Top 10 External Hard Drive Brands

G-Technology Armor ATD: Best durable external hard drive Price: £85 (1TB), £120 (2TB), £150 (4TB), £172 (5TB) Buy now from Amazon ATD stands for all-terrain drive and G-Technology’s USB. The Best External SSDs for 2021. Dump your poky portable hard drive! External solid-state drives are faster and more affordable than ever. Check out our top-rated SSDs, along with detailed advice. The external hard drive is available in a multitude of storage capacities, including a 10 TB hard drive. Supporting USB 3.0 doesn’t offer as much speed as offered by some internal drives. Nonetheless, it offers humongous storage and high reliability at an inexpensive price. Here are some best drives that have specific features to suit your needs. We have selected 1TB drives for this list, as unless you are someone who deals with heavy graphics, it is a perfect size to.

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Top 10 External Hard Drive Brands List

External hard drives are required for a galore of purposes. These range from creating system backups and storing data to transferring saved game files. The most important aspect of any external hard drive is its reliability, which is simply the measure of the device failure rate.

Best External Hard Drives

Here is our pick of the 15 best hard drives that offer high reliability while offering humongous amounts of storage at the same time:

#1. Adata SD700 External SSD

A great reliable hard drive option that is also not that pricey is the Adata SD700 External SSD. The hard drive offers powerful performance and is one of the few SSDs to receive an IP68 rating. Adata SD700 External SSD comes with rugged packaging, shielding it from external damage. Unlike the traditional spinning hard drives, the Adata SD700 relies on solid-state drive mechanism and hence, offers superfast data transfer speeds.

Capacity – 1 TB
Interface – USB 3.0

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#2. Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC

Compatible with both Mac and Windows systems, the Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC is a reliable external hard drive that is a budget buy. It comes with a USB 3.0 cable and a rugged case that is resistant to both dust and water. In addition to protecting the data against external factors, Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC comes with 256-bit AES security. The NFC allows you to unlock the drive on the fly and access files simply by tapping the NFC card onto the drive’s body.

Capacity – 1 TB/ 2 TB
Interface – USB 3.0

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#3. Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt

The Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt offers support for devices with Thunderbolt port. A Thunderbolt port offers data speeds about twice as fast as the standard USB 3.0 drives. The reliable external hard drive comes with a USB 3.0 port, nonetheless, for using with non-Thunderbolt devices.

Compared to other Thunderbolt external hard drives, the Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt has affordable pricing. This is due to the external hard drive’s reliance on a traditional hard drive in place of an SSD.

Capacity – 1 TB/2 TB
Interface – Thunderbolt/USB 3.0

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#4. G-Technology G-Drive

Relying on the spinning disk technology, G-Technology G-Drive external hard drive comes in a number of storage capacities. Thanks to its support for Thunderbolt 3 specification, the external hard drive is an ideal companion for the MacBook Pro.

G-Technology G-Drive comes in 4 TB and 8 TB variants. The 10 TB hard drive version of the storage unit is excellent for serving multiple purposes, ranging from creating system backups to carrying game libraries and saved files around. All variants of the drive are highly reliable.

Capacity – 4 TB/ 8 TB/ 10 TB
Interface – USB 3.1/Thunderbolt 3

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#5. iStorage diskAshur

The iStorage provides external hard drives to government and full-fledged organizations. Reason being, they offer security measures unmatchable by other external hard drive makers. Nonetheless, the iStorage diskAshur is one of the best reliable options to go for personal use. iStorage diskAshur comes with the 256-bit AES encryption as well as multiple forms of protection for ensuring no one with malicious intent can access the data. Astonishingly, iStorage provides provision for configuring the hard drive to self-destruct in case of tampering. Though iStorage diskAshur is almost 4 times as costly as its contemporaries, it has security standards that no other brand is able to offer.

