Samsung X5 Portable SSD 2TB
Bottom line: The Samsung X5 Portable SSD 2TB: Up to 2,800MB/s sequential reads over a 40Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 link; main trade-off: needs a Thunderbolt 3 port to reach its rated speeds.
As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Up to 2,800MB/s sequential reads over a 40Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 link
- ✓ NVMe internals: 5.2x faster reads than a SATA portable SSD, per Samsung
- ✓ Full metal body rated to survive drops of up to 2 meters
- ✓ AES 256-bit hardware encryption with optional password protection
- ✓ 2TB capacity with a 3-year limited warranty
Cons
- ✗ Needs a Thunderbolt 3 port to reach its rated speeds
- ✗ Listing gives two write figures: 2,300MB/s and 2,100MB/s
- ✗ Glossy metal top picks up fingerprints and scuffs
- ✗ Dynamic Thermal Guard can slow speeds under sustained heat
Manufacturer description
The Samsung X5 Portable SSD 2TB pairs NVMe flash with a Thunderbolt 3 interface. If you move large video projects, photo libraries or game installs between machines, the 40Gb/s link means you no longer wait on a USB bottleneck. Samsung rates sequential reads at up to 2,800MB/s. Its own comparison puts the X5 at 5.2x faster than a SATA-based portable SSD and 25.5x faster than an external hard drive. The X5 is built for content creators and professionals who need speed on the move. It has a full metal body with a glossy top and a non-slip bottom mat, and Samsung rates it to survive drops of up…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored Samsung X5 Portable SSD 2TB using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the external storage category. Compare with similarly-priced alternatives in the external storage category before committing. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for external storage of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is the Samsung X5 2TB portable SSD?
Samsung rates sequential reads at up to 2,800MB/s over a Thunderbolt 3 connection with up to 40Gb/s of bandwidth. The listing gives write speed as up to 2,300MB/s in one place and 2,100MB/s in another.
Do I need a Thunderbolt 3 port to use the Samsung X5?
The X5 is built around Thunderbolt 3 and NVMe, and a Thunderbolt 3 port is what delivers the 40Gb/s speeds. Check that your computer has a Thunderbolt 3 port, and install the latest firmware on the drive and BIOS on the computer, as Samsung advises.
Does the Samsung X5 encrypt my data?
Yes. It has AES 256-bit hardware encryption and optional password protection, so your files stay locked if the drive is lost or stolen.
How durable is the Samsung X5 portable SSD?
It has a full metal body with a non-slip bottom mat, and Samsung rates it to withstand drops of up to 2 meters. A shock-resistant internal design and Dynamic Thermal Guard help keep performance and temperature stable.
What warranty comes with the Samsung X5 2TB (MU-PB2T0B/AM)?
Samsung covers the X5 with a 3-year limited warranty. Check Samsung's warranty terms for exact coverage details and how to make a claim.
Key Features
- THUNDERBOLT 3 AND NVMe POWER: First ever NVMe-based portable SSD from Samsung featuring Thunderbolt 3 technology, the X5 delivers up to 40Gb/s data transfer speeds
- LIGHTNING FAST READ WRITE SPEEDS: Sequential read and write performance levels of up to 2,800MB/s and 2,300MB/s, respectively
- DURABLE DESIGN: Full metal body with glossy top and non-slip bottom mat withstands drops of up to 2 meters; Shock resistant internal design features Dynamic Thermal Guard technology to help maintain optimal performance and temperature
- SECURE ENCRYPTION: Optional password protection and AES 256-bit hardware encryption keeps your personal and private data more secure
- WARRANTY AND COMPATIBILITY: 3-year limited warranty; Ensure to have the latest firmware/bios installed for the device and the computer
- Compatible devices: Television
Full Specifications
| Brand | Samsung |
|---|---|
| Color | Gray/Red |
| Model Name | Samsung X5 |
| Read Speed | 2800 megabytes_per_second |
| Form Factor | Portable |
| Media Speed | 2300 |
| Model Number | MU-PB2T0B/AM |
| Built-In Media | 1 cable, user manual, X5 Portable SSD |
| Hard Disk Size | 2 TB |
| Item Type Name | Samsung X5 Portable SSD - 2TB - Thunderbolt 3 External SSD (MU-PB2T0B/AM) |
| Hard-Drive Size | 2 TB |
| Mfr Part Number | MU-PB2T0B/AM |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Special Feature | Password Protection |
| Hardware Platform | Windows 7 or higher; Mac OS 10.9 or higher: Android KitKat(ver.4.4) or higher |
| Installation Type | External Hard Drive |
| SECURE ENCRYPTION | Optional password protection and AES 256-bit hardware encryption keeps your personal and private data more secure |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop, Laptop, Television |
| Compatible devices | Television |
| Data Transfer Rate | 40 gigabits_per_second |
| Full listing title | Samsung X5 Portable SSD 2TB - Up to 2800MB/s -Thunderbolt 3 NVMe External Solid State Drive, Gray/Red (MU-PB2T0B/AM) |
Ready to buy?
