Best External Hard Drives 2022- 10 Portable Drives Reviews

Top 10 Best External Hard Drives 2018

If you have fallen a victim of low storage for your data Best External Hard Drives , are just what you’re in need of. Students, office workers, photographers, videographers etc., are in want for a solution for their needs to get just the right external hard drives to store their important data, with the right amount of capacity. And if you too, happen to fall in this category then you might definitely want to consider the options we have for you.

External hard drives are additionally awesome ways to effortlessly upgrade the storage capacities  of your gadgets. The best external drives will be versatile and portable, with expansive limits and robust designs that protects your data when they are being moved around.

The best external hard drives are not only dependable and reliable, so you can safely store your data or backups without worry, but they are also portable, with large capacities and robust designs that keep your data safe when they are being moved around. So, grab one of these top-rated external hard drives and get to the important tasks of backing up.

I will strongly recommend you to read our Best External Hard Drives Buying Guide below before making any purchase.

Best Portable External Hard Drives

Seagate Backup Plus Slim

Best External Hard Drives 2018

The very first product in our list is the new Seagate backup plus slim external drive, from Seagate’s newest hard drive technology. It is a compact hard drive and proves again and again to be the best of its kind. It is a convenient and smart way to back up your data at home or at the go.

Features

Buying a thing without knowing its feature is dropping money into the well with the hope to get sweet and cold water in return. Let’s start.

Design

We’re all looking for more attractive gadgets, which deliver the best of the advantages. You would be surprised at what this device offers:

This drive has an aluminum casing that gives it a solid design. It is available in 5 storage capacities, i.e.  500 GB, 1 TB, 2TB, 4TB and 5 TB. It is to be kept in mind that 5 TB is the largest size of any external hard drive in the market at present.Dimension of the gadget are 4.47 x 2.99 x 0.48 inches.

The width of all Seagate backup plus hard drives except of 5 TB is 0.5 inches and is available in 4 colors i.e. black, silver, red and blue. Also, the width of the 5TB hard disk is 0.8 inches and is only found in black.

Performance

It is about half faster than Backup Plus Fast, when I compared it with Seagate backup plus slim. This drive is a single-volume drive, while the Fast is a RAID-O drive. In testing both of its versions, the 2TB and 4TB, I have found that both of themshow remarkable performance.

Connectivity

This drive has USB 3.0 connectivity and provides different types of backups. These backups are PC backup, mobile backup and social backup.  It can be connected directly to the windows, but needs a driver for connecting to Mac device. It provides 200 GB capacity of one drive online storage for one year.

Seagate Dashboard

All your favorites like photos, audios, videos and movies can be backed up with the help of downloadable Seagate Dashboard software. You guys, you can now very easily run a single tick backup or timetable a programmed backup plan to save your records on your Backup Plus Slim Portable Drive whenever the timing is ideal. It is also called as a Seagate external hard drive.

        Pros        Cons
  •   Built for Apple/Mac computers.
  •   Transfer speed is very satisfying.
  •   Cable is not unnecessarily long or too short.
  •   Slim, sleek, fast, light and easy to operate.
  •   Easy to hook and easy to use even for the iMac.
  •   Works great and syncs perfectly with Time Machine.
  •   Adapter has some functionality problems.
  •   Security feature is lacking proper operation.
  •   Data is not private and can be accessed by other entities.

Conclusion

Keeping in mind all the above mentioned features, it can be said that this product is a remarkable addition to your storage requirements. According to my experience, I can assure you that this device will give you excellent data storage, for 4TB version. It is recommended from our side.

What others say,

The Seagate Backup Plus/Slim is one of the most convenient ways to backup your data, at home or on the go. The fact that the drive has the top capacity, especially the 4TB version, means the storage gap between a portable drive and desktop is no longer an issue. Sure, you can get desktop drive with even larger capacities, but 4TB is a lot of space and most of us don’t really need more than than when on the go. Cnet

Transcend StoreJet 25M3

Best External Hard Drives 2018

Fellas, let’s bring forward the innovative new hard drive by Transcend, its StoreJet 15M3. The Transcend Storejet 25 M3 is a rugged, shock resistant hard drive which easily absorbs any shock or bumps. It has been approved as military grade shock resistantdrive. It has 3 stage shock protection that allows it to stand the rugged conditions.

