Having one of the top External Hard Drives on hand will simplify your digital life. If you have multiple computers at home but a slow local network; One of the Best External Hard Drives will allow you to transfer large files quickly and easily between them.
If you need to work on huge files at work and at home, keep one of the Best External Hard Drives in your pocket or backpack. One of the larger, HDD-based External Hard drives would suffice if you need to back up your PC on a frequent basis. An SSD-based drive is ideal for creating a second backup for peace of mind and keeping it in a separate location. These aren’t your grandfather’s slow, bulky External Drives. Every device on this list employs the USB 3.0 standard, which provides read and write speeds that are many times quicker than older USB 2.0 drives. Many employ the speedier USB 3.1 and 3.2 standards, while one uses the lightning-fast Thunderbolt 3.
Seagate Portable Hard Drive
Although the Seagate Portable hard drive has a storage capacity of up to 5TB, the 2TB version is a good value. It should be compatible with both Windows and Mac computers, as well as USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 devices. It is plug-and-play, which means that once you connect it in, the installation drivers will immediately install the program and you will be able to transfer files in seconds. Because it’s an external hard drive, transfer speeds will be slower, around 120Mbps, but generally, this is a good device with plenty of storage space for most needs.
Toshiba Canvio Basics Portable Hard Drive
This classic external hard drive, which is also plug-and-play, is better suited for Windows users, as it requires reformatting for Mac users. It’s a simple, no-frills external hard drive with up to 4TB of storage with USB 3.0 and 2.0 connectivity. This device is ideal for folks who don’t want to be bothered with anything other than putting in their hard drive and transferring data. This hard disc will also deliver speeds of 140 megabits per second. If you favor Toshiba’s line of products and are a big gamer, the business makes a similar SSD external drive for PS4, Xbox One, and gaming PCs.
Samsung Portable SSD T5
Samsung’s solid-state drive doesn’t have as much storage space as its external hard drive brothers, but the 500GB it does offer is more than plenty for gamers and average computer users. Its tiny size makes it ideal for smartphones, PCs, laptops, and Macs, and it comes with USB-C-to-USB-C and USB-C-to-USB-A cables to ensure compatibility with the majority of devices (you would have to buy a Thunderbolt-compatible cord for Macs separately). This one is ideal for individuals who require more storage and faster speeds without paying the hefty prices associated with most SSDs.
WD 2TB Elements SE SSD
“There are external drives specifically intended for that function that is guaranteed to operate if you want to increase storage to a game console,” Greengart added. “Western Digital’s WD Black drives to take the guessing out of storage.” This solid-state drive is a superb all-around storage device since it combines durability, portability, and speed. Its 6-foot drop resistance is ideal for folks who are constantly on the move. It offers substantially greater capacity — up to 2TB — and, as a result, is more expensive. It is, however, a good investment, especially given its read/write speeds of 400Mbps.
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD
This is a terrific option if you require a tough-as-nails portable external hard drive. A carabiner loop is included in the design, making it simple to attach to a keychain. You can also expect drop protection and dust and water resistance to IP55 standards. For added security, SanDisk offers 256-bit AES hardware encryption. This solid-state drive is ideal for those who operate in more demanding environments, such as photographers who need to transport their photographic files from location to location.
