If you don’t want to get caught on the hook for recurring cloud storage fees, a one-time purchase of a hard drive delivers. The trick, though, is that you need to find a reliable hard drive with enough storage to meet your needs. Plus, the ideal hard drive offers the connectivity you need, whether that’s a simple hookup to your laptop or the ability to communicate with your gaming system. Fortunately, we rounded up some options that can meet your price point, compatibility, and storage capacity needs. Note that we’re looking at external hard disk drives (HDDs) here, but you could also explore solid state drives (SSDs), which are generally faster but cost more. Without further ado, let’s get to it.
The Ultra Touch offers password-activated hardware encryption, which means if you tote the hard drive to a coworking space, coffee shop, or somewhere else and happen to leave it behind accidentally – or you don’t particularly trust everyone who has access to your desk – your data stays secure. This small and stylish hard drive comes with USB-C and USB 3.0 connectivity and works with Windows and Mac operating systems. Its maximum speed is 120 MB/s, which is slower than some other options on our list, but probably isn’t a deal-breaker if you’re using it at the office. You can also set up an automatic backup schedule, whether you want that to happen daily, weekly, or monthly, which means keeping your data backed up doesn’t have to become another to-do on your list when you sit down at your desk. Pros
Decent priceStylish designPassword-activated hardware encryption
Cons
Only compatible with computersRelatively slow speeds
Western Digital (WD) built this hard drive specifically for gaming. It comes with 5TB of storage – which WD says means you can store up to 125 games – and compatibility with Xbox, PlayStation (PS), and PCs. No matter how you game, it can work for you. Connecting to your console or laptop includes a USB Type-A to Micro-B cable. That connection offers a SuperSpeed interface to give you speeds of up to 5GB/s. Users say it’s plug-and-play. Simply connect it to your console or gaming PC, and you’ll get prompted to set it up. All this said, the WD_BLACK has limited functionality when it comes to older consoles. Specifically, the tech specs say you can:
Play and store Xbox One gamesPlay, story, and archive Xbox Series X|S gamesPlay and store PS4 gamesPlay, store, and archive PS5 games
Go further back than that, and you might be out of luck. Gamers, in particular, may be glad to know that the WD_BLACK doesn’t require an external power source, which means you only need to connect it to your gaming console. This HDD can still work for you if your gaming setup has already hogged up all of your outlets. Pros
Built for gaming with Xbox and PlayStation compatibility5TB of space
Cons
PriceLimited to no functionality with older gaming consoles
This portable HDD from Seagate works with Macs and PCs – along with PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles. It’s plug-and-play and comes with a USB 3.0 cable for speeds of up to 120 MB/s. Be advised, though, that the tech specs say “up to.” Some user reviews warn of slow writing, so this affordable HDD probably isn’t for you if you’re looking for something that can back up your data fast. If you’re looking for a simple user interface, though, consider it. Once you connect this Seagate HDD to your device, you’ll get a prompt to set it up. From there, on a computer, backing any data up is as simple as drag-and-drop. Pros
Low priceUser-friendly setup
Cons
Relatively slow speedsNo security features
Enter: the G-Drive. This hard drive is built for the elements. Not only does it have an anodized aluminum enclosure and rubber bumpers along the edges, but it also boasts internal shock mounts for added drop protection. Plus, it comes with an IP54 rain/dust rating and crush resistance up to 1,000 pounds. And should anything happen, you get a three-year limited warranty with this G-Drive, too. As far as connectivity, this hard drive offers USB-C, USB 3.0, and Thunderbolt compatibility. It comes programmed to work with Mac computers, but you can reformat it for use with Microsoft.
1TB for $82.992TB for $99.994TB for $139.99
Long story short, however much storage you need, there’s a rugged G-Drive for you. In fact, we liked it so much we listed it in our top HDD and SSDs for tech adventurers in 2022. Pros
Rugged design with internal shock mounts, IP54 rating, and crush resistance5TB capacity
Cons
Requires reformatting for Microsoft
It also features USB 3.0 and 2.0 compatibility. It comes formatted with Windows compatibility, but you can reformat it to work with Mac. It also offers up to 113.5 MB/s of speeds. As we’ve mentioned before, that’s not ultra-fast.
14TB for $242.9516TB for $305.9918TB for $354.95
The main drawback with this WD HDD is its physical size. If you’re looking for something you can grab and go, this isn’t it. All of the other hard drives we’ve outlined on this list are portable, but this thing is a bit of a monster, comparatively speaking, at 5.31 by 1.89 by 6.53 inches. Long story short, be prepared to clear off a little bit of space on your desk if you choose this hard drive. This WD product also doesn’t come with password protection or encryption, but it shouldn’t be much of a problem if you’re not toting this HDD around with you. Pros
Lots of storage spaceCompatibility with Mac, PC, Xbox, and PlayStation
Cons
Size No security measures
We also know that ease-of-use matters. Most of the external hard drives available today don’t require a separate software download. A lot of the options on the market right now – including picks on this list – will prompt you to set them up, then walk you through that process when you plug them into your device of choice. That can be particularly helpful if you’re trying to back up game data since navigating a game console’s connectivity to external sources isn’t always easy. From there, it’s largely about the amount of storage you need and your main preference.
For in-office use blending a nice-looking HDD with data encryption and password protection, choose the Seagate Ultra Touch.Check out another Seagate option, their portable external hard drive, for a budget-friendly pick.For durability, if you know your hard drive might be exposed to some rough-and-tumble experiences, opt for the G-Drive.For backing up games from your PlayStation, Xbox, or gaming PC, choose the WD_BLACK specifically designed for your purposes. Look to the WD desktop hard drive for a lot of storage space.
We hope these use cases help you identify which hard drive will best meet your specific needs. Also, for the purposes of this list, we’re looking at external hard drives. That means they’re plug-and-play with your existing hardware setups. But if you’re in the process of building a computer or you have the capability to add an internal hard drive yourself, you should consider internal hard drives because they’re generally more affordable than an external option with the same amount of storage. We recommend checking out:
