Quick Answers
When choosing an external hard drive, the most important factors to consider are:
- Storage capacity – How much data do you need to store? Choose a drive with enough storage for your needs.
- Data transfer speed – Faster drives with USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, or eSATA allow quicker file transfers.
- Portability – If you’ll travel with the drive, look for a compact and durable design.
- Reliability – Check reviews and warranties to determine drive reliability.
- Security – Some drives have added features like encryption and password protection.
- Backup software – Easy to use software makes automatic backups hassle-free.
What Are the Main Types of External Hard Drives?
There are three main types of external hard drives to choose from:
Portable external hard drives
These compact and lightweight drives are designed for maximum portability. Most portable drives are powered directly from the USB port, so there’s no need for an external power source. Their small size makes them easy to slip into a bag or even a pocket, so you can take your data anywhere.
Desktop external hard drives
Designed to stay in one place, desktop drives require a power adapter and need to be plugged into a standard electrical outlet. Though larger and heavier, these drives often offer faster transfer speeds and more storage capacity. They’re a good choice as an alternative location for your data storage and backups.
Rugged external hard drives
Engineered to withstand tough conditions, rugged drives are bulkier and often cost more than other types. They typically offer shock resistance, dust/water resistance, and specialized connectors to ensure data integrity. These drives are ideal for use in harsh environments.
What Capacity Do You Need?
One of the most important factors to consider is the capacity of the external hard drive. How much storage space do you need? There are drives available with capacities across a huge range:
- 500GB to 1TB – Good for basic backups and storage needs.
- 2TB to 4TB – The sweet spot for most users’ capacity needs.
- 5TB to 10TB – For professional media storage or large backups.
- 12TB to 16TB – Ideal for maxing out storage for backups, video projects, photo libraries, and more.
When deciding on capacity, it helps to consider how you intend to use the drive. If it’s purely for backup of documents, movies, photo libraries, and other media, choosing the largest capacity makes sense. You want to be able to back up your important files without worrying about running out of room. Power users who do media editing or process large files may need higher capacities to store video projects or photo collections.
On the other hand, if you just need a drive to store common file types and access them from multiple devices, a 500GB to 2TB portable drive may provide all the space you need. Cloud storage can also supplement external drive storage if your capacity needs are not too demanding.
How Fast Is the External Hard Drive?
Transfer speed is another major factor that determines performance. Faster hard drives allow you to move files on and off the drive more quickly. There are several interface types and transfer protocols that drive varying speeds:
USB 2.0
USB 2.0 is an older standard that offers speeds up to 480Mbps. These drives are universally compatible but slower than modern interfaces.
USB 3.0
USB 3.0 represent a major speed boost over USB 2.0. They support transfer rates up to 5Gbps. Most modern drives use USB 3.0 or USB 3.1 Gen 1.
USB 3.1 Gen 2
USB 3.1 Gen 2 bumps speeds up to 10Gbps for faster performance. Look for drives marked “SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps” for these speeds.
Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt ports offer blazing fast transfer speeds up to 40Gbps. But both your drive and computer must have Thunderbolt compatibility.
eSATA
eSATA is an external version of the SATA interface used inside computers. With transfer rates up to 6Gbps, eSATA provides fast performance if your computer supports it.
| Interface | Max Transfer Speed |
|---|---|
| USB 2.0 | 480Mbps |
| USB 3.0 / USB 3.1 Gen 1 | 5Gbps |
| USB 3.1 Gen 2 | 10Gbps |
| Thunderbolt | 40Gbps |
| eSATA | 6Gbps |
For quick file transfers, Thunderbolt and USB 3.1 Gen 2 are the fastest options, followed by USB 3.0. But you’ll need compatible ports on both your computer and external drive to reach those maximum speeds.
How Portable Do You Need It to Be?
If you intend to transport or travel with your external hard drive, portability is an important consideration:
- Size and weight – The smallest portable drives are about the size of a smartphone and weigh just a few ounces. Desktop drives require more space and can weigh over 2 pounds.
- Compact design – Portable drives usually feature a slim, streamlined design that’s easy to slip into a bag or backpack.
- Shock resistance – Portable drives should have shock-resistance ratings to withstand bumps and drops while traveling.
- Backup power – Many portables get power directly from the USB port so you don’t need to carry a power adapter.
If you won’t be transporting the drive, larger desktop drives offer more speed and storage for less money. But for travel and on-the-go use, choose a compact and sturdy portable drive.
How Reliable Is the External Hard Drive?
Data reliability is critical for external hard drives used for backup, storage, and file transfers. Drive failures can lead to catastrophic data loss. Several factors determine reliability:
- Warranty – Longer warranties (3-5 years) indicate better predicted reliability.
- Brand reputation – Check reviews and brand reputation for quality and failure rates.
