External hard drives designed for portability can be more expensive but might be worth it if you need to frequently travel for work or play. The interface of the best external hard drive will be easy to read, user-friendly and intuitive. Today's best external hard drive deals. Best thunderbolt 3 portable hard drive. PNY Elite 480GB USB 3.0 Portable SSD — $59, was $150; Western Digital Elements 4TB External Hard Drive — $90, was $100; Western Digital Easystore 4TB.
- The Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC is an elegant-looking external hard drive which features a US Military Standard rugged chassis. This external drive uses an integrated cable, offering USB 3.0 connectivity and provides NFC support, which can be used as an unlocking method for the drive.
- Seagate Expansion 1TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0 (STEA1000400) System requirements.
There might come a time when you run out of storage on your laptop's hard drive or simply want to back up all of your files. You can open your computer and upgrade the storage inside, assuming your computer is repair-friendly. Alternatively, you can buy an external hard drive. Not only is it a useful way to back up your data, but it lets you easily move files from one device to another. These are the best external hard drives you can buy today.
The best external hard drives:
Editor's note:We will update our list of the best external hard drives over time.
1. Seagate Backup Plus Slim
Our list starts with the Seagate Backup Plus Slim. The headline feature is how slim it is relative to other external hard drives with similar storage configurations. Another nice touch is the aluminum enclosure, along with temporary memberships to Mylio Create and Adobe Creative Cloud.
The 120MB/s transfer speed isn't the fastest, but it's typical of mechanical hard drives. Also, the Backup Plus Slim uses USB 3.0 instead of USB-C, which is something to note if your computer only has USB-C ports.
2. Western Digital My Passport Ultra
At first blush, the Western Digital My Passport Ultra looks like any other external hard drive. However, taking a closer look reveals a surprisingly compact hard drive with one key feature: USB-C.
Also read:The best USB-C cables
Yes, there's a USB-C port on the My Passport Ultra. The hard drive comes with a USB-C-to-USB-C cable, though it also includes a USB 3.1 adapter for those with access to the older port. Transfer speeds hover around 125MB/s, so don't expect blazing read and write speeds. At least the hard drive features an anodized metal finish.
3. Samsung T5
Unlike mechanical hard drives, the Samsung T5 is an external solid-state drive (SSD). That means there are no moving parts to worry about. That also means the Samsung T5 is incredibly slim and compact, easily fitting in a shirt pocket.
Don't let the size fool you into thinking transfer speeds are slow, however. Thanks to its use of Samsung's V-NAND flash memory and USB-C, the T5 provides transfer speeds of up to 540MB/s.
4. SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD
We continue the portable SSD offerings with the SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD. According to SanDisk, maximum sequential read and write speeds are rated at 1050 and 1000MB/s, respectively.
Apart from being speedy, the Extreme Portable External SSD is also rugged. The portable SSD features an IP55 rating for protection against water and dust. Also, it can withstand drops from up to two meters onto a concrete floor.
5. Adata SE800
There are plenty of hard drives out there with massive capacities, but they sacrifice a great deal of portability. On the other hand, the Adata SE800 offers a powerful combination of up to a 1TB capacity and heavy-duty endurance.
With read and write speeds of up to 1000Mbps and a weight of just 40 grams, the SE800 is perfect to take on the go. It packs USB-C connectivity, but the durability features are where this Adata option really shines. The hard drive is MIL-STD 810G rated for drop tests and it carries an IP68 rating for water and dust.
Speedy USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity helps to guarantee top speeds while a hairline brushed metal finish gives the Adata SE800 a luxurious feel. Winrar download link. It comes in either 512GB or 1TB capacities.
6. Western Digital My Book Duo
Jumping from the most portable hard drive to the least, the Western Digital My Book Duo is a tank. It's best for those who mostly stick to their desks and want to maximize their storage options.
The My Book Duo is RAID-0 ready with WD Red drives inside and a USB-C port along with two USB-A options allow for plenty of peripherals. As for speed, the My Book Duo handles up to 360Mbps sequential reading and can switch to RAID-1 to mirror your data. There may be faster speeds out there, but with a capacity of up to 24TB, you should never be hurting for space with this one.