Capacity– 1 TB/ 2 TB/ 3 TB/ 4 TB/ 6 TB/ 8 TB/ 10 TB/ 12 TB/ 14 TB
Interface – USB 3.1

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#6. LaCie Porsche Design Mobile Drive

Although expensive, the LaCie Porsche Design Mobile Drive is one of the most reliable and fastest external hard drives available in the market. Theoretically, it can give out as much as 5Gbps of data transfer speeds via its USB Type-C port. LaCie Porsche Design Mobile Drive flaunts an aluminum finish and is one of the best USB Type-C external hard drives available in the market. The external hard drive consists of five, 800 GB platters in a 15mm form factor.

Capacity – 1 TB/ 2 TB/ 4 TB/ 5 TB/ 6 TB/ 8 TB
Interface – USB Type-C

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#7. Samsung T5 SSD

For those buyers aiming for a reliable, rugged, and fast external hard drive, one great option is the Samsung T5 SSD. The T5 lineup builds over the previous T3 series of hard drives that are also considered to be one of the best hard drive series available in the market. The T5 series introduces the reversible USB Type-C connectivity. Even if you don’t have a machine that supports USB Type-C, the solid state drive provides backward compatibility for USB 3.0 and even the dated USB 2.0. Samsung T5 SSD is undoubtedly expensive, but well worth it.

Capacity – 1 TB/2 TB
Interface – USB Type-C

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#8. Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive

The Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive combines extended storage capacity with speed and high reliability. The external hard drive easily outshines the competition in terms of writing as well as reading speeds. The Seagate external hard drive also offers lower than average failure rates. In addition to the Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive, you get a backup software and compatibility with both Windows and Mac running machines. Though the external hard drive comes formatted for Windows users, a little more expensive Mac-ready version is also available.

Capacity – 2 TB/ 3 TB/ 4 TB/ 5 TB/ 6 TB
Interface – USB 3.0

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#9. Seagate FireCuda Mobile

The Seagate FireCuda Mobile performs better than a standard HDD. The reliable external hard drive has 64 MB cache and a maximum rpm of 5400. The external hard drive can offer data transfer speeds up to 6 Gbps thanks to its eSATA interface. The 2.5-inch FireCuda Hybrid external drive gives a significant storage boost of 8 GB of flash storage along with an option between 1 TB and 2 TB of storage. The external hard drive is backed by a 5-year warranty.

Capacity – 1 TB + 8 GB/2 TB + 8 GB
Interface – eSATA

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#10. Seagate IronWolf NAS

RAID-ready, Seagate IronWolf NAS external hard drive is available in a range of capacities, varying from 2 TB to 14 TB. The NAS optimization along with a maximum spinning capacity of 7200 rpm makes the IronWolf NAS one of the most affordable and reliable drives to opt for.

Capacity – 2 TB/ 4 TB/ 6 TB/ 8 TB/ 10 TB/ 12 TB/ 14 TB
Interface – eSATA

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#11. WD Blue Desktop

Western Digital offers an affordable external hard drive option in the form of the Blue Desktop series. Available in 2 TB, 4 TB, and 6 TB versions, WD Blue Desktop is compatible with most desktops and laptops. These external hard drives offer high reliability. For those requiring speedier drives, the WD Blue Desktop external hard drives are also available in 7200 RPM variants. These are much costlier than their 5400 RPM counterparts.

Capacity – 1 TB/ 2 TB/ 3 TB/ 4 TB/ 6 TB
Interface – eSATA

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#12. WD My Book

The WD My Book external hard drive offers a perfect balance of storage capacity and price-effectiveness. It is an excellent option for storing and transferring all your games. The external hard drive is available in a multitude of storage capacities, including a 10 TB hard drive. Supporting USB 3.0 doesn’t offer as much speed as offered by some internal drives. Nonetheless, it offers humongous storage and high reliability at an inexpensive price.