Samsung X5 Portable SSD 2TB - Up to 2800MB/s -Thunderbolt 3 NVMe External Solid State Drive, Gray/Red (MU-PB2T0B/AM) is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
Related External Storage
More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all articles & guides →- How to Build a Windows 98 Retro PC in 2026
- RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT — Which to Buy in 2026
- Best 1440p Gaming GPUs in 2026
- Best Retro Handhelds in 2026 — From $35 to $500
- The Complete Voodoo5 5500 AGP Driver Guide (2026 Edition)
- Emulation Hardware in 2026: FPGA, Software, and Cart-Reader Ecosystems
- Best Budget Gaming PC Build 2026 — ~$1,000 ($800 on Sale)
More reviews from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all reviews →- Raspberry Pi 5 Kit: What's Actually Worth Buying in 2025
- Best Gaming PC Build 2026: 4K Ray Tracing Guide
- Sound Blaster AWE32/AWE64 to Audigy: The Right Sound Card for Every Retro Era
- OpenAI Now Uses AI to Red-Team Its Own Models: What It Means for Local Setups
- Is an RTX 3060 Enough for 4K Gaming? Pairing It With a Budget 4K Monitor
- Does Dual-Channel RAM Matter for Local LLM Inference?
- Building a 3dfx Voodoo2 SLI Win98 Rig with a CompactFlash Boot Drive
- 2025 Local LLM Leaderboard: Best AMD GPUs Ranked
- Forza Horizon 6: 8GB vs 16GB VRAM GPU Benchmark Guide
- A 4B Local Coding Agent That Hits 87%: Does It Run on a 3060?
- Build a Pocket RetroPie Handheld on a Raspberry Pi Zero W (2026 BOM)
- 007: First Light Is Great on Steam Deck
- Best AM4 Gaming CPU in 2026: Ryzen 7 5800X vs 3700X vs 3900X vs Intel i7-9700K
- GeForce 4 Ti 4600 AGP in a Windows XP Build: Drivers, Gotchas and Benchmarks
- RTX 5090 vs RX 9070 XT: Specs, Gaming & AI Compared
- Samsung Winds Down Chip Output Before Strike — Brace for SSD Prices
- Best Raspberry Pi 5 Starter Kits and Accessories for Home Lab Builds (2026)
- Raspberry Pi 4 8GB in 2026: Still the Best Home-Lab SBC for Under $80
- Second Streaming PC vs NVENC: What an Old i7-9700K Is Still Good For
- Best GPU for i7-13700K at 1440p 180Hz (GTX 1080 Upgrade)
- Best Internal SSD for a PS4 Pro Upgrade: 2.5" SATA Picks That Cut Load Times
- Best SSD for a Local LLM Workstation: NVMe vs SATA Model-Load Latency Tested
- Ryzen AI Halo vs a DIY RTX 3060 Box for Local LLMs in 2026
- Ah Yes, 'Gaming' Laptops: The Hype vs. Reality
Earliest SpecPicks reviews
Browse full archive →- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 8B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 14B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 70B (2026)
- Best GPU for DeepSeek-R1 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 405B (2026)
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 14B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 70B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090