What’s the most effective exterior drive?
Whereas cloud storage appears extra handy, many individuals nonetheless desire exterior drives for storing knowledge in a protected and safe method. Operating low on house for these treasured household pictures or vital work information? Investing in an exterior exhausting drive or solid-state drive (SSD) could possibly be precisely what you want. We have examined the highest storage choices in the marketplace that will help you discover dependable units that supply nice worth on your cash.
Storage costs have come down through the years, however high-capacity SSDs will nonetheless want a much bigger funding. That is why you can even go for conventional exhausting disk drives. They are not as quick as SSDs, however they provide you extra cupboard space on your greenback. When selecting your drive, bear in mind to examine what cables you will want, as this will have an effect on each compatibility and comfort.
All of CNET’s high picks for exterior exhausting drives and SSDs are appropriate throughout platforms, together with Home windows PCs, Macs and gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox. Simply remember the fact that you may must format the drive on your particular system. Typically, they’re going to be designated to work with a particular platform and generally they arrive with backup software program that’s platform-specific. Except in any other case indicated, all of the PC drives talked about listed here are appropriate with Home windows however might be formatted for Mac. Plus, a lot of them embody USB-C and USB-A cables or adapters. In the event that they don’t occur to be included, you possibly can simply purchase dongles for about $12.
Console players will need to hold a watch out for platform-specific particulars. For instance, the PS5 enables you to retailer and play PS4 video games from an exterior drive however not PS5 video games. The Xbox Collection X, alternatively, can retailer Collection X video games on an exterior exhausting drive, however you will need to switch them to inside storage earlier than taking part in them. Each consoles will allow you to increase inside storage. The Xbox Collection X makes use of a proprietary Seagate-made storage enlargement card, and the PS5 makes use of a extra customary M.2 SSD.
With these caveats in thoughts, our present high picks for the most effective exterior exhausting drive and exterior solid-state drive are beneath. These (or practically similar fashions with much less storage capability) have been used or anecdotally examined by CNET editors. We’ll replace our listing of the most effective exterior exhausting drives and SSDs as we check new merchandise. Ideally, you must have redundant backups — both off-site or within the cloud — for vital knowledge and huge information like household pictures, in case of theft or fireplace. Ensure that to encrypt your knowledge, too.
Finest exterior drives of 2025
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Western Digital, which owns SanDisk, sells its WD My Passport SSD as effectively this SanDisk Exterior Moveable SSD for principally the identical worth. I just like the design of this mannequin a bit higher, and it is technically ruggedized with an IP65 ranking, which means it will possibly face up to a sustained spray of water. Additionally, it is dust- and shock-resistant and has a USB-C interface.
The most recent model provides speeds as much as 1,050MB/s (simply over 1GB per second) and is correct round $90 for the 1TB model. Whereas step-up fashions just like the SanDisk Excessive Professional provide quicker learn/write speeds with the appropriate laptop, that could be overkill except you usually work with very massive information.
Your pace will differ should you’re transferring a mishmash of information to or from the USB drive, however when copying a single massive file you must be capable of get near that quick switch pace.
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First launched in 2022, the WD Black P40 has come down in worth and is now fairly inexpensive. It is an ultrafast SSD that is extra geared towards current Home windows PCs outfitted with USB 3.2 Gen2x2 dual-lane structure that permits for a theoretical 20Gbps knowledge switch fee. It will also be used with consoles and Macs. It is able to speeds as much as 2,000MB/s.
Rated for surviving drops of as much as 2 meters, the drive is sturdy and has an RGB lighting component that may be personalized with a Home windows PC.
You do pay a little bit of a premium over the WD Black D30 (see beneath), which comes with a stand and is extra geared to recreation consoles. This drive is extra future-proof as PCs are more and more outfitted with USB 3.2 Gen2x2. Kingston’s XS2000 has related specs for round $10 much less for the 1TB mannequin, however some customers have famous this drive provides barely higher write speeds.
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For higher or worse, there’s presently just one strategy to increase the storage in your Xbox Collection X/S for next-gen Collection X/S video games: the Seagate Enlargement Card. Just like the storage scenario with the PS5, you possibly can plug in any exterior SSD or exhausting drive to increase the storage for normal Xbox video games (previous-gen), however you possibly can retailer solely native Xbox Collection X/S video games on the sport console’s inside reminiscence or the Seagate Enlargement Card.
It plugs right into a proprietary slot on the again of the Xbox Collection X/S and “replicates the Xbox Velocity Structure” (Microsoft’s inside NVMe SSD tech) with peak speeds of as much as 2.4GBps of uncooked I/O throughput. Microsoft says that is greater than 40x the throughput of the Xbox One.