Capacity – 3 TB/ 4 TB/ 6 TB/ 8 TB/ 10 TB
Interface – USB 3.0

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#13. WD My Book Duo

A combination of two hard drives, WD My Book Duo offers a humongous storage capacity of 4 TB. The external hard drive is backed by a 2-year warranty. In order to protect against data loss, you can set up a backup of the drive using the pre-packaged WD SmartWare Pro software.

WD My Book Duo comes with a multitude of features, including being a complete NAS (Network Attached Storage) device. In order to use the reliable external hard drive as a NAS device, all you require is a router with USB 3.0 support.

Capacity – 4 TB/ 6 TB/ 8 TB/ 12 TB/ 16 TB
Interface – USB 3.0

The high-reliability external drive comes pre-formatted for Windows (NTFS). In addition to supporting 256-AES hardware encryption, WD My Book Duo comes with an enclosure that is fully serviceable.

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#14. Western Digital My Passport

Available in a range of storage capacities, the latest range of the Western Digital My Passport is here. The reliable hard drive comes with 256-AES encryption, cloud storage support, and WD’s backup software.

Western Digital My Passport hard drives offer excellent data transfer speeds, easily beating out several names on the hard drive market.

Capacity – 1 TB/ 2 TB/ 3 TB/ 4 TB
Interface – USB 3.0

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#15. Western Digital My Passport Wireless Pro

The My Passport Wireless Pro external hard drive from Western Digital comes with a complete design overhaul. The premium external hard drive resembles an external DVD drive but flaunts an onboard SD card slot, which makes it a lucrative buy for ardent photographers.

The most outstanding feature of the Western Digital My Passport Wireless Pro external hard drive is its ability to transfer data wirelessly. It comes with a big 6400 mAh battery that allows the hard drive to be used without any wires over 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz channels.

Capacity – 2 TB
Interface – USB 3.0/Wi-Fi

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When wired, My Passport Wireless Pro relies on USB 3.0 for transferring data. The reliable hard drive, obviously, is expensive. However, it is an essential gadget for any tech-savvy professional requiring an external hard drive that is capable to transfer data without dealing with wires.

Some FAQs Regarding Hard Drives

Following are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding external hard drives:

Q: How reliable are the hard drives?
A: Different manufacturers offer different reliability rates for external hard drives. Nonetheless, most of them are highly reliable devices that can provide uninterrupted operation for several years to come.

Q: What are SATA, USB, and Thunderbolt interfaces? What are the maximum data transfer speeds?
A: SATA, USB, and Thunderbolt are the various forms by which an external hard drive is able to exchange data with compatible devices. Hence, they are called interfaces.

Each of them offers different speeds. There are several factors that restrict the external hard drives for achieving maximum rated speed. Maximum data transfer speeds for some of the most popular interface are:

eSATA – up to 6 Gbps
USB 2.0 – up to 480 Mbps
USB 3.0 – up to 5 Gbps
USB 3.1 – up to 10 Gbps
USB Type-C – 5 Gbps
Thunderbolt – up to 20 Gbps
Thunderbolt – up to 40 Gbps

Q: How many years an external hard drive can last?
A: An external hard drive can last for several years. Manufacturers offer warranties for these gadgets, ranging from 1-year to 5-year, and even more in some scenarios. Typically, a hard drive can last for about 5 to 10 years. Though it can survive even further, it’s a desirable idea to replace a decade-old hard drive with a newer one.

Q: Are external hard drives portable?
A: Yes, this is one of the main reasons why people prefer to use them. Any external hard drive weighs a few hundreds of grams and is about a few inches long. Hence, it can be taken along from one place to another.

Have any queries regarding external hard drives? Please ask them via comments. We’ll be more than happy to answer back.

Best 2tb External Hard Drive

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Are you looking for the best external hard drive in the market? You are the right place. I will explain the importance external hard drives and the best brands in the market. Hard drives extends the storage capacity and offers backup for media and files. This is essential because sometimes computers crashes or they are stolen. In order to choose the great brand, you ought to be more keen to differentiate poor quality hard drives from quality ones.

