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There is no evidence here that a cheaper SSD is inherently less reliable—or that paying more would prevent a failure. The story behind the title has not been established. What can be said is narrower: SSDs and NVMe changed the performance assumptions built around spinning disks, so the right drive depends on the device and workload, not price alone.
What the title’s lesson can—and cannot—mean
The phrase “It was at this moment that I realized I shouldn’t cheap out on SSDs” reads like a first-person account, but the specific event it implies is unverified. The available source does not identify a failed drive, a purchase, or a model. It also provides no failure-rate data, endurance measurements, warranty comparisons, or evidence that a more expensive SSD would have changed an outcome.
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That distinction matters: a personal experience can be a useful prompt to reconsider storage choices, but it is not proof of a general price-to-reliability rule. Without a known drive, device, workload, or failure, there is no defensible product recommendation to draw from this story.
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In a passage from Lex Fridman Podcast #474, published July 12, 2025, guest DHH discusses the shift from spinning disks to NVMe and SSDs and how storage and database assumptions changed. The passage’s short line, “This happened with SSDs,” refers to technology progress and changing design assumptions—not to SSD failure or advice to buy a more expensive drive. Read the transcript.
#1 Best Overall
- Get NVMe solid state performance with up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance mean this tough drive can take a beating(3) (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
- Use the handy carabiner loop to secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind.
- Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.(3)
- Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5). Non-Operating Temperature -20°C to 85°C
The useful context is that systems designed around spinning disks could not simply retain all their old assumptions once much faster storage became common. That observation helps explain why storage performance can matter to system design; it does not establish how often SSDs fail or how reliability varies by price.
What to check before choosing an SSD
Price is only one factor, and it cannot answer whether a drive will work well in a particular setup. Establish the practical requirements first:
Rank #2
- Solid state performance with up to 800MB/s read speeds in a portable drive. (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device, interface, usage conditions and other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Back up your content and memories on a storage solution that fits seamlessly into your mobile lifestyle.
- Take it with you on your adventures—up to two-meter drop protection means this durable drive can take a beating. (Based on internal testing.)
- Secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind thanks to the tough rubber hook.
- From Sandisk, a brand professional photographers trust to take on assignments.
- Device compatibility: identify the supported form factor and interface in the computer or device documentation. “NVMe SSD” is a category, not a guarantee that a given drive fits or is supported.
- Workload: consider what the device will do, since the source does not specify whether the need is everyday use, a database, or another demanding workload.
- Capacity: decide how much storage is needed rather than assuming a particular size or model from this title.
- Budget: compare suitable options only after compatibility, workload, and capacity are clear. The available evidence does not establish a price tier that is safer or more reliable.
What evidence would support a reliability comparison?
A meaningful comparison would need identified SSD models and comparable evidence—such as clearly scoped reliability or endurance measurements and warranty terms. None of that is established by the podcast passage. No models, failure statistics, endurance figures, or warranty durations are supplied, so this article cannot responsibly rank drives or conclude that spending more buys greater reliability.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- MADE FOR THE MAKERS: Create; Explore; Store; The T7 Portable SSD delivers fast speeds and durable features to back up any endeavor; Build your video editing empire, file your photographs or back up your blogs all in an instant
- SHARE IDEAS IN A FLASH: Don’t waste a second waiting and spend more time doing; The T7 is embedded with PCIe NVMe technology that brings fast read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s¹, making it almost twice as fast as the T5
- ALWAYS MAKE THE SAVE: Compact design with massive capacity; With capacities up to 4TB, save exactly what you need to your drive – from large working files to game data and everything in between
- ADAPTS TO EVERY NEED: Whether using a PC or mobile phone, count on the T7 for extensive compatibility²; It’s a true team player when it comes to heavy-duty application usage or file-saving
- HI RESOLUTION VIDEO RECORDING: Record Ultra High Resolution (4K 60fs) videos directly onto the T7 Portable SSD with your favorite camera or mobile devices; Supports iPhone 15 Pro Res 4K at 60fps video and more³
Rank #4
- Capacity Display Variance: 500GB external ssd often appears as around 465GB on Windows. MacOS can show full 500 GB capacity. This is binary calculation difference and doesn’t affect SSD hard drive actual physical storage
- 1050 MB/s Speed: Instantly access to your files with blazing-fast 10Gbps external SSD read up to 1050MB/s and write up to 1000MB/s. LED Light indicates USB SSD instant activity
- Data Security: Solid state drives S.M.A.R.T. health diagnostics and adaptive TRIM optimizing data block management ensures consistent write speeds and extends the longevity of the portable SSD
- USB-C & USB-A Cable: Both cables featuring rapid USB 3.2 Gen2, this USB SSD effortlessly bridges devices, enabling seamless cross-platform file transfers and backup between computers, smartphones, tablets and iPhone
- Always Fast: No slowdowns for large file transfers. With SLC caching (25% of current available capacity allocated as high-speed cache), this external SSD delivers steady 10Gbps for transfers within the cache capacity
Rank #3
- Upgrade your laptop or desktop computer and feel the difference with super-fast OS boot times and application loads
- Exceptional performance offering up to 535MB/s seq. Read and 500MB/s seq. Write speeds
- Superior performance as compared to traditional hard drives (HDD)
- Ultra-low power consumption
- Backwards compatible with SATA II 3GB/sec
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