ONE-MINUTE REVIEW
The last new Samsung external SSD to be released was the T7 Shield in October 2022, making the T9 the first new product in this series in over a year and three years since the release of the classic T7. The T9 has a more robust exterior than the T7 Shield, but it appears Samsung did not want to use the shield' branding on this model.
This is a small-ish external USB SSD with a rubberized exterior to withstand the impacts and scratches that this type of device often endures. This design differs significantly from the T7 Shield in that the USB interface on this drive is optimized for USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports, for those fortunate enough to have them.
Reading and writing speeds can be increased to a maximum of 2,000 MB/s with a Gen 2x2 interface. With a typical USB 3.2 Gen2 port, the fastest speeds available are approximately 1 GB/s. Samsung implemented a caching system to maintain writing performance before the true underlying performance of the NAND modules is revealed.
This feature makes the T9 useful for safeguarding video directly from cameras that can write directly to external devices or for anyone transferring large files from their PC to storage.
The 1TB model costs £117.49 in the United Kingdom and $132 in the United States, making it more costly than the Kingston XS2000, Corsair EX100U, and Sabrent Rocket Nano V2, but less expensive than the Crucial X10 Pro.
This drive's efficacy and durability are excellent, but its cost-effectiveness is deficient.
SAMSUNG T9: PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
- How much does it cost? From $139.99/£117.49
- When is it out? It is starting to be available now
- Where can you get it? Direct from Samsung or through online retailers
We've observed a pattern with many of these new Gen 2x2 drives, where sales and marketing have argued that if a drive is twice as fast, it should cost twice as much, regardless of capacity. Samsung appears to have succumbed to some of this logic, as the T9 is significantly more expensive than the T7 or T7 Shield.
Consequently, the 1TB capacity T9 is 86% more expensive than the 1TB capacity T7, and the larger capacities cost more than 50% more.
The launch prices in the United Kingdom are £117.49 for the 1TB model, £199.99 for the 2TB model, and £362.79 for the 4TB model. These figures translate to $139.99, $239, and $439 in the United States for the same capacities, indicating that the T9 is priced similarly in the United States as it is in Europe.
These are all suggested retail prices, so we hope retailers offer discounts.
Only the Crucial X10 Pro and SanDisk Extreme Pro V2 are more expensive than the T9, while the Corsair EX100U, Kingston XS2000, Sabrent Rocket Nano V2, and ADATA Elite SE880 are all less costly. In some instances, these inexpensive alternatives are comparable in price to the T7.
The price of external NAND-based SSD storage has consistently decreased throughout 2023 as a result of overproduction in late 2022, so Samsung may be in for a severe dose of market forces after launch, driving these prices down.
We can only pray that this occurs quickly. Due to the fact that Micron (Crucial), Samsung, and SanDisk are all attempting to defy economic gravitation with their recent product introductions, there is only one plausible outcome.
SAMSUNG T9: DESIGN
- Protective coat
- Not especially small
- Both cable types
- No IP rating
The first aspect of the T9 that makes it different from the T7 and T7 Shield is that this drive has an unusual undulating rubberized outer covering. This is likely bonded to the metal interior casing of the drive, making it a permanent feature.
This was black in our evaluation sample, and we presume that all T9 are initially this color. The metal tube construction is similar to that of the T7, and if the protective coating were removed, we presume the dimensions would be identical.
In comparison to other recent external SSDs, this one is notably larger and heavier than the alternatives we've evaluated. The X10 Pro and Kingston XS2000 are much smaller drives. This is not to say that the X10 Pro is a pocket-unfriendly behemoth.
We appreciated that Samsung included both USB-C and USB-A cables with the T9, although they did not include a pouch for carrying them when the drive was not in use.
In a recent review of the Crucial X10 Pro, we made fun of the product's capacity to withstand drops, as its impact tests were conducted on carpet. In accordance with Samsung, the T9 was dropped from heights of up to three meters (9.8 feet) using steel slabs as the impact surface. The T9 has not been subjected to any IP-rated testing, and it is not water- or dust-resistant, unlike the Crucial X10 Pro.
Samsung's warranty does not cover falls from any height, should the device not be able to withstand being dropped. However, it does offer a five-year warranty for other misfortunes that could occur with any hard drive.
Design: 4 / 5- SAMSUNG T9: SOFTWARE
- Samsung Magician MIA
- No live backup tools
We wish we could tell you about Samsung's new Magician 8.0 software and how it optimizes this storage device, but we haven't seen it yet.
Unfortunately, despite being scheduled to be released in September, it was not available for testing alongside the T9.
The previous version of Magician, version 7.0, did not recognize the T9 or provide firmware updates for it.
According to information provided about Magician 8.0, this release consolidates all of Samsung's software utilities, including data migration software, PSSD software, and card authentication, into a single application. And it should be compatible with Windows, Mac, and Android.
It does not appear to offer a live backup application that can automatically remove newly created files from specific folders, although Apple Mac users have access to this technology.
In brief, Magician 8.0 sounds useful but hardly exhaustive, but whatever it contains isn't reviewable by us at this time.
SAMSUNG T9: PERFORMANCE
- Fast
- Capacity scalled caching
Like the X10 Pro and Kingston XS2000, if you don't have USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interfaces, you won't be able to attain the same results as our test environment did with this drive.
A majority of computers have USB 3.2 Gen 2, while others only have Gen 1. If you have either of these, it makes little sense to purchase the T9. Because it will perform similarly to other Gen 2 SSD designs, such as the significantly less expensive Crucial X8 at around 1 GB/s. Drives connected to a Gen 1 interface will only experience speeds of approximately 450 MB/s due to the limitations of that interface.
Although our benchmarks are not conclusive, they indicate that the T9 is a strong performer and approaches the theoretical limits of the USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface.
A beneficial test we conduct is the AJA System test, which is repeated with a 1GB file and a 64GB file. Typically, the disparity in performance between these two file sizes reveals how a drive manages a sustained write. Regardless of the interface, all NAND devices have a cache limit where the write performance reduces to that of the NAND modules, which can be as low as 400 MB/s.
Sizes of 22GB, 88GB, and 180GB are assigned to the buffer on 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB devices, respectively. Our review drive has a 4TB capacity; consequently, the performance disparity between the 1GB and 64GB was negligible, whereas it could have been significantly less on the 1GB.
If you intend to store large files on the T9, you should purchase the 4TB model.
The T9's performance is comparable to that of the Crucial X10 Pro and Kingston XS2000 in the context of Gen 2x2 drives.
SAMSUNG T9: VERDICT
Why Samsung waited until now to join the Gen 2x2 bandwagon is a conundrum, but it could have a lot to do with the lack of USB 4.0-capable devices on the market.
Regardless of the history behind its current appearance, the T9 offers a compelling alternative to comparable products from Crucial, Corsair, SanDisk, and Kingston.
This drive has excellent read speeds and the ability to maintain write performance, particularly with larger capacities. Samsung does not claim that the device is submersible, but it can withstand impacts.
It suffers from the same issue that plagued the unveiling of the Crucial X10 Pro, in that its creators believe it is worth more than the purchasing public is likely to accept. It will be intriguing to see if the price drops after the product's release or if Samsung offers sales incentives to prime the sales channel. At the current asking price and without Gen 2x2 interfaces as a standard feature, it may be difficult for the T9 to attract customers.