8 best external hard drives for PS4

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 (they are also portable) hard drives have relatively few key technical characteristics that you can focus on when making a choice of one model or another. And for the most part they are not too fundamental for general use. But if the leak is about a hard drive for the PS4 game console, then some points may be important, up to determining compatibility in principle. The ability to connect an external drive to PS4 at home has been available to users since March 2017. To do this, you need to update the firmware to 4.50.

The editors of the magazine bring you a special roundup of external hard drives for PS4, which experts and users consider the best as of spring 2020.

How to choose an external hard drive for PS4

First, let's briefly understand the criteria that will need to be taken into account when choosing a portable hard drive for PS4.

Spaciousness

It would seem that such an obvious indicator is too obvious, and it could be left to the personal choice of everyone. We will do so, but with only one remark. It is for PS4 that the volume of an external hard drive must be at least 250GB and no more than 8TB.

HDD or SSD

A mechanical or solid-state drive is perhaps the most fundamental point that creates a huge distance between devices with different operating principles. This distance applies to almost everything – speed of work, durability, reliability, compatibility, even size and weight.

For a complete understanding, you first need to find out what hard drive the set-top box itself is equipped with. So, any model has a mechanical HDD with a spindle rotation speed of 5400 rpm (revolutions per minute). Its capacity already depends on the specific modification – 500GB or 1TB.

This standard console package is a good signal when it comes to choosing an inexpensive portable mechanical HDD drive, since the market offers a decent selection of models that are at least as good in these parameters. If you wish, you can even find a model with a rotational speed at the level of good stationary magnetic hard drives – 7200 rpm. This will almost automatically mean a higher baud rate, which is important here.

An SSD is the perfect choice for those who are concerned about speed. According to this parameter, any even mediocre SSD easily leaves even the best HDD far behind. But here two points arise – compatibility and price. The cost of SSD drives, when compared with HDDs of similar capacity, is significantly higher, and the larger the volume, the more significant this difference. So this question is up to everyone's personal choice. As for compatibility, in our review, of course, only models that are adequate and fully suitable for PS4 will be considered.

Finally, there is another such moment – the release of a new generation of the console – PS5, although it is being postponed, but still not far off. And the 'five' will certainly be equipped with a solid-state SSD. Therefore, if you are planning not only the expansion of the existing console, but also a future upgrade, then it makes more sense to choose an SSD.

Connection interface

The choice of options is extremely limited here – all available consumer portable hard drives are connected to the console via USB. Generation matters, as the difference in bandwidth between USB 2.x and USB 3.x is dramatic. In 2020, it will be difficult to find an external hard drive on popular marketplaces that would be a new, recent release, but would be connected via an obsolete USB 2.0.

As a rule, you can already choose between USB 3.0 and 3.1 interfaces, as well as the shape of the connector itself – full-length Type-A or miniature Type-C. The difference in speed between USB 3.0 and 3.1 is small, and in any case, more than the speed of the drive itself. To ensure maximum compatibility, you should choose a USB 3.1 drive – this is the port the console itself is equipped with.

Let's emphasize the moment for consolidation. While USB 2.0 or 3.0 may not be so important for a portable drive intended for regular data storage, the third version of the interface will be required to connect to the PS4. Here, it is essential that the speed of data transfer from disk to the console is at least 40 MB per second.

Additional functions

For almost any device, wide functionality is usually good. And in almost any portable hard drive, the presence of additional features like a USB hub or something else built-in is only a plus and an advantage. However, in the context of our topic, namely, the use of a portable disc as a game disc for the fourth 'curling iron', it is still better that there are no additional functions, and the disc is used only for its intended purpose.

Additional food

The vast majority of external portable hard drives are powered by the same USB interface that transfers data. However, up to the PlayStation3, the console at times did not corny supplying power to some models of external drives.

In PS4, as one can judge, this problem no longer exists, but if there is a desire to be on the safe side, or the disk is supposed to be used somewhere else, where there may be 'uncertain' USB power, then you can look at a model with the possibility of a separate power supply from USB. We will not consider such solutions due to redundancy.

Form factor, physical data, appearance

Completely secondary points that, nevertheless, can be significant.

