Top 11 Best External Hard Disk [Most Reliable Hard Drives]

Here we review and compare the Top External Hard Drive with features to guide you to find out the Best External Hard Disk as per your need:

Storage spaces have become the epitome of using a laptop or a PC device, and without an external hard disk, it’s not possible. There has been a tremendous rise in the development of both HDDs and SSDs in the past few years, and the market is booming.

Having the best external hard disk will allow you to store files outside of your computer. This will free up space inside your PC and hence it will perform better. The external hard disk is helpful in multiple ways, not only in storing files but you can also connect them to your gaming console and start playing your favorite games.

Best External Hard Disk

In 2022, hundreds of brands have offered external hard disks and almost thousands of devices to choose from. As a result, this can get a daunting task ahead of you to pick the right one. Don’t get confused. In this tutorial, we have reviewed the top 11 External hard disks available. You can simply pick any of them as per your requirement.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q #1) Do external HDDs last longer than internal?

Answer: To be fair, it does last longer than any internal storage drives. It is mostly because such devices are built with precise quality and are available for your use. They are more robust in nature as well. Internal drives may get heated up as you use your laptop. However, this won’t be the same with an external storage drive. It does not heat up easily.

Q #2) How long does an external drive last?

Answer: Everything that you use certainly has an expiry. However, when it comes to using external hard drives, they last for about 3 to 5 years. As per researches, almost 80 percent of the total hard disks last about 5 years on the go.

Q #3) Can you fix an external drive?

Answer: Yes, you can, but only if you can retrieve the data. If not, you will not be able to retrieve it at all. If there is an error in the drive, you will need to go to the disk management profile present. Here you will be able to update the file system. It is always recommended to keep a backup of the devices.

Recommended Reading =>> Hard Drive Not Showing Up: Fixed

List Of Best Hard Drive

Here is a list of the best external hard disk available in the market:

1. WD Elements Portable Drive
2. Seagate Portable Drive
3. Maxone 500GB Ultra Slim Drive
4. Toshiba Canvio Basics Portable Drive
5. Silicon Power Portable External Hard Drive
6. LaCie Rugged Mini Drive
7. SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD
8. Seagate Game Drive Portable HDD
9. WD Portable Gaming Drive
10. Samsung T5 Portable SSD
11. Toshiba Canvio Gaming Portable Drive

Comparison Table Of Best Hard Disk Brand

Let us explore the most reliable external hard drive below.

#1) WD Elements Portable Drive

Best for high capacity.

The WD Elements Portable External Drive is a professional device that comes with reliable storage and capacity. With a 2 TB max space, you can install multiple data files on this device. Moreover, the product comes along with universal connectivity that suits both laptops and PC setups. You can use this product for a similar SSD performance.

Suggested reading =>> Compare Fastest SSD Drives

Apart from this, the product comes with reading and writing speed of 1 Gbps, which is quite fast. It is one of the most reliable external drives available in the market today.

Features:

• It is compatible with both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0
• It comes with fast data transfer rates
• 2-year manufacturer’s limited warranty
• Works with most of the devices

Technical Specifications:

Verdict: As per customer reviews, the WD Elements Portable External Drive comes with an improved PC performance. The product can add an external storage space that ensures a smooth transfer of data files. Users have reported no lag in data transmission, even with large files.

Price: It is available for $51.90 on Amazon.

=> Click here to buy

#2) Seagate Portable Drive

Best for portable HDD.

The Seagate Portable External Drive comes from one of the best computer peripheral manufacturers and continues the form in stability and reliability. This device is equipped with wide compatibility that works with both PCs and Mac laptops. With a 2 TB of storage space, you can fit almost everything into the device. Moreover, the product is slim in nature and easy to carry.

Features:

• It comes with 18 inches USB 3.0 cable.
• The device provides a plug-and-play feature.
• You can get a 1-year warranty from the manufacturer.
• It comes with a completely lightweight body.
• The product has a drag-and-drop functionality.

Technical Specifications:

Verdict: As per customer reviews, the Seagate Portable External Hard Drive comes along with a lower transfer rate. Although for smaller files, it never seemed to be a problem, when it comes to the larger files, the device seems to slow down a bit. Eventually, with large storage space, the Seagate hard drive is a great thing to have.

Price: It is available for $57.99 on Amazon.

=> Click here to buy

#3) Maxone 500GB Ultra Slim Drive

Best for the slim, portable features.

