Exactly one year ago, Samsung released the Portable SSD T1, a pocket SSD designed for external storage use by multimedia professionals and performance enthusiasts. The drive was so small and so light that users actually complained because they couldn't feel the drive while it was in a pocket. Measuring just 2.8 x 2.09 x 0.36 inches, the 250 GB SSD T1 weighed less than an ounce. That posed a risk to the all-plastic case Portable SSD T1 with some users. The drives were easy to damage if you sat on them.
The New Portable SSD T3 ships in four capacity sizes: 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB and a new 2 TB capacity that is new for the series. The metal case design takes the same shape as the previous T1 model but adds a little more weight and strength. The new Portable SSD T3 also receives an interface upgrade to USB 3.1 Type-C. The Type C connector has already gained acceptance across a wide range of product categories, from PCs and Macs to smartphones and tablets.
| Category | Samsung Portable SSD T3 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 250 GB / 500 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB |
| Dimensions(L x W x H) | 74 x 58 x 10.5 mm |
| Weight | 51 Grams(Less Than 2 Ounces) |
| Transfer Speed | Up to 450 MB/s Sequential |
| UASP Mode | Supported |
| Encryption | AES 256-bit Hardware Encryption |
| Security | Password Settings (Optional) |
| RoHS Compliance | RoHS2 |
| Warranty | Limited 3-Year |
The Portable SSD T3 products ship preformatted in exFAT for wide system support and incorporate AES 256-bit hardware encryption for a high level of data security across Windows, Mac and Android based devices. The Portable SSD T3 supports mobile operating systems so you can quickly and easily transfer files, like large photo collections, off of smart devices.
This is just the first of many flash-based products we expect to see from Samsung in 2016 with new 48-layer 3D V-NAND technology. The move from 32 to 48 stacked layers allows Samsung to produce new higher-capacity products while also reducing the manufacturing costs of existing capacity products.
If the Portable SSD T3 uses the same mSATA SSD as the previous T1 model, this could be a precursor to a new 2 TB mSATA SSD in the 850 EVO product family. The T1 preceeded Samsung's 850 EVO mSATA SSDs in 2015.
Samsung stated the Portable SSD T3 will begin shipping in February, 2016 in the United States, China, Korea and selected European countries.
