Samsung might be pushing new SSD developments like its ludicrously fast PCI Express drives, but it’s also developing more traditional and more portable solid state storage options. Take the newly announced mobile SSD, called the T3 range.
Announced today at CES 2016, the T3 is the successor to the the T1 range of portable SSDs, but will be available in a new 2TB capacity, double that of the previously available T1s. The T3 will also be available in smaller 250GB, 500GB, and 1TB models.
This new version of the portable SSD will also come with a more durable metal case, though that does mean it’s a little more substantial, weighing in at 50g instead of the T1’s featherweight 26g. Samsung told us that some users thought the T1’s light plastic case felt too insubstantial for the drive’s price.
The T3 is designed to operate in extreme conditions, continuing to work after being subjected to temperatures as low as 0 degrees Celsius, all the way up to 70 degrees Celsius. This metal enclosure’s structural integrity will make the drive capable of surviving drops from as high as six feet, which should be more than enough for the average user.
Like the T1, this portable SSD range will support security features like AES-256-bit encryption, though it will be optional for those that don’t want it. It will also be compatible with Mac and Windows systems, with performance under either comparable to the T1 range. Android phones are supported, as well.
Connectivity wise, expect it to support USB 3.0 as standard, but the port on the drive itself will be USB Type-C. That means a Type-C cable can be used to connect the device to a compatible device, if desired.
Although pricing has yet to be announced for the new Samsung T3 range of portable SSDs, availability will begin in early March, so expect associated costs for various regions to be released sometime in the next month or so.