The enlargement card is available in 1TB ($150) and 2TB ($250) variations.
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That is SanDisk’s entry-level SSD, and whereas it would not have fairly the identical speedy efficiency because the step-up Excessive mannequin, it nonetheless has stable efficiency only a step or two behind with 800MB/s speeds in contrast with 1,050MB/s (that is about 1GB per second). The Excessive mannequin can also be ruggedized, whereas this one is not. SanDisk says it is drop-tested to 2 meters. To get the 1TB SSD capability model prices round $85, whereas the 2TB goes for round $140. They provide greater than sufficient pace for basic use (by that I imply people who aren’t transferring round lots of of gigs of video information).
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You may increase storage for PS4 video games in your PS5 by including a regular exterior SSD as a result of you possibly can play PS4 video games straight from an exterior SSD. That is not the case for PS5 video games, which take up a ton of house and might be performed solely from the PS5’s inside drive or an M.2 SSD that you just set up in a particular enlargement bay inside your PS5.
Whereas the Seagate FireCuda 530 technically is not an exterior SSD, it is not so completely different from Seagate’s Storage Enlargement Card for the Xbox Collection X/S in that it is an NVMe SSD with a really excessive switch pace (as much as 7,300MB/s, in accordance with Seagate, although my PS5 listed the highest fee at 6,800MB/s).
A number of M.2 SSDs will work with the PS5 (see our full listing) however ideally, you need one with an built-in heatsink. In any other case, you will have so as to add one.
The Seagate FireCuda 530 with heatsink begins round $67 for the 500GB model and jumps to roughly $140 for the 1TB model (hottest). The 2TB goes for round $200, whereas the 4TB sells for round $600.
Learn extra: This is The best way to Increase Your PlayStation 5 Storage
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As its identify implies, Kingston’s XS2000 is able to speeds as much as 2,000MB/s. Just like the WD Black P40 Recreation Drive and SanDisk Excessive Professional (see beneath), it is an ultrafast SSD that is extra geared towards current Home windows PCs outfitted with USB 3.2 Gen2x2 dual-lane structure that permits for a theoretical 20Gbps knowledge switch fee. It will also be used with consoles and Macs. (Be aware that the XS2000 is silver, whereas its predecessor is black).
Its design is a bit more plain than some SSDs on this listing, however the XS2000 is compact (it is about half the dimensions of a harmonica), light-weight and comes with a rubber sleeve that is speculated to make the gadget water-, shock- and dust-resistant, though it would not have an IP ranking. It is a first rate worth at roughly $105 for the 1TB mannequin.
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If you happen to’re on the lookout for a high-capacity exterior drive on your Xbox One, the WD Black P10 2TB moveable exhausting drive is an efficient worth at round $75 (the 5TB model is about $150). It offers you moveable storage on your coveted recreation assortment. This exterior drive additionally comes with a digital code that offers you one month of Microsoft’s Recreation Move Final should you’re a brand new subscriber. There’s additionally a regular model of the moveable exhausting drive, which additionally works with PCs and the PS4 for barely much less (it is lacking the Xbox branding however is in any other case the identical drive). The moveable drive can ship speeds as much as 130MBps.
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Whereas this drive works with each the PS4 and PS5, it will possibly solely retailer PS4 video games should you’re utilizing it with a PS5 (you possibly can play PS4 video games with out lag straight from the moveable exhausting drive). The 5TB model is $148.
Be aware that Seagate makes an SSD Recreation Drive For Xbox however not PS4. The storage drive prices round $200 for 1TB.
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You should utilize any SSD together with your PlayStation PS4/PS5 or Xbox One, Xbox One Collection X or Collection S to retailer PS4 and Xbox One video games and different content material and choose up a pleasant pace bump when loading video games in contrast with a regular exterior exhausting drive just like the WD Black P10 above. Be aware that with the Xbox Collection X, you possibly can solely archive Xbox Collection X and S video games to this drive, you possibly can’t retailer full video games on it (the Seagate Storage Enlargement Card is required for that). The PS5 has the identical restriction — you possibly can solely retailer full PS4 video games on exterior drives.
On its floor, then, the WD Black D30 recreation drive is not all that particular. It has as much as a 900MBps switch fee, which is principally what a console’s USB 3.1 connection caps out at. It is the design that units it aside. It is thicker and extra rugged-looking than your typical SSD or flash drive and features a removable stand with rubber ft to maintain it from transferring round wherever you place it. That is an NVMe SSD (Non-Risky Reminiscence Categorical) that gives glorious efficiency and interoperability. It basically appears to be like like a mini exhausting drive, which is type of cool.
