The T3 uses Samsung's 48-layer V-NAND (3D NAND), which stacks layers of flash memory atop one another like microscopic skyscrapers, creating a vastly denser storage technology over previous planar NAND products. (Compared to an external hard disk drive, it's about four times as fast.) My benchmark tests showed the drive came close to the manufacturer's specs, though they fell a bit short. The T3's specifications highlight impressive performance that peaks at 450Mbps, which is within 100Mbps of the fastest internal 2.5-in. Samsung also (thankfully) provides a much longer USB cable for the T3. Instead of the T1's plastic case, the T3 features a shock-resistant metal case and internal frame that Samsung says can take up to 1,500G of force, allowing it to survive a drop of about 6 feet. The added weight is due to the fact that the T3 is more ruggedly built. compared to the T1's 1 oz., so when I say "heavy," it's all relative.) But as small as it is, the T3 is slightly larger - and much heavier - than the T1.
It measures 2.9 x 2.3 in, so it easily fits into a shirt pocket. Like its predecessor, the T3 is about the size of a business card and 3/8-in. A 1TB model will retail for $430 the 500GB and 250GB models will retail for $220 and $130, respectively. The T3 is offered in all the smaller capacities, as well as a 2TB model for $850 (see Amazon prices).
The T1 drive, announced a year ago, offered up to 1TB of space (for $600 retail, $357 on Amazon), as well as 500GB and 250GB capacities. The T3 is the second generation of Samsung's "T" line of portable SSD drives. It's got up to 2TB of storage space and the advantage of the new USB 3.1 interface, which opens the bandwidth floodgates. Samsung's Portable SSD T3 is one of those drives. As much as I work with SSDs, it still surprises me when I open a box and see an external drive that fits neatly into the palm of my hand and offers terabytes of capacity.