However, selecting an external drive is more complicated than simply purchasing the most costly one you can manage. The drive capacity is the most crucial aspect to take into account, and depending on your demands, it can significantly raise or lower the cost. The physical size of the drive (is it intended to be carried about or set on your desk? ), its ruggedness, the interface it uses to connect to your PC, and even the colours it is available in are further considerations. These and many more inquiries that come up when you’re looking for an external hard drive will be clarified by this tutorial. Keep scrolling down to see our selections for the Best external hard drives available on Amazon.
01. Best Overall: Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive
Key Features: Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox, 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX1000400) , Black
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4.7 out of 5 Star Rating
- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
02. Best Runner Up: Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB
Key Features: Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Black – HDTB420XK3AA
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4.7 out of 5 Star Rating
- Sleek profile design with a matte, smudge resistance finish
- Plug and play; Easy to use with no software to install. Requires reformatting for Mac OS v10.12 /OS X v10.11 / v10.1
- Quickly add more storage capacity to your PC and other compatible devices
- USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatible with no external AC power cord needed
- Compatible devices: Desktop
Canvio Basics Portable External Hard Drive
Store your photos, videos, and files with the Toshiba Canvio Basics portable hard drive. Enjoy a sleek design in a compact casing with up to 4TB(1) of storage space. The Canvio Basics makes keeping your files easier and more convenient than ever.
Easy to Use
Discover one of the easiest ways to add storage to your computer with simple plug-and-play operation. Ready to use with your PC and no software installation required. Intuitively drag and drop files to and from your laptop or PC.
Bring it with you.
The Canvio Basics is a real portable hard drive that is simple to carry and keep in any pocket or bag thanks to its sleek, matte-black design that is more compact than before.
More storage
Increase your storage by up to 4TB(1) in order to save your enormous collection of pictures, music, and videos—and to add to it.
03. Best 2nd Runner Up: WD 4TB Elements Portable HDD
Key Features: WD 4TB Elements Portable HDD, External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready – WDBU6Y0040BBK-WESN
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4.7 out of 5 Star Rating
- Adding extra storage for your videos, music, photos, and files.
- Transfer data at maximum speed with USB 3.0; USB 2.0 compatible
- Improve PC performance – When your internal hard drive is almost full your PC slows down. Don’t delete files. Free up space on your internal hard drive by transferring files to your WD Elements portable hard drive and get your laptop moving again.
- Plug-and-play ready for Windows PC
- High capacity in a small enclosure – The small, lightweight design offers up to 5TB* capacity, making WD Elements portable hard drives the ideal companion for consumers on the go.
Plug-and-play portable storage.
Connect this portable drive to your PC for an instant storage upgrade. WD Elements is the ideal companion for taking important files with you on the go.
- Available in capacities up to 5TB
- SuperSpeed USB-A cable for transfers up to 5Gbps
- 2-year limited warranty
- Comes formatted for Windows 10, 8.1, and 7.1. Compatible with Mac and other operating systems after reformatting
Large capacity in a compact design. Take your photographs, movies, music, and other things with you wherever you go with storage options up to 5 TB. Transfer files to your WD Elements disc to restart your computer. You may easily transfer files to and from your WD Elements portable drive with a USB 3.0 connection. To begin uploading your data, only connect the provided connection from the WD Elements Portable to your device.
04. Best 3rd Runner Up: Toshiba Canvio Advance 1TB
Key Features: Toshiba Canvio Advance 1TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, White – HDTCA10XW3AA
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4.7 out of 5 Star Rating
- Automatic backup software to easily back up your content (free download, for Windows PC only).
- Password protection software to help prevent unauthorized access to your data (free download, for Windows PC only).
- USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatible.
- Compact design with stylish, textured finish and color options to fit your lifestyle.
- Compatible devices: Mac (reformatting required)
Store everything: Upgrade your storage capacity to 4 TB (1) so you can transport your massive collection of images, music, and movies while still having enough space for all of your other important data.
Make a choice: you create to express yourself. Why shouldn’t your tools be spotless too? So that your portable storage stands out as much as you do, choose from a variety of brilliant colours on a chic, textured surface.
Produce more. Stress Less: Keep your data safe and secure with automated backup and password protection options. Maintaining the security of your files is simple and hassle-free with the Toshiba Storage Security and Storage Backup software.
