External Hard Drives
TEAMGROUP 8TB T-CREATE EXPERT P32 Desk USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 External SSD
- 8TB Storage Capacity
- 20 Gb/s USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 Interface
- Sequential Read Speeds up to 1700 MB/s
- Sequential Write Speeds up to 1700 MB/s
ProGrade Digital 8TB PG10 USB4 External SSD Windows Only
- 8TB Storage Capacity
- 40 Gb/s USB4 Interface
- Read Speeds of up to 2500 MB/s
- Write Speeds of up to 2500 MB/s
Rocstor 32TB Rocpro D90 USB 3.2 Gen 2 External Hard Drive
- 32TB Storage Capacity
- 7200 rpm
- 10 Gb/s USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- Up to 10 Gb/s Transfer Rate
Glyph Technologies 28TB Blackbox PRO USB 3.2 Gen 2 External Hard Drive
- 28TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- 7200 rpm Rotational Speed
- Up to 260 MB/s Data Transfer Speed
Silicon Power 2TB Vault A60 External Hard Drive
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 Interface (5 Gb/s)
- Silicone Material (Shockproof)
- IPX4 Rating (Water-Resistant)
Silicon Power 2TB Vault A80 External Hard Drive
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 Interface (5 Gb/s)
- Compliant with Drop Tests up to 9.8'
- IPX7 Rating (Water-Resistant)
Silicon Power 1TB Bolt B75 Pro External SSD
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
- Up to 520 MB/s Read Speeds
- Up to 420 MB/s Write Speeds
Digiera 1TB LPS2000M Endura USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 External SSD
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- 20 Gb/s USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 Host Port
- Read Speeds up to 2000 MB/s
- Write Speeds up to 1800 MB/s
Digiera 1TB LPS2000 Porta Hub External SSD
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- 1 x 20 Gb/s USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 Host Port
- 1 x 480 Mb/s USB-C 2.0 Data Port
- 1 x USB-C Power Delivery Port (30W)
Glyph Technologies 1TB BlackBox Mobile Hard Drive
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB 3.0 Interface
- Bus-Powered
- Preformatted HFS+ for Mac
WD 1TB My Passport USB 3.2 Gen 1 External Hard Drive (Red)
- 1TB Capacity
- USB 3.2 Gen 1
- 256-Bit AES Hardware Encryption
- Bus-Powered, No External Power Required
WD 2TB My Passport USB 3.2 Gen 1 External Hard Drive (Sky)
- 2TB Capacity
- USB 3.2 Gen 1
- 256-Bit AES Hardware Encryption
- Bus-Powered, No External Power Required
Toshiba 4TB Canvio Advance USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 Portable Hard Drive (White)
- 4TB Capacity
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 Interface
- Up to 5 Gb/s Data Transfer Speeds
- NTFS Preformatted
Silicon Power 4TB Vault A60 External Hard Drive
- 4TB Storage Capacity
- USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 Interface (5 Gb/s)
- Silicone Material (Shockproof)
- IPX4 Rating (Water-Resistant)
Apricorn 500GB Aegis Fortress FIPS 140-2 Level 2 Secure USB 3.2 Gen 1 Portable Hard Drive
- 500GB Capacity
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 Interface
- FIPS 140-2 Level 2 Validated
- AES-XTS 256-Bit Hardware Encryption
TEAMGROUP 1TB T-Create Expert P34F Find My USB 3.2 Gen 2 External SSD
- Integrates with Find My for Tracking
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- Sequential Reads up to 1000 MB/s
Istorage 2TB diskAshur DT2 USB 3.1 Encrypted Desktop HDD (FIPS 140-2 Level 2)
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- USB 3.1 Interface
- Read/Write Speeds up to 225/223 MB/s
- AES-XTS 256-Bit Hardware Encryption
Glyph Technologies 2TB Blackbox Plus 5400 rpm USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 External Hard Drive
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- Up to 140 MB/s Data Transfer Speed
- 5400 rpm
Silicon Power MX10 Magnetic Portable SSD (2TB, Black)
- Records Apple ProRes 4K at 60p
- USB-C Gen 3.2 Cable Included
- 1 GB/s Data Speeds
- Compatible with MagSafe-Enabled iPhone
Silicon Power 2TB Bolt B75 Pro External SSD
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
- Up to 520 MB/s Read Speeds
- Up to 420 MB/s Write Speeds
Apricorn 1TB Aegis Fortress FIPS 140-2 Level 2 Secure USB 3.2 Gen 1 Portable Hard Drive
- 1TB Capacity
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 Interface
- FIPS 140-2 Level 2 Validated
- AES-XTS 256-Bit Hardware Encryption
Apricorn 256GB Aegis Fortress USB 3.2 Gen 1 SSD w/ PIN Access
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 Interface
- Up to 350 MB/s Transfer Rate
- 256-Bit AES Hardware Encryption
- 8MB Buffer Size
Silicon Power PX10 Plus Gen 2 Portable SSD (2TB, Black)
- Records Apple ProRes 4K at 60p
- 1050 MB/s Data Speeds
- 10 Gb/s USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
- Aluminum Construction
WD 4TB My Passport USB 3.2 Gen 1 External Hard Drive (Sky)
- 4TB Capacity
- USB 3.2 Gen 1
- 256-Bit AES Hardware Encryption
- Bus-Powered, No External Power Required
WD 4TB My Passport for Mac USB 3.1 Gen 1 External Hard Drive (Midnight Blue)
- 4TB Storage Capacity
- USB 3.1 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) Interface
- Bus Powered
- 256-Bit AES Encryption
Apricorn 1TB Aegis Fortress L3 FIPS 140-2 Level 3 Encrypted Portable Hard Drive
- 1TB Capacity
- USB 3.0/3.1 Gen 1 Micro-B Interface
- Real-Time AES-XTS 256-Bit Encryption
- FIPS 140-2 Level 3 Standard
TEAMGROUP 2TB T-CREATE CinemaPr P31 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 External SSD
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 Interface
- Data Transfer Speeds up to 1000 MB/s
- Bus Powered
Glyph Technologies 1TB Atom EV USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C External SSD
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- 10 Gb/s USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Interface
- Up to 1 GB/s Data Transfer Speed
- Bus Powered
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.