Having extra space on your mobile or laptop is much easier than it was a decade or so ago. You can now fix this by easily adding an external hard drive to save all your music, videos, games, or the twenty thousand pictures of your missus gazing into the sunset before you will start to get pop-ups alert of low space – which was obvious enough from all the lag. However, there are plenty of items to choose from, so we did the hard work and found the 15 best external hard drives for you.
WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive
For all your additional file storage needs, the WD Elements external hard drive is a perfect solution. Available from 1 TB up to 4 TB, you might find yourself shooting pictures, buying games, and downloading movies just to fill up as much space as possible. The Elements hard drive is an excellent way to improve the performance of your computer while also allowing you to take it anywhere in the world without changing too much room in your backpack or laptop case.
The hard drive looks so sexy with a sleek build, but of course, beauty is just deep skin (or plastic, I guess). Fortunately, the Elements come with a host of features that make it so much more than just a pretty picture. Universally compatible with both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 systems, fast data transfer of up to 5GB / s is assured and the tranquility of ensuring nothing is lost in the ether. The reliable Item Portable External Hard Drive ensures you can be confident that either you Mac or PC (or both, Mr. Moneybags) can keep your files secure, giving you the space you need for years to come to back up.
Toshiba (HDTB420XK3AA) Canvio Basics 2TB Portable External Hard Drive
The Toshiba Canvio Basics External Hard Drive, a handy little device available in 1 TB, 2 TB, and 3 TB, gives you plenty of space for all your extra files and has a lightweight and compact design that makes it easy to transport from place to place, making it ideal for anyone on the move. Even, if it gets knocked you don’t need to worry about damaged or compromised data because it can easily survive even the toughest of tumbles with a robust casing and – for the esthetically inclined among us – comes with a matte finish to prevent smudging.
Some of its key points of sale are its compatibility with Mac systems (although at first, this does include formatting), but it also works perfectly with Windows computers and can be worked as soon as you plug it in. The hard drive provides quick and reliable data transfer, so everything can be transferred in no time, ensuring sure your files are safe and protected. To save energy, the system powers down after a specified period of time and does not need an external power cord, only the given USB cable – which is compatible with both USB 3.0 and 2.0. These combined features make the Toshiba Canvio considered one of the best external hard drives on the market.
Seagate STGX2000400 Portable 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD
Saving and accessing huge files was never easier; from quick networking, plug-in, and play operation to simple drag-and-drop file transfer. It’s all in the Seagate Portable 2 TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD. This portable hard drive proved very remarkable when it comes to data transfer from one computer to another. The durable and elegant portable tool can fit comfortably in the hands, with a small size that is not going to be bulky or uncomfortable. Some bigger hard drives prove to be very strong on the hands and don’t offer half the productivity that would be the Seagate 2 TB. Like the Toshiba and WD Elements, it comes with only a 3.0 hardware interface, which for some can be somewhat restricting.
So long as the 3.0 ports are all available, this shouldn’t really be a concern as 3.0 ports work more quickly anyway. When storing and transferring data from the laptop to the machine, you are assured of good writing speeds. Just drag and drop the files you need to pass without any hassles or interruptions. Setting up the drive is equally quite easy, thanks to the plug and play process. No additional software installation is required, Windows and Mac laptops will recognize the drive automatically once it’s plugged in. Formatting will be needed for Mac laptops unless you chose to buy a slightly pricier Non-formatted version instead. All in all, this is one reliable external Windows hard drive, on which Mac users can rely for guaranteed storage and easy on-the-go access.
WD Black 5TB P10 Game Drive Portable External Hard Drive
Did you plan on removing some of those old games on your desktop or console? Okay, the WD Black 5 TB P10 Game Drive does not need that. This black compact, the external hard drive provides a large capacity for up to 125 games, depending on the file sizes. It’s a dream come true for a gamer, packaged in a lightweight, durable computer that won’t compromise the precious data they hold dear to. Download more games and media files with no worries, thanks to the large hard drive capability which has your back. The portable drive enables quick and easy access to those on-the-go gaming files, without wasting any of your precious time. It means you can take your game collection with you everywhere and everywhere while embracing opportunities to access files conveniently with a compact storage device that won’t get in the way.