The usual model works with PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and One X and S consoles, in addition to PCs. The Xbox model proven within the picture merely contains an Xbox brand and a month of Recreation Move Final, a $15 worth, for $20 extra. Alas, solely new subscribers can use the included code, so if you have already got a Recreation Move Final subscription, you are paying the additional $20 for the emblem.
The 1TB model is $150 or much less when on sale.
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SanDisk makes the Excessive Moveable SSD (see above) that delivers speeds as much as 1,050MB per second switch charges. If you happen to’re a photographer or videographer on the lookout for an excellent quicker SSD drive on your PC or Mac, the Excessive Professional Moveable SSD is the best way to go for further cupboard space. The most recent model can ship as much as 2,000MBps (2GBps) learn/write speeds should you pair it with the appropriate gear. To get the utmost pace, you want a bunch system that helps USB Gen 3.2 Gen 2×2 speeds.
Appropriate with Macs and Home windows PCs, it is technically ruggedized with an IP65 ranking, which means it will possibly face up to a sustained spray of water and is dust-resistant. It is also shock-resistant (3-meter drop safety) and is supplied with a solid aluminum chassis that acts as a heatsink. It has a USB-C interface and contains each USB-C-to-USB-C and USB-A-to-USB-C cables. The 1TB model is round $130 whereas the 2TB has dipped to round $220.
Be aware: Some customers say they’ve encountered reliability points with this drive and even had information mysteriously erased. SanDisk has acknowledged some firmware issues with sure drives. It is unclear if these points have been resolved or not, however we did not encounter any issues with the check drive we have been utilizing.
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SanDisk’s flagship Professional-G40 SSD begins at round $180 for a 1TB drive, whereas the 1TB model of Different World Computing’s Envoy Professional FX goes for $280. Each provide top-end speeds (the Envoy Professional FX will get as much as a 2,800MB/s switch pace whereas the Professional-G40 tops out barely increased at as much as 3,000MB/s). Whereas the drive will work simply wonderful with Home windows and Linux computer systems, OWC has lengthy catered to the Mac market, and this exterior SSD definitely performs effectively with Macs.
Sure, it prices greater than the Professional-G40, nevertheless it appears very effectively constructed with an aluminum chassis that does a great job dissipating warmth (it would not warmth up an excessive amount of). Alas, it would not include some kind of carrying case, nevertheless it’s a formidable drive should you can afford it and are on the lookout for ultrafast switch pace.
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Sure, even drive makers like Seagate are beginning to incorporate recycled supplies into their merchandise. The Extremely Contact is available in 4TB and 5TB storage capacities (we tried the 5TB) and except for the eco angle, it is a fairly customary mechanical drive that options USB-C connectivity (sure, it is appropriate with quite a lot of units, together with Macs, Home windows machines and Chromebooks). It weighs in at 267g or 0.589 kilos.
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This drive provides related specs to the SanDisk Excessive SSD, with as much as 1,050MB learn/write speeds, nevertheless it would not have a ruggedized exterior. I’ve used one usually and it is held up effectively and provides a comparatively quick efficiency. I’ve included it right here as a result of the 2TB is best priced than some comparable 2TB fashions.
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The WD My Guide desktop drive is accessible in as much as a 24TB configuration. This drive has been round for some time and is geared towards individuals who want plenty of storage however do not need to pay a ransom to get it.
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After Seagate acquired LaCie a number of years in the past, LaCie turned the corporate’s premium model, and this exterior HDD 5TB mannequin might be discovered on plenty of video editors’ desks (together with loads at CNET). This rugged exhausting disk drive makes use of a USB-C interface, is appropriate with Mac and Home windows PCs and is water- and shock-resistant. A 4TB Thunderbolt with USB-C model is accessible for Thunderbolt-equipped Macs for about $260.
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Essential’s X6 exterior SSD is taken into account entry-level as a result of it is simply not as quick as higher-end fashions, which may provide learn/write speeds which might be twice and even 4 instances as quick (the Essential X8 is the step-up mannequin). Even so, the X6 is about 4x quicker than a drive that is not solid-state, with a switch pace of as much as 540MB per second for the 1TB and 2TB variations and as much as 800MB/s for the brand new 4TB model, which has one of many lowest costs for a 4TB SSD at round $280.
Comparatively, the 4TB SanDisk Excessive SSD, which has a switch pace ranking of as much as 1,050MB/s, prices $300. So that you’re principally taking a look at a $20 financial savings should you’re keen to take a little bit of a small pace hit (once more, at the very least the 4GB model of the Essential X6 has been bumped as much as 800MB/s from 540MB/s).
