyday professional use, the T7 stands out for its balance of speed, portability, and security. It’s faster than most internal laptop drives and small enough to slip into a pocket.
Best For
Students, designers, and remote workers who need fast, secure, and portable storage for projects, backups, or media libraries.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent speed and responsiveness
- Premium build with shock-resistant metal casing
- Strong security features with hardware encryption
- Wide compatibility across devices and platforms
Cons:
- Higher price per gigabyte than budget SSDs
- No IP rating for water or dust resistance
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”
3. Crucial BX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5-Inch Internal SSD, up to 540MB/s
If you’re upgrading from a traditional hard drive, the Crucial BX500 delivers a massive performance boost at an unbeatable price. It’s 300% faster than HDDs and improves battery life thanks to low power consumption.
Key Features That Stand Out
✓ Sequential read speeds up to 540MB/s
✓ 45x more energy efficient than typical hard drives
✓ 2.5-inch form factor fits most laptops and desktops
✓ Includes Acronis True Image cloning software
✓ Reliable 3D NAND technology
Why We Recommend It
This SSD proves you don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy the benefits of solid-state storage. It’s the perfect entry point for anyone asking, “Should I buy a hard drive or SSD?” — especially if you’re on a tight budget.
Best For
Home users, students, and office PCs needing a reliable, affordable upgrade from slow mechanical hard drives.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Outstanding value for money
- Easy installation and setup
- Significantly faster boot and load times
- Low power draw extends laptop battery life
Cons:
- No DRAM cache (affects sustained write performance)
- Slower than NVMe SSDs
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “Review of BX300 480GB drive. Let me be frank. This is a budget drive that likely uses decent, reliable but not top of the line NAND. Things pricier drives will give you:- DRAM cache: ❌- Heat-sink metal casing good for sustained write performance: ❌- Bragging rights on read and write speed: ❌On the o”
Customer Review: “I recently purchased the Crucial BX500 4TB SSD and wanted to share my experience so far. Here’s a breakdown of its performance and features:PerformanceAlthough I’m not sure how to measure the exact read/write speeds, the drive has performed excellently in terms of loading times and file transfers fo”
4. Samsung 870 EVO SATA III SSD 1TB 2.5” Internal Solid State Drive
The Samsung 870 EVO is a top-tier SATA SSD trusted by professionals worldwide. With industry-leading reliability and speeds up to 560MB/s, it’s built for demanding workloads like video editing and gaming.
Key Features That Stand Out
✓ Maxes out SATA III interface at 560MB/s read speeds
✓ Up to 600 TBW (terabytes written) endurance rating
✓ 5-year limited warranty
✓ Advanced error correction and thermal control
✓ Broad compatibility with older systems
Why We Recommend It
When deciding whether to buy a hard drive or SSD for a desktop or older laptop, the 870 EVO offers the best balance of performance, longevity, and compatibility. It’s a future-proof upgrade that won’t disappoint.
Best For
Gamers, content creators, and businesses needing a reliable, high-endurance SSD for intensive daily use.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Proven reliability and long lifespan
- Consistent performance under heavy loads
- Excellent for upgrading older computers
- Strong manufacturer support and warranty
Cons:
- Slower than NVMe drives (but still fast for SATA)
- Higher cost than budget alternatives
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “I got this Samsung 500gb 2.5” SATA SSD to upgrade from the 512gb HDD in an old HP Pavilion laptop (model HP 15-f233wm). It’s a perfect fit and works great. It’s made the old device MUCH faster and improved the overall performance immensely.I consider myself a functioning illiterate when it comes to “
Customer Review: “its a shame sata III will likely be disappearing in the next 5 to 7 years, the formfactor is so much nicer then nvme and it is still more then fast enough for like 99 percent of people, there are sata III drives available with real ecc error correction and super durable enterprise grade drives, tryi”
5. Crucial X10 1TB Portable SSD, Up to 2,100MB/s, USB 3.2 USB-C, External Solid State Drive
The Crucial X10 pushes portable SSD speeds into new territory with up to 2,100MB/s — nearly double most competitors. Its rugged, water-resistant design makes it ideal for creators working in unpredictable environments.