On its own, when it is overwhelmed with big files, a laptop or computer could slow progress on a game. This hardware solves the problem, providing extensive space, and requiring a smooth output of power games without compromising your victory. It doesn’t matter what you are playing with; a console or a PC, the hard drive ensures superior performance. Moreover, the solid, sturdy and incredibly portable drive features a lasting, shock-resistant form that can withstand the knocks of a gamer’s energetic life. More time to think about which games to uninstall on your console or PC, and more time to play games you love; both old and new, with a hard drive specifically built to provide an endless and comfortable gaming experience.
Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD
The Seagate Plus Slim Portable Hard Drive provides the ideal solution for budding photographers who need extra space to store all of their portraits, landscapes, and creations in photoshops. Seagate has provided this product with 2 months of free Adobe Photography Creative Cloud, enabling you to start your portfolio and store all your favorite memories somewhere. Its slim design makes it perfect for easy and unobtrusive movement in backpacks or even in pockets wherever you go.
The Seagate Plus Slim Portable is one of Seagate’s most popular and reliable products with up to 5 TB of storage space and 120MB / s transfer speed and comes with flexible backup plans. Compatible with both Desktop and Mac, it is the perfect tool for any budding or seasoned photographer and gives you the ability to quickly demonstrate snapping skills to the rest of the world. However, it won’t just help photographers and has been proven to work for both PS4 and Xbox One. The product works perfectly with both USB 3.0 and 2.0 and is available for optimum personalization in a variety of colors. The Seagate Plus Slim is fashionable enough to match any customer and can provide you with the best storage experience you need. Make sure you carry it in your laptop pocket, always handy.
WD 1TB Black My Passport Portable External Hard Drive
With the My Passport portable Hard Drive from Western Digital, you are giving yourself the ability to get stunning and reliable storage for whatever your needs may be. Coming in a variety of colors (if you want to add a bit of spark instead of boring old black), you can trust the product to store and carry a massive amount of photos, videos, games, and music wherever you go because of its compact and sleek design. The hard drive is ready to use right out of the box, so you don’t have to think about the laborious installation of software, although it needs reformatting for Mac users (but it doesn’t take long!).
The Western Digital My Passport is one of the most secure portable hard drives on the market and it comes with password protection to keep your details, files, and games safe and sound. These files are further secured by automatic backup sequences, which can be easily organized with backup software from WD. The Western Digital My Passport External Hard Drive is not one to miss, boasting consistency both inside and out, with USB 3.0 and 2.0 connectivity and fast and reliable transfer speeds.
Seagate Expansion Desktop 4TB External Hard Drive HDD
Look no further than Seagate Extend Desktop External Hard Drive for the most powerful external hard drive output. Coming with storage capabilities of up to 8 TB, Seagate designed a product with the tech-savvy in mind while keeping things simple for those who might not be as fast with today’s technologies. For Windows users, the product is installation-free and ready-to-use and is compatible with operating systems up to Windows 7. Reformatting is mandatory for Mac users but it should be noted that it is easy and hassle-free.
The SuperSpeed USB 3.0 helps you to speed up file transfer times and you’ll never get stuck in a rut when you want to get out of the house or apply to deadlines. You will still be sure where the file has gone with a quick drag and drop procedure and remove concerns about losing vital details into thin air. The Seagate Expansion is the perfect way to maximize your desktop PC or Mac’s storage capacity without losing efficiency to ensure you don’t miss a beat.
Silicon Power Black 1TB Rugged Portable External Hard Drive
When you are trying to show off just how darn manly you are then you need to accentuate this with the Silicon Power Rugged Portable External Hard Drive to back up your files, music, videos, games, and (of course) precious memories. Crafted to withstand practically anything, you can rest assured that your favorite songs, movies, and more will be safe from abuse and deterioration forever as long as you keep it. Compatible with all kinds of hardware but suitable for Xbox One and other consoles, there is ample room (up to 4 TB) to save all your favorite games and more when the hard drive of the console begins to get clogged.
