WD 5TB Elements Portable USB 3.0 External Hard Drive
- 5TB Storage Capacity
- Micro-USB 3.0 Interface
- Includes Micro-USB to USB Type-A Cable
- Preformatted for Windows
Samsung 1TB T7 Shield Portable SSD (Blue)
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Port (10 Gb/s)
- PCIe NVMe Technology
- Read Speeds up to 1050 MB/s
G-DRIVE 2TB G-DRIVE ArmorATD USB 3.2 Gen 1 Portable Hard Drive
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- 5 Gb/s USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 Interface
- Read Speeds up to 130 MB/s
- Bus Powered
WD 6TB Elements Desktop USB 3.2 Gen 1 External Hard Drive
- 6TB Storage Capacity
- Micro-USB 3.2 Gen 1 Interface
- AC Powered
- USB 2.0 Compatible
WD 12TB Elements Desktop USB 3.2 Gen 1 External Hard Drive
- 12TB Storage Capacity
- Micro-USB 3.2 Gen 1 Interface
- AC Powered
- USB 2.0 Compatible
SanDisk 500GB Extreme Portable SSD V2 (Black)
- 500GB Total Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
- Up to 1050 MB/s Read Speed
- Up to 1000 MB/s Write Speed
SanDisk 4TB Extreme PRO Portable SSD V2 (2-Pack)
- 4TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2
- Up to 2000 MB/s Read & Write Speeds
- Bus Powered
LaCie 4TB Rugged SSD Pro5 Thunderbolt 5 External SSD
- 4TB Storage Capacity
- Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) Interface
- Read Speeds up to 6700 MB/s
- Write Speeds up to 5300 MB/s
WD 2TB My Passport USB 3.2 Gen 1 External Hard Drive (Black)
- 2TB Capacity
- USB 3.2 Gen 1
- 256-Bit AES Hardware Encryption
- Bus-Powered, No External Power Required
LaCie 5TB USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C Mobile Drive
- 5TB Storage Capacity
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C Interface
- USB Type-C Cable Included
- Sleek, Portable Design by Neil Poulton
WD 6TB My Passport Ultra USB 3.0 Type-C External Hard Drive for Mac (Silver)
- 6TB Storage Capacity
- USB 3.0 Type-C Interface (USB 3.1 Gen 1)
- Bus Powered
- 256-Bit AES Encryption
LaCie 4TB USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C Mobile Drive
- 4TB Storage Capacity
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C Interface
- USB Type-C Cable Included
- Sleek, Portable Design by Neil Poulton
SanDisk 1TB Portable SSD
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- Up to 800 MB/s Transfer Speed
- Bus Powered
Glyph Technologies 24TB Blackbox PRO USB 3.2 Gen 2 External Hard Drive
- 24TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- 7200 rpm Rotational Speed
- Up to 260 MB/s Data Transfer Speed
Samsung 8TB T5 EVO USB 3.2 Gen 1 Portable SSD
- 8TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 Interface (5 Gb/s)
- Up to 460 MB/s Data Transfer Rate
- AES 256-Bit Hardware Encryption
OWC 4TB Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 Portable SSD
- 4TB Storage Capacity
- 80 Gb/s Thunderbolt 5 Interface
- Up to 6000 MB/s Data Transfer Speeds
- Bus Powered
Toshiba 4TB Canvio Flex USB 3.2 Gen 1 Portable Hard Drive
- 4TB Capacity
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 Interface
- Up to 5 Gb/s Data Transfer Speeds
- exFAT Preformatted
Lexar 1TB Professional Go USB 3.2 Gen 2 Portable SSD
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Male Interface
- Read Speeds up to 1050 MB/s
- Write Speeds up to 1000 MB/s
G-DRIVE 8TB G-DRIVE Enterprise-Class USB 3.2 Gen 2 External Hard Drive
- 8TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- Up to 260 MB/s Data Transfer Speed
- AC Powered
WD 1TB My Passport USB 3.2 Gen 1 External Hard Drive (Black)
- 1TB Capacity
- USB 3.2 Gen 1
- 256-Bit AES Hardware Encryption
- Bus-Powered, No External Power Required
Glyph Technologies 20TB Blackbox PRO USB 3.2 Gen 2 External Hard Drive
- 20TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- 7200 rpm Rotational Speed
- Up to 260 MB/s Data Transfer Speed
SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD V2 (Monterey)
- 2TB Total Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
- Up to 1050 MB/s Read Speed
- Up to 1000 MB/s Write Speed
WD 16TB Elements Desktop USB 3.2 Gen 1 External Hard Drive
- 16TB Storage Capacity
- Micro-USB 3.2 Gen 1 Interface
- AC Powered
- USB 2.0 Compatible
