Best External USB-C Storage Options for iPhone and iPad « iOS & iPhone :: Gadget Hacks

If you bought an iPhone or iPad equipped with USB-C but didn’t max out the local storage, there are some great external storage solutions beyond iCloud and other cloud storage services. And now that the iPhone lineup comes with USB-C ports, you have better-performing external drives available to you than anything you could ever get for a Lightning-based model.

The lowest built-in storage capacity on the iPhone 15 lineup is 128 GB, and that storage can quickly dwindle to nothing when you download content for offline use, such as podcast and TV show episodes, movies, and even maps. The cloud isn’t helpful in these cases, and these types of items can’t normally be stored on external drives, but external drives can be used for photos, videos, and other items accessible in the Files app.

An external drive is a must-have if you use your iPad like a regular computer or plan on shooting ProRes video with the iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max. It’s also great for holding large files, such as PSDs, which can get up to 2 GB each, and PSBs, which can get insanely large in Photoshop. And it’s good for just keeping backups of your photos or videos for safekeeping or to share with others.

Quick List:

Things to Consider:

1. Data Transfer Speeds

• The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max support up to 10 Gbps data transfer speeds with USB 3.2, and so does the iPad Air (5th generation) and some iPad Pro models. Newer iPad Pro models with USB 4 and Thunderbolt 3 support up to 40 Gbps. The iPad Air (4th generation) and iPad mini (6th generation) only go up to 5 Gbps. And the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus and iPad (10th generation) top out at up to 480 Mbps data transfer speeds with USB 2.0. So, consider your device’s maximum speed for reading and writing when purchasing an external drive.

• To get higher transfer speeds between your iPhone or iPad and your external drive, you’ll want to make sure your USB-C cable is rated for higher speeds. For example, the USB-C cable that comes with the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus is good enough since the cable supports USB 2.0, but the same cable comes with the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. For faster transfers, you’ll want a USB-C cable that supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 or USB 3.2 Gen 2. The external drive you chose may come with such a cable, but you can also go with an Apple Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) Pro Cable (1 m) for $69, which supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds of up to 10 Gbps and up to 40 Gbps for Thunderbolt. Generic cables are available for less.

2. ProRes Video Recording on iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max

• If you plan to capture video in ProRes, you’ll most definitely want an external drive to record directly to since one minute of 10-bit HDR footage at 30 frames per second (fps) is about 1.7 GB at 1080p and 6 GB at 4K resolution. With just 128 GB of internal storage on an iPhone 15 Pro, at least 30 GB of which you should assume will go toward iOS software and system data, it would only take 16 minutes of 4K video to almost deplete your internal storage.

• ProRes recording requires write speeds of 220 MB/s or more. If you have an iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max and plan on recording straight to an external drive, the drive must support write speeds of at least 220 MB/s, or you’ll see a “Slow Recording Speed” warning in your camera app. To keep things simple, all the storage devices below will support ProRes recording.

3. External Power Supplies

• If you find that an external power source improves performance, or if you get an external storage product that requires more power, or if you want to power your iPhone or iPad and external drive simultaneously, you’ll want to get a powered USB-C hub. One that I’ve had success with is the Belkin Connect USB-C to 4-Port USB-C Hub ($44.99 on Amazon), which supports Power Delivery on all ports.

4. Formatting

Option 1: Crucial X10 Pro Portable

The Crucial X10 Pro Portable is Micron’s newest portable SSD. This model can get you up to 20 Gbps transfer speeds, but the fastest iPhone and iPad transfer speeds over USB are up to 10 Gbps. Still, it’s worth going above and beyond if you ever plan on connecting the drive to a computer that supports USB 3.2 Gen 2×2.

You can expect the drive to be formatted with exFAT out of the box, which means you can start recording ProRes video right away without having to reformat. If you need to encrypt your data, that’s an option. While it’s not the most durable drive on this list, it comes with some dust and water resistance, which many external SSDs don’t even offer, and decent protection against falls.

The X10 Pro comes in 1 TB ($119.99), 2 TB ($184.99), and 4 TB ($299.99) models.

