The Best External Hard Drives

External Hard Drive

When there is no possibility or desire to connect an additional source of permanent memory for gaming PC 500 dollars in the course of the external HDD. Such gadgets are made, as a rule, in a protected case, because they are constantly carried and are more susceptible to mechanical damage than regular models. In any case, in our rating of the best external hard drives 2022 are presented exactly rugged and durable devices. They have power from an external source, usually via USB-port and cable, which is often provided in the package.

The Best External Hard Drives for 1TB

In this category there are inexpensive external HDDs for 1000 gigabytes. These external HDD provide work with large files, so it is desirable to focus on modern standards USB, including 3.0. This will allow you to quickly transfer videos and many large pictures from your PC and vice versa. The editors did not ignore the resources and the quality of performance, as well as customer reviews. At the same time, our top is conditional, we do not encourage you to buy.

Toshiba Canvio Basics

Our list of good and inexpensive external hard drives is joined by the Toshiba Canvio Basics, which supports an ultra-fast interface. The gadget is prepared to work with the Microsoft Windows operating system and does not need any additional software installed. The device has a very compact size and classic, uncluttered design. The Plug and Play technology guarantees an easy connection to the “hardware”. There is no reason to doubt the durability of the model, because the manufacturer has a 50-year history in the development of electronics. The coating is durable.

Western Digital My Passport

Another reliable 1 terabyte portable hard drive with PowerBank function, attractive with compact form factor and good workmanship. The Western Digital My Passport model has a 2.5-inch hard drive case with dimensions of 11 by 8.1 by 1.6 centimeters. The engineers of the famous brand brought out the modern USB 3.0 interface with high bandwidth and compatibility with USB 2.0. Data transfer rate in the latter mode can reach 5 Gbit / s. Despite its affordable price and mobility, this device has a weighty warranty period – 3 years. That makes it stand out from the competition.

Seagate Expansion Portable Drive

Another good and relatively inexpensive external drive with 1 terabyte of storage. The Seagate Expansion Portable Drive has a stylish design and durability that draws strength from its name brand and expensive materials. For operation, a high-speed USB 3.0 interface is used, which is also used for power. Consequently, you can use only 1 cable to perform basic tasks. The features of the device should include small size, modest weight (170 grams) and the principle of Plug’n’Play. In other words, to operate this gadget, there is no need to connect and install different drivers. Even a novice user can cope with its use. 

The Best 2TB External Hard Drives

This category features high-capacity 2TB external hard drives that can provide users with good speeds when dealing with large files, up to 5Gbps. Accordingly, USB 3.0 is used as the port. It is important to pay attention to USB 2.0 support due to the fact that many PCs and laptops still communicate with this standard. Among other things, this category is far from the cheapest models, so don’t ignore parameters such as build quality, software, design, after all.

Seagate Backup Plus Slim Portable Drive

Completing the 2022 external hard drive rating is the Seagate Backup Plus Slim Portable Drive, which can be used to connect to a Windows PC or Mac. Its compact size makes it easy to carry in a small bag. The gadget is connected using a USB 3.0 interface. It is worth noting that the manufacturer has taken care of a number of handy tools for backing up and mirroring information. Like most modern drives, this gadget is compatible with USB 2.0. The hard drive can be charged via USB. Automatic data synchronization is provided. A two-month Creative Cloud subscription is offered by default.

Toshiba Canvio Slim

The manufacturer itself positions the Toshiba Canvio Slim model as a reliable external hard drive for 2TB of data storage for security. The advantages of technology should include compact size, stylish appearance and rugged housing. The main feature of this gadget is the high speed data transfer, which is due to support for USB 3.0 technology, compatible with USB 2.0. This is very important for the movement of data. Judging by customer reviews, the Canvio Slim hard drive attracts with a fairly high quality glossy finish that won’t fade over time. Overall, a great solution for storing music and photos.

Lacie Mobile Drive 

Another MacOS and Windows compatible gadget. The Lacie Mobile Drive is one of those rugged external HDDs that packs up to 2 terabytes of storage. The gadget supports one-click backups. There is an option to set up automatic data copying. Customers have praised LaCie Toolkit software for backup quality, backup stability, and ease of use. It can be used to set up scheduled backups, mirror folders on multiple gadgets. Save up to 500,000 high-resolution photos and store up to 165 hours of video. 

How to Choose a Good External Hard Drive?

Not sure how to choose an external hard drive? Could not find a suitable model in our rating? Then you need to consolidate the result by looking at the key parameters that will help you make an independent decision:

  • Capacity – the most important parameter, arguing the amount of information simultaneously stored on the medium. For the storage of documents and important text files with graphs and other technical data up to 512 GB is enough, for music up to 1 TB, for photos, video files from 2 Terabytes and more.
  • Form Factor – Most modern models are made in a 2.5-inch format, but there are 3.5 inches for storing a vast array of different information, including movies, games, and more.
  • Warranty – you should not neglect this aspect, because it is a direct indication of brand confidence in their product. Optimally from 12 months.
  • Connections – modern models support an ultra-fast USB 0 port. At the same time, it is important to be able to work with USB 2.0, which is still relevant for many laptops and older PCs.
  • Spindle speed – 5,400 and 7,200 rpm is considered standard for computer drives. Higher values are typical for server HDDs.

Disclaimer: This article contains sponsored marketing content. It is intended for promotional purposes and should not be considered as an endorsement or recommendation by our website. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and exercise their own judgment before making any decisions based on the information provided in this article.

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of The World Financial Review.