We are more dependent on computers today than we used to be in the past. Such a huge dependency calls for huge storage space because computers and laptops come with limited storage. If you have tonnes of data that you wish to save in a safe place, then you should get an external hard drive. The best thing about portable hard drives is that they are easy to use and manage. To buy the best external hard drive consumer reports, you should check out the reviews below because that is how you can easily decide as to which external hard drive you should buy.
Reviews Of 10 Best External Hard Drives
1. Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive (Best External Hard Drive For Mac)
Seagate is among the most popular brands, which manufacture hard drives, and this external hard drive is the top-selling model of the company. It comes with a 2TB storage, which is enough to store movies, TV series, photo albums, songs, and whatnot. The hard drive is designed to work with all major operating systems, be it Mac or Windows. You can take a backup of your computer quickly, thanks to this hard drive.
Just drag and drop the files you wish to move and that’s it. Setting up this hard drive is a breeze, as the computer automatically recognizes it, so you don’t have to install any software for the same. Sporting plug-and-play functionality, this hard drive is very easy to use. With this hard drive, you will get an 18-inch USB 3.0 cable.
2. WD 4TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive
WD Elements is another brand that is known for manufacturing fast and reliable external hard drives, and the external hard drive in the discussion is no different. This is a 4 TB version, so you can store a huge variety of data in large amounts in it. Besides having large storage, the unit features fast data transfer rates along with universal connectivity.
The hard drive supports both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 devices, so it doesn’t matter, which USB ports are incorporated into your computer, this hard drive can be connected to it. The hard drive is formatted in NTFS for Windows 7, 8.1, and 10. If you are using another operating system, then you will have to reformat it. As far as compatibility is concerned, then that depends upon the operating system and user’s hardware configuration.
3. Toshiba Canvio Basics Portable External Hard Drive HDTB420XK3AA
Toshiba is a tech-giant from Japan, which manufactures a wide range of electronic appliances. The company also manufactures fast and durable external hard drives. Check out Toshiba Canvio Basics Portable External Hard Drive, which boasts a sleek profile with a matte, smudge-free finish. This is a plug and play device, which doesn’t require any software for installation. If you are using a Mac with OS v10.1, OS X v10.11, or v10.12, then you will have to reformat the hard drive to make it work.
If your computer doesn’t have much storage left, then this external HDD will help you store all your important data in a safe appliance. The unit needs no external AC power cord, so you just need to connect the hard drive to the computer. It doesn’t matter if your computer has a USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 port, as this device connects with both. The company offers a 1-year standard limited warranty on this product.
4. LaCie Rugged USB-C 5TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD (Best External Hard Drive For Video Editing 2020)
One of the most durable external hard drives, LaCie Rugged USB-C 5TB hard drive can withstand rain, crush, and drop easily. Besides being a durable unit, it supports fast file transfers at the rage of 130M MB/sec, thanks to USB-C support. Not just file transfers, but image browsing and backups are extremely fast as well. The company has included a reversible USB-C cable with this hard drive, which allows you to connect to the latest Mac and Windows computer.
A USB 3.0 adapter is also included in the package to connect to legacy computers. With this external hard drive, you will also enjoy 1-month complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps Plan, where you can access the best-in-class photo and video editing apps. As far as the warranty is concerned, then you will get a 2-year limited warranty along with Rescue Data Recovery Services.
5. G-Technology 5TB ArmorATD All-Terrain Rugged Portable External Hard Drive (Best External Hard Drive 1TB)
When a normal external hard drive with large storage doesn’t intrigue you, then you should check out the ArmorATD All-Terrain Portable External Hard Drive from G-Technology. This is an all-terrain drive, which can back up and protect your data from the wilderness to back in the studio. The unit comes with 1TB of storage, which allows you to store a wide range of files in large quantities. The hard drive won’t be damaged after falling from 1 meter on the carpeted floor for 4 or 5TB storage drives and 1.2 meters on a carpeted or concrete floor for 1 or 2TB capacities.
The hard drive is USB-C ready, so you can use it as a plug and play device. It also comes with support for Thunderbolt 3. It is USB 3.0 compatible, as you will get USB-C to USB-A adapter in the package. When you receive the package containing this hard drive, you can unpack the box and connect the hard drive to your Windows or Mac computer.
