External Hard Drives
OWC 2TB Envoy Pro FX External SSD
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- Thunderbolt 3 & USB 3.2 Gen 2
- Up to 2800 MB/s Data Transfer Speed
- Bus Powered
SanDisk 4TB Creator Series Pro USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Portable SSD
- 4TB Storage Capacity
- 20 Gb/s USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2
- Read and Write Speeds up to 2000 MB/s
- Bus Powered
Glyph Technologies 4TB Atom EV USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C External SSD
- 4TB Storage Capacity
- 10 Gb/s USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Interface
- Up to 1 GB/s Data Transfer Speed
- Bus Powered
Glyph Technologies 4TB Atom EX40 High Intensity USB4 NVMe SSD
- 4TB Storage Capacity
- USB4 Interface
- Up to 4000 MB/s Read Speeds
- Up to 4000 MB/s Write Speeds
SanDisk Professional 8TB G-DRIVE PROJECT & 4TB PRO-BLADE SSD Mag Kit
- 8TB G-DRIVE PROJECT External HDD
- 4TB PRO-BLADE SSD Mag
- 2 x Thunderbolt 3 Ports (PROJECT)
- NVMe PCIe 3.0 Interface (SSD)
Oyen Digital 8TB Helix Dura USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 Portable NVMe SSD
- 8TB Storage Capacity
- Transfer Speeds up to 1050 MB/s
- PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4 SSD
- 10 Gb/s USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 Host Connection
Silicon Power PX10 Plus Gen 2 Portable SSD (512GB, Pink)
- Records Apple ProRes 4K at 60p
- 1050 MB/s Data Speeds
- 10 Gb/s USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
- Aluminum Construction
Silicon Power 500GB DS72 Dual USB 3.2 Gen 2 Portable SSD (USB-C / USB-A)
- 500GB Storage Capacity
- 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Connector
- 1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 Connector
- Read Speeds up to 1050 MB/s
Kingston 500GB XS2000 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 External Solid State Drive
- 500GB Storage Capacity
- 20 Gb/s USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C Interface
- Data Transfer Speeds up to 2000 MB/s
- Bus Powered
Rocstor 4TB Rocpro D90 USB 3.2 Gen 2 External Hard Drive
- 4TB Storage Capacity
- 7200 rpm
- 10 Gb/s USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- Up to 10 Gb/s Transfer Rate
WD 5TB My Passport USB 3.2 Gen 1 Portable Hard Drive
- 5TB Storage Capacity
- Micro-USB 3.2 Gen 1 Interface
- Bus Powered
- 256-Bit AES Hardware Encryption
SanDisk 1TB Creator Series Pro USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Portable SSD
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- 20 Gb/s USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2
- Read and Write Speeds up to 2000 MB/s
- Bus Powered
Silicon Power 2TB PC60 USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Portable External SSD
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
- Up to 540 MB/s Read Speeds
- Up to 500 MB/s Write Speeds
Apricorn 2TB Aegis Fortress L3 FIPS 140-2 Level 3 Encrypted Portable Hard Drive
- 2TB Capacity
- USB 3.0/3.1 Gen 1 Micro-B Interface
- Real-Time AES-XTS 256-Bit Encryption
- FIPS 140-2 Level 3 Standard
Apricorn 500GB Aegis Fortress L3 Encrypted Portable SSD
- 500GB Capacity
- Up to 5 Gb/s Data Transfer Speed
- Real-Time AES-XTS 256-Bit Encryption
- Integrated 10-Digit PIN Keypad
SanDisk 2TB Creator Phone USB 3.2 Gen 2 External SSD
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- Read Speeds up to 1000 MB/s
- Write Speeds up to 950 MB/s
Silicon Power 4TB PC60 USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Portable External SSD
- 4TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
- Up to 540 MB/s Read Speeds
- Up to 500 MB/s Write Speeds
CORSAIR 2TB EX400U Survivor USB4 External SSD
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- USB4 (USB-C) Interface
- Read Speeds up to 4000 MB/s
- Write Speeds up to 3600 MB/s
OWC 2TB Express 1M2 80G USB4 External SSD
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- 80 Gb/s USB4 Interface
- Up to 6000 MB/s Data Transfer Speed
- Bus Powered
Glyph Technologies 4TB Blackbox Plus USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 External SSD
- 4TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- Up to 560 MB/s Data Transfer Speed
- Bus Powered
Glyph Technologies 22TB Blackbox PRO USB 3.2 Gen 2 External Hard Drive
- 22TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- 7200 rpm Rotational Speed
- Up to 260 MB/s Data Transfer Speed
Glyph Technologies 8TB Atom EX20 High Intensity NVMe SSD
- 8TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 Interface
- Up to 2100 MB/s Read Speeds
- Up to 2100 MB/s Write Speeds
ProGrade Digital 16TB PG10 USB4 External SSD
- 16TB Storage Capacity
- 40 Gb/s USB-C Interface (USB4)
- Max Read Speed: 2500 MB/s
- Max Write Speed: 2500 MB/s
Silicon Power PX10 Plus Gen 2 Portable SSD (512GB, Black)
- Records Apple ProRes 4K at 60p
- 1050 MB/s Data Speeds
- 10 Gb/s USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
- Aluminum Construction
Glyph Technologies 1TB Blackbox Plus 5400 rpm USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 External Hard Drive
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- Up to 140 MB/s Data Transfer Speed
- 5400 rpm
Silicon Power 1TB DS72 Dual USB 3.2 Gen 2 Portable SSD (USB-C / USB-A)
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Connector
- 1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 Connector
- Read Speeds up to 1050 MB/s
TEAMGROUP 1TB T-CREATE CinemaPr P31 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 External SSD
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 Interface
- Data Transfer Speeds up to 1000 MB/s
- Bus Powered
WD 1TB My Passport SSD USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Portable SSD (Gold)
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Interface
- Read Speeds up to 1050 MB/s
- Write Speeds up to 1000 MB/s
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.