The vast majority of external drives come in a 2.5-inch form factor. This unifying meaning is accepted both for HDD, where it has a clear meaning, and for SSD, where it is already pure convention. In any case, the final choice can be made simply by focusing on the dimensions of the device, which are always indicated in the description of the technical characteristics.

Design is a matter of taste, but for many it is important that the disc at least to some extent 'looks'. Fortunately, the market here can offer a variety of options. We must also take into account the nature of the surface – the outer coating can be matte, glossy, rubberized, 'soft touch' and others, and here tactile comfort is added to the visual.

Rating of the best external hard drives for PS4

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
Best mechanical (HDD) external hard drives for PS4	1	Toshiba Canvio Advance	RUB 4,949
	2	HDD Western Digital My Passport	RUB 4,990
	3	Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Slim	RUB 6 490
	4	Seagate Game Drive for PlayStation 4	RUB 6,010
Best Solid State (SSD) External Hard Drives for PS4	1	SAMSUNG SSD T5	RUB 11,980
	2	ADATA SD700	RUB 11 490
	3	SSD Western Digital My Passport	RUB 13 330
	4	SSD Transcend ESD400K	RUB 16,244

Best mechanical (HDD) external hard drives for PS4

In the first selection, we will look at mechanical (HDD) external hard drives that are suitable for completing the PS4 console, are optimal in terms of value for money, and also received the highest ratings in real customer reviews on reputable resources.

Toshiba Canvio Advance

Rating: 4.9

The first is the hard drive of the famous Toshiba brand. Actually, we are talking about a series of mid-level models Advance in a large line of portable hard drives Toshiba Canvio. This is the best option in terms of price / performance ratio for PS4 or any other purpose.

Toshiba Canvio Advance drives are available in several sizes – 1, 2 or more terabytes. The most inexpensive, of course, is 1TB. We will take it as a visual aid to describe the series.

Dimensions of the device – 109x78x14mm (corresponds to the 2.5 “form factor), weight – 149g. Modifications of a larger volume are almost the same in size, only a little thicker body, the weight can also be a little more. Body material – plastic with a matte surface texture on the edges, good hiding fingerprints, minor scratches and abrasions. The top panel is already glossy. There are different colors of the main part of the case. On the top panel of the case there is an LED indicator of the disk operation.

Let's briefly go over the key technical characteristics of the disc. Connection interface – USB3.0. The bandwidth of the interface hereinafter is 5 Gbps, but this, of course, does not mean that writing and reading reach such speeds. The actual write speed, according to independent tests, varies from 100 to 130MB / s on average. Reading is expected to be a little faster – up to 155MB / s.

The disc comes on sale already formatted using the NTFS file system. For PS4 this is a ready-made platform, but you need to remember that computers Apple do not 'see' NTFS markup. So, if there is a desire to use the disk in parallel as a storage for backups from a Mac, then this will not work without reformatting at least into the universal ExFAT, which is understood by both Windows and Mac OS. But this will automatically lose compatibility with the PS4 itself.

The Toshiba Canvio Advance package includes the required minimum – the drive itself, a short 50 cm USB 3.0 (Type A to Micro-B) cable, documentation. The manufacturer also provides proprietary Toshiba software: the Storage Security Software encryption and data protection application and the Storage Backup Software backup software. Official manufacturing guarantee – 2 years.

Advantages

• sufficient speed;
• quiet work;
• light weight;
• useful software for protection and backups;
• 2 years warranty;
• optimal price.

disadvantages

• very easily soiled glossy top panel.

HDD Western Digital My Passport

Rating: 4.8

Western Digital's most popular My Passport external hard drive series includes both mechanical and solid state models. Therefore, for complete clarity, the manufacturer names the model by simply adding the abbreviation HDD or SSD to the name. As in the case of the previous model, here, within the My Passport series, drives are produced in volumes from 1 to 4TB. For relative clarity, we will also take the most inexpensive 1TB option.

The device is based on a 2.5 “WD10SMZW hard drive. Case dimensions – 110×81.5×16.3mm. Weight – 165g. The case itself, unlike the model described above, already boasts a rather interesting design. Case plastic here can also be of different colors. – from coal black to bright orange.