- Reviews – Online customer reviews point out drives with higher than average failure rates.
- Disk longevity – Disk read/write lifetime averages about 600,000 hours for modern drives.
- Usage intensity – Drives used 24/7 have a higher annualized failure rate than intermittent use.
For the most reliability, choose an established brand with a strong reputation and longer warranty periods. Avoid cheap drives with no-name branding and flimsy construction. Reading customer reviews can provide early warning about poorly performing models prone to failure.
What External Hard Drive Brands Are the Most Reliable?
According to various surveys and studies of hard drive failure rates, these brands offer the most reliable external hard drives:
- Western Digital (WD)
- Seagate
- Toshiba
- Samsung
- LaCie
- SanDisk
WD and Seagate are the largest hard drive manufacturers, and their external drives consistently earn high marks for reliability. But there are also smaller brands like LaCie and SanDisk that offer reliable performance. As always, it’s still important to read reviews for any specific model before purchasing to check for design flaws or above average failure rates.
Does the External Hard Drive Have Security Features?
Some external hard drives incorporate features to keep your data secure in case the drive is lost or stolen:
- Encryption – Hardware AES 256-bit encryption scrambles stored data so it can’t be accessed without a password.
- Password protection – Set a password required to access drive contents, separate from encryption.
- Biometric security – Fingerprint readers or facial recognition lock the drive to authorized users only.
- Remote wipe – Remotely wipe drive contents if it’s lost or stolen.
- Read-only access – Prevent files from being added, edited, or deleted.
Security is especially important for portable external drives that might be at higher risk for loss or theft. Built-in encryption provides the best security. Software like Microsoft BitLocker can also be used to encrypt data.
Does the External Hard Drive Come with Backup Software?
For ease of use, many external hard drives include backup software for simple drag-and-drop file backup:
- WD Backup – WD drives include this intuitive backup app.
- Seagate Toolkit – Provides backup for Seagate drives.
- Acronis True Image – Reliable third-party software often bundled.
- Apple Time Machine – Works seamlessly with Mac computers.
- Free office software trials – Some drives add limited trials of Microsoft Office.
The best backup software makes regular file backups effortless. Look for drives bundled with apps like WD Backup or Seagate Toolkit for simplicity. True Image by Acronis also works well. Apple Time Machine is great for Mac users who want backup integrated with the OS.
What Is the Warranty on the External Hard Drive?
Most external hard drives come with a 1-3 year limited warranty. Higher quality models often offer 3-5 years of warranty coverage. Extended warranties up to 5 years are also available for some drives, but cost extra.
A longer warranty indicates the manufacturer has more confidence in the drive’s reliability. Standard warranty lengths include:
- 1-2 years – Basic coverage, found on cheaper drives.
- 3 years – The most common standard warranty length.
- 5 years – Indicates a higher quality, more reliable drive.
- 3-10 years – Extendable warranties offered for some models, at added cost.
Ideally, look for drives with 3-5 year warranties from quality manufacturers like WD, Seagate, and Toshiba. Avoid drives with just 1 year of coverage unless the price is very low. Also check if the manufacturer offers extended warranties via their website.
What External Hard Drive Capacity Is Best for Backups?
For external hard drives used for backups, the general guidelines for capacity are:
- 1TB or 2TB – Sufficient for basic computer file backups, photos, media, and documents.
- 3TB or 4TB – Provides ample room for complete system backups and full photo libraries.
- 6TB or 8TB – Ideal for backing up multiple computers and systems.
- 10TB+ – For enterprise backups, full disk images, and massive media collections.
To determine your ideal backup drive size, calculate your total used storage on your computer or computers that will be backed up. Then multiply by at least 1.5 to allow room for growth. An external backup drive should have at least 1.5 times your used storage and optimally 2-3 times the size.
What Is the Best External Hard Drive for Xbox One?
For expanding the storage of your Xbox One gaming console, your best choices are:
- WD_BLACK D10 – Top pick, includes 1-month Game Pass Ultimate.
- Seagate Game Drive Hub – Massive 8TB capacity option.
- WD_BLACK P10 – Affordable option from a top brand.
- Toshiba Canvio Advance – Budget pick under $60.
The WD_BLACK D10 is specifically designed for Xbox One with speeds up to 250 MB/s. The massive 8TB Seagate Game Drive Hub is also great for maxing out your storage. For a cheaper portable option, the WD_BLACK P10 provides reliable performance.
Conclusion
Choosing the right external hard drive involves considering factors like capacity, speed, portability, and reliability. Determine how much storage and what connection types you need. Check warranties and reviews to gauge drive reliability. Top brands like WD, Seagate and Toshiba offer quality drives with good performance and long-term durability. Carefully matching an external hard drive to your specific needs will ensure you get years of service and value from it.