To offer your data extra protection, the Silicon Power system comes with both shockproof military-grade and water-resistant casing, as well as a durable USB cable for efficient file transfer. The commodity is provided with a 3-year warranty for more protection in case it breaks down. The Silicon Power Portable Hard Drive is the answer you’ve been waiting for if you’re a gamer and need as much space as humanly possible to hold all the games you love. Level up with it today and enjoy the rewards.
Seagate Backup Plus Portable for Mac 4TB External Hard Drive HDD
Mac users frequently worry when buying portable hard drives and SSDs because they are often not compatible with their devices and need reformatting prior to use. The Seagate Backup Plus, however, was developed specifically for Mac users and offers a fantastic experience without all of the dumb nonsense reformattings. The product was designed to be used directly from the box and comes with Time Machine backup software for quick and clear backup.
The hard drive is also fitted with 3.0 USB connectivity, you’re guaranteed to transfer fast file instantly enabling you to switch your videos, music, pictures, and more from your Mac to the hard drive and enjoy exceptional 4 TB of usable space. It also gives you the chance to embrace your inner Andy Warhol, provided with 2 months of free Adobe Creative Control Photography. It is the portable hard drive you looked for for for Mac users.
Samsung (MU-PA500B/AM)T5 Portable SSD
Speeding up your PC, Mac, or Android device is opening up a whole new world of computer user productivity. The Samsung T5 Portable SSD is one of the market ‘s best solid-state drives that has proved incredibly useful to anyone who’s built it. Designed to offer higher transmission speeds up to 4.9x faster than standard machines as well as read-write speeds up to 540MB / s, you’ll find yourself whizzing effortlessly through your operations.
Built to provide easy and reliable communication without needing external adapters or complicated installation procedures, the T5 can operate with a wide variety of devices for compatibility that is both compatible with USB 3.0 and 2.0. The product is also elegant and compact given its incredible price, which helps you to make the most of it wherever you might be. If you need to find additional storage options for your device, Mac or games console, then look no further than the T5 Portable SSD. Keep it on your gaming desk or take it with you, either way, it is convenient.
Seagate Backup Plus Hub 6TB External Hard Drive
The Seagate Backup Plus desktop hard drive can provide everything and more to give you some of the most reliable additional space on the market for external storage solutions which provide as much disk space as possible. Equipped with two (yes two!) built-in high-speed USB ports, you can get the most out of the system and switch several devices at once. To make things as easy as possible for Windows users, the Hub is completely formatted to provide quick and efficient operations before connection.
For Mac users, the software comes with the requisite NTFS drivers, which means Windows and Mac users can find some common ground and use the Hub interchangeably without needing a reformat. It also comes with a one-click or scheduled backup plan (your choice) as with most Seagate products to ensure that your files are still safe from whack hackers or general incompetence. A 2-month free Adobe CC Photography Plan is also provided.
Toshiba (HDTC910XK3AA) Canvio Advance 1TB Portable External Hard Drive
Carrying a mass of files, images, games, videos, and music may feel like a drag, but Toshiba’s Canvio Advance Portable External Hard Drive has made these issues a thing of the past. With up to 3 TB of storage space available, there’s no limit (okay, almost no limit) to any of your storage problems. Feel secure in the knowledge that wherever, anywhere, you can take your digital life with you and never worry about lugging around heavy and bulky equipment. The product is powered by USB 3.0 technology but is still compatible with 2.0 ensuring the fast transfer of all your files.
Equipped with both password protection and automated backup processes, there’s no need to worry the accidental loss of data which we all know can cause any piece of tech insight to be shattered – and who wants that? Complementing a sleek and elegant interface with clean edges, you’ll look as cool (as you can) with the Toshiba Canvio Advance and free up space on your current computer, whether it’s Windows or Mac, to complete all your tasks with ease without lag or freezing. A cool tool that you’ll always want to take with you.
