Best External Hard Drive (2025): SSD to Store Data, Video & More Leave a comment
For those who’re working out of cupboard space in your laptop computer, or if you have to again up your knowledge and retailer that backlog of movies you are going to edit sooner or later (I’m, I swear), an exterior exhausting drive can remedy your downside. The difficulty is, there are a whole lot of drive choices starting from grime low cost to loopy costly—which one is true on your wants? I’ve examined dozens, throughout working methods and with completely different use circumstances in thoughts, to seek out the perfect exterior exhausting drives for storage, backups, gaming, video modifying, network-attached storage (NAS) gadgets, and extra.
Try our different guides, together with Again Up and Transfer Your Pictures Between Companies, Again Up Your Digital Life, and Again Up Your iPhone.
Up to date February 2025: We have added the Western Digital My Passport Extremely, LaCie’s Rugged Pro5, and the Samsung EVO 990 naked drive. We have additionally up to date costs and hyperlinks all through.
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Desk of Contents
Selecting the correct exhausting drive comes all the way down to balancing three issues: pace, measurement, and value. For those who’re making nightly backups, then pace most likely would not matter. Go for the most affordable drive yow will discover—up to some extent. Drives do not final without end, however some last more than others. I counsel sticking with identified manufacturers with a very good status, like Seagate, Western Digital, Samsung, and the others featured right here. That is based mostly partly on expertise and partly on the drive failure knowledge that Backblaze has been publishing for years now. Backblaze goes by way of large quantities of exhausting drives backing up prospects’ knowledge, and its report is value studying. The takeaway is easy: Persist with names .
Which Are the Most Dependable Manufacturers of Exterior Onerous Drives?
That is tough to reply, because it depends upon too many elements. However should you go by Backblaze’s stats report for 2023, the perfect drive makes are Toshiba, Seagate, Western Digital, and Hitachi (HGST in Backblaze’s charts). The present best-performing drives seem like Seagate’s 6- and 8-TB SSDs. With that in thoughts, if I have been constructing a network-attached storage (NAS) system, the Seagate Exos 8 TB HDD is what I’d use. After that although, failures—particularly amongst SSDs—seem fairly random.
Which Is Higher, SSD or HDD?
It depends upon what you are doing. For those who want quick knowledge switch speeds, then you definitely need a solid-state drive (SSD). When you’ve got large quantities of knowledge to retailer or again up, then a spinning drive (hybrid exhausting drive, or HDD) is the cheaper choice. For those who’re a videographer, you want each—open your pockets extensive. On the whole, SSDs are the best way to go when you possibly can afford it.
If pace trumps value, then you definitely need to have a look at the solid-state drives we have listed right here. SSDs do not simply have a pace benefit. In addition they lack shifting elements, which implies they will face up to the bumps and falls of life in a bag on the street higher than spinning drives. The drawback is that they will put on out quicker. Each write operation to an SSD—that’s, while you save one thing to it—barely degrades the person NAND cells that make up the drive, which wears it out considerably quicker than a spinning drive. Simply how a lot quicker depends upon how you employ it. That stated, I’ve a number of SSDs which can be greater than 5 years previous, and I’ve used them for day by day backups all through that point. None of them have had any issues.
Do you want an SSD over a spinning drive? The reply is nearly all the time sure—should you can afford it. However they’re particularly helpful for any drive you are working with repeatedly: your essential boot drive, an exterior drive you employ to edit paperwork from, and for backups, should you want them to occur quick.
The one caveat is that in case your Mac or PC would not help the identical USB customary because the exterior SSD you are contemplating, then you definitely may be losing your cash. A drive claiming USB 3.0 speeds within the neighborhood of two,000 Mbps will do you no good if all of your laptop computer has is USB 2.0 ports. Remember to verify the specs on your laptop computer, and do not waste your cash paying for switch speeds you may by no means see.
Which Backup Software program Ought to You Use?
The reply depends upon whether or not we’re speaking about macOS, Home windows, Linux, Android, or no matter Apple working system you may be utilizing now or sooner or later. Sadly, there is no such thing as a one answer for every part. We advise utilizing one (or two) of the storage gadgets right here and a few sort of cloud storage backup as effectively. That means, even when your drives fail, your knowledge continues to be backed up within the cloud. See our full information to backing up your digital life for our top-pick backup options for each platform.
