Portable hard drive rating. The best external hard drives for secure data storage

A hard drive is an important element of a computer, designed to store information (special magnetic disks and read/write head). There are three types of internal hard drives: regular mechanical hard drives, solid state SSD and hybrids that combine the technology of a classic disk and a flash drive. Let's look at the 5 best internal hard drives for 2017, taking into account their varieties.

Western Digital WD10EZRZ

The affordable American model is in the leading position in the ranking of classic hard drives for PCs. Support for 4 KB sectors with a total volume of 1 TB allows you to make the most efficient use of device resources. Read/write speed Western Digital WD10EZRZ is 150 Mbps. Buyers note not only fast work(the switching interval from one track to another is only 0.4 seconds), but also a reduced noise level and a small operating temperature. Cons: Difficulty setting up.

Toshiba DT01ACA200

This standard Japanese 2TB HDD designed for PCs has high reliability, including excellent shock resistance. The standard shape of the hard drive allows it to be installed on most computers. High-speed SATA 6 Gb/s is characterized by maximum throughput per unit of time. Users note the quality of workmanship, quiet operation and sufficient volume: 2 TB of memory requires the use large quantity no data additional expansion drive. Cons: somewhat overpriced and high operating temperature.

Note! If you record 4K video files and high-quality music, you collect images from high resolution, install large games, then even a terabyte of space may seem insufficient to you, not to mention outdated ones hard drives, the capacity of which is measured in gigabytes. Therefore for home use 2 TB may be the best option.

Transcend SSD370S

This Taiwanese SSD drive is characterized by high read/write speeds (525/445 MB/s) combined with an affordable price. Represents great alternative anyone hard drive: data encryption, reliability and performance indicators - everything is sufficient high level. The drive is equipped with Power Shield technology, which is used to protect data when the power is turned off. Additional functions Transcend SSD370S:

• TRIM Command support;
• ECC protection for long-term storage of information;
• SMART support, plus special intelligent control for less memory wear;
• DDR3 DRAM cache.

Cons: Only 3-year warranty.

Samsung 850 Evo

The South Korean SSD has a capacity of up to 4 TB and high speed performance (515/450 MB/s), thanks to which it fully copes with all the tasks of the main OS drive. Comes with additional software for monitoring and maintaining the SSD drive in working order (Samsung Magician, Samsung Data Migration). Fully compatible with Linux, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista/7/8/10. It features high performance at a low price. The hard drive comes with a 5-year warranty. Cons: Does not include cables, screws or brackets.

Seagate ST1000DX001

The American hybrid with a capacity of 1 TB uses two technologies (HDD + SSD), which increases the speed and service life of the device. According to user reviews, the hard drive is different good value in terms of price and quality - the MLC element makes the mechanism more accessible, which does not affect the progress of work. The drive is characterized by reduced noise background and minimal delay interval. The transfer of information is significantly accelerated by the 8192 MB flash capacity. Cons: demanding temperature levels.

Total

When choosing hard drive usually pay attention to such characteristics as data reading speed, extraneous sounds, shock resistance, as well as the overall reliability of the mechanism. In accordance with these requirements, the best internal hard drive can be considered the Japanese HDD Toshiba DT01ACA200, which in all respects is the highest quality universal hard drive.

1		Best speed and reliability
2		Best price
3

External hard drives are designed for convenient storage and movement of large amounts of text and multimedia information. Modern models are lightweight and compact. This allows you to easily transfer information from one computer to another, download movies to disk and connect to a TV, and take the device on the road or travel.

• Volume – completely depends on your requirements. However, in most cases it is better to ignore models with a capacity of less than 1 TB. More volume means higher price, but at the same time, as the volume increases, the cost of 1 GB of memory decreases.
• USB interface version - most devices are equipped with a USB 3.0 interface with a theoretical throughput of 8 Gbps. If the connector USB Type-C- better. Speeds new port will not add, but it is more convenient to use.
• Buffer capacity (MB) – RAM hard drive. The higher this indicator, the higher the data transfer speed.
• Quality of the case – ideally, the case of the device should include not only plastic, but also metal and rubberized inserts. This makes the device resistant to drops, scratches, etc.
• Weight of the product – if the device is often planned to be taken on the road and traveling, the weight of the disk will be of serious importance. Modern external drives weigh from 140 to 300 g (or more).
• Dust and moisture protection - if you know that the external hard drive will be used in harsh conditions or if you are not confident in your accuracy - choose models with certified protection (IPXX or military standard)
• Reliability - before purchasing, it is better to study forums, reviews and long-term tests in order to be sure that a freshly purchased hard drive will serve you not for a month or two, but for several years.
• Software from the manufacturer - proprietary software can often facilitate or automate the backup of information, protect data from unauthorized access, and much more. Again, look at reviews and tests.

