An external hard drive can be an essential piece of any graphic designers’ toolbox. Having the added option to save your work and the most important files on a secure drive is a great option to have. To that end, we wanted to take another look at the best options out there. So join us won’t you and take another look at the best external hard drives of 2020.
Before we reveal our picks, let’s take a closer look at what you should consider before you buy an external hard drive.
More Top Gear for Designers
- Best printers for designers
- Best monitors for designers
- Best tablets for designers
- Best earphones for music-lovers
- Best cameras for designers
- Best microphones for designers
- Best office chairs for designers
- Best external hard drives for designers
- Best monitor calibrators for designers
- Best pens for creatives
- Best phones for designers & creatives
- Best powerbanks
- Best laptop bags & backpacks
What to Consider When Buying an External Hard Drive
Type of Drive
When it comes to external hard drives, there are two options that you can choose from HDD and SSD. Let’s take a closer look at both options:
- HDD storage is made up of mechanical parts and magnetic tape inside its housing. Typically, they are bulkier units and were the drive of choice before SSD’s were available. While they aren’t as durable as an SSD, they can be more affordable.
- SSD has no moving parts and uses flash storage to save your files. Because there isn’t a motor in them like in an HDD, the drive uses less power and is faster in comparison. It’s also possible to move the drive without damaging it because there are no moving parts.
Features
As with many different products that you buy, the amount of money that you have to spend and the type of drive you buy can affect the different factors and features that your external hard drive can have.
- Speed – Not simply concerning the type of interface that the drive uses but also to the rotation speed in HDDs. An SSD is unaffected by this and can vary based on the flash memory or technology being used.
- Security – Ready-to-use external drives have many different security options that you can choose from. From basic storage to one that includes additional security measures like encryption and even fingerprint reading.
- Durability – If you’re someone who tends to be a bit clumsy with your tech and let’s face it, we can all be a bit clumsy, you should look for an external drive that can handle a fall or two. Many external hard drives are available with rugged designs and a durable build to withstand some bumps and bruises
The Best External Hard Drives of 2020
- ADATA SE800 – $159
- LaCie Mobile Drive – $149
- Samsung Portable SSD T7 Touch – $229
- Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Touch – $69
- WD My Passport (5TB) – $123
- G-Techno ArmorATD – $69
- HyperX Savage EXO – $153
- LaCie 2big RAID – $649
- Samsung Portable SSD X5 – $699
- Western Digital My Passport Wireless SSD – $591
Prices are approximate. Live prices are shown below.
Best External Hard Drives in 2020 Compared
ADATA SE800
The Best External Hard Drive Overall
Capacity: 1TB | Interface: USB 3.0
Finding the perfect external hard drive that fits all of your needs can be a constant struggle but the SE800 from ADATA looks to be about as close as you can get with its highly durable design that is small, light and performs fast. Included with the drive are cables from USB-C and USB-A even though they do tend to be a little short, it’s a minor complaint from a shirt-pocket-sized drive that can be an excellent addition to your kit
Learn More – $159
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Superfast Read/Write Speed up to 1000 MB/s
- IP68 Rated: Ruggedized Waterproof / Dust-proof / Drop-Proof / Shock-resistant
- Exquisite hairline-brushed surface for sleek look, compact and lightweight it's perfect for travelling
- Interface: USB 3. 2 Gen 2 Type-C, backward compatible with USB 2. 0
- Limited 3 Year Manufacturer
LaCie Mobile Drive
Best for Mac Users
Capacity: 5TB | Interface: USB 3.0
Many people who own either a MacBook or even an iMac, tout the design and overall look as reasons why they gravitate towards the brand and many of the accessories that they buy for their computer match that design, such as the LaCie Mobile Device. With its all-metal enclosure, the drive will look right at home next to any Apple product and perform just as well. Packed with a toolkit from LaCie that can easily handle backups, restores and mirroring, although it does require a download first. It can also be a bit hefty but for the amount of storage at a fair price, you can’t go wrong.
