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The best external hard drives are those models which provide you with enough storage for your games, media, and other files with respectable transfer rates and competitive price points. In 2022, you generally have two options regarding the type of data drive you’ll want to be aiming for either an HDD or an SSD, with the former proving cheaper yet slower, and the latter being faster but more expensive to compensate.
It all comes down to your usage and intentions for the storage units regardless of the memory type. For example, if you’re after one of the best external hard drives to store games on the likes of a gaming PC or games console, then an SSD will prove essential. However, if all you need to do is keep files and media secure, then a larger capacity HDD will do just fine. We’re now starting to see external hard drives running NVMe format for even faster sequential performance via the likes of USB-C and USB 3.2, too.
This is very much a general overview of external hard drives in all shapes and sizes, so if you’re after something a little more specific, our guides on the best Xbox Series X external hard drives and best PS5 external hard drives are sure to point you in the right direction.
The best external hard drives 2022
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<a href=”https://www.amazon.com/Black-Passport-Portable-External-Drive/dp/B01LQQHBNU”>WD My Passport 4TB Portable Hard Drive</a>
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<a href=”https://www.amazon.com/Black-Passport-Portable-External-Drive/dp/B01LQQHBNU”>WD My Passport 4TB Portable Hard Drive</a>
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<a href=”https://www.amazon.com/Black-Passport-Portable-External-Drive/dp/B01LQQHBNU”>WD My Passport 4TB Portable Hard Drive</a>
1. WD My Passport Portable Hard Drive
The best value external hard drive
Specifications
Capacity: up to 5TBStorage Type: HDD
Reasons to buy
+Masses of storage+Really great price+Great transfer speeds for an HDD
Reasons to avoid
-Standard HDD speeds
The My Passport drive from Western Digital has gone through several iterations over the years, and we’d bet it’ll go through several more as time goes by. Even in a world moving slowly but surely toward SSDs, there’s still more than an important place for an HDD and there’s a reason why this one tops our best external hard drive list (not to mention our guide to the best PS4 external hard drive). And that’s because the My Passport combines capacity, price, value, build-quality, and performance in one excellent package.
Looking at it in more detail, the My Passport drive works via a simple USB connection that helps keep the size down. It is a small and robust unit (about the size of a mobile phone) and the aesthetic isn’t bad either – it’s a chic half-ribbed, half matte and smooth metal finish. It’ll also look at home in almost any setup.
Our favourite in terms of specific capacity remains the 4TB version. The reason for this is is largely two-fold: first, a 4TB HDD will provide easily enough space for lots of games, data, files, photos, videos and music; and, secondly, we’ve seen the biggest savings on the 4TB. This very much fits the established theme of ‘bigger drive = better value’.
It won’t win the prize for speedy file transfer, but it earns its place at the top of this list nonetheless. The My Passport is an all-round great external hard drive – especially if you’re not fussed about an SSD or want to shave some dollar signs off the price tag while waiting for the seemingly inevitable wave of PS5 SSD deals.
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2. WD_Black P50 Game Drive
The best external SSD
Specifications
Capacity: up to 4TBStorage type: SSD
Reasons to buy
+Excellent speeds+Great design+Robust build+Purpose-built for gaming
Reasons to avoid
-Higher capacities are expensive
In your search for the best external hard drive, you’ll need to consider a top SSD. And Western Digital’s Black P50 drive is probably the best external hard drive we’ve tested in a while.
As a proper external, portable, SSD package, it offers everything: a robust and cool design, and exquisite file transfer speeds that are often only seen in the best gaming PCs. That makes it a real contender as the top PS4 SSD.
Yes, this SSD does err on the side of a gaming drive, and it features in many of our console external hard drive guides, but its performance cannot be denied. The stated speeds of ‘up to 2000MB/s’ were on the money in our testing, but what this translates to in real-life scenarios is that games are loaded incredibly quickly, files and media are retrieved and stored in an instant (you know what I mean), and all this is done incredibly consistently.
In terms of what the drive looks like and how it feels, the P50 has a military metal-style and is a rectangular drive featuring sleek molded metal, and it’ll easily fit in the palm of your hand. Its USB-C port can be used on your devices as either a USB-A or USB-C connection meaning you can hook it up to multiple different devices of its life span, and benefit from the same speeds. One small criticism is that it does get a bit warm in use but that’s sort of fair enough as a small compromise for the performance – just be aware of it when you place it or leave it in one position for a while.
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3. SanDisk Extreme Portable
The best portable, accident-proof external hard drive
Specifications
Capacity: up to 2TBStorage type: SSD
Reasons to buy
+Very hardy and durable+Great speeds+Neat and tidy design
Reasons to avoid
-Paying a premium on durable design
Undoubtedly, one major factor when perusing the best external hard drive market is going to be looking for units that are really robust and portable and could survive plenty of bumps, falls, squeezes, and encounters with dust and water. Luckily, the SanDisk Extreme Portable is just the ticket for that criteria.
This drive will be able to withstand any sort of accident, and is great for the who are preparing to go outdoors a lot with their tech, or for those of us who like to take a ‘belt and braces’ approach to ensure our tech is both of the highest order, but also well-protected should anything bad happen. The Extreme Portable is resistant to dust and water to the IP-55 standard, while it also has a shock-resistant core for extra durability. All this in a drive that will survive on a hook on your backpack, or be at home in your hand on clothes with fit-it-in-your-pocket size.