Best 500GB External Hard Drives

500 GB is the most budget category of external drives. 500 GB of disk space is enough to store 300 movies or 2000 CD albums in excellent quality. This volume memory will do to use the device as a backup copy of information from a PC.

All the models presented below use the best USB 3.0 interface to date, which significantly increases the speed of multimedia data transfer.

3 Seagate STEA500400

Cheapest and lightest
Country: USA
Average price: 3,195 RUR
Rating (2019): 4.6

The external hard drive from Seagate, which opens the category, pleases with several parameters at once. The first is cost. Yes, it’s only a hundred rubles cheaper than its competitors, but that’s good. The second is lightness. For use as home backup storage, the weight difference of 100 grams does not play any role, but people who are constantly on the move will undoubtedly be pleased with a weight of only 170 grams. The design is also pleasing: the top edge is covered with a minimalistic geometric pattern, and a useful but unobtrusive load indicator is hidden in the corner. The remaining edges are made of matte plastic and, apart from the USB 3.0 connector on one of them, do not carry anything.

Inside there is a 2.5' 500 GB disk with an unknown rotation speed. Data transfer speeds via USB 3.0, based on data from user reviews, are about 110 MB/sec for reading and 75-80 MB/sec for writing. Quite decent indicators. Users also cite very good endurance as an advantage. Some copies have already worked for more than one year of regular use. The only serious drawback is the short (only 40 cm) cable. For use with a desktop computer, it is advisable to find another one.

Advantages:

• Easy
• Nice design
• Not bad speed

Flaws:

• Short included cable

2 TOSHIBA CANVIO BASICS 500GB

The most practical case
Country: Japan
Average price: 3,200 ₽
Rating (2019): 4.6

One of the most budget models, from those presented in the rating, is Toshiba Canvio Basics 500 Gb. In addition to the basic set of characteristics, the device has modern and stylish design. The durable case with rounded corners is made of matte black plastic. The rough surface will prevent the hard drive from accidentally falling out of your hands. And four rubberized feet on the bottom of the device dampen vibration and provide a stable position on the table. On the front side of the device there is an indicator that blinks unobtrusively while transmitting information.

When working with Windows disk does not require additional software. To transfer data, just connect the device using the cable that comes with the kit. The cord is durable and the likelihood that it will break at the bends is minimal. Good speed is guaranteed by a connection via USB 3.0, but the device also supports the previous interface. It is worth considering that during the transfer of information from via USB 2.0 the speed will be significantly slower. A lightweight, compact and at the same time powerful portable drive will appeal not only to ordinary users, but also for professionals.

Advantages:

• Practical housing with thoughtful ergonomics
• Durable cable

Flash drives (familiar “flash drives”) and external hard wheels - absolutely different classes devices. Their only similarity is information storage. But let’s look at the differences in a comparative table.

Comparison criterion	"Flash drive"	External hard drive
	The most capacious model on this moment holds 2 TB	Portable models up to 4 TB, stationary network drives (NAS) can accommodate up to 12 hard drives. The most capacious disks are 10 TB, i.e. in total we get about 120 TB!
Price	The same flash drive with a capacity of 2 TB costs 58 thousand rubles. For 4,000 rubles you can buy a 128 GB model	A 1 TB disk costs about 4 thousand rubles, 2 TB – 6 thousand
Operation speed	High-quality models provide writing speeds of at least 80 MB/s, reading speeds from 140 MB.	The best representatives: write – 90-95 MB/s, read – 100-110 MB/s
	Compact
Protection from external influences	Flash drives withstand shaking better, but there are protected models in both classes
	Flash drives have a significantly smaller resource, but for the vast majority of users this will be enough

1 TRANSCEND TS500GSJ25M3

Powered by two USB. Protected housing
Country: Taiwan
Average price: 3,830 ₽
Rating (2019): 4.7

Of the external drives reviewed in the TOP 3, only the TS500GSJ25M3 has an additional power connector. For correct operation, the device requires energy, so the developers added another connector. For example, not all laptops or TVs can supply enough current through a single port. IN included Y-shaped cable, with universal USB 3.0 interface.

It is worth saying that all products in the Store Jet M series have been awarded for impact resistance. Therefore, the external hard drive from Transcend is very strong and is not afraid of falls. The combination of black and green makes the rubberized body fashionable and modern. Another advantage of the model is the instant backup button - One Touch. User reviews indicate that the function helps to transfer large files without wasting time.

Advantages:

• Rubberized, impact- and scratch-resistant housing
• Additional connector for stable power supply
• Separate button for backup

Video review

Best 1TB External Hard Drives

External hard drives with a capacity of 1 TB (i.e. 1024 GB) are the most popular. The volume is quite enough to store a fairly large media library, backup copies important documents and system backups. For example, a model from this category can accommodate about 200 two-hour FullHD quality films. At the same time, the cost is quite affordable, so you can buy the device large quantity of people.

