When the drive containing your operating system fills up, things can go a bit wonky. On top of that, should an OS upgrade go sideways, data loss can occur. Those are just two of the reasons why I depend on external drives to ensure my files don't wind up vanishing or inaccessible. 

Currently, I have four external drives between two different machines. I use each drive for a different purpose, which gives my setup a bit of flexibility and even more assurance that my data won't be lost.

Also: I found the ultimate external SSD - and it can even self-destruct

Fortunately, the peace of mind that comes with using external drives doesn't have to cost a small fortune. And, thanks to Amazon, you can buy these for up to 60% off regular retail.

Take, for instance, theCrucial X6 portable SSD , which can be had with up to 4TB of storage (enough for up to 20,000 photos, 100 hours of video, 6,000 songs, or 400GB of documents...with room to spare). These drives have been significantly discounted, so you can purchase enough to serve your needs.

BUY ON AMAZON

Crucial X6 Portable SSD Drives

These portable SSD drives are heavily discounted on Amazon.

The specs

• Read speeds up to 800MB/s
• Small form factor - 2.72 x 0.43 x 2.52 inches
• Works with Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iPhone, iPad Pro8 (For PS4, Xbox One, and USB-A computer, you must purchase a separate USB-A adapter)
• Interface - ?USB 3.2 gen 2
• Case material - hard plastic
• Weight - 1.43 ounces
• Rated for up to a 6.5' drop
• Shock and vibration proof
• Extreme temperature resistant
• 3-year limited warranty

The cost of these drives depends on the size, which is:

• 500 GB -$42.99 (43% off)
• 1 TB -$53.99 (50% off)
• 2 TB -$79.99 (10% off)
• 4 TB -$169.99 (60% off)

It should also be noted that not every drive offers the same level of read speeds. For example, the 1/2/4 TB drives have read speeds up to 800 MB/s, whereas the 500 GB drive speeds rate at 540 MB/s. So, if you want the fastest drive, skip the 500 GB version. Besides, given the 1 TB drive is only$11 more than the 500 GB, it makes sense to go larger.

These drives are also backed by Micron, which is one of the largest manufacturers of flash storage in the world. I've used plenty of Crucial devices over the years (both internal and external drives and RAM) and have always found their products to be reliable. Had I a need for yet another external drive, I would jump on the4 TB version . And given the tiny size of these drives, they are easily packable.

The only caveat to these drives is that they don't offer encryption or any sort of biometric security. If you carry these drives with you, you'll want to make certain to not lose them or leave them lying about (especially if they hold sensitive data). Of course, you could always use third-party software to encrypt the data on the drive. Beyond that, these drives are a steal.

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