The connection interface of this model is exactly the same as the previous one – USB3.0. A 30cm long cable is included. No additional power is required. The packaging is extremely strong and reliable, so that the disc will survive even the most distant and not too careful transportation without any problems. The model is oriented towards horizontal installation, which is hinted at by the rubberized feet on the bottom edge.

The device goes on sale formatted in the NTFS file system. There are three proprietary utilities on the drive: WD Backup, WD Security, and WD Drive Utilities – for backup, data security and disk maintenance.

In operation, My Passport, almost regardless of the amount of modification, shows itself from the best side. The data transfer speed is quite high – just over 100MB / s, traditionally the read speed is higher than the write speed, but the difference in this model is small. At the same time, the device is practically silent and does not heat up to risky or simply uncomfortable temperatures. Modifications with a large volume can warm up decently, and then only with prolonged and continuous active operation.

Manufacturing warranty from Western Digital for this model is 3 years.

Advantages

• sufficient speed;
• quiet work;
• slight heating;
• useful proprietary software;
• 3 years warranty;
• safe and reliable packaging;
• design.

disadvantages

• some users note increased vibration;
• soiled glossy part of the body surface.

Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Slim

Rating: 4.7

A third mechanical external portable drive suitable for PS4 is no longer in the budget price range, but the price difference may be more than justified by some of the advantages of the Ultra Slim series. Available in two capacities – 1TB or 2TB.

It is clear from the name that the main advantage of this series is its compactness. As much as possible for a 2.5-inch hard drive. And she's really impressive. Case dimensions – 113.5x76x9.6mm, weight – 135g. The numbers may seem faceless, but in fact, if you compare at least the 6th iPhone, then the Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Slim is smaller, and significantly. At the time of its presentation at CES in 2016, it was the world's thinnest portable hard drive mechanical HDD. And until now he has not lost this status.

For those who care, let us inform you that this model is based on a 2.5 “Seagate ST2000LM007 hard drive. Other Seagate Backup Plus external drives may contain HDDs from other manufacturers, the same Samsung, for example.

The manufacturer specifies for this series the maximum data transfer rate for both reading and writing – 120MB / s. Independent testing shows that these data are generally true.

A 46 cm connection cable is included with the disc. No additional power is required. The format of the connection connector causes some negative on the part of users, which indicate the greater relevance of the more common Type-C, and not Micro B, to which there are many questions in terms of convenience for this type of device. The appearance of the disc is minimalistic, but not devoid of the manifestation of design ideas. The two main colors are metallic gold or platinum.

In general, the described model is good for everyone, and shows itself perfectly in work, not only as a makeweight component for the PS4 console, but also for any other purposes. Somewhat alarming is the noticeable percentage of user reviews indicating cases of early disk failure, but there is no need to talk about the massiveness of the phenomenon, otherwise the series simply would not have existed on the market for so long. But our experts still noted this moment.

Advantages

• ultra-thin and compact;
• sufficient speed;
• quiet work;
• Seagate Dashboard proprietary software;
• nice appearance.

disadvantages

• user dissatisfaction with the USB Micro B connector;
• cases of failure 'out of the blue' (according to reviews).

Seagate Game Drive for PlayStation 4

Rating: 4.7

The first part of the review of the best external hard drives for the PS4 game console will be completed by the only mechanical HDD on the market in the first half of 2020, which was specially developed for this role by Seagate, the famous manufacturer of storage devices. The disc is positioned exactly as a game and specifically for the PlayStation 4, which is already emphasized in the name of the series. For the sake of completeness, let's say that Seagate has a similar line in its assortment, but already developed for the specifics of another super popular console – Xbox.

The body dimensions of this one-to-one model are the same as those of the previous model – 113.5x76x9.6mm, with a weight of 135g with possible variations depending on the characteristics of a particular batch. The only difference is in the details of the case – plastic with aluminum inserts and the color scheme – deep black. The logic here is obvious – for the external drive to be in the same style as the console itself.

From a purely technical point of view, this model does not fundamentally differ from the previous one. First of all, because the device is built on the basis of the same HDD drive as the one described above – ST2000LM007 2.5 “form factor. This could finish the review of the model, but there are still some important differences.