Features

Features actually speak about the performance and eminence of a gadget, no man, no sales agent. So, let the traits of this device speak about it.

Storage

Let’s introduce you to the device that opens up a whole new range of storage capacities:

The Transcend Storejet is available in 4 sizes, i.e. 500 GB, 640 GB, 750 GB, 1 and 2 TB. It is 5.1 x 3.25 x 0.8 inches SATA device and provides higher data rate as it can support USB 3.0 in addition to the USB 2.0 version. Bookmark Sync, Cloud and Crypto are other important features which are integrated into this device.

Power saving

Guys, ever had a hard drive with power saving mode? Well you got one now:

It has 10 minutes of power saving mode.

Backup Button

Peeps, if we could offer you a back up option for your data in your drive, would you jump at the opportunity?

It has an instant backup button on its back that allows the user to do the backup of the disk by just pressing one button. That’s why; it is also called as the best external drive for backup.

Performance

Say goodbye to the gadgets in the market which give you lack luster performance. This drive will not disappoint!

It has been noted that the presence of 2.5 SATA hard drives inside the store jet increases its performance manifold. The sequential speed tests of near-empty disk shows that it may read and write more than 135 MB/s which is very fast.

Driver

It has also been seen that the drive remains almost silent during usage and getting benefit from its shock damping frame and silicon rubber outer jacket.

Security

Who doesn’t want security features etched into their belongings? Certainly not me:

As far as the security of the hard drive is concerned, it has been equipped with 256 AES encryption key which makes it a secure storage.

Warranty

It has an excellent 3 year warranty which is even more than Seagate backup slim.

        Pros        Cons
  •   Has great durability.
  •   Can be plugged in super fast.
  •   Little engineered external drive.
  •   Data transfer speed is extremely high.
  •   Structurally lightweight and compact.
  •   Can be installed on your computer quickly.
  •   Has high quality with a greatly manufactured design.
  •   Resistant layers make it heavy and bulky.
  •   Data capacity of 1TB storage is comparatively low.

Conclusion

In my experience with using this device, I have found it to be sufficiently efficient and perform well up to my standards. The users who can overlook these few negatives can use this hard disk in whichever conditions to enjoy the maximum transfer rates present in the market. It is indeed one of the best portable hard drives available in the current market.

LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt

 

Best External Hard Drives 2018

LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt is a world’s first solid state drive having USB 3.0 compatibility. It is also called as one of the best thunderbolt external hard drives. It is a rugged device having been approved as a military standard device which can stand fall of up to four feet. It is available in only two colors, i.e. orange and silver.

Features

You cannot finalize your buying decisions, unless you do the survey of the features of all relevant appliances. Let’s start.

Data Rate

Looking for expansive data rates and high data transfer speeds? Look no further:

The new solid state technology coupled with USB 3.0 provides high data rates up to 150 Mbps for writing and 119 Mbps for reading which makes for groundbreaking speed. The LaCie Thunderbolt comes with two types of connectivity. This device is available up to the limit of 4 TB with dimensions of 7.1 x 4 x 2.1 inches.

Connectivity

Guys, multiple connectivity options in one hard drive? Ever heard of that before?

The LaCie Thunderbolt comes with two types of connectivities. These connectivities are USB and Thunderbolt. It can use either of them at one time. It can be connected to 6 other devices of the same type at once using thunderbolt.

Performance

Let’s move away from the devices that give you subpar performance. Stop settling for less:

When used this drive with Thunderbolt, its speed became excessively high as compared to any other hard drive which is almost 300 Mbps for writing and about 330 Mbps for reading.

Storage Capacity

Guys, this device’s storage capacity can easily win you over:

Its data storage capacity is 120 GB at present. We may also term it as rugged as best buy external hard drive.

Durability with Weight

The efficient working of this lightweight device under any circumstances is bound to give the others a run for their money:

It has a great durability against dust and water with a weight about 12.3 oz /530 g.

Security

As far as the security is concerned, it has been equipped with a 256 Mbit AES key that enable the drive to secure the data from intruders and make it reliable for its users. Device is also equipped with dust, water resistor and shock absorber of upto 5 feet.

