Have you been wondering which external hard drive is the best? External storage is an everyday essential, whether for work, school or for storing personal data.
Finding the right external hard drive can be tricky if you do not have much knowledge about them. With our buying guide to external hard drives, you can learn more about this storage device and make the right choice to suit your needs.
In this post, we present to you a variety of external hard drives that fit all budgets and needs. Our top picks of external hard disks will help you make a quick decision without having to waste too much time searching for the perfect product.
Best External Drive with Security Features
When you want to share data securely, having proper encryption and other security measures in place is a highly useful feature for an external hard disk. These favourites from Verbatim will help you safely share your data without any worry.
Verbatim Fingerprint Secure Portable Hard Drive for Uncompromised Sharing
Keep your data safe from unauthorised access with the Verbatim Fingerprint Secure Portable Hard Drive. This hard drive features a fingerprint sensor as well as password protection features that allow access only to authorised users.
The AES 256-bit hardware encryption allows up to eight users and one administrator. Enjoy its exceptional user experience, which includes Nero backup software, TV connectivity, and more. This hard drive is perfect for having data ready for meetings without the need for any additional set-ups.
Features that make it a great digital data storage solution:
- This Verbatim hard drive comes with a USB Type-C to USB Type-A connector cable for efficient data transfer.
- The hard drive is compatible with Windows 7 / Intel Pentium II / 64MB RAM and MacOS 9.1 / Apple G Processor / 64MB RAM.
- Thanks to its AES 256-bit Hardware Encryption and Fingerprint Secure sensor, your data is safe from unauthorised access.
- It comes with additional features such as Nero backup software and TV connectivity, along with an easy-to-use interface.
Verbatim Store n Go Secure Portable HDD, Locked and Safe
Verbatim’s Store n Go Secure Portable HDD comes with a built-in keypad that makes password protection even easier. The storage device allows up to 20 tries before completely locking down and requiring a reformat.
This external hard drive also comes with AES 256-bit hardware encryption and does not store passwords on connected systems. With this portable hard drive, you can be sure that all your private and confidential data is secure.
Features that make it a great digital data storage solution:
- This Verbatim external hard drive comes in an aluminium and plastic housing that offers good durability.
- Enjoy good data transfer speeds thanks to its USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface.
- You can choose a password up to 12 characters long, which makes brute force attacks difficult.
- This external hard drive can also be connected to TVs, which is a feature not found in other external drives.
Best Budget External Hard Drive for Under £50
Are you looking for a good external hard drive that fits your budget? These top two budget-friendly external storage devices will give you all the storage space without compromising on the read and write speeds or user experience.
Transcend StoreJet 25M3 USB 3.1 External Hard Drive for On-the-go Storage
Keep your important digital data always with you with the Transcend StoreJet 25M3 USB 3.1 External Hard Drive. This is a great storage gadget for everybody with its three-level drop-proof design and elegant construction.
The external hard drive also comes with an accompanying app, Transcend Elite software, which allows you to set up a one-touch auto backup and data encryption. This slim gadget comes with a USB 3.1 interface for the excellent transfer of data.
Features that make it a great digital data storage solution:
- This 2.5-inch external hard drive comes with three-level shockproof construction that keeps your data safe from accidental falls and bumps.
- The USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface offers up to 5Gbps data transfer speed that gets the data archiving process finished quickly.
- Its Transcend Elite software helps you set up automatic backup, a feature that helps you have access to all your important files even if your system is corrupted.
- The slim design makes it a great choice for everyday digital data storage needs.
Western Digital Elements External HDD for Windows and MAC
Free up some space on your Windows and Mac systems with the Western Digital Elements External HDD. This external hard drive comes with a USB C cable and a USB 3.0 interface for fast and efficient data transfers.
This external hard drive weighs 136g and measures 82mm x 111mm x 15mm making it a lightweight choice. The elegant design also features an LED indicator light that keeps you informed about the status of the device when in use.
Features that make it a great digital data storage solution:
- Experience ultra-fast data transfers with its USB 3.0 interface that offers up to 5Gbps rates.
- This high-capacity portable drive is perfect for storing large files and other digital data for easy sharing.
- Its lightweight design makes it highly portable and easy to use.
- The elegant design makes it perfect for professional environments as well.
Best Value External Hard Drive
These external hard drives offer 2TB worth of data storage and are suitable for videos, photos and music storage. Help your creative side with a little extra storage space with these portable storage devices.
Verbatim Fingerprint Secure Portable Hard Drive, Store More Data Safely
Keep all your important files and data protected and stored reliably with the Verbatim Fingerprint Secure Portable Hard Drive. The hard drive comes with features that support up to eight users and one administrator which helps keep the data accessible to authorised users only.
Additionally, the built-in fingerprint sensor makes it easy to keep your data protected without having to worry about remembering passwords. However, it also offers a password protection feature if you prefer that.