05. Editor’s Pick: WD 5TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive
Key Features: WD 5TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive with backup software and password protection, Black – WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN
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4.6 out of 5 Star Rating
- Slim Design
- Software for device management and backup with password protection. (Download and installation required. Terms and conditions apply. User account registration may be required.)
- 256-bit AES hardware encryption
- SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port (5Gbps); USB 2.0 compatible
- 3-year limited warranty
06. Best Recommended: WD 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive
Key Features: WD 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 external hard drive for plug-and-play storage – WDBWLG0080HBK-NESN
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4.6 out of 5 Star Rating
- High-capacity add-on storage
- Fast data transfers
- Plug-and-play ready for Windows PCs
- WD quality inside and out
Rapid rates of transmission: The WD Elements desktop hard disc drive offers fast data transfer speeds when attached to a USB 3.0 connector. Simply put the WD Elements desktop hard drive into a USB port and start using it right away with Windows PCs. You get both backwards compatibility with USB 2.0 devices and the most recent USB 3.0 devices with this single disc. The WD Elements desktop hard drive is Windows 10 and NTFS compatible, and it can be formatted for Mac.
07. Best for Budget: LaCie Rugged Mini 2TB External Hard Drive
Key Features: LaCie Rugged Mini 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – USB 3.0 / 2.0 Compatible, Drop Shock Dust Rain Resistant Shuttle Drive, For Mac And PC Computer (LAC9000298), orange
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4.7 out of 5 Star Rating
- Shock, drops up to 4 feet, dust and water resistant for all-terrain use
- For Mac compatibility this Hard Drive requires reformatting. Refer to Application Guide for more details
- Password protection built in
- Uses USB 3.0 which is up to 4 times faster than USB 2.0 (USB 2.0 compatible)
- Includes 1-month complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps Plan. Must redeem by January 31, 2020
Small it may be, but when put to the test Rugged Mini kept data alive under the weight of 1-ton car. And its strength doesn’t stop there. From mother nature to studio sets to crammed travel bags, this portable hard drive’s compact yet robust design works overtime to help protect photos and more.
Load’s capacity: The Rugged Mini, with up to 5 TB of storage, is perfect for transferring video from the set to post-production or for maintaining a large content collection. Rapid Transfer Rates: They are made possible by the Rugged Mini’s transfer and backup rates of up to 130 MB/s. Simple Backup Programs: The LaCie Toolkit provides scheduled automated backups, on-demand one-click backups, and folder syncing across several devices. Edit with Creative Cloud: With a free trial of the Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps subscription, you can turn unpolished video into beautiful projects.
08. Best Portable: SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD
Key Features: SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD – Up to 1050MB/s – USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2 – External Solid State Drive – SDSSDE61-2T00-G25
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4.7 out of 5 Star Rating
- Get NVMe solid state performance featuring up to 1050MB/s read and up to 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive that’s perfect for creating amazing content or capturing incredible footage. (Requires compatible devices capable of reaching such speed. Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device, interface, usage conditions and other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Up to 2-meter drop protection and IP55 water and dust resistance mean this tough drive can take a beating.
- Use the handy carabiner loop to secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind.
- Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.
Password protection uses 256-bit AES encryption and is supported by Windows 8, Windows 10 and macOS v10.9+ (Software download required for Mac, see official SanDisk website.) Based on internal testing. IPEC 60529 IP 55: Tested to withstand water flow (30 kPa) at 3 min.; limited dust contact does not interfere with operation. Must be clean and dry before use.
Up to 2000MB/s read and write speeds. Requires compatible devices capable of reaching such speed. Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device, interface, usage conditions and other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes. For 64GB-512GB: Up to 170MB/s read speeds, engineered with proprietary technology to reach speeds beyond UHS-I 104MB/s, require compatible devices capable of reaching such speeds. Write speed up to 90MB/s. Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending upon host devices, interface, usage conditions and other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes. X =150KB/sec
(Full HD (1920×1080) and 4K UHD (3840×2160) video support may vary based upon host device, file attributes and other factors. See official SanDisk website for more details. Download and installation required; See official SanDisk website for Memory Zone details.
