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External Hard Drives Comparison - September 2023

Overview:
01
Best Choice
9.9Exceptional
02
9.7Exceptional
03
9.6Exceptional
04
Best Value
9.5Excellent
05
9.4Excellent
06
9.3Excellent
07
9.1Excellent
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Model

WD_BLACK 5TB P10 Game Drive for Xbox - Portable External Hard Drive HDD with 1-Month Xbox Game Pass - WDBA5G0050BBK-WESN
Model
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox 4TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD - USB 3.2 Gen 1, Black with built-in green LED bar , Xbox Certified, 3 year Rescue Services (STKX4000402)
Model
Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX5000400), Black
Model
WD 5TB Elements Portable HDD, External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready - WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN
Model
WD 16TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 external hard drive for plug-and-play storage - WDBWLG0160HBK-NESN
Model
WD 1TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive with backup software and password protection, Black - WDBYVG0010BBK-WESN
Model
Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Black - HDTB520XK3AA

Brand

WD_BLACK
Brand
Seagate
Brand
Seagate
Brand
WD
Brand
Western Digital
Brand
Western Digital
Brand
Toshiba

Reviews

89,733 reviews
Reviews
169,869 reviews
Reviews
650,316 reviews
Reviews
317,688 reviews
Reviews
57,330 reviews
Reviews
95,010 reviews
Reviews
-

Features

Storage space

9.6
Storage space
9.6
Storage space
9.6
Storage space
9.6
Storage space
9.6
Storage space
9.4
Storage space
8.6

Tech support

8.9
Tech support
9.1
Tech support
8.9
Tech support
9.1
Tech support
9.1
Tech support
7.9
Tech support
7.0

Movability

9.8
Movability
9.4
Movability
9.6
Movability
9.6
Movability
9.1
Movability
9.3
Movability
8.6

Lasts a long time

9.4
Lasts a long time
9.3
Lasts a long time
9.3
Lasts a long time
9.1
Lasts a long time
9.4
Lasts a long time
9.1
Lasts a long time
8.6

Simple to use

9.4
Simple to use
9.4
Simple to use
9.6
Simple to use
9.6
Simple to use
9.8
Simple to use
8.9
Simple to use
7.9

Easy installation

9.9
Easy installation
9.9
Easy installation
9.4
Easy installation
9.8
Easy installation
9.4
Easy installation
9.1
Easy installation
9.1

Tech Specs

Hard Drive

5 TB External Hard Disk Drive HDD
Hard Drive
4 TB Mechanical Hard Disk
Hard Drive
5 TB Portable
Hard Drive
5 TB Portable
Hard Drive
16 TB Desktop
Hard Drive
1 TB Portable
Hard Drive
2 TB Mechanical Hard Disk

Product Dimensions

4.65 x 3.46 x 0.82 inches
Product Dimensions
4.72 x 3.15 x 0.79 inches
Product Dimensions
4.61 x 3.15 x 0.79 inches
Product Dimensions
4.35 x 3.23 x 0.82 inches
Product Dimensions
5.31 x 1.89 x 6.53 inches
Product Dimensions
4.22 x 2.95 x 0.44 inches
Product Dimensions
4.3 x 3.1 x 0.55 inches

Hardware Platform

PC
Hardware Platform
Xbox series x
Hardware Platform
PC, Mac
Hardware Platform
PC, Mac
Hardware Platform
PC, Mac
Hardware Platform
PC
Hardware Platform
PC, Mac

Item Dimensions LxWxH

4.65 x 3.46 x 0.82 inches
Item Dimensions LxWxH
4.72 x 3.15 x 0.79 inches
Item Dimensions LxWxH
4.61 x 3.15 x 0.79 inches
Item Dimensions LxWxH
4.35 x 3.23 x 0.82 inches
Item Dimensions LxWxH
5.31 x 1.89 x 6.53 inches
Item Dimensions LxWxH
4.22 x 2.95 x 0.44 inches
Item Dimensions LxWxH
4.3 x 3.1 x 0.55 inches

Item Weight

8.1 ounces
Item Weight
8.5 ounces
Item Weight
9.2 ounces
Item Weight
8.3 ounces
Item Weight
1.24 pounds
Item Weight
4.2 ounces
Item Weight
5.3 ounces

Color

BLACK
Color
Black
Color
Black
Color
Black
Color
-
Color
Black
Color
Black

Flash Memory Size

5
Flash Memory Size
4 TB
Flash Memory Size
5 TB
Flash Memory Size
5
Flash Memory Size
16 TB
Flash Memory Size
1
Flash Memory Size
-

Digital Storage Capacity

-
Digital Storage Capacity
-
Digital Storage Capacity
5 TB
Digital Storage Capacity
5 TB
Digital Storage Capacity
16 TB
Digital Storage Capacity
1 TB
Digital Storage Capacity
2000 GB

Connectivity Technology

-
Connectivity Technology
-
Connectivity Technology
USB
Connectivity Technology
USB
Connectivity Technology
USB
Connectivity Technology
USB
Connectivity Technology
USB

Hard Drive Size

-
Hard Drive Size
-
Hard Drive Size
5 TB
Hard Drive Size
5 TB
Hard Drive Size
16 TB
Hard Drive Size
1 TB
Hard Drive Size
2 TB

Batteries

1 Unknown batteries required.
Batteries
1 Lithium Ion batteries required.
Batteries
-
Batteries
1 Lithium Ion batteries required.
Batteries
-
Batteries
1 Lithium Ion batteries required.
Batteries
-

Hard Drive Interface

-
Hard Drive Interface
USB 3.0
Hard Drive Interface
-
Hard Drive Interface
-
Hard Drive Interface
USB 1.1
Hard Drive Interface
USB 3.0
Hard Drive Interface
USB 3.0

