You can take an external hard disk drive with you for data storage on the go, and to back up data on your computer at home. They come in a wide variety of prices and capacities from companies such as Western Digital and Sandisk, and with different factors to take into consideration such as transfer speed and security features, it can be difficult choosing the external hard drive that's best for you.
We've compared 8 bestselling External Hard Drives available online and put them to the test to recommend the best one for you.
We tested each product for the following:
Which product ended up being the best of the best? We'll also tell you how to pick the best External Hard Drives on your own in our buying guide, so read on for more shopping tips.
Saneyasu Yamaguchi received his Doctor of Engineering (PhD) at the University of Tokyo in 2002. During 2002–2006, he stayed at the Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo to study I/O processing. He became a lecturer for the School of Engineering at Kogakuin University in 2006, later becoming an associate professor for the same university in 2007. Since 2021, he has been conducting research with students as a professor at the same university. Degrees and Qualifications: PhD (Engineering) / Graduate School, The University of Tokyo
After graduating from the University of Tsukuba's School of Art and Design, she joined a major home electronic retailer to put her knowledge of digital devices and software to use. Not only was she tasked with selling computers, she was responsible for sales of tech equipment such as printers and routers, proposing internet and communication services, and was in charge of forming comprehensive contracts for computer sales. Putting sales quotas and profits aside, she made it her goal to put the customers' needs first and match them with the best products. In 2022, she joined mybest as the head guide of PC equipment. Utilizing her experience and knowledge of various digital devices from major manufacturers such as Fujitsu and Dell, she is committed to producing articles that help connect users to the best PC products.
Slow data transfer can take up a lot of your time. We first checked the speed of each HDD, a particularly important feature when exchanging data between devices. We evaluated each model using scores along two axes, and the drive with the highest average score had the fastest transfer speed. For fairness, we used a computer with the latest operating system and turned the internet off at the time of testing. The cables used to connect the disks to the computer were the standard cables included with each product.Benchmark TestSoftware: CrystalDiskMarkComputer: Dynabook PZ/HUBCrystalDiskMark was used to measure the portable HDD connected to a computer in NTFS format. Each drive was measured three times, with the average score evaluated.Actual use testComputer: Dynabook PZ/HUB1 GB and 100 GB of data were copied from the computer to the HDD. The time was measured from the start of transfer to the notification of completion.
Whether you're backing up photo data outdoors on the go or handling data going to and from work and home, a compact portable hard drive can be a necessity. We evaluated the portability of each external hard drive based on the following items.ThicknessWeightSurface area
If you are handling important data, the right security features can help minimize damage in the event of a problem. When evaluating the security level of an HDD, we looked at the following items.EncryptionPassword lockBiometric authentication
Impact-based shock can cause damage to your data. We used our point system with regard to the following to measure the shock-resistance of each HDD.Does it pass drop and impact standards and tests?Does it have a non-slip surface?Is the material shock-absorbent?Is it waterproof?Is it dustproof?
All product tests
were conducted in-house at mybest
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.The mybest team independently conducts its own tests to rank products.
Table of Contents
External hard drives come in HDD (hard disk drive) or SSD (solid state drive) variations. HDDs are a better buy if you are prioritizing capacity, while SSDs have faster transfer speeds.
SSDs use flash memory for storage, so an SSD can transfer data at more than twice the speed of an HDD, but they're generally more expensive. HDDs can be purchased at higher capacities for lower prices. They write data directly to the disk, making the transfer speed slower, but you can buy an HDD at around half the price of SSD storage.
The need for more data capacity has naturally gone up alongside recent increases in video and image quality. In terms of data, 1 TB corresponds to only about 17 hours and 20 minutes of 4K quality video or 40,000 images taken with an SLR camera. If file sizes continue to grow in the future, an HDD would be a good choice for storing a large capacity of data at a lower price.
SSDs most commonly come with 1 TB or 2 TB storage, while HDDs often come with higher capacities, such as 4 TB and 5 TB.
HDDs have a reputation of being easy to damage. On a hard disk drive, the arm and disk physically move to write data, making it vulnerable to shocks from impact. With careful use, however, you can reduce your risk of data loss. With hard disk drives, the magnetic head physically writes data to the disk during operation. While this is happening, the magnetic head is in extremely close proximity with the disk itself, and any impact or jostling at that time will damage the disk and cause the operation to fail.