Learn More – $149
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Enjoy 5TB of enormous capacity for photos, playlists, docs, and more
- Use seamlessly with Mac, Windows, USB C, and USB 3.0
- Back up files with a single click or schedule automatic backups
- Turn footage into flawless productions with one free month of Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps Plan
- Enjoy long term peace of mind with the included two year limited warranty
Samsung Portable SSD T7 Touch
Best for Security-Conscious Travelers
Capacity: 2TB | Interface: USB 3.0
When you travel a lot, it can be easy to lose some things during travel and if you have sensitive data, you want to make sure it’s secure. The SSD T7 Touch from Samsung, a credit-card-sized SSD comes with a built-in fingerprint reader as well as an LED status indicator and offers fast and versatile performance every time you use it. Available in capacities up to 2TB, the drive gives you a great way to protect your files, even if it is a little on the expensive side.
Learn More – $229
Latest Price on Amazon:
- SSD with fingerprint and password security
- Transfers files nearly 9. 5x faster than hard drives
- Reads up to 1, 050 MB/s / Writes up to 1, 000 MB/s
- LED status indicator
- Shock-resistant and withstands drops from 6ft
Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Touch
Best for General-Use Storage
Capacity: 2TB | Interface: USB 3.0
Even with all the flashy bells and whistles that many other drives can come with, sometimes a basic, secure drive is all you need. The Ultra Touch drive from Seagate is a small and light drive that protects your data with a password and AES-256 hardware encryption, providing you with the security you’re looking for. A Seagate Toolkit is available via download to handle backups and recovery as well as mirroring. While the fabric-covered enclosure is nice, it can make it a bit slippery when you grab it.
Learn More – $69
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Safely and easily manage 2TB of photos, videos, movies, and more with hardware encrypted password protection
- Stylish tone on tone fabric design works seamlessly with USB C and USB 3.0 laptops and PCs
- The perfect external hard drive for Mac or Windows, simply back up files with a single click or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups. Reformatting may be required for use with Time...
- Edit, manage, and share photos with a 1 year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create and a 2 month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan
- Enjoy long term peace of mind with the included 2 year limited warranty
WD My Passport
The best external hard drive for media
Capacity: 5TB | Interface: USB 3.0
Most people who shop around for an external hard drive will know the name Western Digital or WD for short. With their My Passport line, they offer small and light options for all of your needs and with a capacity up to 5TB, you can store all of your files, photos, and videos with ease. Packed with AES-256 hardware encryption plus password protection, the drive comes with apps for checking drive health, reformatting, and even backups and restoring information. The combination of storage and apps makes this drive one to consider even as a backup.
Learn More – $123
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Automatic backup Easy to use
- Password Protection + 256 bit AES hardware encryption
- Western Digital Discovery Software for Western Digital backup, password Protection and drive management
- Superspeed USB port; USB 2.0 compatible
- 3 year manufacturer's limited warranty
G-Techno ArmorATD
Best for On-the-Go Users
Capacity: 5TB | Interface: USB 3.0
When you’re on the go and need an external hard drive, many of the options out there either don’t have the capacity you need or is so fragile that you break one every month. The ArmorATD from G-Techno comes with a protective bumper all around that you can remove when you need to. While the design gives it a rugged appeal, the drive doesn’t come with an activity light, backup utilities or photo/video subscriptions but with the capacity offered at an affordable price makes this a great option.
Learn More – $69
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Triple-layer shock resistance for added durability
- Rain-and dust-resistant (IP54) enclosure with a 1000lb crush rating
- With capacities up to 4TB* of storage for your photos and footage
- USB-C ready; USB-3.0 and Thunderbolt 3 compatible
- Ready to go with mac and Windows
HyperX Savage EXO
The Most Versatile Storage Option
Capacity: 960GB | Interface: USB 3.0
With its sleek, lightweight, no-snag design, the Savage EXO from HyperX comes with bundled cables so that you can connect the drive through USB Type-A and Type-C connections. The SSD is easy to carry and won’t take up a lot of real estate on your desk. While there are no utility or photo/video subscriptions included, the equally useful drive for both PC backups and console-game supplemental storage when you’re playing on your downtime is very easy on your wallet compared to other options out there.