Compatible Devices

-
Compatible Devices
-
Compatible Devices
PS4, PC, Gaming Console, Mac
Compatible Devices
PC, Mac
Compatible Devices
Desktop
Compatible Devices
-
Compatible Devices
Desktop

Hard Disk Form Factor

-
Hard Disk Form Factor
-
Hard Disk Form Factor
-
Hard Disk Form Factor
2.5 Inches
Hard Disk Form Factor
3.5 Inches
Hard Disk Form Factor
2.5 Inches
Hard Disk Form Factor
2.5 Inches

Hard Disk Description

-
Hard Disk Description
-
Hard Disk Description
Portable
Hard Disk Description
-
Hard Disk Description
Desktop
Hard Disk Description
-
Hard Disk Description
Mechanical Hard Disk

Cache Size

-
Cache Size
-
Cache Size
5
Cache Size
5
Cache Size
-
Cache Size
256
Cache Size
-

Specific Uses For Product

-
Specific Uses For Product
-
Specific Uses For Product
-
Specific Uses For Product
Multimedia, Personal, Business
Specific Uses For Product
Personal, Business
Specific Uses For Product
Multimedia, Personal, Business
Specific Uses For Product
-

Hard Disk Interface

-
Hard Disk Interface
-
Hard Disk Interface
-
Hard Disk Interface
-
Hard Disk Interface
USB 1.1
Hard Disk Interface
USB 3.0
Hard Disk Interface
USB 3.0

Review

-
Review
-
Review Review Review Review Review
-

Available On

Available On
Available On
Available On
Available On
Available On
Available On

Our Top 3 Picks

Here are the top 3 recommended products with more information to help you find the right product for you
  • 9.9
    01
    WD_BLACK
    10% Off

    WD_BLACK 5TB P10 Game Drive for Xbox - Portable External Hard Drive HDD with 1-Month Xbox Game Pass - WDBA5G0050BBK-WESN

    9.9 Easy installation
    9.8 movability
    9.6 Storage space
    Main highlights
    • Works with - Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
    • 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, capacity, formatting, other programs, and factors.)
    • Portable form factor that provides fast access to your gaming library, anywhere you go.
    • High-performance HDD in speeds up to 130MB/s to optimize your console or PC gaming experience. (Based on read speed and internal testing. As used for transfer rate, megabyte per second (MB/s) = one million bytes per second. Performance will vary depending on your hardware and software components and configurations.)
    • 1-Month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership included with purchase (1-Month trial offer of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for New Xbox Game Pass members only. Limit: 1 per person/account. Available for a limited time. See product packaging for full details.)
  • 9.7
    02
    Seagate

    Seagate Game Drive for Xbox 4TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD - USB 3.2 Gen 1, Black with built-in green LED bar , Xbox Certified, 3 year Rescue Services (STKX4000402)

    9.9 Easy installation
    9.6 Storage space
    9.4 movability

    Why we love it

    4TB of storage for games
    Compatible with Xbox Series X and S, and all generations of Xbox One
    LED light bar illuminates in Xbox green
  • 9.6
    03
    Seagate

    Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX5000400), Black

    9.6 Storage space
    9.6 movability
    9.6 Simple to use

    Why we love it

    This external hard drive is easy to use and store
    You can access and backup 5TB of content
    The USB drive is plug and play with a included USB 3.0 cable

External Hard Drives Buyer's Guide

Written by Jim Williams

Introduction

External hard drives are portable storage devices that are used to store and back up data. They are an essential accessory for anyone who needs to store or transfer large amounts of data, whether it’s in the form of media files, documents, or software. When choosing an external hard drive, there are a few things to consider, such as capacity, connection type, and data transfer speed. In this buying guide, we will discuss the different types of external hard drives and their features to help you make the right choice.

Types of External Hard Drives

The two most common types of external hard drives available are HDD and SSD. HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is the traditional type of hard drive and is usually cheaper than SSD (Solid State Drive). HDD is better for storing large amounts of data, while SSD is faster and more reliable but more expensive. Both types come in different sizes, from 500GB to 4TB, depending on your storage needs.

Capacity

The capacity of an external hard drive is measured in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB). Depending on your storage needs, you can find an external hard drive with a capacity that fits your requirements. If you need to store large amounts of data, such as media files, choose a hard drive with a higher capacity.

Connection Type

External hard drives are available in two connection types: USB and Thunderbolt. USB is the most common connection type, and is compatible with most computers and devices. Thunderbolt is faster and more advanced, but requires a Thunderbolt-compatible device. It is also more expensive than USB.

Data Transfer Speed

Data transfer speed is an important factor to consider when choosing an external hard drive. It is measured in megabytes per second (MB/s) and determines how quickly data can be transferred from the hard drive to your computer or device. The higher the data transfer speed, the faster the transfer of data.

Conclusion

Choosing the right external hard drive for your needs can be a daunting task. It is important to consider your storage needs, connection type, and data transfer speed to ensure you get the most out of your purchase. With the information provided in this buying guide, you should now be able to make an informed decision when selecting an external hard drive.

Our ranking system

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Features

Our team of experts analyzes key attributes, capabilities, significance, and many more depending on the type of product to determine its effectiveness.
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Consumer Reviews

We ensure an evaluation of the ratings using references all over the internet for each product. With the help of our AI technology and professional review teams, we give weight to the worth of individual user experiences.
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Popularity

Popularity is an important criterion in choosing a product. Several factors contribute to the popularity of the products on our site, including prestige, relevance, reputation, news, and more.
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Value for money

BestChoice.com compares product attributes to price, examines tech specs, ratings and reviews, and more.

When compared to other criteria, does the pricing seem reasonable? In order to provide genuine value for money, our team must answer that question with advanced calculations.