Best External Hard Drives of February 2024: Expert Comparisons, Reports & Reviews
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The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
The scores from 0 to 10 are automatically scored by our AI Consumer Report tool based upon the data collected. This score has no relationship or impact from any manufacturer or sales agent websites. Read more How we Score
Last update on 2024-02-20 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API
The best external hard drives are a great way to save, secure, and protect all your files and folders. Also, external hard drives offer a practical and portable backup solution for carrying your files wherever you go. Moreover, they are typically affordable for more storage space, making them an even more cost-effective solution for everyone.
Are you looking for the best external hard drives on the market? If so, we’ve prepared something exceptional for you – a buying guide and our top picks for the best external hard drives available. If you know what you are looking for, jump straight to our list of top picks. If not, check out our buying guide to get informed before buying it.
Before we jump to our top picks for the best external hard drives, there are some crucial points you need to take into account when you are going to buy an external hard drive.
1. Storage capacity
An important specification to consider when buying an external drive is storage space. It's no good buying a high-speed device with encryption and remote access if it's not big enough to store your information.
So what is the best size for you? That depends on your needs.
If you want a device that's good for moving documents, photos, or other media from one device to the other, or want to expand the storage space of your low-end laptop or tablet, then a mid-range flash drive may be perfect.
While the largest can stretch up to 2TB of storage space, they get costly and are needlessly big for simple transfers. So instead, save your money and buy a drive with 64GB, which can cost less than $20.
If you're interested in storing a lot more or keeping files and folders in the long term, you'll want something more significant. A 1TB drive should suit most needs for the near future. Still, if you dream of storing hundreds of movies — maybe you ripped your DVD collection — or never want to run out of space, there are drives available today that offer multiple terabytes of space.
2. SSD or HDD?
External drives can divide into two types: HDDs and SSDs. They are two different ways of storing and accessing data.
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HDDs (hard drive disk) use spinning magnetic disks to store data. Read/write heads change this data as necessary, so you hear their iconic spinning sounds. SSDs (solid-state drives) use tiny gate transistors in cells that flip on or off based on electric pulses. They have no moving parts, hence the name.
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SSDs are considerably faster than HDDs in many instances but can grow very expensive. HDDs are cheaper but more extensive, slower, and more easily damaged. For external drives, it's usually best to choose an SSD except in particular circumstances.
3. Transfer speed
Transfer speed is essential. If you regularly transfer files back and forth to an enormous drive, you don't want to wait forever for the transfer to complete.
Two main factors play a role in how fast your drive can operate: The core storage technology and the connector it uses.
Although some drives are faster than others, in general, SSDs can process data faster than HDDs. External SSDs tend to be more expensive than their HDD counterparts and often have less storage capacity. You don't need one or the other, as there are larger SSDs you can buy for a premium price.
There are several standard options regarding the connector between your external drive and your PC or mobile device. Most drives use a USB interface, but several generations have distinct differences, notably with transfer speed.
USB 2.0 is an old standard, and if you're doing anything but making infrequent small file transfers, avoid it — its max transfer speed only reaches 480Mbps. In addition, the port is typically not color-coded on PCs.
USB connections beyond 2.0 can get somewhat bewildering. For example, you may see specifications listed as USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen1, or USB 3.2 Gen1. However, all three are essentially the same, providing up to 5Gbps and typically color-coded blue. Meanwhile, USB 3.1 Gen2 and USB 3.2 Gen2 are color-coded in red and offer 10Gbps transfers.
The fastest, USB 3.2, or 3.2 2×2, offers up to 20Gbps.
USB-A is the most common connector type, featuring a rectangular box and a this-side-up-only connection. USB-C is newer, smaller, and more rounded, offering a reversible connector. Piggybacking this port is the DisplayPort protocol for video output. Some connectors use the USB-C port type but operate the Thunderbolt 3 protocol with up to 40Gbps in transfer speed.
Some older devices use alternative connectors like eSATA and Firewire, but you should avoid them due to their reduced relevance.
4. Portability and durability
If you want an external drive for backups stored in your home, network-attached storage (NAS) devices may be a better bet. They typically sit as a stand-alone wired device on your local network, packing multiple drives and storage modes. Promise Technology, QNAP, and Synology are just three manufacturers that specialize in NAS devices.
However, portability is essential if you want to keep your drive on you when out and about. It needs to be lightweight and small, so you can stuff it in a pocket or bag to access it immediately and quickly. Ideally, you want one that doesn't require an external power cable.
Most external drives are far from heavy, and some are tiny but offer huge digital storage capacity while being physically diminutive. On the other hand, SSDs tend to be a little smaller than their hard drive counterparts because they're not holding any stacked magnetic discs.
