Samsung P9 review

Performance

A large project folder is a good reason to want the P9. Moving it onto the drive, taking it to another computer and opening the files there can avoid keeping a second full copy on a laptop’s limited internal storage. The computer and source drive still need enough bandwidth to make the external connection worthwhile.

StorageReview’s 2TB sample reached roughly 4,048 MB/s reads and 3,769 MB/s writes in its short synthetic test on a Thunderbolt 5 Windows laptop. ¹ That supports the advertised burst-speed class. It does not mean a folder full of small files will copy at the same rate.

Sustained Performance

Sustained writing matters when recording continuously or repeatedly emptying large camera cards. Samsung gives the 1TB model a lower post-cache rating than the larger capacities, so capacity is a performance choice as well as a space choice.

The independent results illustrate why I would validate a demanding capture setup. Tom’s Hardware saw its 2TB drive sustain roughly 2,200–2,400 MB/s for much of its Iometer run, with a slower interval before recovery. ² StorageReview’s 2TB drive fell to about 540 MB/s and then lower during a long write after extensive earlier writes on an exFAT volume Windows could not retrim. ¹ These are different tests and drive conditions, not interchangeable measurements.

Samsung’s 12K recording statement also has a specific scope. It is based on an 8TB drive with a Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K using BRAW 8:1 at 12K DCI 50fps. Resolution alone cannot establish whether another camera’s format will work. For paid capture, use the camera maker’s supported-media guidance and test the entire intended session.

Design & Connectivity

The thin housing is convenient when a drive needs to fit in the same pouch as a laptop charger. Its metal construction and activity light suit use on a desk, while the included USB-C cable lets you start without sourcing a separate high-speed lead. Leave the case exposed to air during demanding transfers.

Samsung specifies a controlled 2 m drop test. That offers a useful margin against everyday handling accidents, but physical drop damage is excluded and no water-resistance rating was established in the documentation reviewed here. I would use a separate protective pouch in a bag that also carries liquids.

Software & Security

Password protection is valuable when a portable drive contains client files or personal records. Configure it before the drive begins traveling, and make sure every intended computer can unlock it. Magician also offers health monitoring and firmware management, which are useful when a drive becomes part of a regular workflow.

Keep another copy of irreplaceable footage before clearing memory cards. Encryption addresses access to the files if the drive is lost; it cannot recover the only copy of a failed or accidentally deleted project.

Alternatives

An existing T9 remains a sensible working drive when its transfers already fit your schedule. The P9’s USB4 interface raises the maximum connection bandwidth over the T9’s 20 Gb/s link, but that is not evidence that every task takes half as long. Upgrading makes more sense alongside a suitable USB4 computer and a recurring transfer bottleneck.

The P7 offers Samsung’s everyday USB4 tier. For routine file transport, compare the capacity you need and the current difference in cost. Choose the P9 for the aspects of its documented design and workload behavior that help your own work, rather than treating the higher model number as sufficient reason.

Verdict

The P9 is a convincing compact working drive for people who can use USB4 and move substantial projects frequently. Its burst performance is well supported, and encryption adds practical value when it travels. Continuous high-rate recording needs more care: choose capacity deliberately and validate the intended camera, format and recording length.