Thunderbolt 5 SSDs are here

It’s been a long wait, but the era of Thunderbolt 5 SSDs is finally upon us, promising to revolutionize external storage with speeds that could make your current setup feel like it’s in slow motion. After Thunderbolt 5 cables made their debut last July and docks followed in September, the hardware ecosystem is now expanding to include super-fast SSDs from industry leaders like Seagate, OWC, and Sabrent.

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Kicking off the action at CES 2025, Seagate introduced the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5, a testament to durability and speed in external storage. This SSD is expected to hit the shelves this month, offering a choice between a 2TB model priced at $399.99 or a 4TB for $599.99. The standout feature? Impressive read speeds of 6,700MB/s and write speeds of 5,300MB/s, making it a powerhouse for professionals needing on-the-go high-performance storage.

Image: Seagate

The LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 maintains the brand’s signature tough exterior, available in blue, black, or orange, with a rubber enclosure designed to withstand drops from up to three meters. It’s also rated IP68 for water and dust resistance, ensuring your data stays safe even if your drive takes a literal dive.

Before Seagate, Sabrent had already teased the tech community with the announcement of the Rocket XTRM 5 back in August 2024. Although not yet available, this SSD is poised to offer comparable speeds to LaCie, with read speeds up to 6,000MB/s and write speeds up to 5,000MB/s. Encased in a silicone sleeve, it’s also built for durability. Sabrent plans to offer this in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB variants, but for now, eager tech enthusiasts can only secure it through preorders on Sabrent’s website.

OWC wasn’t far behind, unveiling the Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 SSD in September 2024. This drive is not only fast, with read speeds exceeding 6,000MB/s, but it’s also built like a tank. It’s water-resistant, dust-resistant, and crushproof, catering to those who work in tough conditions. The pricing matches Seagate’s offerings at $399.99 for 2TB and $599.99 for 4TB. Although initial shipments sold out quickly, you can still get on the waitlist with an expected shipping date in mid-January 2025.

With Thunderbolt 5 SSDs, users can now enjoy external storage that rivals internal SSD performance, making tasks like 8K video editing, massive data transfers, and complex data processing more efficient and less time-consuming. The integration of Thunderbolt 5 means these drives can handle multiple high-resolution displays, offer substantial power delivery for charging, and maintain compatibility with older Thunderbolt standards, ensuring broad usability.

However, these speed demons come at a premium, reflecting their cutting-edge technology and robust build quality. For professionals and enthusiasts who need the absolute best in performance and reliability, these SSDs are a worthy investment. But for everyday users, the decision to upgrade might hinge on whether the performance leap justifies the cost.

The rollout of Thunderbolt 5 SSDs is a clear signal that we’re entering a new phase of connectivity and speed in personal computing. As more devices support Thunderbolt 5, we can anticipate an ecosystem where external hardware no longer feels like a bottleneck but an extension of your system’s capabilities.

For those considering an upgrade, keep an eye on the availability and perhaps wait for more reviews to see how these drives perform in real-world scenarios. The future of external storage looks bright, fast, and incredibly robust, and these new SSDs are just the beginning.