And, naturally, it’s an SSD so offers those higher speeds, and overall improved performance you get from solid-state drives. Its file speeds even challenge the likes of the famous Samsung T5 SSD. All this does combine to knock up the price tag a bit but it’s definitely worth it if you’re looking for a rugged drive with great performance. (If you want something even hardier, you can consider the Extreme Pro (opens in new tab) variant – but the price will jump a bit higher still.)
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<a href=”https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seagate-Expansion-External-PlayStation-STEB6000403″>Seagate Expansion 6TB external HDD</a>
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<a href=”https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seagate-Expansion-External-PlayStation-STEB6000403″>Seagate Expansion 6TB external HDD</a>
4. Seagate Expansion HDD
The best external hard drive for big storage
Specifications
Capacity: up to 16TBStorage Type: HDD
Reasons to buy
+Great price+Unbelievable amount of storage+Respectable transfer speeds
Reasons to avoid
-It could be too large for some
A big attraction to some of the best external hard drives is the sheer capacity of the storage you can get. And if you never want to worry about storing your media, files, games, and pretty much whatever else, then something like this Seagate Expansion drive is for you. It gets a nod here on this list because the value it represents is incredible – it is very nicely priced, and also often sees discounts through deals and promotions, meaning it’s some of the best-value storage money can buy.
Using the drive is as easy as plugging the power cable in, attaching the USB, and getting started. It is a chunky boy and will need a bit of desk or setup space (due to needing access to mains power, for example), but it keeps a nice finish and aesthetic nonetheless.
The Seagate Expansion drive is available in a variety of capacities, but the middle range, like the 6TB size, sits in a very attractive place of bang-for-buck value. A great value contender for best external hard drive, and one that features on our best Xbox One external hard drive list.
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<a href=”https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-T5-Portable-SSD-MU-PA500B/dp/B073H552FJ”>Samsung SSD T5 500GB</a>
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<a href=”https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-T5-Portable-SSD-MU-PA500B/dp/B073H552FJ”>Samsung SSD T5 500GB</a>
5. Samsung SSD T5
The best Samsung external hard drive
Specifications
Capacity: up to 2TBStorage Type: SSD
Reasons to buy
+Very reliable+Speedy+Solid, robust, and compact design
Reasons to avoid
-Replaced by the T7 Shield
Often the darling of best external hard drive lists across the internet, the Samsung T5 series might not be the newest external option on the market, but it is still one of the top models you can go for. And, what’s more, with it being on the market for a while, its price is (often) getting more and more attractive at retailers.
The main pulls of the Samsung T5 are simple to outline: it’s got Samsung’s pedigree, build quality, and design finishes in its DNA; it’s a top-performing SSD offering some of the best performance and speeds for an external hard drive; and it’s beautifully compact, robust, reliable, and chic. In related news, it’s no wonder that the rumored top candidate for a PS5 internal SSD is a Samsung one.
If the T5 whets your whistle, then it’s worth mentioning that other variants are available in this range from Samsung. The slightly dearer T7 drive (opens in new tab) or even the T7 Touch drives (opens in new tab) will offer even better speeds and a few extra features, too.
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6. Silicon Power Bolt B75 Pro
An underrated SSD, that’s light and sturdy
Specifications
Capacity: up to 2TBStorage Type: SSD
Reasons to buy
+Solid, shock-proof design+Light and easily transportable+SSD performance
Reasons to avoid
-Paying a premium on the build
Away from the mega-big boys of the best external hard drive market, manufacturers and brands like Silicon Power quietly go about their business of making equally dependable, robust, competitively priced, and quality hard drives. And SP’s Bolt B75 Pro SSD drive is exactly that.
This is an Incredibly light, but incredibly robust unit, which means it’s easily transportable yet you can have great confidence in it if you’re prone to mishaps, or just want that extra protection. It’s military-grade shockproof, aluminium case will look after the important stuff inside easily and the casing definitely exudes the rugged quality that was intended. The unit as a whole doesn’t feel solid but that comes from its lightness – some folks may prefer a more hefty unit.
The SSD’s performance is very solid, but nothing too spectacular. As a result, if you’re after something that offers good value, want to upgrade from an existing HDD to SSD to ensure you get that better and faster performance without number chasing too much, and you want something robust then this is a great contender.
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7. Seagate The Last of Us Part II 2TB Game Drive
The best PlayStation branded external hard drive
Specifications
Capacity:: 2TBStorage Type: HDD
Reasons to buy
+Looks terrific and is limited edition+Runs quietly+Compact
Reasons to avoid
-Standard HDD speeds
For those of you looking to pick up something a bit more unusual and in line with one of the best PlayStation 4 games of the generation then Seagate’s beautiful The Last of Us Part II PS4 limited edition external hard drive is for you. It comes with a laser-etched fern pattern design mirroring Ellie’s tattoo and has a pleasing matte finish. (To be clear though, this HDD does not include the game or any form of digital or physical extras; it’s just A Very Nice Thing that will happily house your games and data.)
Away from the exquisite branding, this is just a great HDD. It runs super quietly and you’ll fit more than 50 games on here (assuming an average size of around 39GB). The Limited Edition nature of the design and branding of this contender for best external hard drive is what drives its price up a little, and arguably you’ll find others offer slightly better value, but none of them will look as good or be as attractive to Naughty Dog, gaming, or Sony fans.
Looking for gaming storage on your Switch? Be sure to check in with the best Nintendo Switch SD cards.