It is therefore important to make sure that the HDD is in a stable position and not moved during use. To reduce the risk of impact during operation, be careful where you place your HDD. Avoid placing it in an unbalanced position or location, or on the edge of a desk or table.
Here are the points to keep in mind when choosing the best External Hard Drives.
Transfer speed is important for data storage, but we found that transfer speed did not vary significantly among any of the products tested here. We therefore focused on the following points listed below in our evaluation.
Due to the way HDDs are structured, there is a limit to how fast the actual disk can rotate, and the evolution of transfer speed among HDD models has reached a plateau. In testing the data transfer speeds between disks, none of the products were exceptionally fast. The fastest transfer of 1 GB of data was only 1.3 times faster than the slowest transfer we measured. Most disks were able to transfer approximately 51 images (20 MB) in around 10 seconds.
The external hard drives performed with very little variation in speed, so we focused on variations in size and security features. If speed is of particular importance to you, we recommend choosing an SSD over an HDD model.
HDDs with encryption functions are recommended in particular. If your hard disk drive comes with full encryption capability, you can prevent your data from being leaked in the event your hard drive is lost or stolen. Without data encryption, outside sources who get a hold of your data can access it as they please.
Hard disk drives with encryption prevent access by anyone who doesn't know the composite key, a unique password to the drive. Most of us store valuable data on our drives, so encryption capability is a must for data protection.
There are a variety of sizes available depending on how you intend to use your external hard drive. We'll explain below how to select a disk that best suits your purposes.
Portable HDDs can be generally classified into compact, lightweight variations and models that are more resistant to impact-based shock. Generally speaking, a compact HDD is lighter and easier to carry around with you, but will have inferior shock resistance.
External hard drives that are shock resistant have rubber covers around the main unit and terminals to protect against impact and water. This makes them larger and thicker, taking up more space in your bag. The smaller a drive is, the less shock resistance it will have, and vice versa. Therefore, choose your external hard drive according to your own purposes.
If you're looking for a more portable model, you can find external hard drives that are less than half an inch thick, or even smaller. A thin drive can easily fit in a small pocket in your bag. If you're only using your disk to back up data at home, some models are small enough to fit in stationery or document cases.
We recommend a non-slip surface when using your external hard drive on a desk. Thinner drives usually don't have shock-resistant covers, but some models have non-slip surfaces on the back. Dropping the disk during operation can cause damage to the disk or data, but you can help prevent this by taking note of the surface of the desk or drive in advance.
If you plan to use your external hard drive outdoors, a shock-resistant model is ideal. If you plan on using your external hard drive outside, you may have to cope with sudden rain, for example, among other factors. These drives can be much larger than models designed to be portable, but larger drives have a number of features to reduce risks of malfunction.
When choosing your drive, the number that comes after IP indicates the degree to which the model is waterproof or dustproof. A drive with IP54 or higher, for example, can withstand light rain and dusty locations, making it possible to back up your information even when you're outside.
Each manufacturer also has its own drop tests and pressure tests. Rubber or silicone covers around the main unit of an external hard drive make it more resistant to impact-based shock. Among the products we tested, Sandisk's G-DRIVE ArmorATD and LaCie's Rugged Mini passed drop tests.