7. LaCie Rugged
Another option that's designed to face the elements, the LaCie Rugged makes our list of the best external hard drives for a number of reasons. From the capacity of up to 5TB to the six different formats, there's plenty of flexibility available in a compact package.
You'll probably never misplace the LaCie Rugged thanks to the bright orange bumper. The bumper works twofold — protecting the device from falls and water, and housing a convenient USB-C cable. You can max out the laptop transfer speed at 130Mbps and the LaCie Rugged can reportedly withstand up to one ton of pressure.
8. Western Digital Black P10
Pretty much all of the best external hard drives so far have been made for everyday use. King cobra 400 sz unlimited driver. However, gamers often find themselves needing extra storage too with how large games have become. That's where the Western Digital Black P10 makes its name. With a capacity of up to 5TB, you should be able to manage up to 125 new games at a size of 36GB apiece.
Also read: The best gaming laptops you can buy right now
Beyond the storage capacity, the Black P10 has an industrial design that feels like it belongs in your gaming arsenal. It's smaller than a standard Xbox controller and sits flat, and speeds of up to 140Mbps should keep you running smoothly. Weighing in at just about eight ounces, you should be able to stuff the Black P10 in a backpack and not feel any difference.
That was our list of the best external hard drives you can buy right now. https://hereafil199.weebly.com/folx-pro-downloader-for-mac-5-13.html. Check out a few of these other PC accessories to complete your setup:
Video compressor pc download. You might run out of storage on your Surface PC and need additional space to store your documents, music, videos, or other files. It is a good idea to pick up an external hard drive as it usually has a large capacity and cheap in price.
There are several types of external hard drives out there for you to select depending on your requirements. Speed, capacity, portability, and price are what we're going to discuss in this article. Read on to find out which external hard drive is the best one for your Surface PC.
How Many Types of External Hard Drive?
To help you pick up the right external hard drive, we categorized it into three different types:
- Portable SSD – The Solid State Drive (SSD) stores information in microchips like a large memory stick while the traditional hard drive stores data on a storage platter that's accessed with a mechanical arm. As the SSD has no moving parts, the information can be read much faster than the traditional hard drive.
- Portable Hard Drive – A portable external hard drive uses a traditional 2.5″ hard disk drive that's frequently used in a laptop computer. This is a perfect external hard drive for most users in terms of affordability, portability, capacity, and speed. It is also available in wide options of capacity starting from 500 GB up to 4 TB.
- External Desktop Hard Drive – A desktop external hard drive uses a traditional 3.5″ hard disk drive that's frequently used in desktop computers. The main benefit of this type of storage is the inexpensive and large capacity of up to 10 TB on a single disk. However, it requires its own dedicated power supply so it's not ideal for portability.
Featured Recommendations
Best External Hard Drives for Microsoft Surface in 2021 |
---|
1. Best Portable SSD for Microsoft Surface |
1. SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD V2 | 1TB $149.99 |
2. Samsung T7 Portable SSD | 1TB, Red $149.99 |
2. Best Portable Hard Drives for Microsoft Surface |
3. WD My Passport | 2TB $137.98 |
4. Toshiba Canvio Basics | 2TB $57.45 |
3. Best External Desktop Hard Drives for Microsoft Surface |
5. Seagate Backup Plus Hub | 8 TB $179.99 |
6. WD My Book Desktop External HDD | 8 TB $142.99 |
1 Best Portable SSD for Microsoft Surface
We continue the portable SSD offerings with the SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD. According to SanDisk, maximum sequential read and write speeds are rated at 1050 and 1000MB/s, respectively.
Apart from being speedy, the Extreme Portable External SSD is also rugged. The portable SSD features an IP55 rating for protection against water and dust. Also, it can withstand drops from up to two meters onto a concrete floor.
5. Adata SE800
There are plenty of hard drives out there with massive capacities, but they sacrifice a great deal of portability. On the other hand, the Adata SE800 offers a powerful combination of up to a 1TB capacity and heavy-duty endurance.
With read and write speeds of up to 1000Mbps and a weight of just 40 grams, the SE800 is perfect to take on the go. It packs USB-C connectivity, but the durability features are where this Adata option really shines. The hard drive is MIL-STD 810G rated for drop tests and it carries an IP68 rating for water and dust.
