Samsung: The future of workflow
Posted on Oct 24, 2025 by Pro Moviemaker
Take the next step in your technology: the Samsung Portable SSD T9 is the smart choice when making the leap to direct-to-drive shooting
Advertisement feature
When technology takes a leap forward, some filmmakers waste no time embracing the change. For early adopter Gary Freeman, that next step was trying out recording directly to a portable drive – a move that has made his shoots speedier and more productive.
Freeman, a self-confessed tech addict, is no stranger to workflow innovation. While a previous cinema camera opened the door to direct-to-drive shooting, his most recent mirrorless has taken that efficiency to the next level – he’s paired it with the Samsung Portable SSD T9, the fastest and most trusted storage in his kit.
“I’ve been using Samsung’s portable drives for years – including the Samsung Portable SSD T5 and T7 Touch – and this is another game changer,” says Freeman. “It’s incredibly fast and reliable.”
That speed matters. His new mirrorless can record in high-end codecs like All-Intra, ProRes and ProRes Raw, writing directly to external memory via USB-C. A unique advantage is, if you’ve shot to a memory card, you can plug a portable drive into the camera and copy all your footage instantly, no laptop required. For Freeman, that means fewer steps, fewer cables and no waiting for file transfers.
“One less thing can go wrong,” he says. “No card readers or download delays. I’m ready to edit the moment I’m at my desk.”
On a recent shoot for an online retailer, Freeman’s streamlined set-up paid off.
Shooting open gate on the camera gave him maximum flexibility in post, while the Samsung Portable SSD T9 handled the enormous data rates without breaking a sweat. “I was shooting 6K files in open gate to allow for multiple formats of social and wide-screen content, and the portable drive just kept up perfectly.”
The Samsung Portable SSD T9 delivers blistering USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 speeds up to 2000MB/s, letting filmmakers work directly from it in post. Two cables are included – one for USB-C and another for legacy USB-A connections – so it fits seamlessly into any workflow.
Behind that impressive speed is Samsung’s powerful in-house innovation: TurboWrite tech. This enables a massive 180GB buffer for sustained performance when transferring or editing large video files. Despite its 88x60x14mm footprint and 122g build, it remains cool under pressure thanks to advanced thermal materials and low power consumption.
In fact, the Samsung Portable SSD T9 is built to survive almost any environment. It’s rated to withstand temperatures from -40°C to 85°C, with safe surface heat levels during operation that comply with the IEC 62368-1 standard. The power draw is impressively low, with just 0.67W idle and 7.3W peak when connected via USB-C, meaning cooler performance and extended laptop battery life by over 30 minutes compared to competitors.*
When it comes to data protection, it supports AES 256-bit hardware encryption, and the Samsung Magician software suite provides real-time drive health monitoring, benchmarking and firmware updates. Compatibility extends beyond filmmaking, as the portable drive works with PCs, Macs, Android devices, gaming consoles and cameras.
Built on a dedicated PCB architecture, rather than a standard M.2 form factor, it combines professional-grade reliability with universal versatility – exactly what modern filmmakers demand.
For Freeman, that’s what makes it great. “It’s one less thing to worry about,” he beams. “And it also looks good with the stylish rubber exterior that can definitely handle a knock if it gets dropped.”
Whether you’re a filmmaker, content creator or editor looking to simplify your workflow, the Samsung Portable SSD T9 makes a compelling case for going direct-to-drive. It’s the smart, streamlined way to work and a reminder that, sometimes, the smallest piece of kit can make the biggest difference.
*The power consumption results are based on Samsung internal testing, conducted under controlled conditions. Idle status is defined as eight minutes without I/O operations.
The Micro SD card comes of age
The Samsung Portable SSD T9 is taking the world by storm, but it’s not the only device changing the game. Nikon’s ZR hybrid cine camera now houses a micro SD card in a bid to make everything as small as possible.
High resolutions demand fast, sizeable storage, so the perfect choice to go with it is Samsung’s latest PRO Plus micro SD as it is available in up to 1TB in capacity. It’s V30 rated for 4K capture and, of course, is also perfect for action cameras, audio recorders and drones.
The Samsung PRO Plus also comes with an SD adapter, so can be downloaded directly to a laptop with an SD slot, or via a card reader.
It’s official! The t9 is a winner
Blistering speed, rock-solid reliability, seamless workflow integration and superb value for money have earned the Samsung Portable SSD T9 a Gear of the Year award for best external drive.
Voted for by thousands of pro filmmakers, these awards honour and recognise the best products – tried and tested by readers.
The Samsung Portable SSD T9 handles demanding 6K/8K footage without breaking a sweat. It’s compact, cool-running and rugged, built to thrive in all scenarios.
Filmmakers love its plug-and-play versatility and Samsung’s time-proven dependability. From lightning-fast backups to editing straight from the portable drive, it redefines what filmmakers can expect from storage as it’s super-speedy, reliable and ready for anything.
For more information, visit samsung.com/uk/memory-storage/all-memory-storage
This article was first published in the November/December 2025 issue of Pro Moviemaker