Another reason to consider an SSD over an HDD is durability. While modern-day external drives often come equipped with tough casings to protect them against damage, the two technologies have very different physical makeups. As a result, an SSD is more durable to drop harm than a traditional hard drive with no moving parts.
Best external hard drives
Eager to know what are the best external hard drives on the market? Here are our top picks:
1. Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC external hard drive
If you're looking for the best external hard drive that will save you a ton of money, Buffalo's MiniStation Extreme NFC could be your match made in heaven.
With compatibility for both Mac and Windows machines, the Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC is very accommodating and comes with a sturdy case that's dust and water-resistant, along with a built-in USB 3.0 cable.
Not only is your data kept protected from knocks and drops with the rugged shell, but it's also got 256-bit AES security features, and NFC (Near Field Communication) features as well.
Essentially it allows you to unlock the drive to get to your files quickly and easily by tapping the supplied NFC card onto the drive's body.
2. Western Digital My Passport Ultra 4TB external hard drive
The newest generation of the Western Digital My Passport Ultra range of external hard drives is here, coming in sizes from 1TB to 4TB, and they're among the best external hard drives out there. In addition, it features cloud storage and 256-AES encryption, along with WD's software suite.
It is a good performer for data transfer speeds but doesn't come near the top of the leaderboard. Expectedly, it doesn't reach the top speeds of external solid-state drives, but this is the drive to consider for external hard drives based on traditional HDDs.
3. Samsung T5 SSD external hard drive
If you'd rather have an external hard drive that takes advantage of solid-state drive (SSD) speeds, then the Samsung Portable SSD T5 is undoubtedly among the best external hard drives for you.
Samsung is an excellent name for external SSDs, thanks to products like the T3, and the T5 builds on its predecessor by adding a fast USB Type-C connection that ekes out every last drop of performance from the solid-state drive inside. Of course, it's also backward compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 if your PC doesn't have USB Type-C. So be prepared to shell out a bit more cash, but it's well worth it.
The Adata SD700 will suit those looking for a rugged storage device that can provide ample capacity without costing too much. It performs incredibly well and remains the only SSD we've seen that is IP68 rated.
Thanks to the solid-state drive that resides in this external hard drive, it's a lot faster than external drives that use traditional spinning hard drives, which means that you're getting incredible transfer speeds as well as sturdy protection.
It also comes in capacities of up to 1TB, so you don't have to worry about missing out on storage space just because it uses an SSD.
1. Is an SSD external hard drive worth it?
If speed, flexibility, durability, gaming, or multitasking are essential to you, purchasing an external SSD (Solid State Drive) is worth it. It will save you a lot of time, and in the long run, it will save you money, given how long solid-state drives last.
2. Is SSD more reliable than HDD?
SSDs are more reliable in harsh environments than HDDs because they don't have actuator arms or any moving parts. As such, SSDs can withstand accidental drops and extreme temperatures better than HDDs.
3. How much SSD storage do I need?
1TB of SSD is more than needed and probably ideal for all gamers. For those on a budget, 256GB is sufficient, but only if you play a game or two. Most gamers play up to 5 games, so 512GB is much better. It all depends on your specific needs.
4. How long can an SSD hold data without power?
If left without power, worn-out SSDs typically start to lose data after about one to two years in storage, depending on temperature. Each year, SSD manufacturers use higher quality flash and more sophisticated controllers to increase the SSD's reliability when powered and when not powered. Theoretically, a modern SSD from a good manufacturer (yes, the more expensive drives) could last 20 years up to 50 years without being powered.
5. What can damage an external hard drive?
Some physical factors lead to external hard drive failure, such as dust, fire, power fluctuation, etc. It is challenging to take care of these things, but you must be careful and take proper care of your drive to keep it away from failure.
In conclusion, based on some main characteristics that you need to consider, listed in the buying guides section above, we have chosen the four best external hard drives to make your final decision. So, again, here are our 4 top picks for the best external hard drive:
1. Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC external hard drive – best external hard drive with wireless security
2. Western Digital My Passport Ultra 4TB external hard drive – best external hard drive comes with Encryption and an extended warranty
3. Samsung T5 SSD external hard drive – best external SSD back to 2018, but still a great choice until now
4. Adata SD700 External SSD – a best external hard drive which can give you terabyte in the palm of your hand, small-sized but offers lots of space
Well, that’s all for this guide right now. We hope this guide can help you choose the best external hard drive for you. Choose wisely, and your PC can have lots of space for your files, or maybe speed-boosted.