Speedy USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity helps to guarantee top speeds while a hairline brushed metal finish gives the Adata SE800 a luxurious feel. Winrar download link. It comes in either 512GB or 1TB capacities.
6. Western Digital My Book Duo
Jumping from the most portable hard drive to the least, the Western Digital My Book Duo is a tank. It's best for those who mostly stick to their desks and want to maximize their storage options.
The My Book Duo is RAID-0 ready with WD Red drives inside and a USB-C port along with two USB-A options allow for plenty of peripherals. As for speed, the My Book Duo handles up to 360Mbps sequential reading and can switch to RAID-1 to mirror your data. There may be faster speeds out there, but with a capacity of up to 24TB, you should never be hurting for space with this one.
7. LaCie Rugged
Another option that's designed to face the elements, the LaCie Rugged makes our list of the best external hard drives for a number of reasons. From the capacity of up to 5TB to the six different formats, there's plenty of flexibility available in a compact package.
You'll probably never misplace the LaCie Rugged thanks to the bright orange bumper. The bumper works twofold — protecting the device from falls and water, and housing a convenient USB-C cable. You can max out the laptop transfer speed at 130Mbps and the LaCie Rugged can reportedly withstand up to one ton of pressure.
8. Western Digital Black P10
Pretty much all of the best external hard drives so far have been made for everyday use. King cobra 400 sz unlimited driver. However, gamers often find themselves needing extra storage too with how large games have become. That's where the Western Digital Black P10 makes its name. With a capacity of up to 5TB, you should be able to manage up to 125 new games at a size of 36GB apiece.
Also read: The best gaming laptops you can buy right now
Beyond the storage capacity, the Black P10 has an industrial design that feels like it belongs in your gaming arsenal. It's smaller than a standard Xbox controller and sits flat, and speeds of up to 140Mbps should keep you running smoothly. Weighing in at just about eight ounces, you should be able to stuff the Black P10 in a backpack and not feel any difference.
That was our list of the best external hard drives you can buy right now. https://hereafil199.weebly.com/folx-pro-downloader-for-mac-5-13.html. Check out a few of these other PC accessories to complete your setup:
Video compressor pc download. You might run out of storage on your Surface PC and need additional space to store your documents, music, videos, or other files. It is a good idea to pick up an external hard drive as it usually has a large capacity and cheap in price.
There are several types of external hard drives out there for you to select depending on your requirements. Speed, capacity, portability, and price are what we're going to discuss in this article. Read on to find out which external hard drive is the best one for your Surface PC.
How Many Types of External Hard Drive?
To help you pick up the right external hard drive, we categorized it into three different types:
- Portable SSD – The Solid State Drive (SSD) stores information in microchips like a large memory stick while the traditional hard drive stores data on a storage platter that's accessed with a mechanical arm. As the SSD has no moving parts, the information can be read much faster than the traditional hard drive.
- Portable Hard Drive – A portable external hard drive uses a traditional 2.5″ hard disk drive that's frequently used in a laptop computer. This is a perfect external hard drive for most users in terms of affordability, portability, capacity, and speed. It is also available in wide options of capacity starting from 500 GB up to 4 TB.
- External Desktop Hard Drive – A desktop external hard drive uses a traditional 3.5″ hard disk drive that's frequently used in desktop computers. The main benefit of this type of storage is the inexpensive and large capacity of up to 10 TB on a single disk. However, it requires its own dedicated power supply so it's not ideal for portability.
Featured Recommendations
Best External Hard Drives for Microsoft Surface in 2021 |
---|
1. Best Portable SSD for Microsoft Surface |
1. SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD V2 | 1TB $149.99 |
2. Samsung T7 Portable SSD | 1TB, Red $149.99 |
2. Best Portable Hard Drives for Microsoft Surface |
3. WD My Passport | 2TB $137.98 |
4. Toshiba Canvio Basics | 2TB $57.45 |
3. Best External Desktop Hard Drives for Microsoft Surface |
5. Seagate Backup Plus Hub | 8 TB $179.99 |
6. WD My Book Desktop External HDD | 8 TB $142.99 |
1 Best Portable SSD for Microsoft Surface
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD V2 | 1TB
Rugged Portable Storage with 1GB/s Read/Write & IP55 Rating
Having a super-fast portable SSD around is really handy when you want to offload your current project or document to make extra space on your Surface. This new version of SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD supports high-speed transfers up to 1050 MB/s read speed and 1000 MB/s write speed so you can directly work on your project without transfer back and forth to your Surface. It's also great for housing your active Steam gaming library, with that fast speed, your game will be loaded up in a snap.