They are available in different storage capacities from 2GB up to 1000 GB. It should be ready to install working with wide range of computers. If you are in the market for an external hard drive you should evaluate its quality, reliability and the assigned cost. It connect to the computer via USB cable or firmware networks. The computer should automatically detect your hard drives. External hard drives have useful features hence preferred companions to our computers. These features include the following;

i)Extended capacity

External hard drives are available in large capacities. Overloading internal storage makes it hang unnecessarily reducing its efficiency. Up to 1000 GB or more hard drives are available in today’s market. It is recommended that you store the large sized media in the external hard disk. Video editing requires large storage space for higher performance.

ii)Great Speed

They are connected to a computer via firmware connection or USB. Firmware connections works at high speed taking shorter times to copy files. These hard drives have different RPM ratings. Choose one that matches the speed of your computer to ensure the two systems are harmonizing. USB is suitable for small-sized files such that of ward documents.

iii)Portability

Most of the hard drives are portable. This is because they made from lightweight materials.You can carry them around with minimal strain. It can be used away from home.

iv)Usage

No drives to be installed so as to use an external hard drive. All you have to do is plug the device to your computer. They are automatically detected prior connection. It is very advantages as they are compatible with windows, apple and mac computers.

v)Flexibility

Hard drives are flexible. You can have it in different capacities. Its capacity can be extended by use specialized programs.

vi)Size and type

There are only two models to choose from. Your preference is based on the current arrangement. Depending on your needs, either you have HDD or a SDD. Desktop HDD hold a capacity of 4TB measuring 3.5 inches while laptop HDD features capacity of 2TB measuring 2.5 inches. They are available in two sizes 3.5 inch and 2.5 inch. SSD on other side, are very small. They limited to 2.5 inch form factor.

Have a look at the following list of Top 10 Best External Hard Drive Brands in the World. They are vividly described below.

10. LaCie Rugged 1 TB 9000488

This external hard drive is compatible with USB 3.0. It also work with thunderbolt for connectivity. Media transfer is done very fast at speed of 240 MBs per every second. Its hardware is flexible. Flexibility improves is functionality by raising its speed. On construction, the design include a protection mechanism that absorbs shock up 5 feet. Good choice of materials makes the hard drive more resistant to corrosion so that you can use it anywhere. It very lightweight while lasting longer. It use SSD version for greater performance. The device backup and transfer large volume of files within very short time. It is compatible with mac and PC devices.

Pros

i) Very fast.

ii) Includes shock and dust protection mechanism.

Cons

i) Gets hot on usage.

9.Transcend StoreJet 25M3 Military USB 3.0 External Hard Drive

Large capacity is major aspect we are considering when choosing an external hard drive. It hold a capacity of 1000 GB which is great for storing large sized files. The drives transfer’s data using modernized USB 3.0 cable. It features extraordinary 3-layer shock system that protects your computer and other connected devices. This product is equipped with higher generation fabulous speed USB 3.0 that gives a 3X speed faster that USB 2.0 brands. Additionally, USB 3.0 covers wide bandwidth. It transfers data at rate 90MBs every second. It is durable, reliable and compatible with various computer models. Its frame is made of silicone material. This transcend brand is equipped with touchable auto backup button for prompt data backup.

Pros

i) USB 3.0 is included.

ii) it is capable of streaming TV broadcasting.

Cons

i) Complex backup software.

8. Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC Hard Drive

This portable external hard drive boast a unique USB 3.0 cable. Also, it has highly secured hardware encryption. It incorporates NFC technology so that the users can unlock the hard drives easily so to access the preferred files. It offers maximum security to the stored files by limiting its access by strangers. You must insert the smartcard in order access the media. It features US military ordinary shock protection having chassis and unique bumpers. This design eliminates shock in case of accidents such as unplanned bumps and drops. Great choice of quality material used to make it ensures the drive is resistant to water and dust.