Learn More – $153
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Lightning-quick transfer speeds
- Simple connectivity for Windows and Mac
- Compatible with Xbox One and PS4 via USB 3. 1 Gen 2
- Light, portable, and compact
LaCie 2big RAID
For Those Who Need Extreme Storage
Capacity: 16TB | Interface: USB 3.0
Graphic designers and other creatives regularly handle large amounts of data. This can require an incredible amount of storage space. The LaCie 2big RAID comes with a whopping 16TB of storage with two hot-swappable, high-capacity drives that come with a wide variety of settings that allow you to use the drive with maximum flexibility and complete data protection.
Learn More – $649
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Ideal for photographers, indie filmmakers, and YouTubers, 2big RAID is an external desktop storage solution offering up to 16TB of massive space and powerful speeds of up to 440MB/s
- Enjoy seamless compatibility with USB C and USB 3.0 computers
- Easily configure RAID 0/1 using the step by step wizard to optimize the system for performance or redundancy
- Equipped with hot swappable IronWolf Pro enterprise class drives for ultimate reliability and performance
- Enjoy long term peace of mind with the included 5 year limited warranty including Rescue Data Recovery Services
Samsung Portable SSD X5
For Creators Who Crave Extreme Speed
Capacity: 2TB | Interface: USB 3.0
The Portable SSD X5 from Samsung is one of the fastest single-drive external hard drives available thanks to its Thunderbolt 3 and PCIe NVMe interfaces. With multiple capacity options and a sleek design, the drive is great for anyone looking for speed. However, with no USB support, difficulty connecting to Windows PCs, and a high price the SSD X5 may be better suited for someone who does creative work on a higher-end Mac.
Learn More – $699
Latest Price on Amazon:
- THUNDERBOLT 3 AND NVMe POWER: First ever NVMe-based portable SSD from Samsung featuring Thunderbolt 3 technology, the X5 delivers up to 40Gb/s data transfer speeds
- LIGHTNING FAST READ WRITE SPEEDS: Sequential read and write performance levels of up to 2,800MB/s and 2,300MB/s, respectively
- DURABLE DESIGN: Full metal body with glossy top and non-slip bottom mat withstands drops of up to 2 meters; Shock resistant internal design features Dynamic Thermal Guard technology to help maintain...
- SECURE ENCRYPTION: Optional password protection and AES 256-bit hardware encryption keeps your personal and private data more secure
- WARRANTY AND COMPATIBILITY: 3-year limited warranty; Ensure to have the latest firmware/bios installed for the device and the computer
Western Digital My Passport Wireless SSD
Best External Hard Drive for Photographers
Capacity: 2TB | Interface: USB 3.0
If you’re a photographer out in the wild, it can be tough to find a hard drive that can keep up with your career. Thankfully the My Passport Wireless SSD from Western Digital comes with a design that is durable enough to handle the roughest terrain and even doubles as a power bank. With a built-in SD card reader and USB port, the drive is very versatile and can do much more than just transfer files. With the drive not having any Thunderbolt support and it being rather expensive, it may keep some users away but those who take a chance will find a great drive worth the price.
Learn More – $591
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Built-in SD card reader with one-touch copy button
- Durable, shock-resistant SSD inside
- All-day battery (up to 10 hours)* |*Based on streaming HD 720p, 3 Mbps video to one device over Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz single band only. Actual battery life depends on file size, type, format, bitrate, devices...
- Wirelessly stream 4K videos and view photos with the My Cloud mobile app
- Import from USB card readers
The Best External Hard Drives of 2020
Choosing the right external hard drive can help make your work easier and help you succeed. With our list of the best external hard drives in 2020, we hope that by choosing the right hard drive for your needs, you can not only get your work done but also grow your business and make 2020 your best year ever.
No comments:
Post a Comment