The Maxone 500GB Ultra Slim Hard Drive is an immaculate device that runs along with a simple drag-and-drop file. Although space is limited to 500 GB, a transfer rate of 5 Gbps gives this device a big boost. The body is ultra-slim in nature, making the product an easy-to-carry device. You can also get an ultra-compact body that fits in with any case or universal holder.

Features:

• This device has an Ultra Slim portable design.
• It is powered by USB 3.0 technology.
• You can get a high storage capacity of up to 2TB.
• The body has an Aluminum anti-scratch model.
• No external power supply required for operations.

Technical Specifications:

Verdict: As per customer reviews, the Maxone 500GB Ultra Slim Hard Drive comes with a decent space of 500 GB with a decent transfer rate. But the impressive part is the ability to connect and play simply. The external hardware does not require any type of driver to install and works as a flash drive. Thus, it is highly compatible with most devices.

Price: It is available for $38.99 on Amazon.

=> Click here to buy

#4) Toshiba Canvio Basics Portable Drive

Best for plug & play feature.

Many people have used the Toshiba Canvio Basics Portable External Hard Drive for the amazing setup and instant transfer options. With a 5 Gbps speed limit, you can expect the large files to be transferred in just a few seconds. Moreover, the product comes with a sleek profile, and it is a bit compact. While testing the drive, we found it to be best for desktop use.

Features:

• It comes with a matte, smudge resistance.
• This device is both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatible.
• The transfer rate is very high.
• It comes with a 1-year standard limited warranty.

Technical Specifications:

Verdict: As per customer reviews, the Toshiba Canvio Basics Portable External Drive is an amazing device to have for your PC and laptop uses. It takes the least time for configuration setup and can get the work done immediately. Moreover, the product features a lower price range, which makes it much more comfortable to use.

Price: It is available for $59.99 on Amazon.

=> Click here to buy

#5) Silicon Power Portable Drive

Best for PS4 system.

The Silicon Power Portable External Hard Drive is a must-have device when you want to have a product of your choice. It comes with a compatibility mode that easily connects to multiple devices. The one thing that we liked the most about this product is the perfect buffer effect. This can reduce the lag time by a fair margin and allows you to get an amazing response.

Features:

• It comes with a military-grade shockproof body.
• You can get water-resistant protection.
• It comes with a cable-carry design.
• The product can easily get connected to the gaming console.

Technical Specifications:

Verdict: As per customer reviews, the Silicon Power Portable External Hard Drive comes at a very affordable price. It is available on a friendly budget and serves all purposes. Many people have found the Internet in this device because it is highly compatible with the Play Station gaming console. Connecting to it over a gaming console and playing games is just a matter of few seconds.

Price: It is available for $40.00 on Amazon.

=> Click here to buy

#6) LaCie Rugged Mini Drive

Best for Mac and PC.

LaCie Rugged Mini External Drive has really impressed everyone with the compact structure and the style of options. It comes with a lightweight body that is easy to carry. While testing this device, it was found that the product comes with a decent transfer rate of 130 Mbps. For many, this speed will be enough for file transfers.

Features:

• It comes along with a fast transfer speed.
• You can get an easy backup software scheduled.
• It comes with a creative cloud for easy editing.
• The product has a two-year limited warranty.
• It gets connected with a Thunderbolt +USB-C style.

Technical Specifications:

Verdict: The LaCie Rugged Mini External Hard Drive comes with great compatibility and recognition for Mac and PC systems as per customer reviews. According to many, this device works the best if you have a Mac laptop or a desktop. It can transfer files at a rate of 130 Mbps, which comes with a decent result.

Price: It is available for $59.99 on Amazon.

=> Click here to buy

#7) SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD

Best for External SSD

The SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD is designed to provide a power-packed performance. Even if this product comes with a compact body, it is protected from all sides. More than any regular hard disk, the SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD comes with a limited dust contact option. We found that the product has a water-resistant nature to give you the best results.

Features:

• It comes as compact and pocket-sized.
• The product has vibration-resistant technology.
• The device comes with a shock-resistant solid-state core.
• It is both water and dust-resistant in nature.
• You can get a 3-year limited manufacturer warranty.

Technical Specifications:

Verdict: As per customer reviews, the SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD comes along with a high-speed transfer rate. However, many customers feel that the device works better like an SSD which increases the storage space and reduces time to boot up. Although the price seemed to be a bit high for many, it became a popular choice to buy for all.

Price: It is available for $229.99 on Amazon.

