Best External Hard Drives
External hard drives are really very useful. They can be used to store different kinds of files like documents, videos, music, and a lot more. Some external hard drives boast their huge capacities ranging from 1 TB to 2 TB, even greater than a laptop’s storage capacity. If you want to know the top hard drives for 2021, then you are in the right place because this article lists down to you the best external hard drives for.
In This Article
Best external hard drives
We have spent hours in research to craft this list of the top portable hard drive for your MAC and PC.
Read the hard drive reviews below to pick your best drive.
1. Seagate Backup Plus Fast
Key Specifications
- Seagate software allows easy customized backup plans
- USB 3.0 connectivity allows quick file transfer
- USB powered so no power supply needed
- Dimensions: 114.5 L by 76 W by 20.35 H mm
- Versatility allows use on both Mac and Windows OS without having the need to reformat
The Seagate Backup Plus Fast is considered by many today as one of the best, if not the best, hard drives out there. Seagate is best known for offering high quality and large capacity hard drives at a low budget price. You can avail this kind of hard drive in different capacities like 500GB, 1 TB, 2TB, and 4TB. The 4TB version is actually one of the new ones. It can store different types of files like videos, music, photos, albums, documents, and many more. It is also very compact that you can even fit it in your pocket. With such amazing specifications and features, the Seagate Backup Plus Fast hard drive is indeed one of the best external hard drives for 2021.
Bottom Line
The Seagate backup plus fast is the perfect hard drive for people who use hard drives interchangeably on a Mac and Windows computers.
Pros
- Plenty of room to store movies, music, photo collections and more.
- Simple backup for the PC.
- Big capacity and sleek portable design
- High speed USB 3.0 and 2.0 connectivity offers plug and play functionality
Cons
- Occasional beeping
- Difficulty connecting to the computer
2. WD My Passport Ultra
Key Specifications
- Capacity: up to 4 TB
- Compatible with various operating systems including Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10
- WD Discovery software allows for social media and cloud storage import
- With backup and password protection
- Warranty: 3 year limited warranty
- Trusted drive built with WD reliability
- USB 3.0 port and USB 2.0 port compatible
My Passport Ultra is also one of the most popular brands for hard drives. The Western Digital (WD) My Passport Ultra is currently the craze in the market. It has several features. For one, it is available in a variety of colors so that you can pick which color perfectly fits your style and preferences. It also has bit hardware encryption, warranty of up to 3 years, and a backup software. Do consider WD My Passport Ultra as a secure and durable hard drive for you to purchase and use since obviously, it is one of the best external hard drives for 2021.
Bottom Line
The WD My Passport Ultra is perfect for people who want to have hard drives with the utmost protection from data theft. Not to mention its large capacity allows for the storage of lots and lots of files.
Pros
- Brilliant design with metallic and matte finishes to create a sophisticated style.
- Allows for social media and cloud storage import.
- Automatic backup to make sure that you do not lose your photos, videos, music, documents, and other files.
- Comes with 256-bit AES Hardware Encryption with security software
- Trusted drive
- Easy to use
Cons
- Requires formatting when using from a Windows Operating System to another operating system
- Loud clicks may happen while using the hard drive
3. Seagate Expansion Portable
Key Specifications
- Connectivity technology: USB
- Digital storage capacity: 2 TB
- File System: NTFS
- Hard Disc Description: Portable
- Hard Drive Size: 2 TB
- Hardware connectivity: USB 3.0
- Dimensions: 0.6 by 4.8 by 3.2 inches
- Item weight: 6.4 ounces
Perhaps in terms of portability, the best hard drive is the Seagate Expansion Portable hard drive. This hard drive also comes in various capacities ranging from 500GB to 2TB. This hard drive is also very popular among gamers because they can store their gaming applications in this drive and can bring it along with them wherever they go, a perfect match for their gaming laptops. The copying of files to this drive is also very fast thereby reflecting its amazing performance. Due to these very amazing features and key specifications, the Seagate expansion portable is indeed one of the best external hard drives for 2021. So make sure to grab one.
Bottom Line
The Seagate expansion portable hard drive can store up to 2TB of files allowing you to put in it lots of videos, music, photos, documents, and any other kinds of files.
Pros
- Large storage capacity of 2 TB
- Plug and play feature allows the hard drive to be ready for use. No installations required.
- Works with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 to deliver fast transfer speeds.
- Storage to go.
Cons
- Kind of bulky in size compared to other similar hard drives.
- Some people complains about difficult connecting.
4. Seagate Expansion Desktop
Key Specifications
- Connectivity technology: USB
- Digital Storage Capacity: 4 TB
- File System: NTFS
- Hard Disk Description: Desktop
- Dimensions: 4.65 by 7.07 by 1.48 in
- Item Weight: 2.06 pounds
If you are a photographer, then the best hard drive for you would be the Seagate Expansion Desktop. It is very cheap so you can buy it without having to burn your pockets. It also boasts up to 4TB of capacity. The speed is awesome since you can copy files in just a matter of seconds. And because of that, the Seagate Expansion desktop is considered to be one of the best external hard drives for the year.
Bottom Line
If connectivity is a priority feature for you, then the Seagate Expansion desktop would be the best hard drive for you. Not to mention its large storage capacity of up to 4 TB. This hard drive is surely making the other hard drives a run for their money.
Pros
- Extra storage to store more photos, videos, music, documents, and other types of files.
- Plug and play feature allows for easy use, ready on the go, without having to install anything.
- Works with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 to deliver fast transfer speeds.
- Instantly adds extra storage space without compromising the performance of the hard drive.
Cons
- Potential drive failure
- Power brick may malfunction
5. Toshiba Canvio Connect II
Key Specifications
- Storage Capacity: 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, and 3 TB
- Casing: high gloss finish
- Colors: black, blue, red
- Windows and Mac compatible
- Auto Back Up Software
- 2 years warranty
Another popular hard drive inn the market is the Toshiba Canvio Connect II. It is popular because it just works amazingly. There is a backup software available in this hard drive. There is also the NTFS drive which enables users of MAC to read and write on a windows file system. These features make the Toshiba Canvio Connect II a very versatile hard drive and hence one of the best external hard drives for 2021.
Bottom Line
The Toshiba Canvio Connect II is a sleek and compact external hard drive with a large storage capacity. If it is compactness, versatility, and large storage capacity you are looking for then this hard drive is the best one for you.
Pros
- The high speed and highly versatile Canvio Connect II delivers an incredible amount of storage, up to 3 TB, so you always have a room for your constantly expanding digital library.
- Safeguards your files using backup
- Windows and Mac compatible
- Sleek and compact design
Cons
- The disc inside may sometimes emit spinning sound.
- May encounter problems with connecting.
Conclusions
The above five hard drives are the top 5 hard drives in the market for 2021. So if you are looking for a hard drive to purchase, then do consider purchasing any one of these included in the list. But while choosing, do consider your preferences and demands so that those offered by the external hard drive will match yours. So make sure to choose one among these best external hard drives .