3 Lacie STFD1000400

Best design. Type-C connector
Country: France
Average price: 5,615 RUR
Rating (2019): 4.7

Let's open the category with the most advanced hard drive. First of all, attention is drawn to the appearance of the device. It’s not for nothing that the Porsche Design inscription is emblazoned on the top edge. The body is minimalistic, metal. No patterns or textured surfaces - flat, pleasant to the touch and great-looking aluminum everywhere. The thickness is also pleasing - only 10 mm - even hard drives with a capacity of 500 GB are thicker. We also include among the advantages using USB Type-C is a promising connector that is now used in smartphones, laptops, and many other devices. In short, using this connector allows you to carry just one cable with you, which is suitable for both charging devices and connecting external hard disk.

Everything is much simpler inside. A regular 2.5' disk with a capacity of 1 TB is used. Write and read speeds are approximately the same and amount to 118-122 MB/sec. According to users, this is enough to edit 4K video directly on the hard drive.

The model has one drawback – cost. For the beautiful design and modern port the buyer will have to pay about one and a half thousand rubles.

Advantages:

• Great design
• USB Type-C
• Decent read and write speeds

Flaws:

• Expensive

2 ADATA DashDrive Durable HD650 1TB

The most durable case
Country: Taiwan
Average price: 4,100 RUR
Rating (2019): 4.7

The second position in the ranking is occupied by the ADATA DashDrive Durable HD650 1TB - an external hard drive with a stylish modern design. Perfect for young people who keep up with the times. The device is characterized by operation with virtually no noise or vibration. The shockproof case with rubberized inserts will protect the product from various mechanical damages.

Compatibility with any devices containing a USB input and high data transfer speeds are the main advantages of ADATA. The device is quickly recognized by the computer, and the large memory capacity makes it possible to store many files.

Thanks to reliability, important information will always remain safe and secure. From several options color range you can choose the one that suits your taste. Men will be pleased with the black color scheme, and women will appreciate the elegant and glamorous design in pink color. The small size allows you to easily carry the hard drive in your pocket or purse.

The main disadvantages, according to reviews from real customers, include the insufficient length of the USB cable and a weak connector on the disk itself, which becomes loose over time, which can lead to contact breakage.

Feedback from the buyer:

After purchasing the disc I have never regretted it. It often happens that the stated parameters do not correspond to reality. IN in this case everything coincided. Works well, speed is high, does not slow down. I was very pleased with the appearance and size. The device looks modern and compact. The covering is made from quality material. Fits all TVs in the house, which is very convenient. You can watch your favorite movies anywhere. Very pleased with the purchase.

Advantages:

• Durable shockproof housing
• Large selection of colors

Flaws:

• Short cable
• Weak USB connector

1 Western Digital My Passport 1 TB (WDBBEX0010B)

The optimum ratio of price and quality
Country: USA
Average price: 4,128 RUR
Rating (2019): 4.8

Western Digital is one of the most famous and respected companies in the information storage industry. The 1TB model in question is sold in a huge number of stores, which means you'll almost certainly find it at your local electronics store. The design is typical for the “My Passport” series - the body is entirely made of glossy plastic, but is texturedly divided into two parts: smooth and corrugated. The plastic, unfortunately, is easily soiled and does not resist scratches well. But there are a lot of colors - there are both classic (black, white) and bright (yellow, blue, red, etc.) colors. There are rubber feet at the bottom to prevent slipping on the table. The weight is small - only 170 grams. With ports, everything is traditional - one USB 3.0 connector.

Inside, like most other participants, there is nothing remarkable. A 1 TB HDD with a rotation speed of 5400 rpm is used. Average read/write speed on par with competitors is 110-120 MB/sec. Note that WD has specialized software that allows you to easily make backups to an external hard drive, check the performance of the disk, protect data with a password, etc.

Advantages:

• High reliability
• Useful proprietary software
• Good speed performance

Best 2TB External Hard Drives

2 TB is a serious volume. Enough for a giant photo or audio library, storage huge amount video, full system backup. Even 4K UltraHD movies, which occupy approximately 30-50 GB each, will fit about 50 pieces. We can recommend these models to people who are used to storing all their data in own storage, but want to maintain portability.

3 Transcend TS2TSJ25M3

Military standard protection. Powered by two USB
Country: Taiwan
Average price: 6,650 RUR
Rating (2019): 4.6

Some use external hard drives as a large home file storage, but significantly more people transport them regularly. It is very important for them to keep their data safe. Yes, information can be encrypted, but encryption will not save the hard drive from simply falling or drowning. But a protected case, like that of the bronze medalist in the rating, will save you. It meets the military standard MIL-STD-810F 516.5, which means it will survive drops, shocks and submersion. But the connectors are not covered with plugs. And users complain that over time they become loose, which is why contact is lost.

