Samsung T7 Shield SSD Review

I love a rugged SSD, it’s why I have a few SanDisk Extreme. But with my purchase of the Samsung T7, and T7 Touch, I thought I might as well complete the set of external USBs and get the T7 Shield too. It looks great, not as good as the smooth metal of the other two but it does feel reassuringly tougher.

The rubberized coating gives it some impact protection, as well as protection against those dreaded scratches the metal ones pick up. I have decided this is going to be an emergency backup hard drive but if I was doing any adventure travelling (which I may well do in the future) this would be perfect.

T7 Shield SSD: Our Verdict

Pros

Cons

T7 Shield Technical Details

Capacity

At the time of writing the T7 Shield comes in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB  sizes. I am using and reviewing the 2TB portable SSD. Prices on SSDs do rise exponentially as you increase capacity, so it’s good to buy the right size for what you need.

If you are a photographer or content creator though I would recommend getting the largest you can. I tend to take a lot of photos, and when I do record videos I usually record in the highest quality and reduce later. Taking up a lot of storage. 

Setting Up the T7 Shield

You can plug in the T7 Shield portable SSD and start transferring documents straight away. No setup or software is required unless you want to add some security in the form of a password. I have always found Samsung products to be easy to use and this is no exception.

Security

Without the fingerprint sensor of the T7 Touch, the T7 Shield can still include security. Instead of a fingerprint, you can assign a manual password. If you decide to do this though it does mean any device you use the T7 on will have to have Samsung’s security software installed. For laptops and PC’s this is software, or for androids this is through an app on the Play Store.

Since most of what I store is images, I’m not too fussed about having a password there, as I often use friends’ computers when I am having lessons on Lightroom. But it is good to have the option and the ability to easily put extra security in place if you need it.

T7 Shield Dust and Water Rating

The T7 shield’s shock resistant rubber gives it an edge against the others in the T7 range. It comes with a rating of IP65 meaning it has dust and water resistance. Making it much more suitable for your adventures.

Where is the T7 Shield designed for?

Despite its rugged features, my T7 Shield doesn’t leave the house. I chose it as my master copy of my documents. It has the most protection and the biggest capacity. So I keep it somewhere safe and back up when I can. I was recently given a fireproof bag for important documents (I have family in the fire service) So I keep it in there just in case I should have a tragedy at home.

If you only need one SSD this is a great option for adventurers and content creators.  As you may have read I am prone to drinks leaking in my bag, and if that happens you’ll be grateful for the IP65 rating.

Colour Options for the T7 Shield

There aren’t as many colour options on Shield as the standard T7. They offer just three: Blue, Black, and Beige. I really like the Beige, but it was a little harder to order, so I just opted for Blue instead. All look great and have the durability that makes them stand out. 

Slowly colour options are being phased out, much like the standard T7 SSD, which is a shame. I like having multiple Samsung 1tb external SSDs in different colours to help organise my files.

T7 Shield: Final Thoughts

I love the Samsung T7 range. They offer great speeds and capacities, and they are priced around the market average. The durable rubberised casing and IP65 water rating mates it ideal for content creators, 

I would still say that of the SSDs I own, Samsung definitely makes the best looking. Which one of the range you prefer is going to be entirely down to preference. I personally prefer the T7 Touch, but the T7 Shield is a fantastic option too.