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External Hard Drives Comparison - September 2024
| 1 Best Choice  9.9Exceptional | 2  9.6Exceptional | 3  9.3Excellent | 4  9.1Excellent | 5 Best Value  8.9Very Good | 6  8.7Very Good | 7  8.6Very Good |
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ModelSeagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX5000400), Black | Model Western Digital 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 external hard drive for plug-and-play storage - Western DigitalBWLG0080HBK-NESN, Black | Model WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive for Windows, USB 3.2 Gen 1/USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready - WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN | Model Toshiba Canvio Advance 4TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Black - HDTCA40XK3CA | Model WD 4TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Black, backup software with defense against ransomware, and password protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 compatible - WDBPKJ0040BBK-WESN | Model Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Black - HDTB520XK3AA | Model Seagate Expansion Desktop STKP14000400 14TB External Hard Drive 3.5 Inch USB 3.0 PC & Notebook with 2 Year Rescue Service |
BrandSeagate | Brand Western Digital | Brand WD | Brand TOSHIBA | Brand WD | Brand TOSHIBA | Brand Seagate |
Reviews | Reviews | Reviews  | Reviews | Reviews  | Reviews | Reviews |
Features | ||||||
Movability 9.6 | Movability 9.1 | Movability 9.6 | Movability 9.8 | Movability 9.3 | Movability 8.6 | Movability 8.6 |
Storage space 9.6 | Storage space 9.6 | Storage space 9.6 | Storage space 9.6 | Storage space 9.4 | Storage space 8.9 | Storage space 8.6 |
Tech support 8.9 | Tech support 9.1 | Tech support 8.9 | Tech support 9.1 | Tech support 7.9 | Tech support 7.2 | Tech support 7.0 |
Lasts a long time 9.3 | Lasts a long time 9.4 | Lasts a long time 9.1 | Lasts a long time 9.1 | Lasts a long time 9.1 | Lasts a long time 8.6 | Lasts a long time 8.4 |
Simple to use 9.6 | Simple to use 9.8 | Simple to use 9.6 | Simple to use 9.4 | Simple to use 8.9 | Simple to use 8.1 | Simple to use 7.9 |
Tech Specs | ||||||
product dimensions 9.2 x 6 x 1.1 inches | product dimensions 5.31 x 1.89 x 6.53 inches | product dimensions 4.35 x 3.23 x 0.59 inches | product dimensions 4.3 x 3.1 x 0.77 inches | product dimensions 4.22 x 2.95 x 0.75 inches | product dimensions 4.3 x 3.1 x 0.55 inches | product dimensions 7.04 x 1.65 x 4.92 inches |
color Black | color Black | color Black | color Black | color Black | color Black | color Black |
item weight 9.2 ounces | item weight 2.09 pounds | item weight 4.6 ounces | item weight 7.7 ounces | item weight 7.4 ounces | item weight 5.3 ounces | item weight 2.59 pounds |
flash memory size 5 TB | flash memory size 8 TB | flash memory size 2 | flash memory size 4 MB | flash memory size 4 | flash memory size 2 TB | flash memory size 14 TB |
hardware platform PC, Mac | hardware platform PC | hardware platform PC | hardware platform PC, Mac | hardware platform PC | hardware platform PC, Mac | hardware platform xbox one, Mac |
item dimensions lxwxh 9.2 x 6 x 1.1 inches | item dimensions lxwxh 5.31 x 1.89 x 6.53 inches | item dimensions lxwxh 4.35 x 3.23 x 0.59 inches | item dimensions lxwxh 4.3 x 3.1 x 0.77 inches | item dimensions lxwxh 4.22 x 2.95 x 0.75 inches | item dimensions lxwxh 4.3 x 3.1 x 0.55 inches | item dimensions lxwxh 7.04 x 1.65 x 4.92 inches |
customer reviews4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 261, 750 ratings 4.7 out of 5 stars | customer reviews 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 21, 845 ratings 4.5 out of 5 stars | customer reviews 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 269, 414 ratings 4.7 out of 5 stars | customer reviews 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 36, 678 ratings 4.6 out of 5 stars | customer reviews 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 94, 066 ratings 4.6 out of 5 stars | customer reviews 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 77, 537 ratings 4.7 out of 5 stars | customer reviews 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 12 ratings 4.3 out of 5 stars |
hard drive 5 TB Mechanical Hard Disk | hard drive 8 TB Mechanical Hard Disk | hard drive 2 TB Mechanical Hard Disk | hard drive 4 TB Portable | hard drive 4 TB Portable | hard drive 2 TB Mechanical Hard Disk | hard drive 14 TB Mechanical Hard Disk |
hard drive interface- | hard drive interface USB 2.0/3.0 | hard drive interface USB 2.0/3.0 | hard drive interface USB 3.0 | hard drive interface USB 3.0 | hard drive interface USB 3.0 | hard drive interface USB 1.1 |
number of usb 2 0 ports 1 | number of usb 2 0 ports - | number of usb 2 0 ports 1 | number of usb 2 0 ports 1 | number of usb 2 0 ports - | number of usb 2 0 ports - | number of usb 2 0 ports - |
hard drive rotational speed- | hard drive rotational speed - | hard drive rotational speed 5400 | hard drive rotational speed - | hard drive rotational speed 5 | hard drive rotational speed 5400 RPM | hard drive rotational speed - |
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
1SeagateSeagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX5000400), Black
9.6 movability9.6 Storage space9.6 Simple to useWhy 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
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9.6
2Western Digital
Western Digital 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 external hard drive for plug-and-play storage - Western DigitalBWLG0080HBK-NESN, Black
9.8 Simple to use9.6 Storage space9.4 lasts a long timeWhy we love it
More storage capacity than standard size
Fast data processing
Easy to use with Windows PCs
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9.3
3WD
WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive for Windows, USB 3.2 Gen 1/USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready - WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN
9.6 movability9.6 Storage space9.6 Simple to useWhy we love it
Compact size 5TB capacity
Fast data transfers USB 3.0 2.0
Boosts PC performance Free up space
External Hard Drives Buyer's Guide
Written by Jim WilliamsIntroduction
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.
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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.
Consumer Reviews
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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.
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.
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.