Products | Image | mybest Score | Click to purchase | Key features | Main Score | Details | ||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Transfer speed | Portability | Security | Durability | Compatible OS | USB specification | USB terminal | Attachment cable length | MIL spec compliant | Data encryption | Password lockable | Biometric identification | Waterproof | Dust resistant | Loading speed (tested) | Recording speed (tested) | Format type | Width | Depth | Thickness | Weight | ||||||
1 | Western Digital My Passport|WDBYVG0020BBL-WESN | ![]() | 4.39 | mybest's Top Choice! Thin, Portable and Highly Secure, With Encryption Features | 4.17 | 4.65 | 5.00 | 3.98 | Windows, Mac OS | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB Type-A | 18 in. | unknown | unknown | 124.1MB/s | 120.7MB/s | NTFS | 2.95 in. | 4.22 in. | 0.44 in. | 4.2 oz. | |||||
2 | Western Digital My Passport Ultra|WDBC3C0020BSL-WESN | ![]() | 4.30 | Encryption Functions and Anti-Slip Coating to Reduce the Risk of It Falling | 4.26 | 4.11 | 5.00 | 3.98 | Windows, Mac OS | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB Type-C | unknown | unknown | unknown | 131.9MB/s | 128.1MB/s | NTFS | 3.21 in. | 4.33 in. | 0.55 in. | 5.6 oz. | |||||
3 | Toshiba America Electronic Canvio Basics|HDTB520XK3AA | ![]() | 4.11 | Not the Most Secure, but Fast Data Transfer | 4.48 | 4.11 | 3.93 | 3.57 | Windows, Mac OS | USB 3.0, USB 2.0 | USB Type-A | unknown | unknown | unknown | 150.4MB/s | 160.8MB/s | NTFS | 3.1 in. | 4.3 in. | 0.55 in. | 5.3 oz. | |||||
4 | Seagate Technology Portable External Hard Drive|STGX2000400 | ![]() | 4.08 | Fast and Compact but Lacks Security | 4.39 | 4.11 | 3.93 | 3.57 | Windows, Mac OS | USB 3.0, USB 2.0 | USB Type-A | 18 in. | unknown | unknown | 137.6MB/s | 136.0MB/s | unknown | 3.15 in. | 4.6 in. | 0.58 in. | 6.68 oz. | |||||
5 | Seagate Technology One Touch|STKB2000403 | ![]() | 4.01 | Thin, Portable and Comes in a Wide Variety of Colors | 4.21 | 4.11 | 3.93 | 3.57 | Windows, Mac OS | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB Type-A | 18 in. | unknown | unknown | 73.5MB/s | 66.0MB/s | exFAT | 3.07 in. | 4.52 in. | 0.46 in. | 5.21 oz. | |||||
5 | Western Digital WD 2TB Elements Portable HDD|WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN | ![]() | 4.01 | Slow Transfer and Lacks Security | 4.00 | 4.11 | 3.93 | 3.98 | Windows, Mac OS | USB 3.0, USB 2.0 | USB Type-A | unknown | unknown | unknown | 113.4MB/s | 109.2MB/s | NTFS | 3.23 in. | 4.35 in. | 0.59 in. | 4.6 oz. | |||||
7 | Seagate Technology LaCie Rugged Mini|LAC9000298 | ![]() | 3.89 | IP67 Waterproofing and Dustproofing Makes It Great for Oudoor Use | 4.22 | 3.04 | 4.41 | 5.00 | Windows, Mac OS | USB 3.0, USB 2.0 | USB Type-C | 15.7 in. | unknown | IPX7 | IP6X | 72.6MB/s | 68.6MB/s | unknown | 3.4 in. | 5.3 in. | 0.75 in. | 10.6 oz. | ||||
8 | Western Digital G-DRIVE ArmorATD|SDPH81G-002T-GBAND | ![]() | 3.81 | Strong Against Water, Dust, and Shock at IP54, but It's Thick | 4.30 | 3.04 | 3.93 | 4.73 | Mac OS, Windows, | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB Type-A, USB Type-C | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | IPX4 | IP5X | 136.5MB/s | 132.2MB/s | HFS+ | 3.43 in. | 5.12 in. | 0.83 in. | 8.2 oz. |
Compatible OS | Windows, Mac OS |
---|---|
Data encryption | |
Waterproof | unknown |
Dust resistant | unknown |
Loading speed (tested) | 124.1MB/s |
Recording speed (tested) | 120.7MB/s |
Western Digital is a California-based company specializing in storage. The My Passport comes in black, blue, and red, and starts at 2 TB storage. The benchmark test measured the transfer speed at 124.1 MB/s for reading and 120.7 MB/s for writing. During data transfer, 1 GB of data took an average of 9.7 seconds, and 100 GB of data took around 15 minutes and 19 seconds. Though this isn't the fastest of the models, the speed was within the average range of the drives we tested.
This external hard drive has extensive security features, including encryption and password locking. This means that data should remain fairly secure even in the event of hacking. There is no shock resistance or anti-slip coating, resulting in a thin and compact size, ideal for bag pockets or other tight storage spaces.
USB specification | USB 3.2 Gen 1 |
---|---|
USB terminal | USB Type-A |
Attachment cable length | 18 in. |
MIL spec compliant | |
Biometric identification | |
Format type | NTFS |
Width | 2.95 in. |
Depth | 4.22 in. |
Thickness | 0.44 in. |
Weight | 4.2 oz. |
Compatible OS | Windows, Mac OS |
---|---|
Data encryption | |
Waterproof | unknown |
Dust resistant | unknown |
Loading speed (tested) | 131.9MB/s |
Recording speed (tested) | 128.1MB/s |
The My Passport Ultra, from storage manufacturer Western Digital, is a high-end portable HDD with an aluminum shell. It comes in 2 TB and 4 TB variations with different shades of blue. Benchmark tests clocked this model at an average of 131.9 MB/s for reading and 128 MB/s for writing. During actual data transfer, 1 GB took an average of 9.2 seconds and 100 GB took around 14 minutes and 35 seconds. This was an average result in terms of all the products tested; not particularly slow or fast.