If the price is too steep and you’re perfectly fine with up to 10 Gbps data transfer speeds, the previous generation, the X9 Pro, would be more than enough for you. It comes in the same storage options: 1 TB ($99.99), 2 TB ($159.89), and 4 TB ($259.99). All of these are preformatted in exFAT, but the X9 Pro also has a Mac-specific one that comes in 1 TB ($109.99) and 4 TB ($289.99) with APFS set up.

Specs

• 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB models
• 2,100 MB/s read via USB 3.2 Gen 2×2
• 2,000 MB/s write via USB 3.2 Gen 2×2

Pros

Cons

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Option 2: Crucial X9 Portable

If you don’t need the pro-friendly specs on the Crucial X10 Pro or X9 Pro lineups, Micron’s Crucial X9 Portable is still a very good option for your iPhone or iPad. It maxes out at 10 Gbps data transfer speeds, which is all you need. But it uses 3D QLC NAND memory instead of TLC NAND, so it may not perform as well or last as long as the Pro models, which is probably why you only get a three-year warranty instead of five years.

Like the X10 Pro, the X9 has decent protection against accidental drops, but that’s all you’re getting in terms of durability. It comes preformatted with exFAT, so you can start recording ProRes video out of the box.

There are 1 TB ($84.99), 2 TB ($129.89), and 4 TB ($239.99) models you can choose from, and the prices will give you the best value over the other drives on this list.

Specs

• 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB models
• 1,050 MB/s read via USB 3.2 Gen 2×1
• 800 MB/s write via USB 3.2 Gen 2×1

Pros

Cons

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Option 3: SanDisk Professional PRO-G40

If you have a newer iPad Pro model that supports Thunderbolt 3, Western Digital’s SanDisk Professional PRO-G40 SSD can get you up to 40 Gbps data transfer speeds. However, the drive’s USB-C connection will also clock in at up to 10 Gbps transfer speeds on other iPad models and the iPhone 15 series lineup. Still, with the inclusion of both Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C, it’s the most versatile drive on the list for getting the highest speeds on different types of devices.

The PRO-G40 SSD is also a very rugged device. It’s the only drive on this list that’s IP68-rated for water and dust resistance and can withstand up to 4,000 pounds. It also has a higher drop protection rating than Crucial’s models. Another highlight is that it’s preformatted with the APFS file system, so it will work out of the box with ProRes video recording.

While versatile, these drives are the most expensive on this list with 1 TB ($179.99), 2 TB ($259.99), or 4 TB ($399.99) models. If you don’t need Thunderbolt 3 data transfers, you can probably get by using any of the other drives on this list.

Specs

• 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB models
• 3,000 MB/s read via Thunderbolt 3
• 2,500 MB/s write via Thunderbolt 3
• 1,050 MB/s read via USB 3.2 Gen 2×1
• 1,000 MB/s write via USB 3.2 Gen 2×1

Pros

Cons

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Option 4: SanDisk Extreme Portable

If you’re looking for something a little more durable than the Crucial X10 Pro but cheaper than SanDisk’s PRO-G40, the SanDisk Extreme Portable is a good compromise. It has better drop protection ratings than Crucial’s devices and is the only SSD besides the SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable to have ratings for shock and vibration resistance. It’s also rated IP65 against dust and water.

Like the Crucial X9, it maxes out at 10 Gbps data transfer speeds — more than enough for any iPad or iPhone. You can also encrypt your data if you want. It comes preformatted with exFAT to shoot ProRes out of the box. And it also happens to be reasonably priced all around with 500 GB ($88.60), 1 TB ($99), 2 TB ($155.95), and 4 TB ($246.99) models.

Specs

• 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB models
• 1,050 MB/s read via USB 3.2 Gen 2×1
• 1,000 MB/s write via USB 3.2 Gen 2×1

Pros

Cons

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Option 5: SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable

The SanDisk Extreme Pro is everything that the SanDisk Extreme is but with the faster USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 speeds that you can’t actually take advantage of on an iPad or iPhone. If you plan on connecting the drive to a device that supports USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, you’ll want this model over the non-pro one. Another leg-up it has on its sibling is the cooling aluminum chassis, so the drive won’t run as hot.

