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External Hard Drives Comparison - April 2024

Overview:
1
Best Choice
9.9Exceptional
2
9.7Exceptional
3
9.5Excellent
4
Best Value
9.3Excellent
5
9.2Excellent
6
8.9Very Good
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Model

Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive HDD — USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox -1-Year Rescue Service (STGX2000400)
Model
Toshiba Canvio Advance 4TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Green - HDTCA40XG3CA
Model
Western Digital 2TB Elements Portable HDD, External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready - WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN
Model
Western Digital WD 1TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive with backup software and password protection, Black - WDBYVG0010BBK-WESN
Model
Maxone 500GB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive HDD USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, Laptop, PS4, Xbox one - Charcoal Grey
Model
Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Black - HDTB520XK3AA

Brand

Seagate
Brand
Toshiba
Brand
Western Digital
Brand
Western Digital
Brand
Maxone
Brand
Toshiba

Reviews

637,677 reviews
Reviews
87,552 reviews
Reviews
369,837 reviews
Reviews
95,010 reviews
Reviews
113,175 reviews
Reviews
-

Features

Storage space

9.6
Storage space
9.6
Storage space
9.6
Storage space
9.4
Storage space
9.1
Storage space
8.6

Tech support

8.9
Tech support
9.1
Tech support
8.9
Tech support
7.9
Tech support
8.1
Tech support
7.4

Lasts a long time

9.3
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
7.9

Simple to use

9.6
Simple to use
9.4
Simple to use
9.6
Simple to use
8.9
Simple to use
9.1
Simple to use
8.6

Movability

9.6
Movability
9.8
Movability
9.6
Movability
9.3
Movability
9.1
Movability
8.6

Light weight

9.8
Light weight
9.4
Light weight
9.4
Light weight
9.6
Light weight
9.4
Light weight
8.9

Tech Specs

Color

Black
Color
Green
Color
Black
Color
Black
Color
Charcoal Grey
Color
Black

Hard Drive

2 TB Portable
Hard Drive
4 TB Portable
Hard Drive
2 TB Mechanical Hard Disk
Hard Drive
1 TB Portable
Hard Drive
500 GB Mechanical Hard Disk
Hard Drive
2 TB Mechanical Hard Disk

Product Dimensions

4.6 x 3.15 x 0.58 inches
Product Dimensions
4.3 x 3.1 x 0.77 inches
Product Dimensions
4.35 x 3.23 x 0.59 inches
Product Dimensions
4.22 x 2.95 x 0.44 inches
Product Dimensions
4.7 x 3.3 x 0.4 inches
Product Dimensions
4.3 x 3.1 x 0.55 inches

Hardware Platform

PC, Mac
Hardware Platform
PC, Mac
Hardware Platform
PC
Hardware Platform
PC
Hardware Platform
PC, Mac
Hardware Platform
PC, Mac

Item Dimensions LxWxH

4.6 x 3.15 x 0.58 inches
Item Dimensions LxWxH
4.3 x 3.1 x 0.77 inches
Item Dimensions LxWxH
4.35 x 3.23 x 0.59 inches
Item Dimensions LxWxH
4.22 x 2.95 x 0.44 inches
Item Dimensions LxWxH
4.7 x 3.3 x 0.4 inches
Item Dimensions LxWxH
4.3 x 3.1 x 0.55 inches

Digital Storage Capacity

2 TB
Digital Storage Capacity
4 TB
Digital Storage Capacity
2 TB
Digital Storage Capacity
1 TB
Digital Storage Capacity
500 GB
Digital Storage Capacity
2000 GB

Hard Disk Form Factor

3.5 Inches
Hard Disk Form Factor
3.5 Inches
Hard Disk Form Factor
2.5 Inches
Hard Disk Form Factor
2.5 Inches
Hard Disk Form Factor
4 Inches
Hard Disk Form Factor
2.5 Inches

Item Weight

6.7 ounces
Item Weight
7.7 ounces
Item Weight
4.6 ounces
Item Weight
4.2 ounces
Item Weight
5.5 ounces
Item Weight
5.3 ounces

Connectivity Technology

USB
Connectivity Technology
USB
Connectivity Technology
USB
Connectivity Technology
USB
Connectivity Technology
USB
Connectivity Technology
USB

Compatible Devices

PS4, PC, Gaming Console, Mac
Compatible Devices
PC, Mac reformatting required
Compatible Devices
Desktop, Laptop, Gaming Console
Compatible Devices
-
Compatible Devices
Laptop, PC, Gaming Console
Compatible Devices
Desktop

Flash Memory Size

2
Flash Memory Size
4 MB
Flash Memory Size
2
Flash Memory Size
1
Flash Memory Size
500 GB
Flash Memory Size
-

Hard Drive Size

2 TB
Hard Drive Size
4 TB
Hard Drive Size
-
Hard Drive Size
1 TB
Hard Drive Size
500 GB
Hard Drive Size
2 TB

Hard Disk Description

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

Hard Drive Interface

-
Hard Drive Interface
-
Hard Drive Interface
USB 2.0/3.0
Hard Drive Interface
USB 3.0
Hard Drive Interface
Serial ATA 300
Hard Drive Interface
USB 3.0

Hard Disk Interface

-
Hard Disk Interface
-
Hard Disk Interface
USB 2.0/3.0
Hard Disk Interface
USB 3.0
Hard Disk Interface
Serial ATA 300
Hard Disk Interface
USB 3.0

Specific Uses For Product

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

Hard Drive Rotational Speed

-
Hard Drive Rotational Speed
-
Hard Drive Rotational Speed
5400
Hard Drive Rotational Speed
-
Hard Drive Rotational Speed
5400 RPM
Hard Drive Rotational Speed
5400 RPM

Review

Review Review Review Review Review
-

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
    1
    Seagate

    Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive HDD — USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox -1-Year Rescue Service (STGX2000400)

    9.8 Light weight
    9.6 Storage space
    9.6 Simple to use

    Why we love it

    This hard drive is very easy to use
    You can store a lot of content on it
    It is very easy to connect to your computer
    Show more
  • 9.7
    2
    Toshiba
    14% Off

    Toshiba Canvio Advance 4TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Green - HDTCA40XG3CA

    9.8 movability
    9.6 Storage space
    9.4 Simple to use

    Why we love it

    The design is small and stylish with different color options.
    The software backs up your content automatically.
    The software protects your data with a password.
    Show more
  • 9.5
    3
    Western Digital

    Western Digital 2TB Elements Portable HDD, External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready - WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN

    9.6 Storage space
    9.6 Simple to use
    9.6 movability

    Why we love it

    Compact size 5TB capacity
    Fast data transfers USB 3.0 2.0
    Boosts PC performance Free up space
    Show more

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

The BestChoice.com Team selects top-of-the-line items from a wide selection and conducts rigorous evaluations on almost all the products available on the internet. We rank each product based on how well it matches our criteria.We can ensure that the product is well-tested with the help of our expertise, experts, and artificial intelligence technology. BestChoice.com requires consistent care for the products we review, ensuring that our assessments are always accurate and up to date.

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.