11 best external hard drives

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Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

External hard drives are separate devices that provide a very convenient means of storing and transporting large amounts of data. The modern market is replete with models with a variety of form factors, usable volumes, types of connection and design solutions. Experts have prepared for you a rating of the best, in their opinion, external hard drives, dividing them into groups according to the main parameter – capacity. In this review, we did not focus on the speed of data exchange, so we did not group devices into mechanical (HDD) and solid-state (SSD).

Rating of the best external hard drives

Nomination a place Name of product price
Best 500GB external hard drives 1 Samsung Portable SSD T5 500GB RUB 10 694
2 ADATA HV620 500GB RUB 3,130
3 TRANSCEND TS500GSJ25M3 RUB 3,290
4 Toshiba CANVIO BASICS 500GB RUB 2,960
Best 1TB external hard drives 1 SanDisk SDSSDEXT-1T00-G25 RUB 24 900
2 ADATA HD710 Pro 1TB RUB 3,980
3 Silicon Power Stream S03 1TB RUB 3,464
Best 2TB external hard drives 1 Western Digital My Passport 2 TB (WDBUAX0020B) RUB 5,760
2 ADATA DASHDRIVE DURABLE HD710 2TB RUB 6,747
3 Toshiba CANVIO ALU 2TB RUB 5,290
Best 4TB external hard drives 1 Western Digital My Passport 4 TB (WDBUAX0040B) RUB 7,460
2 Seagate STEA4000400 RUB 7,510

Best 500GB external hard drives

Let's start with the most modest external hard drives – 500 GB. There are, of course, models with a smaller capacity, but for a number of reasons it makes no sense to do any serious research on them, since they are rapidly being forced out of the market.

Samsung Portable SSD T5 500GB

Rating: 4.9

Samsung Portable SSD T5 500GB

This group of ratings is opened by a solid-state drive of the famous South Korean brand. Its linear dimensions are 57.3×10.5×74 mm, it corresponds to the 1.8 “form factor. Weight – 51 g. It is made in a discreet minimalistic design.

This is a very progressive technological solution in terms of innovation. So, for example, this model supports the extended data area markup format (4 KB sectors). The disk also supports the TRIM command – 'cleanup' of unused data blocks, which eliminates one of the tangible drawbacks of SSD disks, associated with a drop in performance with active use.

The built-in encryption function is an advantage for those users who are comfortable with this approach to data protection. Otherwise, the function can simply be disabled.

In this case, the manufacturer definitely pleased with the bundle – the standard set includes two cables at once: USB Type C and an adapter from Type C to Type A. The device itself is optimized for operation from the USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C interface.

The manufacturer's declared read speed is 540 MB / s, and the reviews of real users in the mass are comparable to this value.

Advantages

  • minimum dimensions and weight;

  • high speed of reading and writing;

  • equipment;

disadvantages

  • short cord.

ADATA HV620 500GB

Rating: 4.8

ADATA HV620 500GB

Further in the rating from we will consider an interesting model from the Taiwanese manufacturer ADATA. This is a 'traditional' 2.5 “mechanical hard disk drive (HDD). It contains one physical disk. It measures 78x15x115mm and weighs 165g. Manufactured in China.

The body is made of high-quality plastic in black or white with a glossy finish. In the black 'version' the surface of the case is quite easily soiled, in the white color the effect is slightly less pronounced. There is a blue indicator on the case, which is activated during data exchange. It should be noted the high build quality of the device – the non-separable body is well assembled, no creaks or backlashes are observed even under strong squeezing.

Disk connection interface – USB 3.1 Gen 1 (SuperSpeed), the package includes a USB 3.0 cable. The cable length is very modest, which causes complaints from users with a rear USB 3.0 interface.

The technical parameters indicate a 'vague' term – external data transfer rate – 500 MB / s. In practice, real users talk about a write speed of 90 MB / s.

Free downloads of OStoGO and HDDtoGO applications are available for official buyers.

Advantages

  • Beautiful design;

  • almost silent;

  • high-quality assembly;

disadvantages

  • short cable;

  • very easily soiled glossy case (if black).

