No need to worry because we are here to help you find the best exterior hard drive After hours of research, we have put together a list of products that can be just what you need. We have also included a buying guide and answered some questions to clear any doubts you may have.
Best exterior hard drive: Top Picks in 2022?
- Military-grade shockproof
- SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface, backward compatible with USB 2.0
- Cable storage design for simple cable carrying
- [For Windows User] The A30 is pre-formatted as NTFS, so you could use it directly on Windows. [For Mac Users] Reformatting will be required for Mac operating systems
- 3 year manufacturer warranty.
- Military-grade shockproof.
- SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface, backward compatible with USB 2.0
- Cable storage design for simple cable carrying.
- [For Windows User] The A30 is pre-formatted as NTFS, so you could use it directly on Windows. [For Mac Users] Reformatting will be required for Mac operating systems
- Available in capacities up to 5TB that can hold up to 125 games, so that you can save old favorites and still have room for new titles (As used for storage capacity, one terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes. Total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment. Number of games based on a 36GB average per game. The number of games will vary based on file size, formatting, other programs, and factors.)
- Comes with an 18-inch (457mm) USB Type-A to Micro-B cable with SuperSpeed interface up to 5Gbps (Cable length may vary.)
- Compatible with Xbox Series X/S (play and store Xbox One games, archive Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S games) and PlayStation 5 (play and store PS4 games, archive PS5 games) consoles
- Portable form factor with sleek metal top covering that provides fast access to your growing game library
- Premium HDD with 3-year limited warranty, purpose-built for gamers based on WD_BLACK quality and reliability
- Do not delete games from PS4 consoles just to make room for new ones; Store 50 plus games with 2TB of portable hard drive storage
- Official Licensed PS4 product for seamless operation and compatibility; Operates under PS4 hard drive firmware
- Dive into the action with a quick step by step setup and plug and play USB 3.0 connectivity; No power cable needed
- This game drive features the classic black and blue design of PS4; It’s the perfect accessory for any gaming setup and its compact; Travel ready form factor means the adventure can go anywhere
- Compact design with stylish, textured finish and color options to fit your lifestyle.
- Automatic backup software to easily back up your content (free download, for Windows PC only).
- Password protection software to help prevent unauthorized access to your data (free download, for Windows PC only).
- USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatible.
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- Get NVMe solid state performance featuring up to 1050MB/s read and up to 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive that’s perfect for creating amazing content or capturing incredible footage. Requires compatible devices capable of reaching such speed. Based on internal testing; Performance may be lower depending on host device, interface, usage conditions and other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.
- Up to 2 meter drop protection and IP55 water and dust resistance (3) mean this tough drive can take a beating
- Use the handy Carabiner loop to secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind
- Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption (2)
- Back up mobile content quickly and easily thanks to compatibility with a range of USB Type-C smart phones
- Extra storage to capture and collect your best in-screen game captures.
- Speed up to 250 MB/s rated at 7200RPM with active cooling technology to help you stay in the game.
- Features two 7.5W USB Type-A charging ports to charge your gaming gear and accessories.
- Purpose-built for gamers based on WD_Black quality and reliability.
- Colossal capacity and transportable design
- Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) and USB-C (10Gbps) compatibility
- Supports multi-stream 4K, 8K and VR workflows
- Hardware RAID: Supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60
- 5-Year limited warranty
- Adding extra storage for your videos, music, photos, and files.
- Transfer data at maximum speed with USB 3.0; USB 2.0 compatible
- Improve PC performance - When your internal hard drive is almost full your PC slows down. Don’t delete files. Free up space on your internal hard drive by transferring files to your WD Elements portable hard drive and get your laptop moving again.
- Plug-and-play ready for Windows PC
- High capacity in a small enclosure – The small, lightweight design offers up to 5TB* capacity, making WD Elements portable hard drives the ideal companion for consumers on the go.
Things to Consider Before Buying the Best exterior hard drive
Now, when you do research prior to buying the best exterior hard drive, there are certain things you need to consider. Because these considerations come into play by ensuring that you do not end up with the wrong choice.
Finding the perfect exterior hard drive is not rocket science and doesn’t require extensive research. Some important features which you should look out for are described below.
Brands
While there are numerous brands on the market, the truth is not all of them can give you the features you may need.
We’ve done the legwork of locating the most reputable brands around for you. By choosing from these, you’ll be much less likely than going to a store and grabbing something without considering the brand and everything behind it.
Durability
Durability is one of the primary features which are important for most products. They don’t often have long lifespans and require replacement every now then.
Before you buy any product from the store, make sure you know about the material well. Sometimes, many people buy the wrong product even after spending a lot of bucks. Why do they do that? Probably because they don’t know which material ensures ultimate durability.