        Pros        Cons
  •   Durable design.
  •   Secured device.
  •   Reliable and rugged.
  •   Small and lightweight.
  •   Available at lower cost than others.
  •   Well-built hard drive with innovative casing.
  •   Only compatible with Mac devices.
  •   Drive does not come with any bundled software.

Conclusion

LaCie Rugged hard drive is the most affordable SSD hard drive present in market with amazing performance in terms of data rates and shock resistibility. It is indeed the consumer’s choice if he needs high data rates and high security of data, but has to live with lesser storage capacity.

What others say,

The LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt is a fast, portable drive with a reasonable price-per-gb. If you’re working in the field (or desert or war zone) the Rugged Thunderbolt is designed to handle just about any situation. I’m surprised they don’t make matching MacBook covers.Macworld

Elgato Thunderbolt Drive+

Best External Hard Drives 2018

The Elgato Thunderbolt drive is an extremely fast and often termed as ‘lightning-fast’ device available in the market using solid state drive. Its upgraded version uses USB 3.0 which brings the data rates to that fast level.

Features

To dig deeper into the functionality of this device, we have listed its specification and benefits down below for your convenience:

Size

For your convenience, the company has introduced the thunderbolt drive in two sizes:

It is available in two sizes as far as storage is concerned i.e. 256 and 512 GB. Device is pretty compact with the dimensions of 5.3 x 0.8 x 3.3 inches.

Data Rate

As expansive data rates are the new trend in the technology industry, we have just the perfect drive to give you the experience:

Its data rate reaches up to 420 Mbps which is an extremely fast for any hard drive. It is an advanced drive with no moving parts, hence is very efficient to use.

Sound proofing

This device works with a complete noise isolation technology. It’s worth the hype, you guys!

Its manufacturers often boost upon its silence i.e. you will not get to hear any sound when it is being use.

Performance

This drive has shown awesome performance when tested this drive with both thunderbolt and USB 3.0 and produced real word copy speeds. It was also observed that the speed for writing was 284Mbps and for reading was about 308Mbps.

Compatibility

A device that is fully operational with the type of software you are used to, seems like the perfect one to buy, doesn’t it?

It is compatible with windows 7 or any higher OS and MAC 10.6.8 or any later version.  It is a bus powered device same as many of other contemporary devices, which means it does not require any external power source to operate.

Resistance

It is dust and moisture resistant due to its design and material.

Powered Device

It is a bus powered device same as many of other contemporary devices, which means it does not require any external power source to operate.

Preformatted

It is preformatted in HFS+ format which is readily compatible with MAC devices, but needs to be reformatted to NTFS or FAT32 when being used with windows. It is one of the best buy external hard drives for mac and PC.

        Pros        Cons
  •   Doesn’t need any fan.
  •   Efficient as it preserves power.
  •   File transfer speed is very fast.
  •   Resistant to dust and water/moisture.
  •   Drive is quiet as it makes negligible sound during operation.
  •   Only compatible with Mac devices.
  •   More expensive as compared to others.
  •   Needs to be reformatted to NTFS or FAT32 for Windows.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that the Elgato thunderbolt device is by far one of the fastest devices at present making it available for the user to achieve the speeds even more than the buffalo hard drive which is regular desktop hard drive using USB 3.0 technology. If you need something for high data rates and with stylish design and outlook, Elgato thunderbolt should be your choice and should not be wasting your time on any other device.

WD My Passport Ultra

Best External Hard Drives 2018

Guys, the new external hard drive in the market, the WD My Passport Ultra is one of fast, smart and stylish external hard drives present in the market today. It is equipped with USB 3.0 which makes it one of the fastest hard drives in terms of data transfer rates.

Features

To inspect the appliance in details, you need to dig in a little more buddies. Let’s start digging the pits of the features now.

Size

A wide variety of sizes and colors allows for more user customization, which makes for happy customers, doesn’t it?

This wd external hard drive  is available in multiple sizes as far as data storage is concerned, but last limit is 4 TB. It allows the user to select any color from the available dozens of them to suit his mood and need. Dimensions are 4.33 x 3.21 x 0.62 inches.