TRANSCEND TS500GSJ25M3

Rating: 4.7

TRANSCEND TS500GSJ25M3

Under the TRANSCEND trademark, there are many different storage devices, as well as external hard drives, namely the TS500GSJ25M3 model, which many experts quite rightly call a real masterpiece.

The TS500GSJ25M3 is known for its 'signature' shock resistance, drop protection at all angles, cushioning in general.

Transcend has unveiled its next masterpiece, the StoreJet portable hard drive with professional shock and drop protection.

Compatibility of the device is not satisfactory. The device communicates freely with the workstation through the high-speed USB 3.0 port. The external data transfer rate is up to 600 Mbps.

This external hard drive is easy to use, but also contains JetFlash elite embedded software with backup, restore, overwrite protection, compression and encryption functions.

Advantages

  • shockproof housing;

  • fast data transfer;

  • attractive design;

disadvantages

  • there are complaints about noise.

Toshiba CANVIO BASICS 500GB

Rating: 4.7

Toshiba CANVIO BASICS 500GB

And the model of the Japanese external hard disk Toshiba CANVIO BASICS with a volume of half a terabyte completes this rating group. The direct storage medium is a physical mechanical drive of the 2.5 “form factor. The number of disks – 1. The same amount of space is allocated for the buffer memory as in the previous model – 8 MB. In terms of rotation speed, the disk, as expected, loses to stationary models – it is 5400 rpm as in TRANSCEND TS500GSJ25M3.

The connection interface is a high-speed USB 3.0 (located at the back, side) with an external data transfer rate of 500 MB / s. The immediate read speed from the disk is 12 ms. Device dimensions – 79x15x119 mm, weight – 230 g.

The design of the device is a remarkable feature of the entire line. Compact but imposing aluminum case with a matte rough surface, comes in a durable transparent blister, in which a cardboard box is sealed. The delivery set includes the device itself, a connection cord, a brief instruction and a warranty card.

The disk contains a useful utility for backing up NTI Backup Now EZ.

Advantages

  • high build quality;

  • reliability;

  • famous brand;

disadvantages

  • short cord;

  • cannot be made bootable.

Best 1TB external hard drives

Our rating is continued by three external hard drives with a capacity of twice the previous one – 1 TB, manufactured by SanDisk, ADATA and Silicon Power.

SanDisk SDSSDEXT-1T00-G25

Rating: 4.9

SanDisk SDSSDEXT-1T00-G25

The terabyte group of reviewed external hard drives in our rating is opened by an interesting model from the very famous SanDisk brand, which is literally on everyone's lips.

It is a solid state drive, which means that it has no moving parts and no physical spinning disk. This has the most positive effect on the speed of writing and reading. One way or another, the physical compatibility of such devices and the 'similarity' to physical disks is still preserved, and this model is made in a 2.5-inch form factor.

A universal USB 3.0 port is used for connection. In the absence of it, you can connect to USB 2.0 – the device will still work. In addition to the terabyte modification, there are also 750MB and 500MB versions on the market.

The device uses 8 MB of cache. The spindle rotates at a more or less standard speed for external drives – 5400 rpm ('internal' hard drives usually rotate faster).

The connection interface is the usual universal USB 3.0, compatibility with USB 2.0 is permissible. The storage operating temperature range is from 5 to 55 degrees Celsius, as well as from -40 to +70 degrees.

Dimensions of the device – 129.5×82.4×20.4 mm, weight – 216 g. Powered by 5V voltage. The manufacturer provides a 24-month warranty.

On the front there is a button that launches the Transcend Elite utility in automatic mode to archive data.

Advantages

  • spectacular design;

  • automatic archiving;

  • silicone inserts;

disadvantages

  • not noticed.

ADATA HD710 Pro 1TB

Rating: 4.8

ADATA HD710 Pro 1TB

Next in the ranking is an external drive from the Taiwanese brand ADATA. It is a rugged portable device with additional reinforcement. The model was originally designed for use on the road, in open spaces and in harsh environments (meets MIL-STD-810G 516.6 – shock, shock, vibration resistance). The drive can even be kept completely underwater completely at a depth of 2 meters. Shock resistance – about 800 G.

The disc is made in a 2.5 “form factor, contains one physical disc. Operating temperature range (in accordance with the official specifications) – 5 – 50 ° C.

