THE WHOLE ESSENCE of a back-up memory device is that it adds an extra layer of security to your operation, and makes it just that little bit more unlikely that you could lose those precious image files that your entire reputation could rely on. This is where SSDs totally come into their own. They’re tough and reliable, small and portable, and any professional that would consider heading off out on a job without this kind of back-up would be considered by most to be foolhardy. Read our Samsung T7 Shield Portable Review.
There is obviously a wide range of products to consider, but the whole point about SSDs is that you don’t cut corners, because the reason you’re investing in them in the first place is security, so it makes sense to work with an established brand. Samsung certainly falls into this bracket, and its original T7 SSD ticked pretty much all of the boxes, being small and snug, well priced and pretty much guaranteed not to fail under normal operating conditions. However, it’s that word ‘normal’ that would perhaps trigger a few alarm bells, since every working pro knows full well that, in reality, there is no such thing. In a busy working environment all kinds of mishaps could happen – devices can be dropped, water can come into contact with your SSD – and your precious files could end up being lost.
For many the risk would be considered negligible, and the T7 still comes highly recommended. However, there are small areas of concern, such as the fact that it lacks the IP rating that indicates it’s shock, water and dust resistant. The new Shield version, which is similarly ultra-compact and lightweight at just 98g, aims to rectify this, and it comes with its innards securely wrapped inside an aluminium shell that’s a little thicker than its predecessors, which is then covered in rubber, with additional ribbing to help protect against drop damage. Two distinct barriers have also been added to protect the USB port, designed to repel dangers such as ingression by water and dust, and these additions have proved enough to allow the T7 Shield to be given the coveted IP65 rating. Add to this a shock resistance performance from heights of up to three metres, and you’re looking at Samsung’s most durable PSSD to date.
As well as physical improvements, software has also been upgraded, which is said to effectively solve the performance degradation and overheating that can occur when transferring large files. Due to this change, there is no performance degradation, even when files of 2TB are moved at once, and heat generation is minimised. This makes it possible to transmit data stably without performance drop, even when carrying out the kind of data-heavy, continuous tasks pros do regularly, such as high-resolution video recording, editing, encoding and rendering.
Not only is there extra security built in, but performance levels of the T7 Shield are impressively high, with a read speed of 1,050 megabytes per second (MB/s) and a write speed of 1,000 MB/s, which are said to be the fastest transfer speeds currently available, based on the USB 3.2 Gen2 standard. This makes the device approximately twice as fast as its predecessor, the T5, and up to 9.5 times faster than HDDs, saving valuable time.
Available in three colours – black, beige and blue – the T7 Shield Portable SSD is priced at £ for the 1TB version and £ for the 2TB, and it comes with a USB Type-C-to-C cable and a USB Type-C-to-A cable, along with a three-year limited warranty for peace of mind.
VERDICT
WHILE LOSING NONE of the performance of the original T7 SSD, the Shield offers valuable extra protection against loss of vital data and, as such, this is going to be a product that will carry great appeal for the professional. It’s not the cheapest SSD on the market, but it could end up being well worth every penny.