Samsung T9 2TB Performance
For this, we wanted to run through our standard benchmarks.
CrystalDiskMark Benchmark
CrystalDiskMark is used as a basic starting point for benchmarks as it is something commonly run by end-users as a sanity check. We use both 1GB and 8GB test sizes.
Here is the 8GB test:
Here is the side-by-side:
This, compared to the Crucial X10 Pro, which is in a similar class, tests better in only a few benchmarks. The RND4K Q32T1 Read(MB/s) and Writhe (MB/S).
ATTO Disk Benchmark
The ATTO Disk Benchmark has been a staple of drive sequential performance testing for years.
Here is the 8GB test:
Here is the side-by-side:
This is one of the big advantages of the USB 3 2×2 interface at 20Gbps. We get much faster sequential reads and writes than with the 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen2 drives.
Anvil’s Storage Utilities
Anvil’s Storage Utilities is a comprehensive benchmark that gives us a very in-depth look at the performance of the drives tested. This benchmark was run with both a 1GB and 8GB test size. Here is the 1GB result:
Here is the 8GB test size:
These are relatively solid numbers and consistent between the two test sizes.
AS SSD Benchmark
AS SSD Benchmark is another good benchmark for testing SSDs. We run all three tests for our series.
Here is the 8GB test size:
Here is the side-by-side:
Perhaps this is one of the more interesting tests. The 4K-64Thread write results are notably better with the 1GB versus 10GB test sizes and the read speeds are better as well. The other big one is that the write acccess time is much higher on the 10GB results.
BlackMagic Disk Speed Test
BlackMagic Disk Speed Test is focused on testing storage for use in video workflows.
For most 8K workflows, this is going to be fast enough. That may seem silly at first, but the camera we use on the 2nd set in 8K ProRes 422 HQ uses just under 2TB an hour of storage. 12K DCI is certianly well above what we shoot these days making this drive fine for most of what we do. Also, just as some frame of reference, Blackmagic Design now sells 17K cameras that we saw at the AMD Advancing AI 2025 event.
Final Words
There is always a question of whether we need a faster external USB SSD. If the prices were equal, the answer would be a resouding yes. So the question is more of whether we prefer the lower price of the 10Gbps drives or the speed of the 20Gbps drives. The Crucial X10 Pro offers a smaller size and sometimes better performance, so it is probably less clear cut on whether you pick the Samsung T9 over the Crucial X10 Pro.
Our sense is that it probably will come down to the price of the drives. We have been using the Samsung T9 on some of our travel projects, and it has worked well. Our sense is we will probably buy the one that is lower cost on the day we need to puchase more drives.
Where to Buy
We purchased our unit on Amazon. If you want to get a Samsung T9 Portable SSD 2TB USB 3.2 Gen2x2, here is the Amazon Affiliate Link. Here is the Amazon Affilite link to the Crucial X10 Pro of you prefer that one.
No pictures to show what’s inside? Is it a consumer ssd (which model) with m.2 pcie to usb or sata to usb logic in the enclosure? Or a fully customized design?
The rubberized exterior can’t be good for thermal dissipation, and often these soft-touch coating, if they are not made from silicone, get disgustingly sticky with age as the incompletely polymerized coating decomposes, so I avoid them like the plague.
That texture also makes it easier to keep ahold of in your hand. ^typo
I don’t think reviews like this have any place on STH. It’s very lightweight, there’s not even a tear down. And all the plugs/links for affiliate programs made it feel like an advertorial.
There are almost no m.2 PCIe external SSD. Almost every is custom design.
I have issies with mine, keeps dropping out. Removed the rubber coating to improve cooling. Tried different computers and cables, no luck….
Updated firmware through magician, but still no luck….
I have so far been satisfied with all the different nvme disks and the T7, but this one failed me… I have two of these, will see if it also behaves like this before RMA….
Samsung T9 2tb or 4tb purchasing. Help me