The best external hard drives are necessary hardware. This is especially true if you have multiple computers but a slow local internet connection. An external hard drive allows you to easily and quickly move huge data between your workstations. This not only saves you time, but it may also save you money.
Any ordinary portable hard drive, SSD, or flash drive will allow you to store, transport, and back up your files. However, selecting the best external hard drive or SSD for your personal needs is a crucial shopping decision. A portable hard drive or SSD is a multi-purpose storage device, a digital wallet that can transport large data (or many little ones) between PCs, Macs, and phones. It can back up your priceless data, dump photographs and video from your DSLR or drone while you’re out shooting, and much more.
But, with so many portable storage alternatives available, how do you know which external disk to purchase? Should you choose a faster, more durable (and more expensive) external SSD over a portable hard drive composed of comparatively delicate spinning platters and an actuator arm? Could a slower, larger, and much cheaper portable hard drive be enough for your storage requirements?
We test and review dozens of drives as they become available to help you choose the finest portable external drive for your needs, and we publish our list of specific recommendations for the best portable SSDs and hard drives on this page.
1. SanDisk Pro-G40 SSD
The SanDisk Pro-G40 is a fantastic all-purpose portable SSD and one of the best external hard drives. It has both Thunderbolt 3 and USB modes, so it will work with a variety of devices, though a Type-C to Type-A adapter or cable may be required. Overall performance is good, writing performance is exceptional, and your overall experience should be fast. The drive is built on somewhat dated hardware, but it is a mature platform that performs admirably as a portable solution. Another advantage of the metal and the rubberized casing is that it keeps the drive cool while also protecting it from most environmental hazards.
The primary downside to the Pro-G40 is its price. If you don’t need Thunderbolt, there are better options, such as the Samsung T7 Shield. You can also build your own portable solution by purchasing a suitable enclosure and drive. The Pro-G40 is the drive to get if you want high-end portability and performance in a rugged package.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Capacities: 1TB, 2TB
- Drive Type: Portable, Internally M.2 2280
- Transfer Protocol: USB-C / Thunderbolt 3 & USB Gen 3.2 Gen 2×1
- Sequential Reads: Up to 2,700/1,900 MBps (1,050/1,000 MBps USB) R/W
- Warranty: 5 Years
2. WD My Passport
If you’re looking for a new external hard drive, WD’s My Passport is a great option. It’s ready to store a lot – if not all – of your data and keep it safe, thanks to a solid track record, password protection, and capacities of up to 5TB.
As street prices have begun to fall, it has become a better value than ever before. It looks nice and comes with a generous 3-year warranty. To top it all off, it has AES 256-bit hardware encryption password protection to keep your data safe from prying eyes.
Those looking to spend less on a portable hard drive but still need 5TB of storage should consider Seagate’s Backup Plus Ultra, which includes a good software suite, AES 256-bit encryption, and USB-A and USB-C support via an adapter.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Capacities: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 5TB
- Drive Type: HDD
- Transfer Protocol: USB 3.2 Gen1 (USB 3.0)
- Sequential Reads: 120MBps
- Warranty: 3 Years
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3. SanDisk Extreme Pro v2
SanDisk’s Extreme Pro v2 is one of the best external hard drives which is designed for the professional market and priced accordingly. When combined with the most recent systems that fully support its USB 20 Gbps connection, it delivers extremely fast file transfer speeds that rival Thunderbolt 3-based competition. The WD SN730E, a PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD, and an ASMedia ASM2364 USB Gen 2×2 bridge chip are housed in the Extreme Pro v2.
A rigid aluminum chassis covered in impact-absorbing silicone protects all of this. The drive is even water and dust resistant to IP55 standards. It is not only fast and well-designed, but it is also secure, with AES 256-bit full-disk encryption and password protection for those who want to keep their data safe from prying eyes.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Capacities: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
- Drive Type: SSD
- Transfer Protocols: USB 3.2 Gen 2×2
- Sequential Reads: 2,000 MBps
- Warranty: 5 Years
4. LaCie Rugged RAID Pro
While it is pricey, LaCie’s Rugged RAID Pro is not overpriced when considering its market positioning and the peace of mind that data redundancy provides. LaCie includes a free month of all Adobe apps, worth $79.49 (£61). Furthermore, the drive includes three years of free data recovery protection. That service can cost thousands of dollars at times.
Check out this drive if you are a creative professional looking for an external HDD. There aren’t many rivals: Most other HDD solutions are much larger, and flash-based SSDs do not yet provide comparable capacity or value-adds. The LaCie Rugged RAID Pro 4TB has a distinct set of features and accessories that make it a user-friendly and versatile travel companion.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Capacities: RAID0
- Drive Type: HDD
- Transfer Protocols: Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1 Gen 1
- Sequential Reads: Depends on configuration
- Warranty: 3 Years
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5. Samsung T7 Touch
The T7 Touch from Samsung is an innovative portable SSD that combines USB 3.2 Gen 2 performance with convenient AES 256-bit hardware security that can be unlocked with the touch of a fingertip. We’ve yet to see a more convenient way to unlock your data than the built-in fingerprint scanner. The design is elegant and of a higher quality than your average portable drive. The aluminum construction is sturdy, and you can choose from a variety of color options to suit your personal preferences.
However, G-recent Technology’s ArmorLock drive gives Samsung a run for its money by unlocking your drive with an app and key stored on your Android or iOS phone. It’s not as easy as swiping your finger across a sensor on your external SSD, but it might be more secure.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Capacities: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Drive Type: SSD
- Transfer Protocol: USB 3.2 Gen 2
- Sequential Reads: 1,050 MBps
- Warranty: 3 Years
6. Samsung X5
Samsung’s X5 is the fastest Thunderbolt 3 portable SSD we’ve tested, thanks to an OEM variant of a Samsung 970 EVO and an Alpine Ridge Thunderbolt 3-to-PCIe bridge. It not only speeds up your workflow, but it also includes an extra layer of AES 256-bit hardware-based encryption and password protection for those who need to meet compliance requirements. For the professional crowd, the three-year warranty is inadequate, and we wish the company offered more color options, such as those found on the company’s T5 and T7 portable SSDs.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Capacities: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Drive Type: SSD
- Transfer Protocol: Thunderbolt 3
- Sequential Reads: 2,800 MBps
- Warranty: 5 Years
FAQs
Are external hard drives becoming obsolete?
Yes. Hard drives are very likely to be replaced by future technology as the storage market evolves. According to Backblaze’s research, the use of hard disks may be coming to an end soon. Solid-state drives (SSDs) are already displacing hard disks as computers’ primary storage medium.
Is WD or Seagate better?
As you can see, Seagate Internal Hard Drive outperforms Western Digital Internal Hard Drive in every way. So, whether it’s price, speed, or storage capacity, Seagate Internal Hard Drive will outperform Western Digital Internal Hard Drive by being less expensive and more affordable.
Can external hard disk last 10 years?
An external hard drive has an average lifespan of 3-5 years, assuming no physical damage occurs, depending on the make, model, and storage conditions. If you use an external hard drive to back up your data, you should consider replacing it every few years to ensure the safety of your data.
