Samsung Unveils Next-Generation P Series Portable SSDs: P9 and P7

Samsung has revealed its next-generation P Series portable solid-state drives, introducing the P9 and P7 models. Built to meet the increasing storage demands of creators, professionals, and gamers, these drives deliver USB4 speeds and robust performance tailored to handle ultra-high-resolution video, extensive game libraries, and large AI project datasets. Samsung positions the new P Series as a solution for fast file storage and reliable backups, enabling smoother workflows across a variety of professional and everyday applications.

Performance and Use Cases

The P9 is positioned as a professional-grade portable SSD that emphasizes extreme throughput and large-capacity options. Samsung claims the P9 is the world’s first 8TB USB4 portable SSD to reach sustained transfer performance suited for demanding tasks. Reported peak read speeds reach up to 4,000 MB/s with write speeds up to 3,800 MB/s, roughly double the speeds of the previous T9 model. These performance characteristics make the P9 a fit for heavy production workflows, including high-resolution video capture and editing. Notably, the P9 supports direct 12K RAW recording for compatible digital cinema cameras, allowing filmmakers and content creators to offload and store very large raw files without creating major bottlenecks.

In contrast, the P7 targets users who need fast, reliable storage for everyday professional and consumer tasks—mobile work, high-speed file transfers, and gaming. The P7 emphasizes a balance between speed, durability, and affordability. It includes physical protections such as drop resistance (tested to withstand falls from up to two meters) and engineering to mitigate shock and vibration. These safeguards are intended to help protect data integrity in mobile and harsher environments, making the drive suitable for fieldwork and frequent transport.

Capacities, Availability and Pricing

Both the P9 and the P7 will be available in four capacity options: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB. Samsung plans a global launch on August 31. Pricing starts at $339.99 for the 1TB version of the P9 and scales up to $2,699.99 for the 8TB model. The P7 starts at $289.99 for 1TB and goes up to $2,289.99 for the 8TB variant. These price tiers position the P7 as the more budget-oriented option while keeping the P9 as a premium choice for professionals requiring the highest sustained throughput and capacity.

Who Should Consider These Drives

The P9 is best suited for creators and professionals who work with massive files—video editors, cinematographers, VFX artists, and teams handling large-scale AI datasets—where sustained high write speeds and large capacity are crucial. The P7 appeals to users who need fast, dependable portable storage for day-to-day operations: writers, photographers, mobile workers, and gamers who move large libraries between devices or require quick backups on the go.

Final Thoughts

Samsung’s updated P Series aims to bridge the gap between everyday portability and professional-class performance. With USB4 connectivity, high sustained throughput, and capacities up to 8TB, the P9 and P7 offer options across the spectrum of users who need fast, durable external SSD storage. The P9 focuses on maximum speed and high-capacity workflows, while the P7 offers a practical and durable alternative for high-speed daily use. As high-resolution content and AI-driven workflows continue to expand, these new portable SSDs provide more headroom for storing and moving large files efficiently.