Formatting

Peeps, now you can use it with the type of software you are comfortable with and reliant on:

It preformatted to NTFS, which is supported by windows OS and can be reformatted to be used with MAC OS but does not need any ADDITIONAL software. Drive width is about 2.5”, rotational speed is 5400 rpm, and height is 15.5 mm and is available in different colors.

Other Specialties

Drive width is about 2.5”, rotational speed is 5400 rpm, height is 15.5 mm and is available in different colors.

Use of Software

It has been preloaded with few softwares which make its use comfortable and easy i.e. WD security, WD Backup and WD Utilities. WD backup allows you to pick up the folders that you want to backup and will keep on protecting its backup refreshed every hour, day and month.

AES Encryption Key

It has been equipped with 256 AES encryption key that makes it one of the secure mediums to store large amounts of data.

Bus Powered Device

It is a bus powered device that does not require an external dedicated power supply for its use.

Compatibility

Mac and Windows users, don’t even worry about whether it will work for you. It is called as one of the best external hard drives for mac because it is compatible with PC and MAC.

Weight

Who doesn’t want a lightweight device that is easy to carry around?

Its weight is about 154.2 g only.

Warranty

User satisfaction is a plus in any case. This warranty will ease your worries:

It comes with a remarkable 3 year warranty.

        Pros        Cons
  •   Comes in many colors.
  •   Includes backup software.
  •   Has a stylish modern design.
  •   Has very fast performance.
  •   Small in size and light in weight.
  •   Reading and writing speeds surpass many others.
  •   No data backup option.
  •   Considered as WiFi blocker.
  •   At times, downloading may create some problems.

Conclusion

So, if any user wants to have security of large amounts of data, compatibility with all types of OS coupled with stylish colors, WD My Passport Ultra should be a good choice because there are very few hard drives that provide all these features along with a large amount of speed at the same time. It is highly recommended by me, through a wide range of experience.

Seagate Expansion Portable Drive

Best External Hard Drives 2018

Guys, lets present to you another new invention by Seagate, The Seagate Expansion Portable drive.It is a sleek and smart hard drive that allows you to carry it in a pocket and keep your data safe and sound.To get a little idea about how this device works and the features it comes along with, take a look below:

Features

Can you invest in any gadget without thinking of its traits? That’s not possible, dudes. But don’t worry, you’re given full details about the product here, just be tuned.

Data Storage

Your storage requirements are never going to remain unfulfilled with this gadget:

It is a slower device as compared to other contemporary devices, but provides a large amount of data storage. It is available in multiple sizes as far as storage capacity is concerned i.e.  500 GB , 1 TB, 1.5 TB ,2 TB and 4 TB. Dimensions of the gadget are 4.8 x 3.2 x 0.6 inches. It is a perfect storage addition to the external hard drive xbox one.

Performance

It shows excellent performance considering the fact that it hosts a low-power internal drive.  In testing, this drive has sustained a speed of more than 120Mbps for writing and about 130Mbps for reading. The drive may also work with USB 2.0 at about 30Mbps.

Weight

A small portable device that is easy to carry around sure seems like something you would wanna invest in, isn’t it peeps?

It is a very light weight device which provides the data on the go.

USB Support

It can support USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 which makes it quite versatile in nature.

Operating Systems

It, indeed, has a unique compatibility with operating systems which makes it different from others:

This device allows the use of different types of operating systems i.e. windows and MAC. But you just need to format it accordingly. It also support its use on different gaming consoles and media device when format according to their requirements.

Gaming Consoles

It also support its use on different gaming consoles and media device when format according to their requirements. This is indeed a unique compatibility which makes it different from others.

Warranty

The warranty period for this device is less as compared to others i.e. just one year.

        Pros        Cons
  •   Solid, sleek and durable.
  •   Available in multiple storage sizes.
  •   Device is lightweight and compact.
  •   May backup our ps4 hard drive as well.
  •   Easy to set up for the MAC OS Time Machine.
  •   Gaming installation is difficult.
  •   May not work for play station 4.
  •   Has not been good for most of the MAC users.

Conclusion

In my experience, I can say for sure that this device has made a huge difference in the way I was managing storing my data. The bottom line is that even if you just need to have a large amount of data storage, its data compatibility makes it one of the best choices.

