Updated at: 19-04-2022 - By: Leo Hall

If you have one or more of the best external hard drives on the market, your digital life will be a lot easier. An external hard drive is an excellent solution if you have numerous PCs in your home but just a slow local network connection to connect them.

WD My Book (WDBBGB, USB 3.0, 4TB)

SPECIFICATIONS

From 3TB to 18TB of storage space is available.

USB 3.0 interface

Inches, width, height, and depth

It may resemble an octopus that appeared in 2001: A Space Odyssey: The WD My Book external hard drive, on the other hand, proved to be the most efficient one we could find for the price. The WD Backup software is included, as is a 256-bit AES encryption key. For less than $100, you can get a four-terabyte hard drive. Additionally, there are systems available with storage capacity of up to 18TB.

G-Technology ArmorATD

SPECIFICATIONS

1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, and 5 TB

USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C Interface

Dimensions of the 2TB drive are 5.14 by 3.34 by 0.08 inches. 4TB 5.2 inches x 3.5 and 1.2 inches

Built for long-term use. ArmorATD has three layers of shock resistance, including internal shock mounts and an aluminum enclosure, as well as a rubber bumper that can be removed for further protection against falls. It is also dust, rain, and crushing resistant (up to 1000 pounds).

To ensure compatibility with a wide range of laptops, the models 2TB and 4TB both come with a USB Type-A adapter so that they can be used in conjunction with their USB Type-C interface.

Seagate Backup Plus External hard drive 5TB

SPECIFICATIONS

1 TB, 2 TB, and 5 TB

USB 3.0 interface

It measures 7cm by 11cm by 1cm.

Seagate now offers 5TB of storage for the same price as four TB of storage, which can be used on a range of devices and operating systems. Size and weight are 7.62cm wide by 11.43cm long and the thickness is just 1.9cm (3 3 4.5 0.75 inches). 0.75 millimeters) and less than 200 grams (approximately half a pound).

A one-year warranty on data recovery is one of the biggest differences, but it’s important to underline that they’re not magical if your disk is destroyed. Having a copy of your data in a safe place is critical. In order to do it well, you need to have several copies of everything, including backups. When you try to fix a broken hard drive, what is the quality of your backup?

There are many other colors for the drive to choose from, so if you’d like it to stand out among the black HDDs, or if you’d rather use different colors for different projects, you can do so while still being able to tell “which drive holds what.” Better than looking at stickers.

External hard drive

SPECIFICATIONS

3TB, 4TB, 6TB, 8TB, 10TB, 12TB, 14TB, and 18TB

USB 3.0 interface

These are the measurements in centimeters: 4.80

There is a beautiful case that may be vertically positioned for the Elements drives. This seemingly trivial detail saves desk space, but it also helps keep the drive’s internals cool, making it more efficient. Vents can be found on the top and bottom of the device. holes.

There is a 3.5-inch desktop SATA drive with 6Gb transfer speeds and USB 3.0 integrated into the SATA interface at the heart of WD Elements. Internal drives that are located near the CPU or stacked horizontally on top of each other are less likely to last as long if they are stacked vertically with enough of air space between them.

Windows machines may use the drive because it is formatted in the NTFS file system. With a file size of 12TB, creating a full-format format could take all day, which is why using the “rapid format” is an excellent alternative. For Mac users, plugging and formatting the drive is a simple process that works immediately.

Since the WD Elements are desktop drives housed in an external container, they cannot be powered via a USB port. It’s about the size of a mobile charger and has a barrel connector for the wall wart.

SanDisk G-Drive Professional 18TB external hard drive

SPECIFICATIONS

4TB, 6TB, 12TB, and 18TB of storage space are all available.

Supported Devices and Ports: Thunderbolt 3 (USB-powered)

the following measurements apply:

An excellent external hard drive can be obtained by purchasing an industrial hard drive and enclosing it in a strong aluminum shell that is both lightweight and attractive. Adding a USB-C port capable of 5 Gbps, two Thunderbolt ports, and making this drive macOS-ready makes it the most powerful external drive for Mac computers.

Powered by a 7200 RPM class Ultrastar HDD, the G-Drive Pro is capable of up to 195 MB/s in its aluminum housing. In a range of drives that starts at 4TB, the 18TB model is the most powerful. Six drives can be connected to each other using the same Thunderbolt cable that connects to your Mac (or the PC).

The drive comes with an AC power adaptor, although it can also operate without it if necessary. The USB 3.2/Thunderbolt connection eliminates the need for a power adaptor and increases its portability. You can fit it in your bag without the need for an AC adaptor, and it doesn’t have the jumble of wires that other drives have.

External hard drives that are rugged like the ADATA HD710 PRO

SPECIFICATIONS

1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, and 5 TB

USB 3.0 interface

The following are the product’s measurements in centimeters: 9.6

Few components necessitated Moving parts in HDDs are very small. HDDs have a tendency to be fragile. If you make a mistake, all of your data could be lost in an instant. Physical shocks like being hit with a hammer, dropped, or tipped over are the most common cause of disk issues. The platter’s head may fall or the platter may be damaged if the platter is subjected to sudden shocks. Your day and your data could be in jeopardy if you expose it to the elements. Because of this, a regular external drive poses a risk when used outdoors.