6. Seagate Game Drive 4TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD STEA4000402
If you are into games and already have an Xbox game console, then you must feel bad when you have to delete old games to make way for new ones. However, you don’t have to do it anymore, as you can buy this game drive from Seagate, which comes with 4TB of storage. In such a large external hard drive, more than 100 titles can be stored easily. The best thing about this game storage drive is that you won’t experience any lag, as it is specially optimized for Xbox.
There is nothing much involved in the setup process, as it comes with USB 3.0 connectivity. Just plug the hard drive into the USB 3.0 port of your game console and start transferring the games. The hard drive has a travel-ready form factor, which allows you to take it outdoors as well. With this hard drive, you will get a 1-year limited warranty along with a 1-year rescue service.
7. WD 8TB Elements Desktop Hard Drive
We have another product from WD on the list, and it has 8TB storage. With such enormous storage, you can store whatever data you have because it takes time to fill up such a large capacity storage drive. The unit features fast data transfer rates along with universal connectivity. The hard drive supports both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 devices, so it doesn’t matter, which USB ports are incorporated into your computer, this hard drive can be connected to it.
The hard drive is formatted in NTFS for Windows 7, 8.1, and 10. If you are using another operating system, then you will have to reformat it. As far as compatibility is concerned, then that depends upon the operating system and user’s hardware configuration.
8. LaCie Rugged Mini 5TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD
Another durable hard drive from LaCie, you can buy it to store movies, music, photos, and many other data to access them quickly, thanks to its 5TB storage. LaCie Rugged Mini 5TB hard drive can withstand rain, crush, and drop easily. Besides being a durable unit, it supports fast file transfers at the rage of 130M MB/sec, thanks to USB-C support. Not just file transfers, but image browsing and backups are extremely fast as well. The company has included a reversible USB-C cable with this hard drive, which allows you to connect to the latest Mac and Windows computer.
A USB 3.0 adapter is also included in the package to connect to legacy computers. With this external hard drive, you will also enjoy 1-month complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps Plan, where you can access the best-in-class photo and video editing apps. As far as the warranty is concerned, then you will get a 2-year limited warranty along with Rescue Data Recovery Services.
9. G-Technology G-DRIVE USB-C Desktop External Hard Drive 0G05666-1
Take a look at this external hard drive from G-Technology, which comes in a sleek casing that is made from aluminum. The hard drive features a USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface, which perfectly meets the needs of creative people. With this hard drive, you can store a wide range of files for easy access at your will. The hard drive has 1TB of storage, which is more than enough for many people.
The unit supports up to 45 watts of USB power delivery through USB-C port to charge MacBook or MacBook Pro without using another charger. The company has provided USB-C to USB-A cable in the package to ensure that the hard drive works with all USB 2.0, 3.0, and 3.1 computers. Moreover, the hard drive works with Mac and Windows computers. You can reformat the hard drive for Windows, thanks to the built-in software.
10. Silicon Power 4TB Rugged Portable External Hard Drive Armor A60 (Most Reliable External Hard Drive)
If your requirement is a highly durable external hard drive, then don’t look beyond Silicon Power Rugged Portable HDD Armor A60. It is perfect for gamers who have PS4, PS4 Pro, PS4 Slim, Xbox One, and Xbox 360. The external hard drive comes with military-grade protection along with IPX4 water-resistant protection. The unit sports a cable-carry design, which makes storing cables a lot easier.
The hard drive is compatible with several operating systems such as Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and Windows 10. It supports Mac and Linux OS as well, including Mac OS 10.5.x and Linux 2.6.x. You must pre-format the drive as NTFS if using with Windows computer. Reformat it again when using it with a Mac computer.
Final Verdict
External hard drives have replaced flash drives when it comes to portable storage devices because they are not as bulky as they once used to be. External hard drives are portable and lightweight, thus allowing you to carry them anywhere. On the list of 10 best external hard drive consumer reports, you must have found hard drives for Windows and Mac computers along with game consoles. If you have chosen the unit that best meets your requirements, then you should go ahead and place an order now.