What’s one of the best exterior drive?
An exterior drive is likely to be much less handy than cloud storage nevertheless it’s nonetheless thought of a safer choice by many. Plus, for those who’re working out of inner storage for your loved ones images or work tasks, an exterior arduous drive or stable state drive is usually a good funding. We examined exterior arduous drives and located one of the best storage gadgets at a aggressive value for all of your exterior storage wants.
Although costs have decreased over time, an exterior SSD with terabytes of storage continues to be a big funding. You may also wish to think about arduous disk-based exterior drives. These aren’t as quick as SSDs however strike a greater steadiness between capability and price. No matter your selection, your exterior drive might also require particular cables. These are just some elements to bear in mind when looking for the proper arduous drive in your wants.
All of CNET’s prime picks for exterior arduous drives and SSDs are appropriate throughout platforms, together with Home windows PCs, Macs and gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox. You would possibly, nonetheless, must format the drives in your platform of selection. Typically, they will be designated to work with a selected platform and generally they arrive with backup software program that’s platform-specific. Until in any other case indicated, all of the PC drives talked about listed here are appropriate with Home windows however could be formatted for Mac. Plus, a lot of them embody cables or adapters to accommodate USB-C and USB-A ports. In the event that they don’t occur to be included, you’ll be able to simply purchase dongles for about $12.
Console players will wish to preserve an eye fixed out for platform-specific particulars. For instance, the PS5 can retailer and play PS4 video games from an exterior drive however not PS5 video games. The Xbox Series X, however, can retailer Collection X video games on an exterior arduous drive, however you will must switch them to inner storage earlier than enjoying them. Each consoles will allow you to develop inner storage. The Xbox Collection X makes use of a proprietary Seagate-made storage expansion card, and the PS5 makes use of a extra commonplace M.2 SSD.
With these caveats in thoughts, our present prime picks for one of the best exterior arduous drive and exterior solid-state drive are beneath. These (or almost an identical fashions with much less storage capability) have been used or anecdotally examined by CNET editors. We’ll replace our record of one of the best exterior arduous drives and SSDs as we check new merchandise. Ideally, it is best to have redundant backups — both off-site or within the cloud — for vital information and enormous information like household images, in case of theft or hearth. Ensure that to encrypt your information, too.
Learn extra: Best Gifts for Gamers 2024
Greatest exterior drives of 2024
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Western Digital, which owns SanDisk, sells its WD My Passport SSD as effectively this SanDisk Exterior Transportable SSD for principally the identical value. I just like the design of this mannequin a little bit higher, and it is technically ruggedized with an IP65 ranking, which means it might stand up to a sustained spray of water. Additionally, it is dust- and shock-resistant and has a USB-C interface.
The most recent model presents speeds as much as 1,050MB/s (simply over 1GB per second) and is correct round $90 for the 1TB model. Whereas step-up fashions just like the SanDisk Excessive Professional provide sooner learn/write speeds with the appropriate pc, that could be overkill until you repeatedly work with very giant information.
Your pace will fluctuate for those who’re transferring a mishmash of information to or from the USB drive, however when copying a single giant file it is best to be capable of get near that quick switch pace.
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First launched in 2022, the WD Black P40 has come down in value and is now fairly reasonably priced. It is an ultrafast SSD that is extra geared towards latest Home windows PCs geared up with USB 3.2 Gen2x2 dual-lane structure that enables for a theoretical 20Gbps information switch fee. It can be used with consoles and Macs. It is able to speeds as much as 2,000MB/s.
Rated for surviving drops of as much as 2 meters, the drive is sturdy and has an RGB lighting component that may be personalized with a Home windows PC.
You do pay a little bit of a premium over the WD Black D30 (see beneath), which comes with a stand and is extra geared to recreation consoles. This drive is extra future-proof as PCs are more and more geared up with USB 3.2 Gen2x2. Kingston’s XS2000 has related specs for round $10 much less for the 1TB mannequin, however some customers have famous this drive presents barely higher write speeds.
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For higher or worse, there’s presently just one technique to develop the storage in your Xbox Collection X/S for next-gen Collection X/S video games: the Seagate Enlargement Card. Much like the storage state of affairs with the PS5, you’ll be able to plug in any exterior SSD or arduous drive to develop the storage for traditional Xbox video games (previous-gen), however you’ll be able to retailer solely native Xbox Collection X/S video games on the sport console’s inner reminiscence or the Seagate Enlargement Card.