Key Features That Stand Out
✓ Ultra-fast read speeds up to 2,100MB/s
✓ IP65-rated dust and water resistance
✓ Drop-resistant up to 3 meters
✓ Works with PC, Mac, iPad Pro, Android, PS5, and Xbox
✓ Sleek, compact design with USB-C connectivity
Why We Recommend It
If you’re torn between buying a hard drive or SSD for high-speed workflows, the X10 shows why SSDs win every time. It’s fast enough for 8K video editing and tough enough for outdoor shoots.
Best For
Video editors, photographers, and gamers who need maximum speed and durability in a portable drive.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- One of the fastest portable SSDs available
- Rugged, travel-ready build
- Broad device compatibility
- Great for large file transfers and backups
Cons:
- Only USB-C port (no USB-A included)
- Higher price point than mid-range SSDs
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “As a graphic designer working on both a Mac Mini M4 and MacBook Air M1, I’m constantly juggling large project files, from brand assets and RAW images to video renders. After a week of using the Crucial X10 4TB Portable SSD, I can confidently say it’s an excellent performer.The speed is the first th”
Customer Review: “Great design. Small, easy to work with, good capacity, fast enough. Price was good (when it was on sale ….) . One small thing: has only USB-C connector. Would not work with USB-C to USB adapter.”
Complete Buying Guide for Should I Buy Hard Drive Or SSD
Essential Factors We Consider
When helping you decide whether to buy a hard drive or SSD, we focus on speed, durability, capacity, price, and use case. SSDs dominate in speed and reliability, booting systems in seconds and transferring files instantly. Hard drives still win on pure storage per dollar, but they’re slower, noisier, and more prone to failure due to moving parts. For most users today, especially those using laptops or building modern PCs, SSDs are the smarter long-term investment.
Budget Planning
You don’t need to break the bank to go SSD. Budget models like the Crucial BX500 offer excellent value, while premium options like the Samsung 870 EVO or SanDisk Extreme provide top-tier performance and ruggedness. Consider how much storage you truly need—1TB is a sweet spot for most users—and prioritize speed and durability if you work with large files or travel often.
Final Thoughts
Unless you’re storing terabytes of archival data on a tight budget, SSDs are almost always the better choice. They’re faster, quieter, more energy-efficient, and increasingly affordable. Whether you’re upgrading an old laptop or building a new system, investing in an SSD will transform your computing experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should I buy a hard drive or SSD for gaming?
A: Definitely go with an SSD. Games load faster, levels stream smoother, and your system boots quicker. Even consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X use SSDs for a reason.
Q: Can I use both a hard drive and SSD in one computer?
A: Absolutely! Many users install an SSD for the operating system and frequently used apps, while using a larger HDD for media, backups, and archives.
Q: Are portable SSDs worth it over external hard drives?
A: Yes—if speed, size, and durability matter. Portable SSDs are much faster, smaller, and more resistant to drops and shocks than traditional external hard drives.
Q: Do SSDs last longer than hard drives?
A: Generally, yes. With no moving parts, SSDs are less likely to fail from physical shock. Modern SSDs also have high endurance ratings and often outlast the devices they’re installed in.
Q: Is it hard to install an SSD in an old laptop?
A: Not at all! Most 2.5-inch SSDs are direct replacements for laptop hard drives. Tools like Acronis True Image (included with some drives) make cloning your old drive simple.
Still wondering whether to buy a hard drive or SSD? Based on our testing and real-world feedback, SSDs deliver unmatched performance, reliability, and user satisfaction. Whether you choose our Best Choice SanDisk Extreme, the Editor’s Choice Samsung T7, or the Best Budget Crucial BX500, you’re making a smart upgrade that will breathe new life into your devices. Don’t wait—click any “Check Price” button above to find the perfect SSD for your needs today!