Glyph Technologies 12TB Blackbox PRO USB 3.2 Gen 2 External Hard Drive
- 12TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- 7200 rpm Rotational Speed
- Up to 260 MB/s Data Transfer Speed
G-DRIVE 22TB G-DRIVE Enterprise-Class USB 3.2 Gen 2 External Hard Drive
- 22TB Storage Capacity
- 7200 rpm Ultrastar Enterprise-Class HDD
- 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Port
- Sequential Read Speeds up to 280 MB/s
WD 6TB My Book Desktop USB 3.2 Gen 1 External Hard Drive
- 6TB Storage Capacity
- Micro-USB 3.2 Gen 1 Interface
- Includes AC Adapter
- 256-Bit AES Hardware Encryption
G-DRIVE 18TB G-DRIVE Enterprise-Class USB 3.2 Gen 2 External Hard Drive
- 18TB Storage Capacity
- 7200 rpm Ultrastar Enterprise-Class HDD
- 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Port
- Sequential Read Speeds up to 270 MB/s
WD 24TB Elements Desktop USB 3.2 Gen 1 External Hard Drive
- 24TB Storage Capacity
- Micro-USB 3.2 Gen 1 Interface
- AC Powered
- USB 2.0 Compatible
Portable & USB Hard Drives
An external hard disk drive is a standalone storage device that provides additional space for your data. You can use it to backup important files from your computer's internal hard drive and to transfer files between computers. It has a larger storage capacity than other external storage devices, like USB drives and memory cards.
Portable vs. Desktop External Hard Drives
A portable external storage drive is smaller and lighter than a desktop model. It's a compact unit that houses a 2.5-inch hard drive in a protective enclosure. Desktop external hard disks have bigger housings, and usually use larger 3.5-inch hard drives. You can turn the internal hard disk in your old laptop (2.5-inch) or desktop PC (3.5-inch) into an external storage unit with the right hard drive enclosure.
Another difference between desktop and portable external hard drives is their power sources. Portable units are bus-powered. This means that they draw power with the same USB cable used for transferring data. Desktop units have separate AC adapters and draw more power. Hard drive arrays are another class of external storage devices. These have two or more drive bays for 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch hard disks. They serve as network-attached servers and support RAID levels that help them prioritize data redundancy, transfer speed, and storage capacity.
What's the Difference Between SSD and HDD?
A USB external hard drive can store files on a solid-state drive or a hard disk drive. While HDDs record data on spinning platters, SSDs use flash memory chips. With no moving parts, SSDs are faster and more durable. They’re also quieter and use less power. However, HDDs are more affordable and available in higher capacities.
Some brands offer SSDs in multiple form factors. For example, you can find 2.5-inch (direct replacement for laptop HDDs), M.2, and PCIe solid state drives in the HP hard drive line. Note that you need a 2.5-inch SSD and a 2.5-inch drive enclosure to build a SATA external hard drive. SATA, or Serial ATA, is a high-speed bus interface for connecting storage devices like HDDs and SSDs to computer motherboards. An external SATA (eSATA) drive enclosure connects a SATA HDD or SSD to a computer via USB.
Consider Speed When Selecting External Storage Drives
The overall data transfer speed of an external storage device depends on the speed of the drive used and the speed of the connection between the drive and your computer. Connection interface options for external drives include USB 2.0, 3.0, and 3.1, as well as eSATA and Thunderbolt. USB 3.0 external hard drives are 10 times faster than models with USB 2.0.
Most brands offer hard disks in two drive speeds: 5400 and 7200 rpm. Each type has its merits. For example, if you’re looking for a portable Toshiba hard drive, pick one with a 5400 rpm HDD. It has a lower power draw and is quick enough for everyday use. Pick a model with a 7200 rpm HDD if you regularly transfer large files and need a desktop external drive.
Keep important files safe by regularly backing them up onto an external hard disk. Find the right one, including fast SSD options, in the extensive selection of portable storage devices at B&H Photo and Video.