With the rugged design and IP55 rating, this portable SSD can stand up to dust, rain, splashes, and spills. By using the latest NVMe SSD, it's really compact and portable easily fits in the palm of the hand or in any pocket. It compatible with both Windows and Mac computers and backed by a 3-year warranty.
- Available Storages
- Performance
- Read Speed: Up to 1050 MB/s
- Write Speed: Up to 1000 MB/s
- Storage Type: NVMe SSD
- Interface: USB 3.1 Gen 2 up to 10 Gb/s
- Product Features
- Rugged Design - It is certified to stand up to 2-meter drops.
- Compact. It's super portable easy to fit any pockets.
- Shock-resistant & vibration-resistant - It built to survive an extreme environment and temperature.
- IP55 Rating - for water and dust-resistant.
- Built-in Hardware Encryption - It supports 256-bit AES hardware encryption with password protection.
- 3-year limited manufacturer warranty
- In the box
- SanDisk Extreme PortableUSB-C CableUSB-C to USB-A AdapterUser Guide
Samsung T7 Portable SSD | 1TB, Red
Ultra Portable and High-Speed 1050 MB/s from Samsung
The latest T7 Portable SSD from Samsung now two times faster than before with a read speed up to 1050 MB/s and 1000 MB/s write speed. When compared to the traditional external hard drives it's 9.5 times faster. Despite its slim and aluminum unibody, it's strong and has a shock-resistant bracket to secure your data even with drops from 6ft.
It supports Windows, Mac, and Android with the embedded app on the drive and on Google Play. The app lets you secure the drive with a password and managing drive firmware updates. Whether your Surface has only USB-A or USB-C port, this portable SSD comes with both types of USB-A and USB-C cables in the box.
Note To get the maximum speed of 1050 MB/s of the drive, your Surface needs to have USB-C or USB-A ports with USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps). For Surface devices with USB 3.1 Gen 1 (aka. 3.0), the maximum speed will be capped at 625 MB/s (5Gbps).
- Design & Portability
- Dimension: 85 mm x 57 mm x 8 mm
- Weight: 58 grams
- All metal and unibody design
- Performance
- Read Speed: Up to 1050 MB/s
- Write Speed: Up to 1000 MB/s
- Storage Type: NVMe SSD
- Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 2Supports transfers speed 10 Gb/s, and compatible with USB 3.0/2.0
- Product Features
- Advanced Heat ControlIt uses ePCM tech and Dynamic Thermal Guard to better control heat.
- Shock-Resistant Solid State Storage together with aluminum unibody construction, your data is safe when falls of up to 6ft.
- Password-ProtectionIt comes with embedded software to help set up a password and get the latest firmware updates.
- 3-year warranty
- Advanced Heat Control
- Available Capacity
- Available ColorsBlueGrayRed
- In the box
- Samsung T7 Portable SSDUSB-C to USB-C cableUSB-A to USB-C cableUser Guide
Best Portable Usb External Hard Drives
2 Best Portable Hard Drives for Microsoft Surface
WD My Passport | 2TB
For most users this WD My Passport probably the best option for general purpose uses. It offers an overall perfect balance in design, size, speed, and affordability. This model comes in a wide range of colors and capacities, so you can pick up the right one for you. In terms of security, WD featuring 256-bit AES hardware encryption with provided WD Security software. Plus, the WD My Passport offers fast transfer speeds via USB 3.0 connections and also backward compatible with USB 2.0.
- Design & Portability
- Dimension: 4.33 x 3.21 x 0.54 inch
- Weight: 5.92 ounces
- Available in multiple colors.
- Speed & Capacity
- USB 3.0 compatible with USB 2.0
- Capacity: 1/2/3/4 TB
- Tools & Softwares
- WD Backup - automatically backup your photos, media, and documents.