The speed of work is also frustrating. The average read speed is about 32 MB/s, which is a little strange considering the presence of a USB 3.0 interface. Power is supplied via two USB ports for greater stability. The only pity is that the cost is the highest among the top three.

Advantages:

• Military standard security
• Powered by two USB

Flaws:

• Loose connector
• Low speed
• Highest cost

2 Seagate STDR2000200

The most compact and lightest
Country: USA
Average price: 5,728 RUR
Rating (2019): 4.7

Once again, Seagate products earn the title of lightest and most compact. It’s not for nothing that the model is included in the Slim line - the thickness of the 2 TB disk is only 12.1 mm. Most competitors are at least 20mm thick! Small and weight - 159 grams versus 250 for the leader of the rating. But don’t think that this is a Chinese craft - numerous tests and user reviews indicate high reliability. Combined body: metal on top, side faces covered with glossy plastic, with durable matte plastic underneath.

Everything inside is standard. Read/write speeds may vary between instances. In reviews, users talk about 110-112 Mb/s, tests of profile resources are 120-125 Mb/s. In any case, these speeds will be enough for most users. Already from the factory there is about 500 MB of data on the disk. This proprietary utility Seagate Dashboard for data backup, warranty terms and other useful information.

Advantages:

• Thin and light body
• High reliability
• Availability of proprietary software

Flaws:

• As with the entire line, the cable is short and stiff

1 Western Digital My Passport 2 TB (WDBUAX0020B)

The most reliable
Country: USA
Average price: 5,800 ₽
Rating (2019): 4.7

Western Digital is one of the recognized leaders in the production of data storage systems. External hard drive WD My Passport 2 TB technical specifications differs little from its competitors. Reading speed is about 100-110 MB/s. The interface, of course, is USB 3.0.

Judging by the reviews, there are no complaints about the device. The build quality is excellent, the materials are nice. Is that the gloss very quickly becomes covered with scratches, taking on an untidy appearance. The hard drive itself does not sin bad sectors. Reliability is simply excellent. The manufacturer himself is confident in this, and therefore offers a 3-year warranty.

Advantages:

• Good technical characteristics
• Excellent reliability
• 3 year warranty
• Excellent branded software

Flaws:

• Glossy body, susceptible to scratches

The best 4TB external hard drives

Filling up 4 TB of disk storage is not an easy task. The average user is unlikely to accumulate that much information. But, for example, professional operators Such devices will be very useful. Even a hefty 4K video will fit approximately 500 hours. However, it is worth considering that not all models will be portable. Most of the storage facilities of this volume are stationary, and therefore are not of interest to us within the framework of this article.

3 Lacie STFS4000800

Highest speed. Protected housing
Country: France
Average price: 17,590 RUR
Rating (2019): 4.6

Let's open the category with a disc from a company that is not very popular among the bulk of users - Lacie. Like the previous representative of the company, STFS4000800 is significantly more expensive than its competitors. But this time the high price tag is not due to cool design, but to reliability and advanced technology. Let's go in order.

At first I am attracted by the design. Before us is a very massive (34 mm thick) and heavy (600 grams) aluminum block in a rubber protective shell. This allows the device to withstand impacts. There is also protection against water and dust according to the IP54 standard - you should not bathe in water, but the hard drive will survive splashes of water or light rain.

The next point that deserves attention is interfaces and speed. To connect to a computer, you can use not only USB Type-C, the advantages of which we described above, but also Thunderbolt. The speed of work is difficult to estimate. For different testers, write and read readings ranged from a modest 50 MB/sec to an unattainable 250 MB/sec for most competitors. We advise you to test the selected copy on your computer before purchasing.

Advantages:

• Security
• High speed
• Two current interfaces for connection

Flaws:

• High price tag

2 Seagate STDR4000200

Best price
Country: USA
Average price: 8,290 RUR
Rating (2019): 4.7

The external hard drive from Seagate is a solid mid-ranger. The case is as minimalistic as possible - just a small block of matte plastic with small glossy inserts. Practical and looks good at the same time. The operating speed is slightly lower than that of the leader in the rating, but still decent. Average write speed is about 85 MB/s. USB 3.0 interface. And the hard drive would not start via the old USB 2.0. Complaints about vibration, noise or high temperatures no – all indicators are within reason. But the reliability is mediocre. Quite often you come across defective models, so be prepared for the fact that you will have to go to a service center.

