Cult of Mac Deals is selling a 2TB portable SSD external drive for just $45.

Yeah, I know — it sounds like a scam.

Similar 2TB drives from name-brand manufacturers go for about $150 or $200 on Amazon.

So a $45 drive sounds like one of those cons where the manufacturer puts a smaller memory chip in an enclosure and hacks the controller chip to report a larger amount of space.

But the last time we offered this deal, one of our writers was skeptical, so he secretly ordered one and tested it.

“I was suspicious about this product because there’s a common scam in which the makers of SSDs or SD cards you see on Amazon, etc., put in a small amount of storage, then reprogram the controller chip to falsely report a larger amount,” he wrote. “That is not true for the drive sold by Cult of Mac Deals. My test unit reports a capacity of 1.9TB, which is typical for a 2TB drive. So far, I’ve put 138GB on it without any problem — none of the files are corrupted. And the total is growing as my testing continues.”

As our writer Ed Hardy notes in his review, the ultra-low price is because the SSD drive uses an older USB 2 connection, not the current USB 3. That means transfer speeds aren’t super-snappy, but in everyday use, it’s perfectly acceptable, Ed found. Check out the review yourself (and yes, the price has gone up $10 in the meantime).

There’s plenty to like about this 2TB drive: It’s very small (about the size of a credit card, though thicker), and will connect to multiple devices via USB-C, including MacBook, iPad and iPhone. It’s perfect for backups or storing large media files.

But don’t delay. This deal always sells out. And supplies are so limited that our deals partner, StackSocial, isn’t offering it with any of its other media partners. This deal is exclusive to Cult of Mac readers.

Pick up this portable 2TB flash drive for less than $45 while supplies last.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

This 2TB portable SSD holds all your data for less than $45

Cloud storage is great, but like any technology, it has a time and place. When you want guaranteed storage that doesn’t require an internet connection to access, what you really need is an external drive. This 2TB portable SSD keeps your data close and your devices unclogged. And for a limited time, it costs just $44.97.

This SSD quickly sold out the last few times we offered it. Now it’s back in stock, and it’s available again as a Cult of Mac Deals exclusive … while supplies last!

An inexpensive 2TB portable SSD

Sometimes the best solution is the simplest one. You need more space on your computer? Get some extra space that can fit in a drawer or the pocket of your computer bag. This portable external drive is easy to use and does its only job flawlessly. Simply plug it in and start transferring files.

Its USB-C connection gives this SSD good reading and writing speeds, even if you’re using huge files. The drive can read up to 43MB/s and write up to 37MB/s. It’s fast and consistent, which is what you want when you rely on your external drive for work or school.

At 2TB, this portable SSD can function like your own little mobile database. Use it on the job, and you could probably keep your entire work file library in there. Use it for school and you’ve got room for notes, lectures, textbooks and anything else you need, all in one place. If you’re taking online courses, you could download all your video lectures and watch them without an internet connection.

This powerful mobile SSD is made from sturdy aluminum and plastic, so it’s built for travel and heavy use. And there are entire threads online of people talking about how many ways they’ve made a portable drive like this one essential in their lives. One user wrote that they utilize “external hard drives for an archive of old songs and all movies/videos you might use.”

Save on this 2TB portable SSD

Keep your files in your pocket, literally. Get the 2TB portable flash drive on sale for just $44.97. That’s 55% off the regular price of $99.99.

Buy from: Cult of Mac Deals