Pros

i) Includes a shock resistant protection.

ii) Made of waterproof materials.

Cons

i) Highly priced.

7.WD 500GB My Passport External Hard Drive

This external hard drive is extremely portable. It has large storage capacity of 500 GB to accommodate large volume files. Exceptional AES 256-bit hardware system is included. It is very advantageous because it automatically update the stored media to cloud for backup. This is very important because sometimes the hard drive might be displaced or damaged. Its stylish design makes it so attractive. Available in various colors give the user a chance to choose according to its personal taste. It make use of USB 3.0 for faster connectivity. The dealers provide 3-year guaranteed warranty. It is very reliable.

Pros

i) Durable design.

ii) It transfers at faster rate.

Cons

i) Connecting cable is very short.

6. Toshiba’s Canvio 1 TB Portable Hard Drive

Toshiba Canvio is available at an affordable price. The hard drive has I TB capacity accommodating large-sized files such as video editing applications. It boast a shock absorber system alongside plug-in-play system. The frame is uniquely designed so that it looks so attractive. This makes a great choice for those embrace physical appearance and low budget consumers. Furthermore, the disk offers full backup for the recovered disk. Cloud storage is automated offering maximum safety to your files. The stored files are safely secured since the user can set the password limiting its access by intruders. The construction include internet connection so that you can share the media via connected network to other devices.

Pros

i)Automated cloud storage.

ii)Sturdy construction that include internet connection.

Cons

i)It has no backup software.

ii)Limited warranty.

5. Seagate’s 5TB Backup Plus External Hard Drive

Embrace the growing technology. This is one of the best external hard drives in today’s market. It has extraordinary capacity, five times larger than normal computer. Though it’s highly priced, the product delivers excellent storage and backing up of the stored media. It is never a burden for those who love travelling. It is compatible with USB 3.0. This ensure quick transfer of files from one device to the other. It is very flexible as it allows the users to manipulate the stored information at ease. Compatible with android and iOS systems.

Pros

i)Massive storage capacity.

ii)Operates at high speed.

iii)It includes Seagate dashboard softwares.

Cons

i)It is a bit heavy.

4. Seagate’s 2TB Backup Plus External Hard Drive

This another product from Seagate company but with a capacity of 2 TB. It features a glossy design making it very popular over other shoddy drives. It is companionable to high speed USB 3.0 for faster transfer of data. The drive is available at reasonable price that do not strain your resources. Ideal choice for family storage. It includes 500 GB cloud storage for two years at no charge.

Pros

i)Affordable price.

ii)Cloud storage capability.

Cons

i)Lower form factor.

ii)Consumes more power.

3. G Technology’s G-drive External Drive

G-Technology external drives are of high quality. It has a capacity of 100 GB. It features dependable speed for greater performance. The drives is small and lightweight making it portable. Additionally, the product is compatible with windows OS and mackintosh systems. It make use of 2.5 inch hard drives that transfers at rate of 7200 revolution per minute. The USB 3.0 used delivers at approximately 90 MBs per second. The robust aluminum frame is highly resistant to any form of corrosion.

Pros

i)High transfer speed.

ii)Good choice of quality materials.

Cons

i)Different formatting options for every operating system.

2. Western Digital’s My Passport 2TB Ultra Hard Drive

This hard drive is very versatile. It can be used with laptop computers and other PCs. It includes cloud storage that secures you stored data for many decades. The external hard drive is extremely slim thus the user can carry it along at ease. Available in various colors giving customers wide variety to choose from. Its assigned price is affordable to most of the natives. The drives utilizes compact 2.5 inch drives. WD software’s offers greater protection.

Pros

i) Slim hence portable

ii)Massive storage capacity.

iii) Available in various colors.

Cons

i) Flimsy case.