External Hard Drives
WD 4TB My Passport Ultra USB 3.0 Type-C External Hard Drive for Mac (Silver)
- 4TB Storage Capacity
- USB 3.0 Type-C Interface (USB 3.1 Gen 1)
- Bus Powered
- 256-Bit AES Encryption
Samsung 1TB T7 Shield Portable SSD with MagSafe/Cold Shoe SSD Holder (Black)
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Port (10 Gb/s)
- PCIe NVMe Technology
- Read Speeds up to 1050 MB/s
WD 5TB My Passport Ultra USB 3.0 Type-C External Hard Drive (Blue)
- 5TB Storage Capacity
- USB 3.0 Type-C Interface (USB 3.1 Gen 1)
- Bus Powered
- 256-Bit AES Encryption
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
TEAMGROUP 4TB T-CREATE CinemaPr P31 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 External SSD
- 4TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 Interface
- Data Transfer Speeds up to 2000 MB/s
- Bus Powered
WD 12TB My Book Desktop USB 3.2 Gen 1 External Hard Drive
- 12TB Storage Capacity
- Micro-USB 3.2 Gen 1 Interface
- Includes AC Adapter
- 256-Bit AES Hardware Encryption
Glyph Technologies 4TB Atom Pro NVMe Thunderbolt 3 SSD
- 4TB Storage Capacity
- Thunderbolt 3
- Up to 2800 MB/s Read Speed
- Up to 2600 MB/s Write Speed
OWC 4TB Express 1M2 80G USB4 External SSD
- 4TB Storage Capacity
- 80 Gb/s USB4 Interface
- Up to 6000 MB/s Data Transfer Speed
- Bus Powered
OWC 8TB Express 1M2 80G USB4 External SSD
- 8TB Storage Capacity
- 80 Gb/s USB4 Interface
- Up to 6000 MB/s Data Transfer Speed
- Bus Powered
Buffalo 5TB MiniStation USB 3.2 Gen 1 External Hard Drive
- 5TB Capacity
- Micro-USB 3.2 Gen 1 Connection
- Up to 5 Gb/s Data Transfer Speeds
- Native Lock & Go Password Protection
WD 2TB Elements USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 External Hard Drive
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 Interface (5 Gb/s)
- Bus Powered
- Includes USB-C Cable
Apricorn 1TB Aegis Padlock Encrypted USB 3.1 Gen 1 Hard Drive with PIN Access
- 1TB Capacity
- USB 3.0 Interface (up to 5 Gb/s)
- 256-bit AES-XTS Hardware Encryption
- FIPS PUB 197 Validated Encryption
Glyph Technologies 1TB Atom Pro NVMe Thunderbolt 3 SSD
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- Thunderbolt 3
- Up to 2800 MB/s Read Speed
- Up to 2600 MB/s Write Speed
Glyph Technologies 2TB Atom EV USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C External SSD
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- 10 Gb/s USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Interface
- Up to 1 GB/s Data Transfer Speed
- Bus Powered
Silicon Power PX10 Plus Gen 2 Portable SSD (4TB, Pink)
- Records Apple ProRes 4K at 60p
- 1050 MB/s Data Speeds
- 10 Gb/s USB-C 3.2 Gen 2
- Aluminum Construction
WD 8TB My Book Desktop USB 3.2 Gen 1 External Hard Drive
- 8TB Storage Capacity
- Micro-USB 3.2 Gen 1 Interface
- Includes AC Adapter
- 256-Bit AES Hardware Encryption
Glyph Technologies 2TB Atom Pro NVMe Thunderbolt 3 SSD
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- Thunderbolt 3
- Up to 2800 MB/s Read Speed
- Up to 2600 MB/s Write Speed
WD 16TB My Book Desktop USB 3.2 Gen 1 External Hard Drive
- 16TB 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
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
Oyen Digital 8TB U34 Bolt USB4 External SSD
- 8TB Storage Capacity
- NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD
- 1 x 40 Gb/s USB4 Port
- Up to 2800 MB/s Data Transfer Speed
Toshiba 2TB Canvio Advance USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 Portable Hard Drive (Green)
- 2TB Capacity
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 Interface
- Up to 5 Gb/s Data Transfer Speeds
- NTFS Preformatted
Lexar 1TB SL500 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Portable SSD
- 1TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 Interface
- Read Speeds up to 2000 MB/s
- Write Speeds up to 1800 MB/s
Apricorn 500GB Aegis Fortress L3 FIPS 140-2 Level 3 Encrypted Portable Hard Drive
- 500GB Capacity
- USB 3.0/3.1 Gen 1 Micro-B Interface
- Real-Time AES-XTS 256-Bit Encryption
- FIPS 140-2 Level 3 Standard
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
Lexar 2TB SL500 USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 Portable SSD with Magnetic Set
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 Interface
- Read Speeds up to 2000 MB/s
- Write Speeds up to 1800 MB/s
G-DRIVE 6TB G-DRIVE Enterprise-Class USB 3.2 Gen 2 External Hard Drive
- 6TB Storage Capacity
- 7200 rpm Ultrastar Enterprise-Class HDD
- 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Port
- Sequential Read Speeds up to 250 MB/s
Samsung 2TB T7 Shield Portable SSD with MagSafe/Cold Shoe SSD Holder (Blue)
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Port (10 Gb/s)
- PCIe NVMe Technology
- Read Speeds up to 1050 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.