So, for example, the SATA interface is soldered inside the case. So, if necessary or with a strong desire, improvement can be made through disassembly and adaptation. But such manipulations are permissible only at your own peril and risk, and certainly not within the current warranty period, otherwise the warranty will be lost. The disk comes factory formatted in the NTFS file system, while the one described above is in the more universal exFAT system, which operating systems from Apple normally understand.

The connection interface here is the same, relatively outdated and not the most convenient USB MicroB. But at least the generation 3.0 interface itself is what matters.

In general, we can say that from a technical point of view, there is nothing unique here in terms of compatibility with PS4. But our experts still identified the maximum compatibility with the console as an advantage, since the devices are at least tested in production specifically for working with the PS4.

Advantages

• special development for the PlayStation 4;
• maximum compatibility with PS4;
• thin and light;
• stylish appearance in the spirit of the PS4 console itself;
• the SATA interface is soldered inside the case;
• PlayStation 4 logo on the case.

disadvantages

• overpayment for branding.

Best Solid State (SSD) External Hard Drives for PS4

The second selection of the review of the best external hard drives for the PlayStation 4 console includes fundamentally different devices – solid state drives, which have a lot in common with flash memory. The main advantage of solid-state drives is a disproportionately higher data transfer rate than mechanical HDDs, all other things being equal in terms of capacity. The cost of SSD drives almost directly depends on their capacity and the pricing here is in many ways similar to the same flash drives or RAM.

SAMSUNG SSD T5

Rating: 4.9

Let's start with one of the most popular and in many ways versatile models, which is suitable for completing the PS4 console. This is a solid state compact and lightweight portable SSD model T5 manufactured by SAMSUNG.

With regard to solid-state drives, the form factor is already indicated as a pure convention in order to add recognition for the mass consumer. T5 conditionally corresponds to the smallest form factor of 1.8 inches, and its real dimensions in the case are equal to 57.3×10.5x74mm. It weighs almost nothing compared to any mechanical disc at 51g. The design is minimalistic – no special decor elements, only rounded edges. Two main colors of the case are black or turquoise.

The T5 series is available in different capacities. The most popular and most popular is 500GB, but there are also smaller drives – 250GB, and larger drives – 1TB and 2TB. From a technological point of view, the model is quite progressive, since it uses an extended approach to marking up data areas – the capacity of each sector is 4KB.

Another big plus of this particular series is support for the TRIM command, whose task is to conditionally 'clean up' unused data blocks and to some extent optimize space. Thus, one of the distinct disadvantages of solid-state drives is leveled – the loss in speed with intensive use.

Another detail is the built-in data encryption. With regard to the use as an additional set of a game console, this does not make much sense, but no one has canceled the option of using the disc for other purposes, where confidentiality and data protection may already matter. One way or another, the function has a certain 'plasticity' – if it is unnecessary, it can be easily turned off.

What else pleases here is full compatibility with PS4 via the connection interface. The drive uses USB version 3.1 – the same as the console itself. The interface bandwidth is 540MB / s. The speed of data transfer at the level of the memory modules of the T5 itself varies from 200 to 400-odd megabytes per second, depending on the size of the transferred files.

The interface format on the side of the connection socket is Gen 2 Type-C, but in addition to the standard USB connection cable with a Type-C plug from the console side, the package also includes an adapter from Type C to Type A

Advantages

• compact and lightweight;
• high speed;
• extended markup format;
• support for the TRIM command;
• built-in encryption;
• USB3.1 interface (identical to the PS4 console itself);
• reliability and durability.

disadvantages

• a short and too rigid native cable.

ADATA SD700

Rating: 4.8

The review will be continued by another popular model of the ADATA trade mark, the SD700 model. The disc is also available in different versions in terms of volume, which, accordingly, differ significantly in price.

Dimensions of the device body – 83.5×13.9×83.5mm, weight – 100g. The body is made of black plastic with rubberized edging in different shades – black, blood red, 'poisonous' yellow. In general, the appearance of the disc is quite 'playful', so against the background of the case of the PS4 console itself it will look quite appropriate and presentable.

This model uses a different type of memory, namely TLC 3D NAND. This applies to all modifications of all sizes – 256GB, 512GB and 1TB. The controller is also installed the same everywhere. 4KB 'large sectors' mode is supported.