How We Examined Exterior Onerous Drives
I examined these drives by first working them by way of a set of benchmarking instruments. On Home windows, I take advantage of CrystalDiskMark to measure each sequential learn/write speeds and random learn/write speeds. On macOS, I do the identical with the Blackmagic Disk Pace Take a look at and generally AmorphousDiskMark, and on Linux, I take advantage of KDiskMark (and I normally reformat the disk from exFAT to ext4). I run exams six instances after which take the common. Along with benchmarks, I’ve two folders for testing real-world speeds. I switch a 25-gigabyte folder of MP3 information, after which a folder with three information that collectively are 25 gigabytes in measurement. For high finish drives I additionally take a look at learn and write speeds for ProRes RAW video information.
As soon as I’ve run the exams, I take advantage of the drive in day-to-day duties—modifying information straight off it (booting from it within the case of naked drives), making nightly backups, tossing it in my digital camera bag, and so forth. All these knowledge factors, together with value, kind issue, portability, and different performance (does it supply encryption, and so on.), go into informing the selections about which disk is greatest.
Greatest for Backups
For incremental backups, which we advocate, pace is not an enormous issue. That is why the primary drive I like to recommend is that this Western Digital Components exhausting drive. I’ve been utilizing a variation of the Components desktop exhausting drive to make incremental backups of my knowledge for greater than a decade now. These drives are huge and require exterior energy, however they’re among the most cost-effective, most dependable drives I’ve used.
Switch speeds usually are not off the charts—the Components drive I examined scored 120 megabits per second (Mbps) for sequential writes on Home windows—however once more, you need to ideally be working backups in a single day anyway, and even at these speeds the common PC backup might be achieved by morning. These drives use USB-C with help for USB 3, and I’ve had no downside utilizing them with Home windows, macOS, and Linux.
Storage choices go all the best way as much as 20 terabytes. Simply verify the costs; generally you will get a 10- and even 12-TB drive for not rather more than the 8-terabyte model. And I’ve not seen an enormous distinction between the Components line, the WD My E-book drives, or the WD My Passport drives. The My Passport drives command a premium value as a result of they’re smaller, and the My E-book drives have some encryption options that drive up the worth, however I discover the fundamental Components drive is adequate for most individuals.
Different Nice Backup Drives
Seagate Enlargement 8-TB Exterior Onerous Drive for $159: Seagate is one other dependable drive maker. It by no means hurts to have extra backups, and should you do need a number of backups, use drives from completely different manufacturers, since it’s going to scale back the possibility that each fail concurrently.
Greatest for Moveable Backups
For those who journey rather a lot, you may need one thing that is simpler to hold than the Components drives, which are not the perfect in a suitcase. For backups when touring, I really like Western Digital’s My Passport sequence, particularly the brand new “Extremely” model, which makes use of a regular USB-C wire, eliminating the necessity to carry a separate cable. It is not the thinnest drive available on the market, nevertheless it’s lower than an inch thick and stable sufficient that I by no means frightened about tossing it in my bag. (Though it ought to be stated that this can be a spinning drive, so do not actually toss it.) I additionally like that the corners are properly rounded and there aren’t any screws or the rest that may catch on material in your bag.
There are a selection of colours out there and you will get from 1 TB to six TB. I examined the 5-TB mannequin, however Western Digital claims the identical speeds no matter drive measurement. I examined it utilizing CrystalDiskMark on Home windows, AmorphousDiskMark on macOS, and KDiskMark on Linux and averaged the outcomes to provide you with 121 MB/s for learn pace and 115 MB/s write pace. It is not what you’d need to copy photographs shortly for a shopper within the area, however quick sufficient to run a day by day backup in your lodge room.
Different Moveable Backup Drives
The Greatest Drive for When Pace Is Every little thing
LaCie has up to date its rugged SSD line with the Rugged Pro5. This one ditches the enduring orange padding for blue, however it’s in any other case identical to the strange LaCie padded drives on the skin. On the within, that is an amazingly quick drive. The 5 within the title is for, you guessed it, Thunderbolt 5, which regardless of being introduced seemingly without end in the past, has been painfully gradual to trickle onto the market. This made testing a bit difficult, however fortuitously a buddy let me borrow his brand-new MacBook Professional 14 for testing. And the outcomes have been spectacular.
LaCie claims learn/write speeds of as much as 6,700 MB/s and 5,300 MB/s, which it says are sufficient for real-time modifying of 8K and 6K RAW footage. In testing the best speeds, file transfers have been 5,787 MB/s learn and 5,188 MB/s write—which, whereas not fairly matching the declare, continues to be far and away the quickest drive on the web page. However uncooked speeds are simply numbers for spreadsheets; I used to be extra curious about real-world efficiency. Since I occurred to even be testing the Nikon Z6III (8/10, WIRED Recommends), which may shoot 6K ProRes RAW, I loaded a very good little bit of footage on the Pro5 and was certainly capable of edit utilizing DaVinci Resolve Studio.