WD Elements Portable

Best External Hard Drives 2018

WD 2TB Elements portable is a high capacity storage and ultra-fast data transfer slim device which can be taken along in your pocket or purse. It is a cheap external hard drive as compared to others which allows different data storage capabilities.

Features

To dig deeper into the functionality of this device, we have listed its specification and benefits down below for your convenience:

Storage Size

Guys, a device holding so many different storage sizes could really be of great value, no?

WD Elements is available in 4 different storage size, i.e.  500 GB, 1 TB, 1.5 TB,2TB. That’s why, it is amongst 2tb external hard drives best buy. Physical size of the device is also not too big, it’s just 4.4 x 3.2 x 0.6 inches.

Compatibility

For the perfect compatibility between the operating system that you use, and the hard drive you want to use, we recommend this drive fully.

It is compatible with both windows and MAC OS but needs to be formatted according to the requirements of these softwares.

Gaming Consoles

It can be used with other gaming consoles like XBOX and other media devices. That is why, it is called as one of the best external hard drives for xbox one.

Connectivity

It supports connectivity to both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 which can give it higher data rates.

Bus Powered Hard Drive

This drive doesn’t need to be connected to an electrical source all the time. Check it out:

It is bus powered hard drive which means it takes the power from the bus and need not be connected to an external power supply for its use.

Performance

For a high performance rate and incredible speeds, this device will be your most proud purchase:

Its performance is very good via USB3.0, because it recorded a constant real-world copy speed of more than 95MBps for writing and more than 100MBps for reading. Although these are 20Mbps slower than those of some other drives, yet it is good enough for some important applications like movie playback, backup and app storage.

        Pros        Cons
  •   Totally compatible with OS and game consoles
  •   Easy to install.
  •   Ideal for xbox one.
  •   Drive works very fast.
  •   Affordable and dependable.
  •   Works great with simple hookup.
  •   Excellent for database transfers.
  •   Slow working.
  •   Low quality USB Drive.
  •   Drive does not recognized.
  •   Can’t figure out with Apple.

Conclusion

In my experience with this hard drive, I can assure you that the WD Elements is a best portable hard drive which enables us to take along a large amount of data up to 2 TB in our pocket, but keep in mind that it does not have any security.  If you are someone who can live with this shortcoming, it can be a best buy for you.

WD My Passport Slim

Best External Hard Drives 2018

WD My Passport Slim is aluminum cased slightly thinner smart hard drive which provides a strong out cover along with beauty to the hard drive.

Features

Examining the specifications of any gadget before going to buy it is inevitable. Let me provide you all the details now.

Design and finish

Who else is looking for a super sleek stylish design that is bound to attract you at the first glance?

It has a dual toned outer cover of silver and blue. Dimensions of the device are 4.33 x 3.14 x 0.48 inches.

Storage Sizes

For storage sizes that can blow other drives out of the water, why don’t you check this drive out?

This user friendly device is available in two storage sizes i.e. 1 TB and 2 TB.

Connectivity

It supports connectivity to both windows and MAC OS. It is preformatted to NTFS, but need to be reformatted when using with Mac OS. It is also called as best portable hard drive.

Software

It provides backup and security software for both MAC and windows which allows user to backups instantly. It has simple LED indicator.

Security

Guys, you wanna protect your data from unauthorized access and misuse? Why don’t you take a look here?

It is equipped with strong 256 bit encryption AES key which makes it a secure device and allow us to use it without much fearing about interruption into it.The drive is enclosed in metal for physical protection.

Backup Of Data

It offers amazing feature by allowing the backup of data on to the dropbox. You simply need a dropbox account beforehand.

Performance

High data rates and extremely mind blowing performance? What more could you ask for?

It provides connectivity via USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 allowing very fast data rate. It is a bus powered device that means it does not require an external power supply for use. It also works great with windows 8 and has free app for windows 8 giving it an edge over other devices.

Warranty

It has 3 years maximum warranty.