09. Best : SAMSUNG Portable External Solid State Drive 1TB
Key Features: SAMSUNG SSD T7 Portable External Solid State Drive 1TB, Up to 1050MB/s, USB 3.2 Gen 2, Reliable Storage for Gaming, Students, Professionals, MU-PC1T0T/AM, Gray
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4.8 out of 5 Star Rating
- PORTABLE STORAGE: The light, pocket-sized Portable SSD T7 delivers fast speeds with easy and reliable data storage for transferring large files, including crucial business documents, games, or movies
- TRANSFER IN A FLASH: Transfer massive files within seconds with the incredible speed of USB 3.2 Gen 2; Embedded PCIe NVMe technology delivers blazing fast sequential read/write speeds of up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s, respectively, making the T7 2x as fast as the previous T5 model
- BUILT STRONG AND SECURE: Unlike HDDs, the Portable SSD T7 has no moving parts so it’s more resistant to shock; Plus, its solid aluminum unibody construction adds further protection, keeping your data safe from falls of up to 6 ft*** and is backed by a 3-year limited warranty
- RELIABLE THERMAL SOLUTION: The T7’s advanced thermal solution uses the Dynamic Thermal Guard to withstand and control heat, so the portable SSD stays at an optimal temperature even at fast speeds
- SLEEK AND COMPACT: Roughly the size of a credit card and only weighing 2 oz, the T7 fits comfortably in the palm of your hand and is light enough to take your files on the go
- FIND YOUR BEST FIT: Pick a color from classic gray to striking blue and red, and choose from three capacities to fit what your lifestyle demands: 500 GB, 1TB, or 2TB
- SIMPLE SETUP: The T7 comes embedded with software to help you set up a password to get the latest firmware updates for your PC, Mac, or Android devices;* You can also download the mobile app for Android smartphones and tablets
10. Toshiba 4TB Canvio Basics Portable External Hard Drive
Key Features: Toshiba 4TB Canvio Basics Portable External Hard Drive, USB 3.2. Gen 1
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4.7 out of 5 Star Rating
- 2.5″ external hard drive
- Matt finish
- SuperSpeed USB 3.0
- USB-powered/ Compatible with Xbox One and PS4
- System Requirements – Formatted NTFS for Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7
- Interface – USB 3.0 (USB 2.0 compatible)
- Max. transfer rate – ~ 5.0 Gbit/s
- Enclosure – Matt
- Power – USB bus power (max. 900mA)
- Capacity – 500GB to 3TB
- Dimensions – 500GB, 1TB, 2TB: 78 x 109 x 14 mm, 3TB (different product design): 119 × 70 × 20.5 mm
Quickly transfer files with SuperSpeed USB 3.0 and store up to 4 TB of data on Canvio Basics external hard drives. These devices are ready to use with Microsoft Windows and require no software installation, so it couldn’t be easier to start storing all of your favourite files. Whether at your desk, or on the go, its timeless design with the matt finish means it’ll always look good. What’s more, the hard drive also allows you to connect to older hardware, with USB 2.0 compatibility.
High capacity storage in a conveniently compact, matt black casing. Available in several capacity sizes (up to 4 TB*), Canvio Basics hard drives are perfect for storing data, music, movies and pictures. These devices are USB-powered and can be used with a single USB cable connected to a PC or laptop.
Conclusion:
Best External Hard Drive: Most people can get by with a standard hard drive or mechanical drive, which employs “ancient” hard drive technologies such as mechanical platters and a moving read-write head to access data. This is because faster USB-C and USB 3.0 connections are available. Prices have substantially decreased over the past several years, with even the top external hard drive devices hitting the scales at 5 TB while costing just over $100. On the other hand, solid-state drives don’t have any moving components, so their read and write speeds can be up to four times quicker, but they are much more expensive per gigabyte.
What’s better, WD or Seagate?
As you can see, Western Digital’s internal hard drive is much inferior to Seagate’s internal hard drive in every way. As a consequence, Seagate Internal Hard Drive will perform better than Western Digital Internal Hard Drive in terms of price, performance, and storage capacity because it is more economical.
SSD or HDD: Which is superior?
It is common knowledge that SSDs outperform HDDs by a wide margin. The benefit of SSDs in terms of reliability is almost as widely known. SSDs don’t need replication for performance, and they often need significantly less replication for reliability because of these inherent advantages.
Which is more durable, an external HDD or SSD?
If you’re only interested in the statistics, an SSD may last on average 20 years whereas an HDD only lasts on average six. These intervals, however, are approximate; based on a variety of variables, you could need to replace your HDD or SSD more frequently or less frequently.
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