To connect to the 'older' device, the usual universal USB 3.1 port is used. The linear dimensions of the terabyte version are 133.3 × 98.5 × 21.5 mm, the weight is 270 g. The read / write speed is 440 and 400 MB per second.

The manufacturer provides a three-year warranty for the device.

Advantages

  • increased strength and shock resistance;

  • attractive design;

disadvantages

  • not marked.

Silicon Power Stream S03 1TB

Rating: 4.8

Silicon Power Stream S03 1TB

And the model from Silicon Power completes the group of our rating of terabyte external drives. This is an elegant gadget made in a sophisticated design and color scheme, somewhat reminiscent of the company's products Apple.

The disk is made in the 2.5 “form factor. Linear dimensions – 122.5 x 77.5 x 13.3 mm. Weight – 145 g. Two internal plates act as data carriers. The spindle rotation speed is usual for external HDDs – 5400 rpm. 8 MB are allocated for the cache.

For communication with a PC or any other 'older' devices, the USB 3.0 interface is used (USB 2.0 is also suitable, but the former is preferable due to the significantly higher data transfer rate). The device is powered by a voltage of 5V. The storage temperature declared by the manufacturer is in the range from -40 to +70 degrees. The working range of safe temperatures is from 5 to 55 degrees Celsius.

The set with the device and accessories comes with specialized software from Silicon Power and SP Widget. The manufacturer provides a three-year warranty for this model.

Advantages

  • high-quality assembly;

  • elegant design;

  • reliability and continuity;

disadvantages

  • there are complaints about the soiling of the case.

Best 2TB external hard drives

Further in the ranking are external hard drives of even larger capacity – 2 TB. These are media from the famous manufacturer Western Digital, already reviewed by ADATA and one product from the Japanese company Toshiba.

Western Digital My Passport 2 TB (WDBUAX0020B)

Rating: 4.9

Western Digital My Passport 2 TB (WDBUAX0020B)

Western Digital's My Passport series of external hard drives are available in different body colors, each matching its size. The two-terabyte 'version' is white with an elegant, slightly unusual design.

The linear dimensions of the device are 110×81.5×21.5 mm. The weight of the gadget is 250 g. The body material is durable plastic.

Western Digital is a world-famous manufacturer of storage devices with a deep history. It must be said that during the production of this model of the external disk it also “did not disappoint”. This is a mechanical disk made in a 2.5 “form factor. 8MB is allocated for the cache memory. Contains one physical disk. The rotation speed is 5200 rpm. The operating temperature range is from 5 to 35 degrees. It can be stored in ambient temperatures from – 20 to +65 degrees.

For external communication, a standard USB 3.0 interface with a bandwidth of 5 Gb / s is used. The delivery set includes the disc itself, a communication cable, a warranty card and a short instruction for installation and configuration.

The device contains built-in tools for protecting information with a password and automatic backup.

Advantages

  • reliability;

  • original design;

  • equipment;

disadvantages

  • slightly easily soiled case;

  • short cord (subjective).

ADATA DASHDRIVE DURABLE HD710 2TB

Rating: 4.8

ADATA DASHDRIVE DURABLE HD710 2TB

The ADATA model continues the rating from two-terabyte external drives. The Taiwanese manufacturer in this case (as well as in many others) focused on the effective design, not forgetting about the high-quality 'stuffing' of the device. The disc is delivered in a package with a transparent slot, through which all the charms of the external performance are clearly visible.

The linear dimensions of the device are 99×21.5×132 mm, weight – 220 g. A standard USB 3.0 port is used for communication, a cable, along with technical documentation, is included in the kit. The connector is equipped with a rubber plug to protect it from moisture and dust. The cable fits comfortably into a groove along the body.

The bold and slightly aggressive design of the device is more than just 'throwing dust in the eye'. The drive has undergone numerous tests for operability and the ability to protect data in difficult physical conditions (including the 'military' MIL-STD-810G 516.6 standard).

Also, during its development, engineers focused on moisture resistance – it complies with the IPX68 standard and retains its performance even when fully immersed in water to a depth of 1 meter for up to half an hour. As for rain or spilled tea, such influences are not at all terrible for him.