Advantages:

• Lowest cost
• Practical body
• Good speed performance
• Minimal vibration, noise and heat

Flaws:

• Defective hard drives found

1 Western Digital My Passport 4 TB (WDBUAX0040B)

Best speed and reliability
Country: USA
Average price: 8,520 RUR
Rating (2019): 4.8

Once again, the first line of the rating is occupied by the propeller from WD. This model is a copy of the leader of the previous category. The body is the same, including dimensions. Accordingly, the problems remain the same - it gets scratched. But a 4 TB hard drive is installed inside. The recording speed is slightly higher - about 115 MB/s, USB 3.0 interface. Heating is moderate. The only drawback identified by customers is vibration. Due to the small legs, it is transferred to the table, which is not very pleasant. But there are no problems with reliability - after all, Western Digital are deservedly considered leaders.

The disk comes pre-installed with several useful utilities. WD Backup lets you set up automatic backups of important files to an external hard drive. WD Security – protects your data from unauthorized access using a password. You can also provide your information so that if the disk is lost, the finder can find you.

Advantages:

• High speed
• Better reliability
• Useful proprietary utilities

Flaws:

• The glossy body is scratched

External 1 TB hard drives, in most cases, completely solve the problem of lack of space for stored information. Ask yourself: “Do I need as much as 4 TB disk space? Will I be able to fill at least 1 TB?” I bet most of you will answer no. In this article, we will talk about the most reliable, well-made, and overall best 1TB external hard drives in terms of price/quality ratio. So, let's begin!

1. WD My Passport Ultra 1 TB

Western Digital has long established itself as reliable manufacturer hard drives, and the case with WD My Passport Ultra is no exception. This model The external drive is sold in five versions of internal memory capacity - 500 GB, 1 TB, 1.5 TB, 2 TB and 3 TB, as well as in four colors - black, blue, white and dark red. You don't have to worry about compatibility because WD My Passport Ultra works great on both Windows machines, and on Mac computers. Note that the hard drive is initially formatted with the NTFS file system, so to use it on a Mac you will need to reformat it with the HFS+ file system.

This external hard drive comes with three special utilities - WD Utility, WD Security and WD SmartWare Pro. In addition, you can download all this necessary software from the official Western Digital website. It is worth noting that all of the above programs will only work on Windows platforms, while for Mac machines you will have to use the equally effective Time Machine software. Using WD Security you can set password protection against unauthorized access third parties. Using WD SmartWare, you can “back up” all your information to cloud service Dropbox, but before doing this you should register on this site.

My Passport supports both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0. Using USB connections 2.0 read speed is 30 MB/s and write speed is 28 MB/s. The speed of the drive when using a USB 3.0 connection is impressive - 118 MB/s for reading and 120 MB/s for writing. The drive was quiet and showed almost no vibration during testing. WD My Passport Ultra is sold with a 3-year manufacturer's warranty, which is significantly more than any other supplier can offer (2 years are standard). This external hard drive will excellent choice, as for those who are looking for themselves reliable device for storage important information, and for those who are active players in Xbox One and Playstation 4.

2. Seagate Expansion 1 TB

In our ranking of the TOP 5 best external hard drives of 2017 Seagate Expansion takes second place. It is worth noting that this line hard drives have been replenished with a new model STEA1000400, available in 5 variations of memory sizes: 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB and 4 TB. Anyone who needs to increase their disk space should definitely pay attention to Seagate Expansion. The Seagate Expansion is currently priced comparable to our #1 rated WD My Passport Ultra. Note that the Seagate Expansion is sold without any accompanying software, which, in fact, brought it only to the 2nd place in our rating. Both the old and new Seagate Expansion models support data transfer via USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 standards, and also use the same port for both transmitting information and receiving power. The disc is sold only in black.

Initially, the Seagate Expansion external hard drive is sold formatted in the NTFS file system for Windows, but if you plan to use the drive with Mac computers, you will have to perform an initial reformat of the device. It is worth noting that in terms of the internal spindle speed of 5400 RPM, this hard drive surpasses the WD Passport Ultra and all other drives presented in our rating. In our tests, the disk showed the following figures: writing - 121 MB/s, reading 129 MB/s. Based on these numbers, it's safe to say that the Expansion is one of the fastest external hard drives on the market today.

3. Toshiba Canvio Connect II 1 TB

Compact external hard drive Toshiba Canvio Connect II(model HDTC810XK3A1) has good reliability and high-quality software included (Pogoplug PC and NTI Backup Now EZ). Note that the same Pogoplug PC separately costs $30. This device is available in four internal memory options: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB and 3TB. And in five colors - black, blue, red, white and white-gold. In terms of available colors, Toshiba Canvio Connect II is the most “multi-colored” external hard drive of all 5 presented in our rating. In terms of price, this external device is slightly more expensive than both the WD My Passport Ultra and the Seagate Expansion.