The My Passport Ultra features both encryption and password locking, making it a very secure choice. It is thin and easy to carry, and also has non-slip rubber at each corner on the back, making it good for desk work.
USB specification | USB 3.2 Gen 1 |
---|---|
USB terminal | USB Type-C |
Attachment cable length | unknown |
MIL spec compliant | |
Biometric identification | |
Format type | NTFS |
Width | 3.21 in. |
Depth | 4.33 in. |
Thickness | 0.55 in. |
Weight | 5.6 oz. |
Compatible OS | Windows, Mac OS |
---|---|
Data encryption | |
Waterproof | unknown |
Dust resistant | unknown |
Loading speed (tested) | 150.4MB/s |
Recording speed (tested) | 160.8MB/s |
The Canvio Basics from Japanese home appliance manufacturer Toshiba has a rounded design and is available only in black. In benchmark testing, the Canvio Basics averaged 150.4 MB/s in reading and 160.8 MB/s in writing. It took an average of 8.0 seconds to transfer 1 GB of data, and 12 minutes, 20 seconds to transfer 100 GB of data. This was the fastest transfer speed out of all the external hard drives we tested.
This drive received a lower rating for security, with no encryption function provided. In terms of size, it is larger and thicker than other portable models. Additionally, it lacks shock resistance, so shouldn't be carried around, but remains a good choice for anyone looking for fast transfer speeds.
USB specification | USB 3.0, USB 2.0 |
---|---|
USB terminal | USB Type-A |
Attachment cable length | unknown |
MIL spec compliant | |
Biometric identification | |
Format type | NTFS |
Width | 3.1 in. |
Depth | 4.3 in. |
Thickness | 0.55 in. |
Weight | 5.3 oz. |
Compatible OS | Windows, Mac OS |
---|---|
Data encryption | |
Waterproof | unknown |
Dust resistant | unknown |
Loading speed (tested) | 137.6MB/s |
Recording speed (tested) | 136.0MB/s |
Seagate Technology is a storage product manufacturer. Its Portable External Hard Drive is simple and black, and comes with three years of product support. Benchmark testing measured this drive's reading speed at an average of 137.6 MB/s and writing at 136.0 MB/s. When transferring data, 1 GB took an average of 8.6 seconds, and 100 GB took 12 minutes, 59 seconds, making it relatively fast among the drives tested.
The drive is not particularly secure, with no encryption functions offered. But it is portable and compact in addition to its speed, making it is a good choice if you're not handling particularly sensitive data.
USB specification | USB 3.0, USB 2.0 |
---|---|
USB terminal | USB Type-A |
Attachment cable length | 18 in. |
MIL spec compliant | |
Biometric identification | |
Format type | unknown |
Width | 3.15 in. |
Depth | 4.6 in. |
Thickness | 0.58 in. |
Weight | 6.68 oz. |
Compatible OS | Windows, Mac OS |
---|---|
Data encryption | |
Waterproof | unknown |
Dust resistant | unknown |
Loading speed (tested) | 73.5MB/s |
Recording speed (tested) | 66.0MB/s |
The One Touch from American manufacturer Seagate Technology comes in six different colors. Benchmark tests for the One Touch measured reading at approximately 73.5 MB/s and writing at 66.0 MB/s. In the actual transfer of data, 1 GB transferred at an average of 8.5 seconds and 100 GB transferred at 13 minutes and 47 seconds. The benchmark scores measured the drive as slow, but it was not that slow in tests measuring actual use.
The One Touch doesn't come with encryption, but does come with a password lock function, which requires the downloading of a toolkit in accordance with the user guide. The drive itself is about half an inch thick, making it a good choice for anyone looking for a compact model.