The basis of the entire structure of the case is a hard plastic with rubberized inserts. The latter are well cushioned during falls.

Outside, on the body of the device, an LED indicator is displayed, signaling its activity. In addition to accessories and instructions, the kit contains specialized software.

Advantages

  • shock resistance;

  • spectacular design;

  • does not make noise, does not overheat;

  • moisture resistance;

disadvantages

  • a noticeable percentage of cases of burnout of the sata-usb adapter.

Toshiba CANVIO ALU 2TB

Rating: 4.7

Toshiba CANVIO ALU 2TB

And the group of the rating of two-terabyte external drives is completed by an interesting model of mechanical media from Toshiba. Here, the Japanese manufacturer has done everything to maximize the advantages of a mechanical disk over a solid-state one (filling the containment with helium, reducing power consumption, increasing volume, etc.).

Dimensions of the device are 113.5 x 75 x 18 mm, weight – 240 g. It is made in a 2.5-inch form factor. Inside contains 4 physical data carrier plates. The spindle speed is 5.4 thousand revolutions per minute. 8MB is allocated for the cache memory.

For communication and power, a standard USB 3.0 port is used, soldered on the printed circuit board of the disk. No additional power is required. The delivery set is laconic, as in most cases – the disk itself, a 45 cm long communication cable, instructions, and a warranty card. In addition, the set comes with standard software for data archiving – NTI Backup Now EZ.

Inside there are four plates where data is directly stored. The spindle rotation speed is 5.4 thousand revolutions per minute. 8MB is allocated for the cache. According to independent research, the maximum linear read and write speed is 110 MB / s, the average is about 90 MB / s. These are very decent indicators for devices of this class.

Advantages

  • reliability;

  • austere aluminum body;

  • high data transfer rates;

disadvantages

  • small scratches on the case are clearly visible;

  • heats up noticeably during intensive work.

Best 4TB external hard drives

And at the end of the rating-review from we will consider two models of external hard drives from Western Digital and Seagate – both famous manufacturers. These are the most capacious data storages in our rating – 4 TB each. A common property for most of the models of this size is that they are not 'seen' by outdated operating systems by type Windows XP. But this can hardly be considered a serious drawback.

Western Digital My Passport 4 TB (WDBUAX0040B)

Rating: 4.9

Western Digital My Passport 4 TB (WDBUAX0040B)

Let's start with Western Digital's mechanical external drive model. It is made in a 2.5 “form factor. It contains one physical disk. The case is made in a very effective design that suits most of the real buyers.

The dimensions of the device are 81.5×21.5×110 mm, weight – 250 g. The body material is durable deep black plastic, divided into two parts with different texture. Other colors are also available in the assortment.

To connect and provide the device with power supply, a USB 3.0 interface with an external bandwidth for data transfer of 500 Mb / s is used. The average read / write speed, according to the observations of real users, is about 90 MB per second and reaches 105 MB per second via USB 3. The kit includes a 35 cm cord.

The operating temperature set by the manufacturer is in the range from 5 to 35 degrees.

Advantages

  • very effective and practical design;

  • continuity;

  • hard cord (gives its advantage when connected to the back of the TV);

  • heats up within normal limits;

  • reliability;

disadvantages

  • a noticeable number of cases of imbalance (vibration).

Seagate STEA4000400

Rating: 4.8

Seagate STEA4000400

And our rating ends with a model of an external drive from Seagate. This is a mechanical device containing one SATA hard drive inside. Made in 2.5 “form factor. This series was specially designed for mass use, but is optimized to work on operating systems of the family Windows.

The dimensions of the device are 117 x 80 x 20.9 mm, weight – 238 g. The electronics and the carrier itself are enclosed in a durable plastic case of deep black color with a symmetrical texture that well hides scratches, fingerprints and other blots.

A USB 3.0 interface is used for communication. The communication cable (it also provides power to the device) is included in the delivery set along with instructions and warranty documents. The manufacturer's warranty period is 24 months.

Advantages

  • good read and write speed;

  • the hull texture hiding blots;

  • attractive cost;

  • 'honest' declared capacity;

  • quiet enough;

disadvantages

  • speed may drop when transferring large files (1.5 GB or more).


Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

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