USB/USB-C or TB3?
USB/USB-C would be a SATA SSD, while a TB3 can be a NVMe SSD (faster). If you're looking at 2.5" drives in a case, Crucial/Samsung/WD/SanDisk. If you want to get the external models, Crucial/Samsung/SanDisk are all good. For TB3, the OWC Envoy models are good, and the new Express is a BYO NVMe drive.
I tend to prefer units that I can swap drives in & out of - I have a stack of 2.5" drives & carriers. If there's an issue I can pull the drive and use another reader.