Most Affordable SSDs under Php 5k in the Philippines

If you’ve ever gone shopping for a laptop, you probably took notice of how much more you’d have to spend for some extra storage. Then chances are, you’re probably like me who went with the base model with the least amount of storage. A great workaround to this is having some external storage on hand. Over the years, external hard drives have been most commonly seen and used. But now external SSDs have caught some traction and are becoming more common nowadays.

Most Affordable SSDs under Php 5k

Some things that might sway you to get an external SSD over an HDD are that they are smaller in size, more durable, and are generally much faster when transferring data back and forth with your device. But one major downside of SSDs is price. As they are generally much more expensive with you having to pay at least double what you’d pay for an HDD of the same amount of storage.

So we’ve gathered a list of some of the most affordable SSDs you can find here in the Philippines! Let’s get to it!

Western Digital (WD) My Passport SSD

First on the list is the Western Digital My Passport. It’s a solid external SSD that carries with it a unique and elegant design. It is also said to be pretty durable as WD claims that it is shock and vibration resistant, as well as drop resistant of up to 6.5 ft.

Being an SSD, you can expect the WD My Passport to deliver quick read speeds of up to 1050 MB/s and write speeds of up to 1000 MB/s. It also comes with USB 3.2 Gen-2 Technology and a USB-C to USB-A cable in the box. You can find the WD My Passport SSD through this link 17 for as low as Php 4,600, and with that, you’ll be able to enjoy 500GB of quick external storage.

Seagate One Touch SSD

Next up is the Seagate One Touch SSD. It comes in either black, silver, or blue colorways, and that blue colorway sure does look pretty. The One Touch SSD can deliver speeds of up to 1030 MB/s to help you transfer your files rather quickly as it uses USB 3.2 Gen 2 technology. It even comes with an android app that allows you to transfer and backup photos and videos from your own Android device.

What’s also neat with Seagate’s One Touch SSD, is that in the box, it is already packaged with two cables that will allow you to connect via USB-C or USB-A for those who haven’t made the switch to using USB-C just yet. The Seagate One Touch SSD goes for Php 4,950 for the 500GB configuration and can be found through this link 11.

Samsung T7 Portable SSD

Another popular choice among consumers is the Samsung T7 Portable SSD. It offers a light and pocket-sized build that has great looks and fast speeds. The embedded PCIe NVME technology means that the T7 can deliver read speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s and write speeds of 1,000 MB/s. Which in fact, is double the speed of its predecessor, the T5.

The T7 is also stated to carry a sophisticated thermal solution that uses a Dynamic Thermal Guard and ePCM technology to help the SSD stay at comfortable and optimal temperatures even when used for extensive periods of time or for when large file transfers are made. It also comes with the added convenience of having both Type-C and Type-A cables for different devices. Samsung’s T7 Portable SSD comes in at Php 4,888 with 500GB of storage. You may find it through this link 16.

Transcend – ESD240C Portable SSD

If you’re thinking maybe the upper end of Php 5,000 is still a little too much to spend on an SSD for now. Then Transcend has got your back. The ESD240C is a great option for an entry-level SSD. It comes in a very compact and minimalist design that is both lightweight and shock-resistant. It also comes with a USB Type-C and a USB Type-A cable to accommodate a variety of desktops and laptops.

However, there is just one minor drawback if you plan on getting it. As it is only equipped with USB 3.1 Gen 2, this means that it is only capable of providing read speeds of up to 520 MB/s and write speeds of up to 460 MB/s. Which falls behind when compared to others on this list. However, it is still a far cry from what external HDDs offer as you can still expect it to be at least 3 to 4 times as fast as most external hard drives.

Transcend’s ESD240C Portable SSD is a great option if you’re looking to take the next step in having faster data transfers without having to splurge all too much as it comes in three configurations.

• Transcend ESD240C (120GB) – PHP 1,897
• Transcend ESD240C (240GB) – PHP 2,409
• Transcend ESD240C (480GB) 10 – PHP 3,979

Transcend – ESD370C Portable SSD

However, if you wish Transcend had just increased its SSD speed, then they also got another option. The ESD370C by Transcend is another SSD that offers great value. It just doesn’t offer faster data speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s read and 950 MB/s write. But it offers an elegant yet anti-shock design. This should leave you feeling reassured when it comes to protecting your SSD from physical damage.

Like its little brother, it comes with a USB Type-C cable, as well as a USB Type-A cable. What’s great is that it comes in either 250 GB or 500 GB models. This ensures that if you’re still on the fence of spending a huge stack on a portable SSD. Transcend has you covered. The 250 GB configuration comes in at Php 3,600 and the 500 GB model comes in at Php 4,850. You can find them both through Shopee and Lazada.

SanDisk – Portable SSD  & Extreme Portable SSD V2 

Another popular choice among consumers, both the Sandisk Portable SSD and the Extreme Portable SSD are among the most recognizable portable SSDs you’ll see people use. But don’t be confused with either of them as there are some slight differences.

Most importantly are the transfer speeds. The Portable SSD can reach up to 520 MB/s read speeds while the Extreme Portable SSD V2 can reach up to 1,050 MB/s read and 1,000 MB/s write. Secondly, their designs are slightly different to tell them apart. The Portable SSD has an external strap for when carrying, while the Extreme Portable SSD V2 has a built-in loop for securing. Another thing to note is that the Extreme Portable SSD V2 is IP55 water-resistant while the standard Portable SSD by Sandisk is not. But both are made of durable materials and provide drop protection of up to 2 meters.

So which one to get? That fully depends on you as you’ll be spending a little more for the higher tier Extreme Portable SSD V2 at Php 4,899. While the Portable SSD offers roughly the same amount of storage at a slightly more affordable price of Php 3,900. You may find them both at Shopee and Lazada with the links found right below.

• Sandisk Portable SSD (SDSSDE30-480G-G25) 34 – Php 3,900
• Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD V2 (SDSSDE61-500G-G25) 21 – Php 4,899

And that wraps up our list of some of the more affordable external SSDs you can find here in the Philippines. Let us know which of these you’re thinking of picking up or let us know your experiences with using external SSDs! If we missed anything or if you have any recommendations, do feel free to let us know in the comments down below.