External Hard Drives
Istorage 512GB diskAshur2 USB 3.1 Encrypted Portable SSD (Ocean Blue)
- 512GB Storage Capacity
- USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 with Integrated Cable
- Read Speeds up to 362 MB/s
- Write Speeds up to 358 MB/s
Istorage 512GB diskAshur2 USB 3.1 Encrypted Portable SSD (Phantom Black)
- 512GB Storage Capacity
- USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 with Integrated Cable
- Read Speeds up to 362 MB/s
- Write Speeds up to 358 MB/s
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
Rocstor 1TB Rocpro D91 USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 External SSD (TAA Compliant)
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- Hot-Swappable Design
- Preformatted for Mac
Istorage 1TB diskAshur3 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Encrypted Portable Hard Drive (Red)
- 1TB Capacity
- AES 256-Bit Encryption
- 3 x Encryption Modes
- FIPS 140-3 Level 3 Ready
Istorage 1TB diskAshur3 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Encrypted Portable Hard Drive (Green)
- 1TB Capacity
- AES 256-Bit Encryption
- 3 x Encryption Modes
- FIPS 140-3 Level 3 Ready
Istorage 1TB diskAshur3 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Encrypted Portable Hard Drive (Blue)
- 1TB Capacity
- AES 256-Bit Encryption
- 3 x Encryption Modes
- FIPS 140-3 Level 3 Ready
Istorage 1TB diskAshur3 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Encrypted Portable Hard Drive (Black)
- 1TB Capacity
- AES 256-Bit Encryption
- 3 x Encryption Modes
- FIPS 140-3 Level 3 Ready
Istorage 1TB diskAshur2 USB 3.1 Encrypted Portable HDD (Fiery Red)
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB 3.1 with Integrated Cable
- Read/Write Speeds up to 148/140 MB/s
- 5400 rpm
Istorage 1TB diskAshur2 USB 3.1 Encrypted Portable HDD (Racing Green)
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB 3.1 with Integrated Cable
- Read/Write Speeds up to 148/140 MB/s
- 5400 rpm
Istorage 1TB diskAshur2 USB 3.1 Encrypted Portable HDD (Ocean Blue)
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB 3.1 with Integrated Cable
- Read/Write Speeds up to 148/140 MB/s
- 5400 rpm
Istorage 1TB diskAshur2 USB 3.1 Encrypted Portable HDD (Phantom Black)
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB 3.1 with Integrated Cable
- Read/Write Speeds up to 148/140 MB/s
- 5400 rpm
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
Kanguru 1TB UltraLock USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 NVMe External SSD
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- Sequential Read Speeds up to 675 MB/s
- Sequential Write Speeds up to 575 MB/s
ProGrade Digital 1TB PG30 Ultra Portable SSD
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- Read & Write Speeds up to 1000 MB/s
- Sustained Write Speeds of 300 MB/s
Digiera 2TB LPS2000M Endura USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 External SSD
- 2TB 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 2TB LPS2000 Porta Hub External SSD
- 2TB 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 SecureDrive+ Professional Encrypted External Hard Disk Drive with Keypad
- XTS-AES 256-Bit Encryption
- 2TB Capacity
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 Interface
- Up to 140 MB/s Transfer Rate
Glyph Technologies SecureDrive+ Professional Encrypted External HDD with Bluetooth
- XTS-AES 256-Bit Encryption
- 2TB Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- Up to 140 MB/s Read & Write Speeds
Samsung 1TB T7 Shield Portable SSD with MagSafe/Cold Shoe SSD Holder (Beige)
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Port (10 Gb/s)
- PCIe NVMe Technology
- Read Speeds up to 1050 MB/s
Apricorn Aegis 240GB Padlock USB 3.0 Solid State Drive
- 240GB Capacity
- Super Speed USB 3.0 Interface
- Up to 300 Mb/s Data Transfer
- AES-XTS 256-Bit Hardware Encryption
Rocstor 1TB Rocsecure EX31 USB 3.1 Encrypted Portable SSD
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- Secure Token Key Authentication
- Micro-USB 3.1 Gen 1 | Mini-USB
- AES 256-Bit Hardware Encryption
Istorage 512GB diskAshur PRO2 USB 3.1 Encrypted Portable SSD (FIPS 140-2 Level 2)
- 512GB Storage Capacity
- USB 3.1 with Integrated Cable
- Read/Write Speeds up to 294/319 MB/s
- AES-XTS 256-Bit Hardware Encryption
SecureData SecureDrive KP 2TB Encrypted HDD with Keypad Authentication
- 2TB HDD Capacity
- Keypad Authentication
- Admin/User Mode
- Read-Only Mode
CORSAIR 2TB EX300U USB 3.2 Gen 2 External SSD
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- 10 Gb/s USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- Read and Write Speeds up to 1100 MB/s
- Bus Powered, Plug-and-Play
Glyph Technologies 4TB Blackbox Plus 5400 rpm USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 External Hard Drive
- 4TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- Up to 140 MB/s Data Transfer Speed
- 5400 rpm
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
Transcend 1TB ESD300 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Portable SSD (Sky Blue)
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Interface
- Read Speeds up to 1050 MB/s
- Write Speeds up to 950 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.