USB specification | USB 3.2 Gen 1 |
---|---|
USB terminal | USB Type-A |
Attachment cable length | 18 in. |
MIL spec compliant | |
Biometric identification | |
Format type | exFAT |
Width | 3.07 in. |
Depth | 4.52 in. |
Thickness | 0.46 in. |
Weight | 5.21 oz. |
Compatible OS | Windows, Mac OS |
---|---|
Data encryption | |
Waterproof | unknown |
Dust resistant | unknown |
Loading speed (tested) | 113.4MB/s |
Recording speed (tested) | 109.2MB/s |
Western Digital is a US-based storage product manufacturer. The WD 2TB Elements Portable HDD is the most affordable entry model in the company's external hard drive lineup. Benchmark testing gave the WD 2TB Elements Portable HDD an average of 113.4 MB/s in reading and 109.2 MB/s in writing. It took 1 GB of data an average of 10.5 seconds to transfer, and 100 GB took 16 minutes, 51 seconds to transfer, giving it the slowest transfer speed among the models tested.
This drive lacks security functions, and no encryption is offered. It is relatively large and thick. The low price is one of this external drive's high points, but we recommend choosing one of the company's higher-end models if it is within your budget.
USB specification | USB 3.0, USB 2.0 |
---|---|
USB terminal | USB Type-A |
Attachment cable length | unknown |
MIL spec compliant | |
Biometric identification | |
Format type | NTFS |
Width | 3.23 in. |
Depth | 4.35 in. |
Thickness | 0.59 in. |
Weight | 4.6 oz. |
Compatible OS | Windows, Mac OS |
---|---|
Data encryption | |
Waterproof | IPX7 |
Dust resistant | IP6X |
Loading speed (tested) | 72.6MB/s |
Recording speed (tested) | 68.6MB/s |
The Rugged Mini from LaCie, a storage product manufacturer, has a shock-resistant orange cover. Benchmark testing for the LaCie Rugged Mini measured reading at an average of 72.6 MB/s and writing at 68.8 MB/s. In actual data transfer, 1 GB took around 8.3 seconds and 100 GB took 13 minutes and 46 seconds. The benchmark scores were low, but the actual transfer speeds were among some of the fastest we tested.
The LaCie Rugged Mini is a good choice for outdoor use because of its IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. According to independent drop tests, the drive performs well in terms of shock resistance. The rubber cover, however, has a smooth texture, making it potentially slippery on desks or uneven surfaces. Its large, thick body makes it bulky to carry, but it remains a strong choice if you're looking for something waterproof or dustproof.
USB specification | USB 3.0, USB 2.0 |
---|---|
USB terminal | USB Type-C |
Attachment cable length | 15.7 in. |
MIL spec compliant | unknown |
Biometric identification | |
Format type | unknown |
Width | 3.4 in. |
Depth | 5.3 in. |
Thickness | 0.75 in. |
Weight | 10.6 oz. |
Compatible OS | Mac OS, Windows, |
---|---|
Data encryption | unknown |
Waterproof | IPX4 |
Dust resistant | IP5X |
Loading speed (tested) | 136.5MB/s |
Recording speed (tested) | 132.2MB/s |
The G-DRIVE ArmorATD from Sandisk, famous for its flash memory products, is a shock-resistant model with rubber covering around its case. In the benchmark test, the G-DRIVE ArmorATD averaged 136.5 MB/s for reading and 132.2 MB/s for writing. In data transfer, 1 GB transferred at an average of 9.2 seconds and 100 GB transferred at an average of 14 minutes, three seconds, giving the drive average ratings among the products tested.
The G-DRIVE ArmorATD has an IP54 rating against water and dust, and can be used even in a light rain, though care must be taken not to let water enter the terminal area itself. It passed drop tests held by the manufacturer. The body is thick due to the shock-absorbing cover, but this drive is a good choice for anyone looking for shock resistance.
USB specification | USB 3.2 Gen 1 |
---|---|
USB terminal | USB Type-A, USB Type-C |
Attachment cable length | unknown |
MIL spec compliant | unknown |
Biometric identification | |
Format type | HFS+ |
Width | 3.43 in. |
Depth | 5.12 in. |
Thickness | 0.83 in. |
Weight | 8.2 oz. |
The portable disk drives were tested for the following items:
Products we tested
No. 1: Western Digital|My Passport|WDBYVG0020BBL-WESN
No. 2: Western Digital|My Passport Ultra|WDBC3C0020BSL-WESN
No. 3: Toshiba America Electronic|Canvio Basics|HDTB520XK3AA
No. 4: Seagate Technology|Portable External Hard Drive|STGX2000400
No. 5: Seagate Technology|One Touch|STKB2000403
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