NTI Backup Now EZ is a very simple, but at the same time very powerful backup program. If your Canvio is connected to a PC, and the computer is connected to the Internet, then you can log into your external device remotely using a mobile application. In other words, your external hard drive turns into a full-fledged personal cloud storage data. The Canvio Connect supports both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, but we sometimes experienced some difficulty transferring data over the USB 2.0 interface. But you shouldn’t be upset, because why use a slower USB 2.0 when USB 3.0 works perfectly? When transferring data via USB 3.0, the write speed is 100 MB/s and the read speed is 98 MB/s. This indicator It’s quite good for an external drive, but it still falls short of the Seagate Expansion and CV My Passport Ultra that are located above. Canvio Connect is natively formatted in the NTFS file system, in order to use it with Mac machines you will need to install Tuxera NTFS software for Mac, after which you can use this device with special software Time Machine.

4. Seagate Backup Plus/Slim 1 TB

5. Toshiba Canvio Basics USB 3.0 1 TB

(HDTB220XK3CA) already in its name indicates its commonality and basicness. The 1TB model costs more than all of its direct competitors. Canvio Basics is sold in five storage options: 500GB, 750GB, 1TB, 1.5TB and 2TB. What is puzzling is the warranty: for each amount of built-in memory, the manufacturer gives a different warranty, which varies from 1 to 3 years. Toshiba Canvio is sold without any included software, which is undoubtedly a huge disadvantage. This external device transmits information and is powered using the same USB port, and at the same time supports USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 data transfer interfaces. Note that despite the lack of included software and the strange policy warranty service, Toshiba is famous for the reliability of its disk drives, which is why many server owners prefer Toshiba over Seagate, Western Digital or HGST.

The speed of the internal 2.5-inch hard drive is 5400RPM, which is generally standard for most external hard drives. The disk will work on both Windows and Mac machines. The buffer cache is 8MB, and the average seek time is 12m/s. The performance of this drive is slightly lower than that of other external devices presented in our rating. The read speed is 95 MB/s, while the write speed is 89 MB/s.

Somehow, you've run out of storage space on your hard drive, your computer or phone, and you need somewhere to store your photos, music, and other files. So what's now?

Depending on your individual needs, there are several types of external hard drives you can choose from. A professional photographer or videographer may need something with a large capacity, while a student may need something portable. And someone running a small business may depend on storage capacity, durability and transfer time. If you're still not sure which one to buy, read on to find the best external hard drives of 2017.

Best external hard drives 2017

In this article, you will learn about the Best external hard drives of 2017, for different types of tasks that may be required from an external drive.

Best Overall: Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive

This drive has large capacities (2TB, 3TB, 4TB, 5TB, 6TB and 8TB versions) and is fast, flexible and affordable. It's compatible with Mac and Windows right out of the box and includes the Seagate Dashboard backup utility. Included software package allows social media users to make the most of their media libraries, uploading photos to Facebook or Flickr or videos to YouTube. It will also allow you to download photos and videos from these sites in large quantities. Seagate Dashboard allows users to set up automatic backups when the drive is connected.

The look is simple and standard for a single external storage device, slightly larger than a standard 3.5-inch internal hard drive. The chassis is made of plastic, but looks quite durable. Available ventilation holes on the side and bottom for easy airflow.

This drive has a spindle speed of 7,200 rpm, a write speed of 95.5 Mbps and a read speed of 127.0 Mbps. Overall, the Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive is a great all-around option with simple functionality, easy setup, ease of use, and a price that makes it affordable for almost anyone.

Best for Fast Transfers: Western Digital My Passport

My Passport is an inexpensive drive, but it delivers better performance than pricier competitors thanks to its USB 3.0 port and superior drive controller. This drive offers a maximum transfer speed of 174 Mbps and write speed of 168 Mbps. It is available in sizes from 1 TB to 4 TB. We think it deserves a place on the list of the Best External Hard Drives of 2017.

This sentence weighs a little more 227 grams and is about the same size as actual competitors, making it one of the smallest and lightest. It is bus connected, which means it uses a single cable for transmission and power. When the drive is active, one lights up blue light, and four rubber feet are securely attached to any surface. Western Digital sought to reduce its carbon footprint by using recycled materials for the chassis. Although the body is made of plastic, it is still surprisingly durable.

These features are specifically designed for simplicity. My passport is pre-loaded with WW SmartWare software. It represents two individual devices when connected - one disk with external storage space and one disk with factory software. The visual interface is intuitive and built-in software makes it easy to install and manage setup. Backup and search options let you set up incremental backups to run each time you connect the drive to your computer or device. Files accidentally deleted from My Passport are easily retrieved, just like older versions of files. The drive provides password protection and 256-bit data encryption.

Best for MacBook: Seagate Backup Plus 4TB

This 4TB external hard drive from Seagate is compatible with Apple Time Machine, making it a great external storage for those in Apple ecosystem. Just download the Seagate Dashboard software on your laptop and you can drag and drop any movies, photos, songs or other files. The device also has cloud connectivity and social media backup, which is great for YouTubers who have large files they want to back up or photographers with many photos on Flickr.

