If you're sick of cloud storage subscriptions, this 2TB portable SSD is on sale for $269.99 (regularly $499.99)

Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

TL;DR: Get the SanDisk Extreme Portable 2TB SSD for $269.99 (regularly $499.99).

If there’s one thing Mac and PC can agree upon, it’s that waiting for files to upload to cloud storage is exhausting. It’s a good thing physical storage is finally catching up. The SanDisk Extreme is a pocket-sized 2TB SSD that hits read speeds up to 1050 MB/s and write speeds up to 1000 MB/s over USB 3.2 Gen 2, and it’s on sale now for $269.99.

2TB you can take anywhere

We’ve come a long way from external hard drives bigger than an iPad. This drive weighs under 2 ounces and fits in a jacket pocket, with a built-in carabiner loop for clipping to a bag or camera strap. Despite the compact size, it can take some punishment. IP65-rated water and dust resistance handles splashes and dusty environments without issue, and up to 3-meter drop protection keeps it functional through the kinds of accidents that happen when you’re travelling, at school or just not paying attention. The metal housing adds some extra durability without adding meaningful weight, and at 3.3 by 2.2 inches, it’s smaller than most iPhones.

The 256-bit AES hardware encryption password-protects sensitive files without slowing down transfers at all. If you regularly move client work or sensitive project files between machines, that’s a pretty welcome upgrade. The solid-state design means no moving parts, so there’s nothing mechanically vulnerable even without the IP65 and drop protection.

Performance stays consistent across a range of tasks. Backing up a full camera card, moving a Final Cut Pro or Premiere project to another workstation, keeping a portable archive of raw assets you access regularly, transferring large client deliverables, it all runs at the same fast transfer speeds without throttling. There’s no driver installation and no software setup required. Plug it into your Mac via USB-C adapter, and it shows up immediately. It also works on Windows for anyone running a mixed setup, and on tablets for mobile workflows.

Sick of cloud storage?

Get a SanDisk Extreme 2TB Portable SSD on sale for $269.99.

Buy from: Cult of Mac Deals

Prices subject to change. All sales handled by StackSocial, our partner who runs Cult of Mac Deals. For customer support, please email StackSocial directly.