It plugs right into a proprietary slot on the again of the Xbox Collection X/S and “replicates the Xbox Velocity Structure” (Microsoft’s inner NVMe SSD tech) with peak speeds of as much as 2.4GBps of uncooked I/O throughput. Microsoft says that is greater than 40x the throughput of the Xbox One.
The enlargement card is available in 1TB ($150) and 2TB ($250) variations.
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That is SanDisk’s entry-level SSD, and whereas it would not have fairly the identical speedy efficiency because the step-up Excessive mannequin, it nonetheless has stable efficiency only a step or two behind with 800MB/s speeds in contrast with 1,050MB/s (that is about 1GB per second). The Excessive mannequin can be ruggedized, whereas this one is not. SanDisk says it is drop-tested to 2 meters. To get the 1TB SSD capability model prices round $85, whereas the 2TB goes for round $140. They provide greater than sufficient pace for normal use (by that I imply people who aren’t transferring round a whole lot of gigs of video information).
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You’ll be able to develop storage for PS4 video games in your PS5 by including a regular exterior SSD as a result of you’ll be able to play PS4 video games straight from an exterior SSD. That is not the case for PS5 video games, which take up a ton of house and could be performed solely from the PS5’s inner drive or an M.2 SSD that you just set up in a particular enlargement bay inside your PS5.
Whereas the Seagate FireCuda 530 technically is not an exterior SSD, it is not so completely different from Seagate’s Storage Enlargement Card for the Xbox Collection X/S in that it is an NVMe SSD with a really excessive switch pace (as much as 7,300MB/s, in response to Seagate, although my PS5 listed the highest fee at 6,800MB/s).
A number of M.2 SSDs will work with the PS5 (see our complete list) however ideally, you need one with an built-in heatsink. In any other case, you will have so as to add one.
The Seagate FireCuda 530 with heatsink begins round $67 for the 500GB model and jumps to roughly $140 for the 1TB model (hottest). The 2TB goes for round $200, whereas the 4TB sells for round $600.
Learn extra: Here’s How to Boost Your PlayStation 5 Storage
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As its identify implies, Kingston’s XS2000 is able to speeds as much as 2,000MB/s. Just like the WD Black P40 Recreation Drive and SanDisk Excessive Professional (see beneath), it is an ultrafast SSD that is extra geared towards latest Home windows PCs geared up with USB 3.2 Gen2x2 dual-lane structure that enables for a theoretical 20Gbps information switch fee. It can be used with consoles and Macs. (Word that the XS2000 is silver, whereas its predecessor is black).
Its design is a bit more plain than some SSDs on this record, however the XS2000 is compact (it is about half the dimensions of a harmonica), light-weight and comes with a rubber sleeve that is purported to make the gadget water-, shock- and dust-resistant, though it would not have an IP ranking. It is a respectable worth at roughly $105 for the 1TB mannequin.
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In case you’re on the lookout for a high-capacity exterior drive in your Xbox One, the WD Black P10 2TB moveable arduous drive is an effective worth at round $75 (the 5TB model is about $150). It provides you moveable storage in your coveted recreation assortment. This exterior drive additionally comes with a digital code that offers you one month of Microsoft’s Recreation Go Final for those who’re a brand new subscriber. There’s additionally a regular model of the moveable arduous drive, which additionally works with PCs and the PS4 for barely much less (it is lacking the Xbox branding however is in any other case the identical drive). The moveable drive can ship speeds as much as 130MBps.
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Whereas this drive works with each the PS4 and PS5, it might solely retailer PS4 video games for those who’re utilizing it with a PS5 (you’ll be able to play PS4 video games with out lag straight from the moveable arduous drive). The 5TB model is $148.
Word that Seagate makes an SSD Game Drive For Xbox however not PS4. The storage drive prices round $200 for 1TB.
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You should use any SSD along with your PlayStation PS4/PS5 or Xbox One, Xbox One Collection X or Collection S to retailer PS4 and Xbox One video games and different content material and choose up a pleasant pace bump when loading video games in contrast with a regular exterior arduous drive just like the WD Black P10 above. Word that with the Xbox Collection X, you’ll be able to solely archive Xbox Collection X and S video games to this drive, you’ll be able to’t retailer full video games on it (the Seagate Storage Expansion Card is required for that). The PS5 has the identical restriction — you’ll be able to solely retailer full PS4 video games on exterior drives.
On its floor, then, the WD Black D30 recreation drive is not all that particular. It has as much as a 900MBps switch fee, which is principally what a console’s USB 3.1 connection caps out at. It is the design that units it aside. It is thicker and extra rugged-looking than your typical SSD or flash drive and features a removable stand with rubber ft to maintain it from transferring round wherever you place it. That is an NVMe SSD (Non-Unstable Reminiscence Categorical) that gives wonderful efficiency and interoperability. It basically seems to be like a mini arduous drive, which is type of cool.