Features that make it a great digital data storage solution:
- This 2TB Verbatim hard drive comes with a USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface that offers up to 5Gbps of data transfer.
- The storage drive is compatible with Windows 7 / Intel Pentium II / 64MB RAM and MacOS 9.1 / Apple G Processor / 64MB RAM.
- It offers Nero backup software and TV connectivity amongst many other features.
- The data is 100% encrypted with AES 256-bit hardware encryption, without passwords being stored on any connected systems.
Transcend StoreJet 25A3 USB 3.1 Gen 1 External Hard Drive with One-touch Backup
Enjoy Transcend StoreJet 25A3 USB 3.1 Gen 1 External Hard Drive’s one-touch automatic back-up with its included Transcend Elite software. It is compatible with all modern systems allowing you to easily store your files and edits without compatibility issues.
In addition to its classy and compact design, this 2TB Transcend portable storage drive also comes with rubber shock absorbers for dealing with impacts. It has undergone rigorous testing to give you an external storage drive of the highest quality.
Features that make it a great digital data storage solution:
- With its USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface, experience fast data transfers with a transfer rate of up to 5Gbps.
- The included Transcend Elite software allows you to set up a one-touch auto backup for keeping all your important files safe.
- The hard drive features rubber shock absorbers for handling accidental falls and bumps.
- This Transcend storage device has undergone rigorous testing for a high-quality product.
Best SSD External Hard Drive
External SSDs or solid-state drives offer you high-speed data transfer as they employ no mechanical mechanisms. Additionally, in comparison to HDDs, portable SSDs have better shock resistance and performance.
Verbatim Executive Fingerprint Secure USB 3.2 Portable SSD, Lightweight Solution
The Verbatim Executive Fingerprint Secure USB 3.2 Portable SSD offers 1TB of storage within a compact size. The external SSD is constructed with a durable aluminium casing that also lends it a professional and classy appearance.
This Verbatim SSD features premium 256-bit AES hardware security encryption that offers excellent data protection. Additionally, this storage device is equipped with Nero Backup software which can be used to set up automatic backup.
Features that make it a great digital data storage solution:
- This Verbatim SSD is compatible with Windows as well as iOS systems.
- In addition to a USB-C/USB-A cable, it also comes with a USB-A/USB-C adapter so you can use it with type-C USB ports.
- The built-in fingerprint sensor offers an added layer of security to the stored data.
- Enjoy time-saving data transfers with the USB 3.2 Gen 1 interface.
Hard Drives to Expand Your System Storage Space
Whether you need to backup your system in case of emergencies or simply need a little extra space to speed up your computers, these storage gadgets will get the job done efficiently.
Verbatim Vi550 S3 Internal SSD for High-Speed Transfers
Experience the brilliance of 3D NAND flash technology with the Verbatim Vi550 S3 Internal SSD. This SSD offers high responsiveness with the use of a Phison controller. This SSD is a great way to speed up your hard drive-based PC or laptop.
Its SATA III (revision 3.2) 6Gb/s interface keeps up with all your data transferring needs with its sequential read speed of up to 560 MB/s and a sequential write speed of up to 535 MB/s. The device also has a 360TB TBW and 2,000,000 hours MTBF ratings.
Features that make it a great digital data storage solution:
- This external drive offers a random read speed (4K, QD32) of up to 75413 IOPS and a random write speed (4K, QD32) of up to 86756 IOPS.
- The use of 3D NAND flash technology in combination with a Phison controller delivers excellent responsiveness.
- Its 360TB TBW and 2,000,000 hours MTBF ratings make it a reliable investment.
- It is a great choice for upgrading hard drive-based PCs or laptop computers.
Seagate Expansion Desktop External Hard Drive, Ultimate Storage Solution
Offering a storage capacity of 10TB, the Seagate Expansion Desktop External Hard Drive is an excellent choice for your system. This desktop drive delivers amazing performance and allows you to free up space on your computer for other important tasks.
This large capacity storage device blends well with your desktop with its compact size and stylish design. Furthermore, it is compatible with both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 and has a simple installation process. Additionally, the device has built-in power management for energy-efficient operation.
Features that make it a great digital data storage solution:
- This desktop external hard drive is compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems.
- Expect energy-efficient operation with its built-in power management system that automatically manages power needs.
- Store all your large files on it to speed up the performance of your desktop.
- The drive comes included with a USB 3.0 cable and a power supply cable.
Hard Drive Storage for Everyone
We hope our selection of the best portable external hard drives has helped you find the one you were looking for. You can learn more about external storage options with our blog posts.
You can find links on our site to all our posts about storage devices, buying guides and many other helpful and useful posts on tech and gadgets.
Are you looking for the best external hard drive for the PS5? Need the best external DVD drive? Find all these and many more products with us. Get in touch with us to find amazing products at great prices!