The draw back right here is the worth. At $600 for the 4-TB model (which is the minimal you’d need for working with ProRes RAW video information), this can be a very expensive drive. It’s nevertheless, effectively definitely worth the cash if it is pace you are after.
Greatest Finances Moveable SSD
These Essential drives are my favourite general-purpose exterior storage drives. They’re fairly priced (for a transportable SSD) and speedy sufficient for many makes use of. The X6 is light-weight and tiny, making it a sensible choice for working on the espresso store.
This is not a blinding-fast exhausting disk. In truth, beneath the hood, the X6 makes use of an older drive interface (Serial AT Attachment, or SATA), which was extra widespread with spinning exhausting drives. So whereas it is small and light-weight, its pace is proscribed by that older interface know-how. In my testing on Home windows and macOS, that works out to about 550 Mbps learn pace and 208 Mbps write pace. That is adequate for backup and use as an exterior drive, however I do not advocate it for Xbox or PlayStation use. It does work superb with the iPad Professional although.
The most important draw back is the plastic development—it’s a transportable exhausting drive, not an indestructible exhausting drive. For those who’re frightened about it breaking in your bag, seize a padded case. There are lots on the market, like this one. The Essential X9 (under) is a step up from the X6, each when it comes to construct high quality (it is steel to the X6’s plastic) and pace, however the X9 is significantly dearer.
Different Nice Finances Drives
Kingston XS1000 2-TB for $120: This tiny little drive is the smallest on this information. Just like the Essential X6, it has a principally plastic enclosure, nevertheless it has withstood life in my bag fairly effectively. Whereas it isn’t as strong because the padded choices under, it is robust sufficient for many issues. It is also speedy. Kingston claims as much as 1,050 Mbps. I by no means managed that, however I routinely hit round 800 Mbps, with some older laptops nearer to 600 Mbps, which continues to be fairly good. The drive bogs down a bit with giant information (MP4s, for instance), so it isn’t the perfect for professional videographers, however for everybody else, this can be a stable, barely cheaper choice.
Greatest for Photographers
Essential’s X9 Professional hits the candy spot of pace, portability, and value to be among the finest drives on the market for photographers trying to make backups within the area. These drives are tiny, about half the dimensions of a deck of playing cards, and weigh a mere 1.3 ounces (38 grams). They will connect with absolutely anything. I examined the X9 Professional on Home windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS and by no means hit any points with any of them. With regards to pace, the X9 Professional claims symmetrical learn and write speeds, at 1,050 Mbps. I really persistently obtained increased speeds, as much as 1,110 Mbps for learn and 1,100 Mbps for write. That places the X9 Professional on the high of the pack when it comes to moveable drive pace.
I have been testing the X9 Professional for a number of months now, and whereas I can not but communicate to the long-term survival fee, I’ve been testing X6 and X8 drives from Essential for over two years now with out problem. There’s additionally the X10 Professional drive ($180), which affords even quicker speeds you probably have a PC that helps USB 2X2. (The most recent Intel chips help this spec, however Apple doesn’t, so there isn’t any level in shopping for the X10 Professional you probably have a Mac.) I don’t personal a PC that helps USB 2X2 for in depth testing, however I did get an opportunity to at the least attempt it, and the X10 Professional does certainly ship on its promise of two,100 Mbps (I obtained it as much as 2,050 Mbps). In case your {hardware} helps it, the X10 Professional is value the additional cash.
Greatest Go-Anyplace Drive
For those who want a drive that may stand as much as life in a backpack or digital camera bag, get moist, or deal with a drop onto exhausting surfaces, OWC drives are your best option. It is powerful to select a winner right here as a result of there are numerous stable choices, however OWC’s Elektron drive narrowly beat others in benchmark exams. I additionally like that you could swap out the drive contained in the aluminum casing (it is easy to unscrew), which implies two years from now, you possibly can decide up a quicker naked SSD and drop it within the hardy Elektron enclosure.
Different Nice Rugged SSDs
Sabrent Rocket Nano 1-TB SSD for $120: I actually like this one. It is smaller and barely quicker than the OWC, nevertheless it has two drawbacks. The primary is that it will possibly get sizzling. For those who’re attempting to work with it in your lap, it may be downright uncomfortable. The opposite problem is that generally it is gradual to be acknowledged by my PC. I might discover no sample to this; generally it appeared instantly, and different instances it took a few minutes. If these issues do not trouble you, this drive is tiny, cheaper, and features a padded rubber case.
