Best External Drives of 2024

Best External Drives of 2024

Design and Portability: If you’ll be using the external drive with a laptop computer or another mobile device, or transporting the drive often, seek out one that’s both portable and durable. For a desktop computer, a physically larger unit (perhaps one that needs to be plugged into an external power source other than your computer) may be more suitable. 
“Portable drives, for example, offer mobility and typically connect via USB, which is ideal for on-the-go use. Desktop drives are larger, require an external power source, and often offer higher storage capacities. SSDs are faster but pricier than traditional HDDs,” says Muhammad Tariq, an IT specialist with FlexiPCB.com.

Storage Capacity: This determines how much data the drive can store. With prices dropping significantly, we recommend at least a 2 TB to 4 TB capacity. If you’re planning to use the drive to back up your entire computer, select an external storage capacity that’s between 150% and 200% of your computer’s internal drive’s storage capacity.

Speed and Performance: Ideally, you want an external drive with the fastest read and write speed you can afford, especially if you’ll be storing and retrieving data from it as part of your everyday workflow.

“Read/write speed is important if you are going to be working from the drive often,” says Dr. Christopher Smithmyer, founder of Black Wallet. “For backup systems, it is not as vital. The drive’s speed just determines the time it will take to back up. For gaming and working from the drive, high speeds will reduce latency and drag.”

Several common tasks will benefit from a higher-speed external drive. “Speed is essential for tasks like video editing or gaming,” says Kat Campbell, a data scientist at BowTied Raptor. “Look for speeds of at least 5,000rpm for HDDs or 300MB/second for SSDs.”

Connection Interface: Based on your computer hardware, choose an external drive that supports the fastest connection available. “USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt connections offer faster data transfer,” Campbell says. “Thunderbolt is particularly fast but more expensive.”

Durability: Some external SSDs can resist drops, low temperatures, and even water. HDDs tend to be much less rugged.

Security Features: The level of security and data encryption you need depends on the sensitivity of the data you’re storing. “Encryption capabilities and password protection are essential for sensitive data,” Campbell says. “I also look for automatic backup software, waterproofing, and fire resistance. The biggest mistakes I see people making with external hard drives include not regularly backing up data, mishandling the drive, and not encrypting sensitive information.”

Compatibility: Choose a drive that offers plug-and-play functionality with support for both Windows and MacOS. These are the easiest to set up and manage, especially for people who aren’t tech-savvy.

Price: The type of drive (SSD, HDD, or HHD), along with its storage capacity, read/write speed, design, and brand will directly impact price. For most consumers, we recommend an SSD with the highest capacity and fastest read/write speed you can afford.

Special Features: Automatic data encryption and other security features; integrated RGB lighting; included and easy-to-use backup software; and a carrying case (if the drive is portable), are among the additional features to seek out, based on your needs.

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