There are times when USB flash drives aren't enough, and you need something a bit bigger or a bit faster.This is when using an SSD is the way forward.

While you can buy specific external SSDs, I find it better and more convenient to use internal SSDs.

Recommends

The best external hard drives

Here are the top options at a variety of price points.

Read now

They're cheap, lightweight, and durable.

And all you need is an SSD (my current favorite is the1TB Samsung 870 EVO SSD ) and a SATA to USB-C adapter.

I've been testing a number of SATA to USB-C adapters, and I've settled on theUGREEN SATA to USB-C adapter cable for 2.5-inch SSD and HDD drives .

I like this adapter for a number of reasons. It's small and lightweight, fast, comes with a cable attached, and it's very reasonably priced at$12.99.

In terms of speed, the UGREEN adapter features USB C 3.1 Gen 1 data transfer speed of 5Gbps, so it's a no-compromise way of attaching external storage.

UGREEN SATA to USB-C adapter features:

• USB-bus powered, no need for extra power supply for 2.5-inch SATA HDD/SSD
• Plug and play, no driver needed
• Support hot-swapping the drives (no need to disconnect)
• Built-in LED indicator
• Supports UASP (USB Attached SCSI Protocol) and TRIM

Pros:

• Small
• Lightweight
• Cheap
• Built-in cable

Cons:

• If the built-in cable gets damaged, the whole adapter is junk

View now at Amazon

Also: The best Macs: Is the Mac Studio or MacBook Pro right for you?

UGREEN SATA to USB-C adapter performance with Samsung 870 EVO 1TB SATA SSD

For a professional photographer or videographer, being able to use cheap internal SSDs is a great way to have an abundance of storage on the cheap.

Hardware

The best photography drones: Capture stunning aerial footageOur favorite robot mowers: Hands-free lawn careThe top 5 home batteries: Backup systems to keep you chargedThe best cheap vacuum cleaners: Affordable and reliable vacs

• The best photography drones: Capture stunning aerial footage
• Our favorite robot mowers: Hands-free lawn care
• The top 5 home batteries: Backup systems to keep you charged
• The best cheap vacuum cleaners: Affordable and reliable vacs