You should always focus on the quality of a product before getting it. Make sure it’s sturdy and built to last. No matter whether it’s made of wood, metal, plastic, aluminum or steel.
Features of exterior hard drive
Before deciding on a specific product, be certain that it has all the necessary features you require.
If you’re unsure concerning something, don’t hesitate to ask the manufacturer. That way, you can make the right purchase that provides precise results.
Quality of the exterior hard drive
The quality of the product is an important factor. If you happen to get one with low-quality material, you will have a tough time trying to maneuver them.
Whatever you choose to buy, the quality should be first-rate. You don’t want to waste money on something that looks or feels cheap when what you desire is elegance, coziness, and style.
Cost
Cost shouldn’t be an issue if you’re willing to invest in a high-quality product. An inexpensive product often has great features, so you get great value for your money.
However, expensive products don’t necessarily mean to be of exceptional quality. We prefer to say you select something that fulfills your needs.
Ease of Use
People feel more comfortable using products that come with a straightforward process of use.
So, you should always look for the ones that come with an easy to use process. You can find different designs, so you should choose the one that comes with more convenient features.
Warranty
It is always recommended to have a product with a warranty, however, it’s not compulsory. However, if the brand provides warranties for a certain timeframe, then certainly, it’s a favorable deal.
Size
The product size is one of the most important aspects to consider before purchasing a exterior hard drive. You need to know what kind of product you want to buy to best fit your needs.
It is essential to buy a product that addresses your needs based on your product dimensions. Spending money on something you will likely need is a waste of money. You should choose a product that will meet your needs based on its power.
Design
Many products with countless designs are available in the market. Some designs are redundant, and others aren’t as efficient. Make sure you know what you do and whether the tools you choose will help you do your job better.
Safety Measure
No matter how passionate you are about your occupation or work, your safety must always be a top priority. Since you’ll be using exterior hard drive make sure it has all the features that ensure the safety of the users. You do not want to experience any kind of accident.
Don’t just pick any brand, no matter how excellent, inexpensive, or available it is. Ensure that safety measures have been considered.
Materials of the exterior hard drive
We advise not to buy products from brands that don’t specify the materials they use unless we’re sure the product is made with good quality materials. It’s important to be confident about a purchase before you make one, so when the materials used aren’t clearly specified, it makes us doubt the product’s quality.
It’s imperative to consider what material will work best for your requirements before you make an investment since you could find yourself wasting your money.
Types
As you know by now, there are various types of exterior hard drive available in the market. You have to understand the pros and cons of individual types of products before picking the perfect one for your needs.
It is best to compare the advantages with each other before determining the perfect type.
Instruction Manual
Before you can utilize a product, often there are some fundamental guidelines that must be followed to get the most out of it. While some people may be able to just figure it out on their own, others may need an instruction manual.
Instruction manual is designed to provide you with information about how to use the product. The manual also goes over the safety precautions and explains how to recognize potential hazards. So, you should buy the product that comes with an instruction manual.
Performance
When you are planning to buy a exterior hard drive, you will definitely think of its performance because nobody wants to waste his money buying a wrong product. So, check ins and outs of the exterior hard drive from user’s review, forums and expert people before you pick a specific model.
Versatility
It can be frustrating when you buy something and then it turns out three days later that it is not what you need. With a little thought and effort, it is possible to avoid this by purchasing a versatile product that has multiple uses. You can use one product for many purposes. This can save time on products that may not get used up quickly.
You can also use the product in different ways, depending on the need at the time. In this way, you can also save money as you’ll just need to purchase the perfect one.
Accessories
When you are planning to buy a exterior hard drive, you will definitely think of the accessories availability in the market. Because anytime soon, it may cause damages due to unwanted accidents at any stage of its usages.
Some products also come in bundles, where they have a combo package of the necessary items that you may need with it.
Colors
Yup, color does matter! When you are planning to buy a exterior hard drive from dozens of models, you will definitely wish to get your desired color. As, color is the symbol of choice, aristocracy and represents your personal taste.
We have reviewed some of the best exterior hard drive considering this option of course.
Compactness
A exterior hard drive is highly compact in order to have a high usage capacity. Compactness also ensures good portability and easy handling of a unit. Because if exterior hard drive doesn’t comes handy, you may face it tough to manage while using it.
After reading our buying guide, you will get the answers for the following questions:
- How much does the best exterior hard drive costs?
- What are the benefits of a exterior hard drive?
- Where to buy the best exterior hard drive?
- What is the best brands of exterior hard drive?
- How long does a exterior hard drive last?
- Does exterior hard drive comes with a manufacturer warranty?
- Are exterior hard drive worth it?
Final Words
Selecting the best item from a group of choices is a difficult job. We hope that our effort in finding the best exterior hard drive has contributed something to you.
To help you make the right choice, we have included reviews of our top choices, a thoroughly researched buying guide, and a simple comparison.