- WD Security - work together with built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption.
- Comes with a 3-year warranty
Toshiba Canvio Basics | 2TB
The next external hard drive is from Toshiba that features a sleek and beautiful matte finishing that makes it sit well on the table. It is also equipped with a smudge-resistant finish that protects the device in case you drop it to the ground. It provides excellent added storage space to your Surface PC and any other device that is compatible with it. It is a bus-powered device, meaning that it doesn't require an external power adapter to operate.
- Design & Portability
- Dimension: 4.3 x 3.1 x 0.55 inch
- Weight: 5.28 ounces
- Only available in Black.
- Speed & Capacity
- Using USB 3.0 backward compatible with USB 2.0
- Capacity: 500 GB, 1/2/3 TB
- Comes with a one year Toshiba warranty
3 Best External Desktop Hard Drives for Microsoft Surface
Best Portable Usb External Hard Drive Best Buy
Seagate Backup Plus Hub | 8 TB
Seagate STEL8000100 Backup Plus Hub 8TB External Desktop Hard Drive Storage Tuneskit audible converter 2 0 0 30.
- Design & Portability
- Dimension: 4.65 x 7.8 x 1.61 inch
- Weight: 2.34 lbs
- Speed & Capacity
- USB 3.0 compatible with USB 2.0
- Capacity: 3/4/6/8/10TB
- Integrated USB 3.0 hub
- 2 x USB 3.0 ports on the front for connecting additional USB devices.
- Each port is powerful enough for charging your phone or tablet.
- Tools & Softwares
- Downloadable Seagate backup – easily backup your photos, media, and documents.
- Mac Seagate NTFS Driver – allows NTFS can be read/write on Mac computers.
- Add-on Benefits
- Includes 2-month complimentary membership to Creative Cloud Photography Plan.
WD My Book Desktop External HDD | 8 TB
WD 8TB My Book Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 - WDBBGB0080HBK-NESN
- Design & Portability
- Dimension: 5.5 x 6.7 x 1.9 inch
- Weight: 3 lbs
- Speed & Capacity
- USB 3.0 compatible with USB 2.0
- Single Drive: 3/4/6/8/10 TB
- Dual Drive: 12/16/20 TB
- Tools & Softwares
- WD Backup – automatically backup your photos, media, and documents.
- WD Security – work together with built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption.
- Apple Time Machine compatibility
- Downloadable Acronis True Image WD Edition for Windows.
- Comes with a 3-year warranty
4 Outdated and Out of Stock Recommedations
Samsung T5 Portable SSD | 500 GB
SAMSUNG T5 Portable SSD 500GB - Up to 540MB/s - USB 3.1 External Solid State Drive, Black (MU-PA500B/AM)
- Design & Portability
- Dimension: 2.3 x 3 x 0.4 inch
- Weight: 1.6 ounces
- All metal and unibody design
- Speed & Capacity
- USB 3.1 Gen 2 compatible with USB 3.0/2.0
- Read/Write speeds up to 540 MB/s
- Capacity: 250/500 GB, 1/2 TB
- Security
- You have an option to enable password protection and AES 256-bit hardware encryption.
- Included Cables
- USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable
- USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable
- Comes with a 3-year warranty
SanDisk Extreme 500 Portable SSD - 480 GB
SanDisk Extreme 500 Portable 480GB SSD (SDSSDEXT-480G-G25)
- Design & Portability
- Dimension: 2.98 x 2.98 x 0.42 inch
- Durable design with a convenient metal clip
- Speed & Capacity
- USB 3.0 compatible with USB 2.0
- Read speed up to 430 MB/s
- Capacity: 120/240/250/480/500 GB, 1 TB
- Security & Software
- SanDisk SecureAccess – the software allows you to create a vault with password protection and 128-bit AES encryption.
Conclusion
Those are the top external hard drives that served a reliable job in a different type of purpose you will come up with. The traditional external hard drive offers a perfect balance of price, speed, capacity, and portability. While the portable SSD offers a much better reading/writing speed for more expensive. Lastly, the desktop external hard drive is recommended for a large repository that can store up to 10 TB per disk.