        Pros        Cons
  •   Great storage capacity.
  •   Drive is extremely durable.
  •   Can upload files very fast.
  •   Very compact and solid build.
  •   Transfer heavy data in no time.
  •   Lightweight, elegant and useful.
  •   Great choice with seamless operation.
  •   Drive failure.
  •   Simple LED indicator.
  •   Data recovery is difficult.
  •   Not working on Toshiba i5 laptop.

Conclusion

It is all about this product. The bottom line is that the user friendly nature in this drive makes it one of best consumer choices in the present. If the customers are capable of overlooking the few cons, then it will be their best buy.

Toshiba Canvio Basics

Best External Hard Drives 2018

Hi guys, this new innovative external hard drive technology has shown up in the market by Toshiba, the Toshiba Convio Basic. It is a smart hard drive with elegant look and large data storage capability. It is a modern device developed by Toshiba to compete in the ever growing market of portable storage devices.

Features

You can’t make a decision about buying a device, unless you are completely knowledgeable about that. Let’s discuss the features for that reason:

Casing

It has a sleek and compact casing making it very portable and handy for use and taking the data in the wallet.

Data Transfer Rate

It has data transfer rates up to 5Gbps which makes it one of the fastest devices. It has storage capacity up to 3 TB. It is capable to be connected to windows 7 or higher versions.

Performance

There is no requirement of any software to connect it with the OS. It is a Bus powered device, which means it does not require an external power unit to fulfill its power needs from connection with the device. Device is also equipped with a protection case. It works well with  hard drive xbox 360.

Bus Powered Device

It is a Bus powered device, which means it does not require an external power unit to fulfill its power needs from connection with the device.

        Pros        Cons
  •   Very reliable.
  •   Easy to set up.
  •   Fast downloading.
  •   Highest data rate.
  •   Super fast in speed.
  •   Dependable and affordable.
  •   Ideal for backup storage of documents.
  •   No supporting.
  • Poor communication on product.
  •   Socket for the plug looks flimsy.
  •   Cable of this hard drive is short.

Conclusion

If the user requires a very large amount of space like up to 3 TB then this beautiful looking device is a good choice and should not be overlooked. In my experience, I have to say that it does compete well with the contemporary devices and can become best devices if some of the cons can be improved by Toshiba.

Seagate Seven Portable Hard Drive

Best External Hard Drives 2018

Ladies and gentlemen, presenting to you another external hard drive by Seagate, the Seagate seven 500 GB1. It is by far the thinnest hard drive in the market. It takes its name seven from its width i.e. seven mm. It is stylish, slender and sturdy.

Features

No matter what kind of gadget you’re looking for, features are crucial. Have a look below.

Power supply:

Looking for a device that doesn’t need to be connected to an external power source? Well this is bound to make you happy:

Seagate seven is bus powered hard drive that does not require an external power supply source, but manages from the device it is connected to.

Formatting:

For the perfect compatibility with your OS, why don’t you let this device show you what it is capable of?

It is preformatted into ExFat that allows connection to both Windows and Mac OS.

Backup:

We’re all tired of losing important data and making millions of backup files that we can’t keep track of. Let’s put an end to that issue:

It has three types of preloaded software and some of the best in the business – Seagate Backup Plus Ultra. Also, backup software for windows, backup for socials that allow backing up media from your social media accounts and mobile backup allowing your cell phone to be backed up.

Storage Capacity:

4.82 x 3.23 x 0.26 inches device has got a storage capacity of 750 GB which is lesser than many other hard drives.

Performance:

If you want a drive that gives superb performance, this drive is sure to help you out!

Seagate Seven supports connectivity with USB 3.0 and 2.0 making its data transfer rates to be very fast. The manufacturers claim that this device is so rugged and shock resistant that it can withstand falls from high places or can sustain the weight if a small car runs over it.

        Pros        Cons
  •   Very silent.
  •   Durable and rock solid.
  •   Formatting is a breeze.
  •   Doesn’t create much heat.
  •   Installation is very quick.
  •   Enclosure is steel and nice.
  •   Thinner than many smart phones.
  •   Can transfer the data very fast.
  •   Drive Failure.
  •   Relatively expensive.
  •   Doesn’t work on Toshiba i5 laptop.

Conclusion

This drive, Seagate seven, in my experience can become a good choice if only its storage capacity is increased and brought at par with other hard drives. You’ll like it enough to give it a try if you overlook few of the cons.