=> Click here to buy

#8) Seagate Game Drive Portable Drive

Best for Xbox One.

The main reason the Seagate Game Drive Portable HDD became such a popular choice for most people is that it comes with amazing support. Most Xbox owners do come along with a plug-and-play mechanism. The USB 3.0 cable is quite long, and it remains stable. Thus, you can always get a lag-free gaming experience with an option to store 10+ titles.

Features:

• This device introduces no lag gaming options.
• It resembles the classic green design for your use.
• You can get a quick step-by-step setup guide option.
• The amazing high-speed performance is beneficial.

Technical Specifications:

Verdict: As per customer reviews, the Seagate Game Drive Portable HDD is a complete device to have when it comes to high-speed performance. Most of the devices come along with a 3.0 connectivity, which helped people connect them to a gaming console. You can also get decent backup software for quick installation and usage.

Price: It is available for $96.75 on Amazon.

=> Click here to buy

#9) WD Portable Gaming Drive

Best for Play Station.

The WD Portable Gaming Drive comes around as a compact device that is easy to set up. It does not require additional drivers for setup for your use. While testing this device, we found that it took just 3 seconds to start and use. The best part of having this Drive is that it can be easily connected with the PS4 and other gaming consoles. You can also get a sleek design for easy portability.

Also check =>> Best external hard drives for PS4

Features:

• It comes with a fast and easy setup.
• The product has a 4 TB capacity.
• You can get a sleek design body.
• The device comes with a 3 years manufacturer warranty.

Technical Specifications:

Verdict: As per customer reviews, the WD Portable Gaming Drive serves everyone willing to play more games on this platform. This device comes along with a decent 8.2-ounce weight, which made it easier for everyone to carry out. Moreover, the product comes with a great review for gaming requirements.

Price: It is available for $104.60 on Amazon.

=> Click here to buy

#10) Samsung T5 Portable SSD

Best for fast transfer speeds.

The one reason why most people liked the Samsung T5 Portable SSD is that it has a fast read and writes speed. This device comes along with the USB 3.1 and USB 3.0 support that has a decent interface. The read and write speed is around 540 Mbps which serves as a great option for playing games. As compared to many HDDs, this device works much faster.

Features:

• It comes with a compact and portable design.
• You can get 256-bit hardware encryption.
• It features USB Type C to C and a USB connection.
• The product has a 3-year limited warranty.
• Superfast read-write speeds

Technical Specifications:

Verdict: As per customer reviews, the Samsung T5 Portable SSD comes with a superfast read and write speed. For many, this speed was important to transfer and store files. Because of this high data transfer speed, it helped in reducing the lag time and basically working out as an SSD. Most customers have also found faith in the best hard disk brand reliability.

Price: It is available for $159.99 on Amazon.

=> Click here to buy

#11) Toshiba Canvio Gaming Portable HDD

Best for gaming.

The Toshiba Canvio Gaming Portable Hard Drive has been a choice for many when it comes to gaming storage devices. This external hardware is supported by both PC and Mac, which makes it a decent choice. Moreover, the product has a fast transfer speed of 5 Gbps, which is more than many other HDDs.

Features:

• It comes with a firmware customized mode.
• It is compatible with the gaming console.
• You can get to store up to 50+ titles.
• It comes along with a sleek black finish.
• The product includes formatted exFAT.

Technical Specifications:

Verdict: As per customer reviews, the Toshiba Canvio Gaming External Hard Disk is a complete setup for gaming. Most consumers have already used this device as the primary storage location, and it serves them with ease. Apart from this, the one reason why most people fancy Toshiba Canvio Gaming Portable Drive is that it comes with a simple plug-and-play mechanism.

Price: It is available for $61.19 on Amazon.

=> Click here to buy

Conclusion

This tutorial mentions the best External Hard Disk available in the market today. Picking out the best one from them will always be the biggest challenge. There are so many factors that you must consider and go through every device and its reviews will take time. The primary aim should be to pick the one that serves your gaming requirements, have ample space, and quickly read and write speed.

If this is taking a bit of time from your day, do not worry at all. With the list of the best hard disk mentions above, you can surely find your favorite product. For a quick snap, you can also refer to the comparison table.

The WD Elements Portable External  Drive is the best external hard disk available in the market today. It comes with a 1 Gbps transfer speed and also a 2 TB storage space.

Research Process:

• Time is taken to research this article: 42 Hours.
• Total tools researched: 28
• Top tools shortlisted: 11