The usual model works with PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and One X and S consoles, in addition to PCs. The Xbox model proven within the picture merely consists of an Xbox brand and a month of Recreation Go Final, a $15 worth, for $20 extra. Alas, solely new subscribers can use the included code, so if you have already got a Recreation Go Final subscription, you are paying the additional $20 for the emblem.
The 1TB model is $150 or much less when on sale.
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SanDisk makes the Excessive Transportable SSD (see above) that delivers speeds as much as 1,050MB per second switch charges. In case you’re a photographer or videographer on the lookout for an excellent sooner SSD drive in your PC or Mac, the Excessive Professional Transportable SSD is the way in which to go for additional space for storing. The most recent model can ship as much as 2,000MBps (2GBps) learn/write speeds for those who pair it with the appropriate tools. To get the utmost pace, you want a number system that helps USB Gen 3.2 Gen 2×2 speeds.
Suitable with Macs and Home windows PCs, it is technically ruggedized with an IP65 ranking, which means it might stand up to a sustained spray of water and is dust-resistant. It is also shock-resistant (3-meter drop safety) and is supplied with a cast aluminum chassis that acts as a heatsink. It has a USB-C interface and consists of each USB-C-to-USB-C and USB-A-to-USB-C cables. The 1TB model is round $130 whereas the 2TB has dipped to round $220.
Word: Some customers say they’ve encountered reliability points with this drive and even had information mysteriously erased. SanDisk has acknowledged some firmware issues with sure drives. It is unclear if these points have been resolved or not, however we did not encounter any issues with the check drive we have been utilizing.
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SanDisk’s flagship Professional-G40 SSD begins at round $180 for a 1TB drive, whereas the 1TB model of Different World Computing’s Envoy Professional FX goes for $280. Each provide top-end speeds (the Envoy Professional FX will get as much as a 2,800MB/s switch pace whereas the Professional-G40 tops out barely increased at as much as 3,000MB/s). Whereas the drive will work simply high quality with Home windows and Linux computer systems, OWC has lengthy catered to the Mac market, and this exterior SSD actually performs effectively with Macs.
Sure, it prices greater than the Professional-G40, nevertheless it appears very effectively constructed with an aluminum chassis that does a great job dissipating warmth (it would not warmth up an excessive amount of). Alas, it would not include some form of carrying case, nevertheless it’s a formidable drive for those who can afford it and are on the lookout for ultrafast switch pace.
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Sure, even drive makers like Seagate are beginning to incorporate recycled supplies into their merchandise. The Extremely Contact is available in 4TB and 5TB storage capacities (we tried the 5TB) and apart from the eco angle, it is a fairly commonplace mechanical drive that options USB-C connectivity (sure, it is appropriate with a wide range of gadgets, together with Macs, Home windows machines and Chromebooks). It weighs in at 267g or 0.589 kilos.
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This drive presents related specs to the SanDisk Excessive SSD, with as much as 1,050MB learn/write speeds, nevertheless it would not have a ruggedized exterior. I’ve used one repeatedly and it is held up effectively and presents a comparatively quick efficiency. I’ve included it right here as a result of the 2TB is best priced than some comparable 2TB fashions.
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The WD My Guide desktop drive is out there in as much as a 24TB configuration. This drive has been round for some time and is geared towards individuals who want numerous storage however do not wish to pay a ransom to get it.
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After Seagate acquired LaCie a number of years in the past, LaCie turned the corporate’s premium model, and this exterior HDD 5TB mannequin could be discovered on numerous video editors’ desks (together with a lot at CNET). This rugged arduous disk drive makes use of a USB-C interface, is appropriate with Mac and Home windows PCs and is water- and shock-resistant. A 4TB Thunderbolt with USB-C model is out there for Thunderbolt-equipped Macs for about $260.
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Essential’s X6 exterior SSD is taken into account entry-level as a result of it is simply not as quick as higher-end fashions, which might provide learn/write speeds which might be twice and even 4 instances as quick (the Essential X8 is the step-up mannequin). Even so, the X6 is about 4x sooner than a drive that is not solid-state, with a switch pace of as much as 540MB per second for the 1TB and 2TB variations and as much as 800MB/s for the brand new 4TB model, which has one of many lowest costs for a 4TB SSD at round $280.
Comparatively, the 4TB SanDisk Excessive SSD, which has a switch pace ranking of as much as 1,050MB/s, prices $300. So that you’re principally a $20 financial savings for those who’re keen to take a little bit of a small pace hit (once more, not less than the 4GB model of the Essential X6 has been bumped as much as 800MB/s from 540MB/s).
