Benchmarking: SSD Drive Speedsīelow are the average write and read speeds after benchmarking all four SSDs using Blackmagic's Disk Speed tool on the highest stress settings.

On the other hand, random write and read speeds refer to small files scattered throughout the storage device and is more applicable to boot drives storing things like your System OS. When comparing data transfer speeds in this SSD roundup, I have prioritized sequential read and write as this is how the device reads and writes large files from the drive– for example importing RAW files from your SD Card. When comparing disk speeds, photographers should know the difference between sequential read & random read (s read & r read, or s write & r write). However, if you're importing a lot of files, doing some video editing, or previewing high-resolution RAW images on your mobile devices, the faster the SSD drive, the smoother the process will be. Most of the portable SSDs on the market today have a read/write speed of at least 500MB/s, which is more than fast enough for storing a Lightroom library or for the temporary storage of a client's photos.

Write speeds - how long it takes to move images or videos onto your SSD.

Read speeds - how long it takes to open, edit, or move an image or video from your SSD.

When choosing the fastest drive for photography purposes, there are two specifications that you will need to consider (both measured in megabytes per second (MB/s). When portable SSDs first entered the market, one of the most noticeable advantages was considerably faster transfer speeds than what was capable on traditional hard drivesīut how does this speed increase translate to real-life benefits for photographers? Speed: Fastest SSD For Blazing Photo Imports, Editing, & Exports So, after a lot of research and personally testing some of the best external SSDs on the market, I’ve compiled this useful gear guide summarizing the top picks for every need and budget. Not only are SSDs faster, more durable, and much more compact than bulky, slow, and prone-to-fail traditional hard drives, but, thanks to recent innovations like USB Type C, Thunderbolt, and NVMe technology, SSD capacity now rivals hard drives with mechanical parts.īut, with so many portable drives on the market, what is the best SSD for photography?Īs a professional travel photographer whose Lightroom library just overtook his Mac’s internal SSD, this is a question I desperately needed answering. Whether you’re a professional photographer looking for faster and more reliable external storage, or a hobbyist in the search for a more compact storage solution for your holiday snaps, you’re going to want a solid-state drive (SSD). Includes the best portable SSD options and up-to-date recommendations for speed, durability, portability, and capacity. An honest and complete gear guide breaking down the best SSD for photography.

Best external ssd drive for mac