WD 8TB My Book Desktop External Hard Drive
Finding an external hard drive that perfectly complements your home office or guy space (working title, but man caves are a thing of the past, suggestions on a postcard, please) might seem like something many of us will normally be scoffing at, but having a bit of aesthetics may only make the entire area look more full. The problem is that, until now, there aren’t so many goods that can do this for us.
Western Digital ‘s Book Notebook External Hard Drive has been built with you in mind (aren’t you special?) but it’s also designed to help you store up to 10 TB of space on your videos, images, music, and games. Compatible for both Windows and Mac, you can never lose a file again, along with auto backup and Time Machine features, so you can chill in at your leisure. With Western Digital ‘s Book External Hard Drive, boasting quick transfer speeds as well as password security and hardware encryption, add a bit of sophistication to your Desk.
CalDigit AV Pro 2 Storage Hub USB C 5Gb/s External Drive Enclosure Kit
If very, very high transfer speeds are what will get you started, then CalDigit’s AV Pro 2 Storage Hub could just be the external drive you’ve been waiting for all these years. You may not even note that your files were transferred using the next-gen USB-C 3.1 charging protocol. Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but what we’re trying to suggest is that if Usain Bolt were an external drive he ‘d look like that.
Compatible with a range of Mac products as well as Thunderbolt 3 machines, the AV Pro 2 offers expandable storage and can even be quickly upgraded if you run out of space at long last. The device also comes with 2 additional USB ports to connect multiple devices at once, ensuring simplicity, reliability, accessibility, and efficiency to provide a one-stop-shop for all external storage requirements. For more great items like this, be sure to check out our list of the best iPad Pro accessories.
CalDigit Tuff USB-C 2TB HDD Portable Rugged Tough USB
It is always worrying to carry your portable storage devices onto the lane. What if they get lost, stolen, or harmed? To fix this, you need to find a product that will remain solid and reliable through all of your journeys on globetrotting. This model is CalDigit’s Tuff Portable. This external drive enables quick backup of files and can withstand being dropped, submerged, or dust-covered while still operating at high performance.
For seamless access through a number of devices like Macbook and Thunderbolt 3, consumers can be assured their files can be backed up anytime they want. Equipped with the latest Type-C port, transfer speeds of up to 130MB / s can be achieved to ensure effective and reliable operation. The package also comes with a secure storage box for added protection to keep it extra protected during your journeys. If you are one of the world’s numerous digital nomads, then CalDigit has crafted this important travel for you.
External Hard Drive Buying Guide
With so many items on the market, narrowing down the best of the best can pose a challenge. We look at two factors when talking about giving you the details you need to make a decision: performance and quality.
Often those factors go hand in hand. You get what you pay for for all in life and so you can’t hope to get a consistent experience on the cheaper end of the spectrum. External hard drives are some of the most important pieces of tech available, so we don’t want to suggest anything that might end up losing all your favorite files. This is why we found the highest selling goods which are also at a fair price to give you the best idea of what you need.
Features to look an External Hard Drive
There’s a whole range of apps to search for on a portable hard drive or SSD. You want to choose storage space based on your needs; there is no point in buying 1 TB if you need a second terabyte in only a couple of weeks, so plan accordingly.
There’s also speed so your files can be transferred as quickly as possible. There’s nothing worse than having to hold your machine all night while the files are being moved. It can be considered part of networking as well. Technology often fails, we all know this, but getting your files corrupted due to a rubbish link can be frustrating.
The main function is Technology. Do not waste your money if this is not compatible with your computer. The size also needs to be weighed for portable hard drives, because you can take it all over the place with you and don’t want it to weigh down your bag.
Security is something that is becoming more prevalent nowadays amid hacking controversies with drives. When you have confidential information on your hard drive it will save you a lot of trouble by encrypting it. Your device’s longevity, at last. Could she stand up to human error? Is that going to fail after only a year or two? Get the best of your money but also note that tech doesn’t last forever.