The sleek, portable silver design matches your Macbook and connects to high-speed USB 3.0. There is also no need for any external power supply, it just needs to be connected via USB. The lightweight box weighs about 228 grams and is 4.5 inches long, making it easy to slide into your carry bag. If you don't need the whole 4TB, you can also order one of the three smaller sizes.

Best Portability: Seagate Backup Plus Slim

If we talk about Best external hard drives 2017 year, then you can mark this option.

Seagate Backup Plus Slim is affordable, fast, thinner and lighter than its competitors, and is the best portable external drive for most users. It includes excellent backup software and a free two-year subscription to 200GB of Microsoft OneDrive online storage. It weighs just 5.6 ounces and measures less than half an inch. It's available in 500GB, 1TB, 1.5TB, 2TB and 4TB capacities, more than enough space for your entire home music or video library. It is available in black, silver, blue or red. The aluminum body makes it durable yet lightweight. It is connected to a bus with a micro USB 3.0 port that handles data transfer and power. File NTFS system Compatible with the Windows box, but a download is available for Mac compatibility.

The single-drive drive has USB 3.0 read and write speeds of 121 Mbps and copy speeds of 114 Mbps, making it a top performer in the single-drive category. This drive produced no noise, vibration, or heat when tested. This drive is a great option for working on the go and has enough capacity to handle even desktops.

Best Durability: LaCie Rugged Raid (4TB)

The distinctive orange bumpers used by professional surf photographers suggest that this disc is truly durable. It is dustproof, waterproof and can withstand a five-foot drop. It has a capacity of 4 TB with two hard drives, USB 3.0 and a data transfer speed of 240 Mbps. Unfortunately, strength requires a bit of volume. This drive weighs 1.8 pounds and measures 5.7 x 3.5 x 1.2 inches. The main body has a brushed aluminum finish and an orange bumper cover around the edges. There's a light above the mini-USB port to indicate when the drive is transferring or writing files, and two small lights to the right of the port to indicate which RAID configuration is in use. There's also an AC adapter port and a Thunderbolt connection that tucks into the lid.

Built-in software allows users to customize the device. RAID 0 configurations provide 240 Mbps write speeds and 230.2 Mbps read speeds. RAID 1 configurations allow 125.1 Mbps write speeds and 104.4 Mbps read speeds.

This drive is a great option for adventurers who have to work in the field and can't worry about the safety of their hard drive. It's worth noting that in the distribution tests, a crossover SUV was driven on this drive, and although it was not fully functional after the test, all files on the drive were still fully recovered.

Best for Business: CalDigit T4 RAID

The CalDigit T4 Raid TB multi-drive RAID system is ideal when you need to go higher than a single hard drive. Multiple hard drive setups are available from 4TB to a massive 20TB, but the most economical 8TB system offers an expanded 6TB of formatted storage space, more than enough for large 1080p and 4K video projects, basic music and/or photo and graphic collections and databases small business data.

The silver metal body is compact, measuring 6 x 5.5 x 9.5 inches, weighing only 13 pounds. There are cooling fins molded into the side, and four slides can be accessed through the front panel. The drives are secured with two-stage locks to prevent the slide from accidentally slipping out. Two Thunderbolt 2 ports on the back allow you to daisy chain with other Thunderbolt 2 drives. There's a built-in cooling fan, an AC adapter port, and a Kensington lock port on the back.

Four 2TB drives are pre-formatted to total for 6 TB. Drives can be replaced in case of failure, or if you simply want to change drives. Five-year warranty included.

T4 RAID is accelerated, transferring a 1.2GB file in just five seconds. The read speed is 527 Mbps and the write speed is 502 Mbps. This time it's only slightly slower than the faster external drive, the SSD features LaCie Little Big Disk Thunderbolt 2, but still the speed is excellent for HDD RAID and when combined with T4 space and bits. We think this drive also deserves a place on the list of the Best External Hard Drives of 2017.

Runner-Up, Best Overall: Toshiba Canvio Connect II 2TB Portable Hard Drive

While Seagate and Western Digital get all the glory when it comes to external hard drives, Toshiba's Canvio Connect II 2TB portable drive isn't too far behind. The Canvio measures only 4.3 x 3.1 x 0.8 inches and weighs just 0.5 pounds. Sizes range from 500GB to 3TB (just in case you need as much storage as possible), and it works with both Mac and Windows hardware. Which makes it the leader in our list of "Best External Hard Drives of 2017".

Setting up the drive is simple: there is only one USB port to connect to your computer and turn on the power. Read speeds on the 5400 RPM drive are 98 MB/s for small files and 103 MB/s for medium-sized files, while write speeds are 112 MB/s for small and medium-sized files. Large files are read at 109 MB/s and written at 112.4 MB/s.