Finances
Earlier than anything, you will wish to work out how a lot you are keen to spend on a brand new arduous drive. Compact solid-state drives that use flash reminiscence are pricier than slower and larger mechanical drives, however they’ve gone down in value during the last couple of years. In the present day, you may get a 1TB exterior SSD for as little as $65 or so. Very high-capacity SSDs are typically fairly expensive, so for those who’re trying for lots of storage for not an excessive amount of cash, you will doubtless must go for a mechanical drive.
Capability
Exterior drives begin at 500GB and go all the way in which as much as 22TB or so. For lots of people, particularly for those who’re a sooner SSD, the storage candy spot is 1TB or 2TB. In case you want greater than that, you will doubtless be deciding between spending rather a lot on a 4TB SSD or choosing a extra reasonably priced however slower 4TB or 5TB mechanical drive.
Knowledge switch pace
Stable state drives are delivering sooner and sooner information switch speeds. SSDs that provide the quickest speeds are additionally fairly expensive. You may must resolve simply what sort of efficiency you need and wish based mostly in your use case and the PC you may have (to get the quickest switch pace you want a pc with the newest USB expertise). Until you repeatedly switch large video information, you in all probability do not want a “professional” stage storage gadget. Word that even the slowest SSDs are typically about 5 instances as quick as a conventional mechanical drive.
Compatibility
Most exterior drives are appropriate with all kinds of computer systems, together with Macs, Home windows PCs and Chromebooks. Issues get extra difficult once you get into the realm of recreation consoles. To retailer PS5 or Xbox Collection X or S video games, you will have to buy a drive particularly for that activity. You should use most exterior drives to retailer and play PS4 video games or commonplace Xbox One video games (off the drive), however you will want to put in an inner drive to retailer and play PS5 video games. Xbox Collection X and S machines require you to purchase both the WD Black C50 enlargement card or Seagate Storage enlargement card to retailer and play Xbox Collection X or S video games.
Safety
A few of chances are you’ll be storing delicate information in your exterior storage drive. If that is the case, search for drives that embody security measures, together with encryption.
We check exterior drives based mostly on three key standards, evaluating equally styled and priced fashions. These standards are design, efficiency and worth.
- Design: We assess not solely the dimensions and weight of the drive (portability elements) however its general construct high quality and sturdiness, together with water-, shock- and dirt resistance.
- Efficiency: We consider learn/write efficiency by transferring 50GB of information to and from each a PC and a Mac pc a number of instances. We additionally consider how a lot a drive heats up.
- Worth: We examine drives with related efficiency specs in opposition to one another and assess how good a price they’re based mostly on their value for a similar capability drive.
Many drives are plug-and-play, however you will have to format a drive in your specific working system. Some drives include their very own software program utilities to arrange the drive for no matter working system you are utilizing.
Most of right this moment’s drives use USB-C interfaces and sometimes include a USB-C-to-USB-A adapter that permits you to join the drive to older USB-A ports. To get most speeds, you will want to attach the drive through USB-C.
USB-C connectors have 4 metallic pins which might be used to switch information. They’re generally known as “lanes.” USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) and USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) use one TX lane to transmit information and one RX lane to obtain information. A lot of the newest computer systems provide not less than these speeds, and extra computer systems are getting USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, which presents as much as two lanes of 10 Gbps operation for a theoretical 20Gbps information switch fee.
USB4 and Thunderbolt ports (Macs use Thunderbolt) assist you to switch information in addition to video and audio. Which means you’ll be able to join each exterior drives and shows. Thunderbolt/USB4 presents as much as a 40Gbps theoretical information switch fee. Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 ports look and act like USB-C ports and help USB-C connectivity. A pc with commonplace USB-C ports doesn’t help Thunderbolt gadgets.
To get the quickest speeds, you sometimes want a appropriate USB-C cable (the drive ought to include the appropriate cable to maximise information switch charges). A Thunderbolt-compatible cable is required for computer systems geared up with Thunderbolt ports to attain a most information switch pace. Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 ports appear to be USB-C ports and use a cable that appears like a USB-C cable however has a Thunderbolt insignia on it. Earlier Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 ports used their very own kind of connector (the port additionally accommodates a Mini DisplayPort cable for connecting to displays). You should purchase an adapter that converts a Thunderbolt 2 cable to Thunderbolt 3 and 4. There are additionally USB-C to Mini DisplayPort cables.
USB sorts and theoretical burst switch speeds.
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