With an IP68 rating, a gadget can be submerged in water for 30 minutes while enduring dust, grime, and sand. Isn’t that fantastic? ADATA HD 710 Pro has this type of certification up its sleeve. Using a silicone rubber shell, a three-layered structure, and vibration detection technology, the company went above and beyond the call of duty to protect HDD internals against falls of up to 1.5 meters. Older models were more expensive and less appealing, so we had a look at them.

Buffalo MiniStation Extreme External Hard Drive

SPECIFICATIONS

1 TB or 2 TB of storage

USB 3.0 interface

The following are the product’s measurements in centimeters: 8.99, 14.10, and 2.1

It’s impervious to water and shock. There are several external hard drives on the market that are fragile and potentially harmful, but Buffalo’s MiniStation Extreme NFC is a fantastic alternative.

The 2.5-inch computer hard disk is protected by shock-absorbing bumpers that can resist falls of up to 1.2 meters from the chassis (4 inches). The only way it will survive being dropped from a table is if you toss it off the table. Due to its IP5X rating, it’s almost dust-proof. According to the IPX3 certification, it can withstand water sprays aimed at it from all sides at a 60-degree angle.

With the 256-bit AES encryption, which includes near-field communications (NFC) functionality, a single touch on an iPhone can unlock the device. Because it has already been formatted, NTFS can be used on a Windows computer right away. If you want to, you can format it as HFS+ on a Mac and, of course, you can. The exFAT format allows you to utilize the same drive on a Mac, PC, and Playstation 5 and 4 simultaneously.

The drive is equipped with Buffalo’s “ModeChanger” utility for Windows and Mac that can switch it to Open to Secure and vice versa. The drive has to be reconstructed after the mode changeover, which takes less than a minute.

HD My Cloud Home 8TB external hard drive

“ModeChanger” program for Windows and Mac can be used to switch the drive from open mode to secure mode. Shortly after the mode changeover, the drive has to be reconstructed, which takes around one minute.

2TB, 3TB, 4TB, 6TB, 8TB capacity

Input/output devices: USB 3.0 and LAN

These are the dimensions of the item: 5.35x14x17.5cm.

When it comes to storing data in a cloud storage service, you’re at the mercy of your bank account. Without paying for the cloud storage, your account will be closed and your data will be lost forever. Make your home’s internal hard drive a cloud-connected server to get the greatest results.

This is not the first time Western Digital has entered the market. Eight years ago, we had a peek at it. Newer models maintain the vertical structure but feature a sleek and attractive design that incorporates both white and silver at the bottom. The numerous vents on the box’s top and bottom ensure excellent interior ventilation. The USB 3.0 port can be used to connect an external flash drive or hard drive, as well as the Gigabit Ethernet port on the back.

All that’s required is a power supply and a network cable with an RJ45 connector, and then you’re ready to connect your broadband router. If you choose, you may also link your Android or iOS app to your “WD My Cloud” account. Your stuff may be viewed by loading mycloud.com into a browser and from there you can manage your content, including films and photographs saved to the MyCloud device. Additionally, syncing is an option. There’s more options like OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox.

5TB of WD Black Game Drive external hard drive

SPECIFICATIONS

Storage options include 2TB, 4TB, and 5TB drives.

USB 3.0 interface

11.81 x 8.79 x 2.08cm in length and width

However, it appears to be a cargo container. There are two Hex screws on each side of the black rectangle. The LED on the inside is the same one found on many external disks. At the rear of the device, there is a USB Micro-B connector that connects it to a USB 3.2 Gen-1 interface. There’s also an A-to-MicroB connector that’s 18.0 inches (45.7 cm) long.

Because this drive is compatible with all games, it stands out from the rest of the pack. Plug-and-play compatibility for Sony PlayStation 4, PS5, and Xbox One are all included into the pre-formatted drive, which includes support for the ExFAT file system.

There is a 2.5-inch 5,400 RPM SATA hard disk inside. SSD performance will be limited to 140 MBps at most. It’s primarily intended for storing downloaded games that can then be transferred between the console’s internal storage and external storage. You may use the WD Drive utility program and the WD Security app to generate passwords, check the health of your drive, and perform other maintenance chores on PCs that are running Windows.

A Sony or Samsung large-screen smart TV or computer connected to one may store multimedia files on it for long periods of time. FAT32, ExFat, and NTFS are supported by some smart TVs. Is it very common for them to be able to operate on all three?

WD My Passport

The Best External Hard Drive

SPECIFICATIONS

1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, and 5 TB

HDD is the only kind of drive available.

It is compatible with USB 3.2 Gen1 (USB 3.0)

120 MB/sec for sequential reading.

WD’s Passport external HDD is an excellent choice for those looking for an HDD. It has a long history of password protection and can retain at least all of your data securely, with a capacity of up to 5TB.

Conclusion:

When purchasing an external HDD, there are many things to keep in mind. If this helps you narrow your alternatives, we’d appreciate it. What are some general pointers? In the case when you don’t plan on moving your hard disk regularly, an HDD is the best option.. SSDs are the best option if you’re searching for fast performance but don’t need a lot of storage or are willing to pay more. This recommendation applies in both cases: USB 3.0 and USB-C ports should be supported by any external storage device that you intend to utilize.

In the field of external hard drives, there are several well-known manufacturers. Western Digital, SanDisk, and Seagate are just a few examples. An external hard drive from a well-known manufacturer is usually worth the money, as less well-known manufacturers may not have as many alternatives for repairing damaged drives.

There is an external hard drive out there to fit your demands, and perhaps you have a better knowledge of their most critical features now that you’ve read this article.