Password protection is provided using password protection. And access to your data on the go is offered via cloud backup, with a bonus of 10 gigabytes of online storage. The portable hard drive also comes with a two-year warranty.

Perhaps you have your own options for what can be added to our list of “Best external hard drives 2017”; write to us about it.

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External hard drives can be very useful for transferring data from one computer to another, if you frequently need to transfer data, or if you need a medium for transferring data from your camera when you don't have access to a computer or laptop. An excellent solution may be to choose SSD drive. But if you need storage with a large capacity and at a low price, then you will have to go with an HDD. You can find hard drives up to 4TB.

Most external hard drives run over USB and are powered by your computer, so you don't need to connect them separately to your network. In this article, we'll look at the best external hard drives of 2018 that you can buy for your computer. But first, let's discuss what you need to pay attention to when choosing.

Choice specific model will depend on your needs and the purposes for which you want to use this device. Let's look at the main categories.

1. Capacity

The smallest external drives are 128 GB in size, which is enough to store music and videos, or create backup copies of very important data and the operating system itself. You can even create a complete copy of hard computer disk and restore it if necessary. The most popular solutions for such tasks are 1 TB disks.

2. Performance

Most external hard drives are connected via USB interface. previous version USB 2.0 is a thing of the past and most devices now use a fast USB 3.0 connection. In some cases, you can get write speeds of up to 100 MB/s, read speeds will be the same, while speeds for USB 2.0 will be limited to 35 MB/s. It is worth noting that you will get this speed for large files, small files will be processed more slowly. The most fast SSDs can give speeds up to 550 Mb/sec.

3. Protection

Damage protection is very important for external hard drives. You will be moving and transporting them very often, so you need to be sure that nothing will happen to the data. Please note the impact tests performed. SSD drives are more durable and can withstand drops because there are fewer moving parts.

4. Security

The larger the disk, the more data can be stored on us and the more valuable information an attacker will have if it is stolen. There are two ways to protect data - use hardware or software encryption. Nowadays, many hard drives and solid state drives support hardware encryption.

Best external hard drives 2018

1. Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC

This is a great external hard drive from Buffalo. In addition to standard functionality such as USB 3.0 connectivity, it supports NFC technology. Your data is stored in a shock-resistant case, and it also supports 256-bit AES encryption for improved security. One of the downsides is that it does not have the highest operating speed; it produces 7200 revolutions per minute (RPM). Price: $125.

2. Western Digital My Passport 4TB

In the new generation of external hard Western drives Digital My Passpor has options from 1 to 4 TB. It supports AES 256 encryption and has WD's own backup software.

The drive has excellent data transfer speeds and outperforms many of its competitors. It's far from SSD speeds, but it's regular hard disk.

3. Seagate 5TB Expansion

The Seagate 5TB Expansion is larger, but for the same price you get more memory. There is 64 MB here fast cache and for operation the necessary external power supply. The drive produces 7200 rpm, which is a very good result for external drives.

4. Freecom mHDD Slim 1TB

This is a terabyte external hard drive that has a beautiful and stylish appearance. It is made in aluminum housing, only 9 mm thick and weighing 150 g. The disk also has good read and write speeds. Freecom mHDD Slim is capable of delivering 5400 rpm, which is much slower than the options discussed above. Read speed 124 MB/sec.

5. Seagate Innov8 8TB

It is also worth mentioning the Seagate InnoV8 line. This 2018 external hard drive has a standard 3.5mm size and does not require an external power source to operate. Another feature of this drive is the use of a USB Type-C connection interface. The disc also has a beautiful metal casing.

6. Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive 5TB

If you need a fast, high-capacity drive, Seagate Backup may be a great solution. It comes in sizes up to 8TB and beats the competition in read and write speeds. The drive is connected using USB 3.0

7. Maxtor M3 4TB

This is an external hard drive that works without an external power supply and connects to a USB 3.0 interface. This is the most big disk 2.5 inches that you can find. It comes with a three-year warranty and a beautiful body.

8. Western Digital My Passport Ultra Metal 2TB

WD releases hard drives to solve various tasks. The MyPassport series is intended for consumers. The disk body is made of metal, but only the upper part, the bottom is only plastic. Read and write speed is 114 MB/sec.

9. LaCie Porsche Design Mobile Drive 4TB

This external hard drive supports both USB 3.0 and Type-C connections. Which already makes it an interesting solution. The disk consists of five magnetic plates of 800 GB each and has a form factor of 15 mm. The casing frame is made of aluminum to protect the disc from impacts.

10.IStorage diskAshur 2TB

This drive is ideal for governments and various organizations that care about data security. It supports 256-bit AES encryption, and if anyone tries to interfere, there is physical protection. You can even set up automatic data destruction in case of a hacking attempt. But it costs more than other options. But you won't be able to access your data. This is the best external hard drive 2018 with security feature.

11. Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB