Samsung T5 EVO

The Samsung T5 EVO is a portable solid-state drive (SSD) designed for storage and data transfer. It serves as an external storage solution, ideal if you require substantial storage capacity in a compact form. With capacities up to 8TB, it enables you to store large volumes of data, such as high-resolution photos and videos, making it particularly suitable for photographers and videographers. However, it’s worth noting that this drive hasn’t been designed specifically with imaging enthusiasts and pros in mind, although it is a good fit.

As a stand-alone device, it connects to computers or compatible devices via a USB Type-C connector, offering compatibility with a range of computers and cameras. The T5 EVO is bus-powered, meaning it doesn’t require an external power source, enhancing its portability. Its robust build, featuring a rubberised finish and a metal hoop for secure attachment, can be easily attached to the inside of a kit bag, again highlighting its suitability for use in the field.

The T5 EVO combines high capacity with the durability and speed expected from modern SSDs, which makes it a good choice for photographers. Compared to its predecessors and other products in the market, the T5 EVO stands out for its large capacity and durable design, albeit with slightly slower speeds than some newer NVMe-based SSDs.

The Samsung T5 EVO SSD balances style with practicality with a sleek and minimalistic design that feels robust. The drive is incredibly compact, measuring 40 x 95 x 17 mm and weighing in at just 102 grams, making it the ideal shape and weight to slot into a camera backpack.

The drive itself is constructed from a blend of durable materials, which sees a rubberised finish and metal body and hoop, which instantly gives it a premium feel. Still, that rubber finish also helps with grip, reducing the likelihood of accidental drops. The inclusion of the metal hoop is handy, enabling you to secure it easily to a backpack.

The design and build of the drive are definitely built to withstand the rigours of frequent use and being thrown into a kit bag without much protection. Using the drive is straightforward – it connects via a USB Type-C connector straight into most laptops and cameras, and you can format it using the Magician software to the format that you require.

The Samsung T5 EVO Portable SSD is packed with features that should appeal to most photographers and videographers. Its standout feature is undoubtedly its massive storage capacity; in this review, I’m looking at the largest capacity, but there are other options ranging from 2TB to this impressive 8TB version. This capacity enables you to store huge volumes of high-resolution images and videos without constantly worrying about space constraints.

Speed is another key aspect of the T5 EVO, boasting up to 460MB/s in sequential read and write speeds. While it might not be the fastest in the SSD market, these speeds are more than sufficient for efficient file transfers and the handling of large media files.

The drive’s durability is enhanced by its 2-meter drop resistance, a worthwhile consideration if you’re working in challenging environments or are just slightly clumsy. Additionally, the T5 EVO ensures data security with its AES 256-bit hardware encryption, offering peace of mind for those storing sensitive content. This security can be activated through the Magician software that comes with the drive.

Another feature worth mentioning is the Universal Serial Bus Attached SCSI Protocol (UASP) support, which optimises transfer speeds when connected to UASP-enabled devices. The drive’s compatibility with Samsung’s Portable SSD 1.0 and Magician Software provides all the tools you need for drive management and optimisations.

The Samsung T5 EVO Portable SSD delivers the type of performance that most photographers need. It provides the speed required by a drive when video editing from files it contains to be able to hold incredible amounts of data. The drive’s speed, with sequential read and write rates up to 460MB/s, is not the fastest in the SSD market but is more than adequate for the efficient handling of large files, which is essential for photographers and videographers.

The test using the AJA System Test Light provided read speeds of 392MB/s and Write speeds of 427MB/s, close to those highlighted by Samsung.

The data performance of the drive is excellent, and while the speeds are less than the latest SSD performance drive, in this instance, it’s that huge capacity that is of greater interest. Another huge point for photographers is the fact that this is one robust drive, with the full metal and rubberised casing making it durable and capable of holding up to the abuse that it can be subjected to in a kit bag.

That rubberised design also means that when attached to a laptop, the finish helps the drive stick to smooth sloping surfaces, such as car bonnets, without slipping off. It is not an essential feature, but it is extremely useful!

Performance-wise, there’s little to fault with this small, high capacity and robust drive.

The Samsung T5 EVO SSD is an excellent SSD choice for photographers and videographers, although this 8TB version is expensive for a single drive. However, for your financial investment, you get a blend of high-capacity storage, robust build quality, and practical design that will benefit your workflow whether you’re a pro or an enthusiast.

The drive’s portability and durability make it an excellent choice if you’re on the go and need a high-capacity drive to take with you, although, for most people, a smaller drive would more than likely suffice. In essence, the Samsung T5 EVO stands out as a practical, durable, and high-capacity storage solution, and while all photographers would benefit from what’s on offer, in reality, that price and capacity will really benefit pros.