Finances
Earlier than anything, you will need to determine how a lot you are keen to spend on a brand new exhausting drive. Compact solid-state drives that use flash reminiscence are pricier than slower and larger mechanical drives, however they’ve gone down in worth over the past couple of years. At present, you will get a 1TB exterior SSD for as little as $65 or so. Very high-capacity SSDs are usually fairly dear, so should you’re wanting for lots of storage for not an excessive amount of cash, you will seemingly need to go for a mechanical drive.
Capability
Exterior drives begin at 500GB and go all the best way as much as 22TB or so. For lots of people, particularly should you’re taking a look at a quicker SSD, the storage candy spot is 1TB or 2TB. If you happen to want greater than that, you will seemingly be deciding between spending quite a bit on a 4TB SSD or choosing a extra inexpensive however slower 4TB or 5TB mechanical drive.
Knowledge switch pace
Stable state drives are delivering quicker and quicker knowledge switch speeds. SSDs that supply the quickest speeds are additionally fairly dear. You will need to resolve simply what sort of efficiency you need and want based mostly in your use case and the PC you’ve got (to get the quickest switch pace you want a pc with the newest USB expertise). Except you usually switch huge video information, you most likely do not want a “professional” degree storage gadget. Be aware that even the slowest SSDs are usually about 5 instances as quick as a standard mechanical drive.
Compatibility
Most exterior drives are appropriate with all kinds of computer systems, together with Macs, Home windows PCs and Chromebooks. Issues get extra difficult whenever you get into the realm of recreation consoles. To retailer PS5 or Xbox Collection X or S video games, you will must buy a drive particularly for that job. You should utilize most exterior drives to retailer and play PS4 video games or customary Xbox One video games (off the drive), however you will want to put in an inside drive to retailer and play PS5 video games. Xbox Collection X and S machines require you to purchase both the WD Black C50 enlargement card or Seagate Storage enlargement card to retailer and play Xbox Collection X or S video games.
Safety
A few of chances are you’ll be storing delicate knowledge in your exterior storage drive. If that is the case, search for drives that embody safety features, together with encryption.
We check exterior drives based mostly on three key standards, evaluating equally styled and priced fashions. These standards are design, efficiency and worth.
- Design: We assess not solely the dimensions and weight of the drive (portability components) however its total construct high quality and sturdiness, together with water-, shock- and mud resistance.
- Efficiency: We consider learn/write efficiency by transferring 50GB of information to and from each a PC and a Mac laptop a number of instances. We additionally consider how a lot a drive heats up.
- Worth: We examine drives with related efficiency specs towards one another and assess how good a price they’re based mostly on their worth for a similar capability drive.
Many drives are plug-and-play, however you could have to format a drive on your specific working system. Some drives include their very own software program utilities to arrange the drive for no matter working system you are utilizing.
Most of at the moment’s drives use USB-C interfaces and infrequently include a USB-C-to-USB-A adapter that permits you to join the drive to older USB-A ports. To get most speeds, you will want to attach the drive through USB-C.
USB-C connectors have 4 metallic pins which might be used to switch knowledge. They’re generally known as “lanes.” USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) and USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) use one TX lane to transmit knowledge and one RX lane to obtain knowledge. A lot of the newest computer systems provide at the very least these speeds, and extra computer systems are getting USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, which provides as much as two lanes of 10 Gbps operation for a theoretical 20Gbps knowledge switch fee.
USB4 and Thunderbolt ports (Macs use Thunderbolt) assist you to switch knowledge in addition to video and audio. Which means you possibly can join each exterior drives and shows. Thunderbolt/USB4 provides as much as a 40Gbps theoretical knowledge switch fee. Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 ports look and act like USB-C ports and assist USB-C connectivity. A pc with customary USB-C ports doesn’t assist Thunderbolt units.
To get the quickest speeds, you sometimes want a appropriate USB-C cable (the drive ought to include the appropriate cable to maximise knowledge switch charges). A Thunderbolt-compatible cable is required for computer systems outfitted with Thunderbolt ports to attain a most knowledge switch pace. Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 ports seem like USB-C ports and use a cable that appears like a USB-C cable however has a Thunderbolt insignia on it. Earlier Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 ports used their very own kind of connector (the port additionally accommodates a Mini DisplayPort cable for connecting to screens). You should buy an adapter that converts a Thunderbolt 2 cable to Thunderbolt 3 and 4. There are additionally USB-C to Mini DisplayPort cables.
USB sorts and theoretical burst switch speeds.