However, the Extreme Pro is more expensive, with 1 TB ($112.99), 2 TB ($204.99), and 4 TB ($319.99) models. Other than the things just mentioned, the features of the Extreme Pro are comparable to the Extreme.

Specs

• 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB models
• 2,000 MB/s read via USB 3.2 Gen 2×2
• 2,000 MB/s write via USB 3.2 Gen 2×2

Pros

Cons

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Option 6: Kingston XS2000

The best thing the Kingston XS2000 has going for it is its size. As you can see in the picture, it’s small enough to slide into the little pocket in a pair of jeans, but this small size also inflates the price, making it the third-most expensive drive on this list overall. It’s also not quite as portable as a flash drive since you still need a USB-C cable to connect to devices.

It has limited dust and water resistance with an IP55 rating, and it lists drop protection and shock resistance as features, though Kingston doesn’t provide any actual numbers for those. But it comes preformatted with exFAT, so you can start recording ProRes video out of the box.

The XS2000 takes advantage of USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 speeds, but that’s only useful if you connect it to a device that supports the interface. You can choose between a 500 GB ($74.99), 1 TB ($114.99), 2 TB ($192.99), and 4 TB ($349.99) model.

Specs

• 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB models
• 2,000 MB/s read via USB 3.2 Gen 2×2
• 2,000 MB/s write via USB 3.2 Gen 2×2

Pros

Cons

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Option 7: Samsung T9 Portable

If you’re looking for an encryption-ready drive with 20 Gbps data transfer speeds of USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 that you can take advantage of on devices beyond your iPhone or iPad (which max out at 10 Gbps), the Samsung T9 SSD Portable is a great option. Samsung has even performed tests with the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max to ensure it’s capable of having ProRes video recorded directly to it.

It has Samsung’s Dynamic Thermal Guard cooling to keep the drive’s temperature healthy and a high drop protection rating. However, there is no IP rating for this SSD, so it’s riskier to have around liquids and dusty environments. The latter is significant since the rubberized frame easily captures dust and dirt.

While it looks relatively small in the picture below, it’s actually the second bulkiest drive in this list, just below the SanDisk PRO-G40. The T9 SSD comes in 1 TB ($109.99), 2 TB ($199.99), and 4 TB ($299.99) models, which are all pretty much priced in the middle of everything else in this list.

Specs

• 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB models
• 2,000 MB/s read via USB 3.2 Gen 2×2
• 1,950 MB/s write via USB 3.2 Gen 2×2

Pros

Cons

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Option 8: Samsung T7 Shield

Another solid Samsung encryption-ready option is the Samsung T7 Shield SSD. It’s not as fast as the Samsung T9, but it’s more than fast enough for what your iPhone or iPad needs. Like the T9, Samsung ensures the T7 Shield works with ProRes video recording, and it works out of the box since it’s preformatted in exFAT.

It also has Dynamic Thermal Guard cooling and a high drop protection rating, but it surpasses the T9 in terms of durability since it’s rated IP65 against dust and water. It’s the third biggest external SSD on this list in terms of physical size, but it’s reasonably priced. Your options include 1 TB ($109.99), 2 TB ($152), and 4 TB ($249.99) models

Specs

• 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB models
• 1,050 MB/s read via USB 3.2 Gen 2×1
• 1,000 MB/s write via USB 3.2 Gen 2×1

Pros

Cons

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Option 9: ADATA Elite UE800

The last drive in our list is the smallest one. The ADATA Elite UE800 flash drive is less than half the size of the next smallest drive, the Kingston XS2000, and the USB-C plug is built right into the housing, so you don’t have to lug around a cable. The plug can even be hidden to protect it in your pocket or wherever you might keep it. However, the casing can be flimsy, and you get zero protection against dust, water, and drops.

The Elite UE800 can reach up to 10 Gbps data transfer speeds, but it’s preformatted in FAT32, so you’ll need to reformat the drive in APFS or exFAT if you plan on recording any ProRes video to it. The flash drive comes in 1 TB ($89.99) and 2 TB ($139.99) models.

Specs

• 1 TB and 2 TB models
• 1,000 MB/s read via USB 3.2 Gen 2×1
• 1,000 MB/s write via USB 3.2 Gen 2×1

Pros

Cons

More Info