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Portable SSDs

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Samsung T7 Portable 500GB vs Samsung T7 Shield Portable 4TB

Compare Samsung T7 Portable 500GB and Samsung T7 Shield Portable 4TB side by side. Both are 500GB USB 3.2 Gen 2 external SSDs, but they differ in speed, design, and value. Here's how they stack up.

Samsung

Samsung T7 Portable 500GB
8.7/10

The 500GB T7 is the minimalist baseline — a half-terabyte of well-supported portable storage at the smallest physical size Samsung ships in this line. The right pick if your portable SSD use case is launching apps and carting around working documents rather than media libraries.

Tiny aluminum body
AES 256-bit hardware encryption
Samsung's broad device compatibility
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Our Pick

Samsung

Samsung T7 Shield Portable 4TB
9.4/10

The 4TB T7 Shield portable — Samsung's full IP65 rugged body at the maximum 4TB capacity. The largest single-drive external storage in the T7 Shield line; ideal for outdoor photographers, extreme-sports videographers, and any travel workflow where a non-rugged drive would die in a year.

IP65 rugged body
4TB capacity
3-meter drop rated
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Spec Comparison

Spec
Samsung T7 Portable 500GB
Samsung T7 Shield Portable 4TB
Read Speed
1.1 GB/s
1.1 GB/s
Write Speed
1.0 GB/s
1.0 GB/s
Capacity
500 GB
4 TB ✓
Interface
USB 3.2 Gen 2
USB 3.2 Gen 2
Endurance (TBW)
300 TB
2,400 TB ✓
Warranty
3 Years
3 Years
Score
8.7/10
9.4/10 ✓
Total Wins
0 wins
3 wins

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Samsung T7 Portable 500GB or Samsung T7 Shield Portable 4TB?
The Samsung T7 Shield Portable 4TB scores 9.4/10 compared to 8.7/10 for the Samsung T7 Portable 500GB. Our expert analysis favors the Samsung T7 Shield Portable 4TB for its superior value.
What's the difference between Samsung T7 Portable 500GB and Samsung T7 Shield Portable 4TB?
The key differences: The Samsung T7 Portable 500GB offers 1,050 MB/s reads vs 1,050 MB/s for the Samsung T7 Shield Portable 4TB. Capacity options differ: Samsung T7 Portable 500GB is 500GB while Samsung T7 Shield Portable 4TB is 4TB. The Samsung T7 Portable 500GB uses USB 3.2 Gen 2 while the Samsung T7 Shield Portable 4TB uses USB 3.2 Gen 2.
Which is faster, Samsung T7 Portable 500GB or Samsung T7 Shield Portable 4TB?
Both drives offer the same 1,050 MB/s read speeds.
Which has better value, Samsung T7 Portable 500GB or Samsung T7 Shield Portable 4TB?
The Samsung T7 Shield Portable 4TB scores higher (9.4 vs 8.7/10), indicating better overall value in our evaluation. Check both models on the retailer's site for the latest details.

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