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Encrypted External Hard Drive Comparison - July 2025

1
Best Choice
9.8Exceptional
2
9.7Exceptional
3
Best Value
9.5Excellent
4
9.4Excellent
5
9.3Excellent
6
9.1Excellent
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Model

Apricorn 5TB Aegis Fortress L3- FIPS Level 3 Validated USB 3.0 Hardware Encrypted Portable Drive (AFL3-5TB)
Model
Apricorn Aegis Padlock 3.0 1TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive, Black
Model
SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD - Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance, Updated Firmware - External Solid State Drive - SDSSDE61-1T00-G25
Model
Seagate One Touch, 2TB, Password activated hardware encryption, portable external hard drive, portable external hard drive, PC, Notebook & Mac, USB 3.0, Black (STKY2000400)
Model
Aegis Fortress 2TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive, Black
Model
WD 6TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Black, Backup Software with Defense Against ransomware, and Password Protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 Compatible - WDBR9S0060BBK-WESN

Brand

Apricorn
Brand
Apricorn
Brand
SanDisk
Brand
Seagate
Brand
Apricorn
Brand
WD

Reviews

124 reviews
Reviews
972 reviews
Reviews
120,748 reviews
Reviews
43,168 reviews
Reviews
274 reviews
Reviews
-

Features

Tech support

7.9
Tech support
8.6
Tech support
8.9
Tech support
8.6
Tech support
8.4
Tech support
8.1

Simple to use

9.9
Simple to use
9.1
Simple to use
8.6
Simple to use
8.4
Simple to use
8.1
Simple to use
7.9

Tech Specs

item weight

1 pounds
item weight
6.2 ounces
item weight
1.76 ounces
item weight
5.2 ounces
item weight
6.2 ounces
item weight
7.4 ounces

product dimensions

4.75 x 3 x 0.9 inches
product dimensions
4.5 x 0.75 x 3.25 inches
product dimensions
0.38 x 2.07 x 3.97 inches
product dimensions
4.52 x 3.07 x 0.46 inches
product dimensions
4.5 x 3.25 x 0.75 inches
product dimensions
-

flash memory size

5 TB
flash memory size
1 TB
flash memory size
1
flash memory size
2 TB
flash memory size
2 MB
flash memory size
-

hardware platform

PC Mac UNI Linux
hardware platform
PC, Mac
hardware platform
Mac
hardware platform
PC, Mac
hardware platform
PC
hardware platform
-

item dimensions lxwxh

4.75 x 3 x 0.9 inches
item dimensions lxwxh
4.5 x 0.75 x 3.25 inches
item dimensions lxwxh
0.38 x 2.07 x 3.97 inches
item dimensions lxwxh
4.52 x 3.07 x 0.46 inches
item dimensions lxwxh
4.5 x 3.25 x 0.75 inches
item dimensions lxwxh
-

customer reviews

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 62 ratings 4.3 out of 5 stars
customer reviews
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 486 ratings 4.5 out of 5 stars
customer reviews
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 60, 374 ratings 4.6 out of 5 stars
customer reviews
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 21, 584 ratings 4.6 out of 5 stars
customer reviews
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 137 ratings 4.3 out of 5 stars
customer reviews
-

hard drive interface

USB 1.1
hard drive interface
USB 1.1
hard drive interface
USB 3.2
hard drive interface
USB 3.0
hard drive interface
USB 1.1
hard drive interface
-

hard drive

5000 GB Portable
hard drive
1 TB External
hard drive
1 TB Solid State Drive
hard drive
2 TB Mechanical Hard Disk
hard drive
2 TB External
hard drive
-

color

black
color
-
color
Black
color
Black
color
Black
color
-

hard drive rotational speed

5400 RPM
hard drive rotational speed
5400 RPM
hard drive rotational speed
-
hard drive rotational speed
7200
hard drive rotational speed
-
hard drive rotational speed
-

Review

Review Review Review
-
Review
-
Review
-

Available On

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Our Top 3 Picks

Here are the top 3 recommended products with more information to help you find the right product for you
  • 9.8
    1
    Apricorn 5TB Aegis Fortress L3- FIPS Level 3 Validated USB 3.0 Hardware Encrypted Portable Drive (AFL3-5TB)
    Apricorn

    Apricorn 5TB Aegis Fortress L3- FIPS Level 3 Validated USB 3.0 Hardware Encrypted Portable Drive (AFL3-5TB)

    9.9 Simple to use
    7.9 Tech Support

    Why we love it

    Speed: Fastest encryption.
    Security: 256 bit AES XTS encryption.
    Validated: FIPS 140 2 Level 3.
  • 9.7
    2
    Apricorn
    12% Off

    Apricorn Aegis Padlock 3.0 1TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive, Black

    9.1 Simple to use
    8.6 Tech Support

    Why we love it

    Military grade encryption.
    Super fast data transfer.
    No software required.
  • 9.5
    3
    SanDisk
    25% Off

    SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD - Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance, Updated Firmware - External Solid State Drive - SDSSDE61-1T00-G25

    8.9 Tech Support
    8.6 Simple to use

    Why we love it

    High-speed data transfer.
    Durable and portable design.
    Secure with AES encryption.

Our ranking system

At BestChoice.com, our team curates a selection of top products from a vast array available online, using a sophisticated ranking system based on carefully defined criteria.While traditional hands-on testing has its merits, our use of AI technology offers distinct advantages. AI allows us to process and analyze vast amounts of data from multiple sources, providing a comprehensive view that goes beyond what manual testing can achieve. This approach enables us to deliver insights that are aligned with current trends and consumer preferences, ensuring our reviews are both relevant and up-to-date.

Features

Our AI-driven analysis examines key attributes, capabilities, and other critical factors tailored to each product category. This method allows us to assess effectiveness from various perspectives, ensuring a well-rounded evaluation.
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Consumer Reviews

We aggregate and evaluate consumer feedback from across the internet, giving weight to ratings and reviews that reflect the most reliable insights. AI enhances this process by filtering and prioritizing data, offering a balanced view without the need for direct personal endorsements.
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Popularity

Our system also considers the popularity of products, analyzing factors such as market presence, reputation, and user satisfaction. By leveraging AI, we capture a comprehensive picture of a product's standing in the market, which may not always be evident through traditional testing.
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Value for money

AI allows us to compare products based on attributes like price, specifications, and user feedback, helping to determine their value for money. This data-driven approach offers an efficient and reliable way to assess how products stack up against one another in terms of cost-effectiveness.
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