Best External Hard Drives – Buying Guide

What is an external hard drive?

It is a simple yet compact storage gadget that can be inserted into your PC either through a USB, FireWire connection or wirelessly. It is basically used to back up computer data and store extensively large files because it has a high storage capacity.

Will your hard drive work with PC or Mac?

Well that’s an interesting question. The majority of hard drives sold in the market are basically ones that work in NTFS (New Technology File System) format which works for windows PCs. The other less common format is the HFS (Hierarchical File System) which is used by Mac OS. So what if you want to use the same external hard drive for both Mac and Windows? Well don’t worry there is another format the FAT32 (File Allocation Table) which can be formatted and used but it is discouraged because it is generally less reliable.

What are the different types of hard drive connections?

There are mainly four essential approaches towards connecting your best buy external hard drive as the internal hard drive has to be physically installed inside the computer.

  • Via FireWire

FireWire, also called IEEE 1394, is a connecting port for adding an external hard drive to your computer.

  • Via USB

Who doesn’t know about a USB connection? This type of connection is easy and common, basically plug it in, and play.

  • Via SATA

SATA is the external interface Serial AT Attachment which is a standard connection for external drive. SATA offers the best information exchange rate of all devices.

  • eSATA

eSATA is a less popular connection to connect an external hard drive and usually gives performance at speeds similar to an internal drive.

Should you choose external or internal hard drive?

Internal hard drive vs external hard drive is a tough choice and a debate that has been going on since drives were developed but actually it all depends on the users and their requirements, because there is no good and bad in the battle of views and perspectives.

External Drive

So who are the people for which best buy external hard drives are gonna work well?

The answer is pretty simple, an external hard drive perfectly suitable for the geeks who travel extensively or share data to other computers. It offers great storage flexibility and you can easily connect it to any computer without any technical issue.

Internal Drive

Well the rival of the first kind of drive is internal drive which is good for the guys, who wants all their data in one place with built in storage and high speed data transmission however; it has to be directly installed in to the PC by opening it up.

What are the advantages of an External Hard Drive?

Best external hard drives are a popular way of extending your storage capacity. But why? It has many advantages which are given below

  • It is an affordable way of increasing storage space and are available in different capacities.
  • It is good for large format files such as videos and games etc.
  • It is portable so you can virtually take hard drive with you wherever you go and plug it in to a different computer.
  • It offers great file transfer speeds when connected with FireWire.
  • It is easy to plug it in without having to physically open your computer to install one as with internal drive.

Considerations Before Buying

Well it’s not a wise decision to go for buying a gadget without knowing all its details. All performance and quality indicators should be clear in the mind of buyer. That buyer could be you, fellas, so let’s be prepared about the coming situation by knowing what to know about while going for a Hard drive.

Your Need

The first and the foremost thing you have to be sure of is your requirement pals, whether you want to store movies and songs, or files and presentations. Its size. Size of two things is completely different and of course the space requirements will differ in both cases.

Type

Another important aspect you must have in mind is the type of Drive you’re gonna need, solid state drive or hard disk drive. The quality of the two technologies is very different with a huge variation in the rates as well. Here you need to see your affordability as well, mates.

Capacity

Here it is the most crucial thing of the whole discussion. The capacity of external drive! Well it depends upon the bulk of data you have in your store room. You may not be in need of a high capacity drive if you’re not a photogenic person with a lot of selfies, videos, songs and stuff. Capacity range varies from 250 GB to 5 TB so as the price. So know before you go.

Speed

Data transfer speed is also an important aspect of this decision problem. All modern devices are equipped with 3.0 port now with pretty high transfer rate, but still the transmission rate varies in multiple devices. So, if you’re an office chap with bulk of data and less time in the workplace, you surely gonna need a device with super fast speed.

Network Ability

This may not be very significant factor unless you wanna give a high storage room to your network of computers at workplace or an internet cafe. You may need backup operations and things like that which is a core component of a networking system. You would have to spend a little extra but there is no other way pals sadly. But if you don’t need it, you’ve hundreds of options to choose.

 

More to read:

Best NAS for Home Streaming and Basic Data Management 2021

Last update on 2023-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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