As for the data transfer speed, the ADATA SD700 shows quite decent results. The manufacturer claims a maximum speed of 440MB / s for reading and 430MB / s for writing. Numerous independent tests show that the real speed approximately corresponds to these figures, but you need to understand that this is indeed the maximum achievable in 'greenhouse' conditions and when working with large files.

To connect the device, the USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface is used. The maximum permissible operating temperature for safe operation of the device is 50 degrees, the minimum is 5 degrees.

Summing up, we can say that the ADATA SD700 is a good, relatively inexpensive option for retrofitting the PlayStation 4, which, among other things, has additional bonuses in the form of physical protection. The rubberized bezel protects your device from drops, vibration, shock and even a small amount of splash. For use only and exclusively with the PlayStation 4, such protection is redundant, but, again, no one has canceled the use of the disc for other purposes, including in difficult conditions.

It is difficult to call the disadvantage of this model and the disadvantage, it is more of a feature, but in fairness, we are not silent about this moment. With intensive work of the ADATA SD700, from time to time, the data exchange speed may drop to approximately 80-90 GB per second due to the buffer filling under heavy load. This happens rarely and can pass unnoticed for the user, especially since even this figure is twice the minimum speed requirement for external drives for PS4.

Advantages

• high speed of reading and writing;
• interesting design;
• rubberized edging of the body around the perimeter;
• USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface;
• support for 4KB sectors.

disadvantages

• a short-term drop in speed is possible when the SLC buffer is full.

SSD Western Digital My Passport

Rating: 4.7

Again, in our Western Digital review of the My Passport series of external hard drives, only this time we're talking about the solid state drive.

The device is expected to be even more compact than its mechanical 'relative' – 45x90x10mm, weight – 120g. The case is made in the same style as the HDD of the same series. Plus, here the manufacturer did not skimp on protection against shock, drops and vibration, even though this is a less pressing problem for solid-state drives than for mechanical ones. This model is 'officially' not afraid of falls from a height of two meters.

Disk capacity modifications range from the minimum for PS4256GB to the maximum in the 1TB series. The technological basis of the device is the SD8TN8U256G2000 drive with TLC NAND memory, created according to the 15nm process technology. The operation is controlled by the Marvell 88SS1074 controller, and this is a clear advantage of the model.

Another noticeable plus of the device is the use of the interface most compatible with the game console – USB 3.1 Type 2 with the Type-C connector format. The standard connection cable is symmetrical with USB-C plugs, and for comprehensive compatibility with other devices, the Western Digital My Passport SSD comes with an adapter to the classic USB Type-A format.

Independent tests show a very decent performance in different modes. The maximum performance for transferring large files is about 330MB / s for reading and even slightly more for writing – about 350MB / s, which is surprising, since most often the opposite happens – the read speed is lower than the write speed. But again, this is the maximum, and the average will be slightly lower.

The official manufacturing guarantee for this model is 3 years.

Advantages

• compact and lightweight;
• attractive design;
• reliable protection against drops and shock loads;
• progressive technology 15nm;
• complete set (adapter);
• 3 year warranty.

disadvantages

• relatively high price.

SSD Transcend ESD400K

Rating: 4.6

And the review of the best external hard drives for the PS4 console will be completed by the model of another world famous and well-recognized Transcend brand.

Dimensions of the device body – 62x92x10.5mm, minimum weight – 56g. In terms of size and weight, this model is similar to the first SAMSUNG SSD T5 in this collection. But in terms of design, it is completely different, it looks quite attractive.

This model uses MLC memory. The manufacturer does not provide data on the controller. TRIM command is not supported.

The read and write speeds declared by the manufacturer are practically record-breaking – 410 and 380MB / s, respectively. Large sectors of 4KB are supported. Independent tests show that the manufacturer does not overestimate the capabilities of Transcend ESD400K SSD drives – read speed and reserves are almost equal in most cases – about 350MB / s. But this is the physical maximum achievable in a limited number of cases and working conditions.

Each purchaser of this model receives the right to use the proprietary software package Transcend Elite, which includes useful utilities for working with the hard drive and its maintenance.

Advantages

• minimum dimensions and weight;
• high speed of reading and writing;
• reliability and durability;
• pleasant design decoration;
• adapter included.

disadvantages

• no TRIM command support.

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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.