Greatest Padded Drive
The go-anywhere drives above are a stable answer for individuals who must make backups within the area, like photographers and videographers. However if you need an additional degree of consolation, this padded drive from LaCie has lengthy been a favourite of vacationers. LaCie makes each an SSD model and a standard spinning drive model. If pace is not a problem, as with making nightly backups, then the cheaper spinning drive makes extra sense. For those who’re backing up in the course of a photograph shoot or related state of affairs the place backing up must occur quick, the SSD model is what you need.
Different Nice Padded Choices
Samsung T7 Protect 2-TB SSD for $149: It is not as padded as LaCie’s rugged drives, nevertheless it’s cheaper and delivers practically the identical pace. It has an IP65 score, which implies it is superb within the rain and is protected against mud and sand. The T7 line is notable for its built-in safety features like hardware-based encryption, however in contrast to the Contact mannequin, the Protect doesn’t have a fingerprint reader. Nonetheless, should you do not want the total padded safety of the LaCie and need to save a bit cash, the T7 Protect is an efficient choice.
Greatest Gaming Drive
Take this class with a grain of salt. Many of the drives right here will work simply superb for gaming (simply stick to the quickest you possibly can afford). That stated, Western Digital’s new P40 does have some cool RGB lights on the underside if that is your jam. In my testing, that did not appear to impression energy consumption.
As for pace, my exams have been inconsistent. This drive is able to speeds that handily beat each the Envoy Professional and Samsung T7, however at different instances it appeared to bathroom down (at the least in benchmarks). In real-world use, the bottleneck I persistently hit was some lag in transferring enormous quantities of knowledge. That may be a deal-breaker for some, however for the worth, it stays a stable selection.
Greatest Naked Drive
If you wish to put a much bigger SSD in your laptop computer, all you want is a naked drive, which is usually cheaper than the drives with enclosures listed above. The very first thing to determine is which drive your PC makes use of. Seek the advice of your producer’s documentation to seek out out. In my expertise, the most typical kind issue is M.2 2280, which is the lengthy, skinny drive within the picture above. Extra compact laptops might use the same, however shorter, M.2 2242 design. Once more, verify your PC to substantiate the drive it wants before you purchase. There are a ton of those available on the market, and I have never had time to check many but, however to this point, out of the half dozen I’ve tried, Western Digital’s WD Black sequence has stood out for pace, and it would not run highly regarded.
The SN 770 M.2 2280 achieved speeds of 5,100 Mbps in my testing, which is blazing quick. For those who’re doing a whole lot of drive-intensive duties, like modifying video or gaming, this drive is effectively definitely worth the cash. The most important model you will get is 2 TB, however the value is affordable contemplating the pace enhance. I have been utilizing it as my essential drive for a number of months and located it quick sufficient for every part I do, together with modifying 5.2K video footage and compiling software program. My favourite half? It generates little or no warmth. My older Dell XPS 13 used to get too sizzling to make use of with out one thing between it and my lap. Now it would not get sizzling till I begin attempting to export video, however shortly cools off as quickly because it’s achieved.
A Luxurious Improve
Western Digital SN850X 2-TB SSD for $85: This drive is so screaming quick I needed to run my exams twice as a result of I did not imagine the primary end result. Western Digital claims as much as 7,300 Mbps learn speeds, and in benchmark exams, this drive’s outcomes got here shut. To take full benefit of the pace right here, you may want a system that helps the PCIe 4.0 SSD customary, however this can be a nice drive if you wish to improve a gaming system, whether or not it is a desktop PC or your PlayStation. This drive can also be one of many few I’ve seen that is out there as much as 8-TB capability.Samsung 990 Evo Plus 2-TB for $143: The 990 EVO Plus is an improve to the highly regarded 990 EVO. The unique didn’t supply something compelling and by no means made this information, however the brand new model manages to be impressively speedy and never overly sizzling, as many Gen 5 PCIe disks I’ve examined have been. The 990 EVO Plus additionally launched with a 4-TB mannequin, one thing lacking the primary time round. When it comes to pace it would not fairly match the SN850X above, topping out at 5,677 MB/s learn, nevertheless it’s lots quick for many makes use of and stays fairly cool even when pushed. For those who’re on the lookout for a very good all-around drive that stays cool, this one makes a sensible choice, although it’s on the expensive aspect for what you get.
