The best external hard drives 2021
Jun 3rd, 2021
The best external hard drives 2021
An external hard drive can be an efficient and mobile security solution that allows you to take your files with you anywhere. Although cloud storage has given us new opportunities to move and share files efficiently, there is nothing as secure as having an extra copy of important files stored physically.
At the same time, this type of portable hard drive has much greater capacity and often also higher speeds than USB keys or memory cards such as. microSD card. Fast hard drives are very convenient when you need to move large files in a hurry. This is especially true of portable SSDs. In addition, there are also external hard drives with built-in encryption, which is convenient when you need extra high security.
Our list includes both traditional hard drives and SSDs, and several of them also offer encryption and other useful features.
The best external hard drives in a nutshell
1. Buffalo MiniStation Extreme
2. Western Digital My Passport Ultra 4TB
3. Samsung T5 SSD
4. Adata SD700
5. WD My Book Duo 4 TB
6. Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt
7. Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive 5TB
8. Western Digital My Passport Wireless Pro
9. LaCie Rugged USB-C 4 TB
1. Buffalo MiniStation Extreme
An external storage device that you can buy without going bankrupt. Buffalo's MiniStation Extreme can be your dream device. Buffalo's MiniStation Extreme is compatible with both Mac and Windows and has great flexibility. It comes in a solid casing that is dust and water repellent and has one with a built-in USB 3.0 cable.
SPECIFICATIONS
- • Storage space: 2 TB
- • Connection: USB 3.0
2. Western Digital My Passport Ultra 4TB
The latest generation of Western Digital My Passport Ultra series of external hard drives has arrived and is available in sizes from 1 TB to 4 TB. Here you get both cloud storage and 256-AES encryption together with WD's own software package. It works well in terms of data transfer rates, but is not near the top of the list. It is not surprising that it can not match the speed of SSDs, but if you are looking for a traditional external hard drive, it is definitely worth considering.
SPECIFICATIONS
- • Storage space: 4 TB
- • Connection: USB 3.0
3. Samsung T5 SSD
If you would rather have an external storage device that utilizes SSD speeds, the Samsung Portable SSD T5 is the best external hard drive for you. Samsung has an excellent reputation for its external SSDs thanks to products like the T3. And the T5 builds on its predecessor by adding a fast USB-C connection that makes maximum use of speed and SSD performance. Of course, it is also backward compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 if you have a PC without USB-C output. It is expensive but worth the money.
SPECIFICATIONS
- • Storage space: 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
- • Connection: USB Type-C
4. Adata SD700
The Adata SD700 external SSD is suitable for anyone looking for a solid storage device that can give you plenty of capacity without costing too much. It works super well and is still the only SSD we have seen with IP68 rating. Thanks to the SSD device inside this external storage device, it is much faster than devices that use old-fashioned, rotating hard drives - so here you get both excellent transfer speeds and robust protection. It comes with storage capacity of up to 1 TB so you do not have to worry about lack of storage space just because it uses SSD. This device really hits the spot on most points.
SPECIFICATIONS
- • Storage space: 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB
- • Connection: USB 3.0
5. WD My Book Duo 4 TB
If you are looking for the external device with the absolute largest capacity, the WD My Book Duo 4 TB is for you. It gives you a huge 4 TB (and you can also get versions up to 20 TB) storage space on two hard drives. If you can settle for 2 TB of storage space, you can run the two hard drives in a RAID setup, so you have extra backup of your files if one of the disks dies. This USB 3.0 device has many of the features found in a full-fledged NAS device (including the high cost), and if you have a router with a USB 3.0 port, you can even use it as a networked storage device. The device comes with a two-year warranty and features 256-bit AES hardware encryption and automatic backup software (WD SmartWare Pro). It should be mentioned that WD provides this device formatted for Windows (NTFS).
SPECIFICATIONS
- • Storage space: 4 TB
- • Connection: USB 3.0 x 2
6. Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt
If you have a machine or other device with Thunderbolt output, this external hard drive is an excellent choice, as Thunderbolt runs at twice the speed of standard USB 3.0 disks. It is also not very expensive compared to other Thunderbolt discs. The price is kept down because it uses a traditional hard drive and not an SSD, which limits the potential speed. It also comes with a USB 3.0 port if you do not have the Thunderbolt feature.
SPECIFICATIONS
- • Storage space: 1 TB, 2 TB
- • Connection: Thunderbolt, USB 3.0
7. Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive 5TB
If you want an external hard drive that combines speed and capacity, the Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive 5 TB is really worth considering. It comes in several sizes up to 8 TB and it also beats the competition in terms of read and write speed. In addition to plenty of storage space and high speed, you also get peace of mind thanks to the fact that Seagate's units go down much less frequently than average, especially their larger storage units. You also get backup software, and the hard drive is compatible with both Windows and Mac, even though it is formatted for Windows, unless you specifically request a device made for Mac - and they are far more expensive.
SPECIFICATIONS
- • Capacity: 5 TB
- • Connection: USB 3.0
8. Western Digital My Passport Wireless Pro
Although we have had mixed feelings about My Passport Wireless, the 2016 edition in the "pro" variant of the external hard drives has restored confidence in the name Western Digital. First, it has been redesigned so that it no longer looks like My Passport Ultra or My Passport for Mac. Instead, My Passport Wireless Pro seems more sleek. It looks like an external DVD player, but considering the visible SD card reader, there is no risk of confusing it with anything else. For photographers, this Wireless Pro will be a really useful tool. The device has a built-in 6400 mAh battery. This allows you to use the external hard drive completely wirelessly over 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz connections. However, when connected via cable, do not expect cutting-edge technology, as My Passport Wireless Pro only uses USB-B to USB-A. The latest and greatest USB-C option is completely absent. Even though My Passport Wireless Pro prices are a little too high, it still makes a positive impression in almost all other areas. Of course, not everyone needs a wireless hard drive or SD card support, but for those who need it, it is indispensable.
SPECIFICATIONS
- • Storage space: 2 TB
- • Connection: USB 3.0 and Wi-Fi
9. LaCie Rugged USB-C 4 TB
LaCie's rugged external hard drives are a favorite among content producers who are very out in the field. It withstands falls, blows, dust and rain, making it ideal for use in nature. It is also available in a variant with Thunderbolt, while the variant with RAID support may be the best solution for professional users. It is also available with up to 8 TB of storage space for the more demanding tasks.
SPECIFICATIONS
- • Storage space: 4 TB
- • Connection: USB-C
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