External drives · Choosing a drive
Should I get a Thunderbolt or a USB-C external SSD?
Short answer: Both work. Thunderbolt or USB4 enclosures are usually fastest, but a good USB-C SSD is plenty for running apps. Storage Studio's speed test in Choose Drive measures the real speed of your drive and cable.
Either works with Storage Studio — what counts is the speed you actually get, which the built-in speed test measures. Thunderbolt and USB4 enclosures are generally the fastest option for an NVMe SSD; a good USB-C (USB 3) SSD is still plenty for running apps and opening large folders.
In Choose Drive, each drive shows its connection type (a bolt icon for Thunderbolt, a plain external icon for USB). Select the drive and click Run benchmark to see real read and write speeds before you decide.
Tip: plug the drive straight into the Mac rather than through a hub, and use the cable that came with it — both affect the speed you'll see.