In today’s post, we have listed out the top 10 best external hard drives to buy in 2021 – because, when it comes to external storage, data is of the essence!
And you don’t want to have your precious data, files, and valuable documents corrupted all in the name of buying the wrong type of storage device.
Let’s dive right in!
What is an External Hard Drive?
An external hard drive is simply an external portable storage medium which can be a hard drive(HDD) or solid-state drive(SSD) that is connected to a computer device or to game consoles such as PlayStation or Xbox through a USB, FireWire connection, eSATA or wirelessly. Some external drives use the power of the computer device through a data cable while others use an AC wall connection to derive their source of power.
Compared with the internal hard drive of a computer that is usually between 256GB and 500GB, the external hard drive has high storage capacities and are usually used to back up files like videos, games and program installation files, pictures etc.
Note that: internal hard drives can be converted to external drives by simply putting them in a protective casing known as a hard drive enclosure.
Top 10 Best External Hard Drives to Buy in 2021
Whether you want to back up your entire PC or you need extra storage space to work with, this post will guide you to pick the external hard drive that will meet your need.
Below is a complete list of the top 10 best external hard drives to buy in 2021:
- WD MyPassport 4TB
- ADATA HD710M Pro
- Seagate ultra touch hdd 2TB external hard drive
- Western Digital My Book 8TB
- Lacie Mobile Drive
- Toshiba Canvio flex 4TB portable external hard drive
- Toshiba Canvio Advance 4TB portable hard drive
- Seagate Expansion 6TB desktop hard drive
- Fantom drives 4TB GForce 3
- Silicon Power 1TB Armor A60
#1: WD MyPassport 4TB
The WD My Passport falls on the #1 spot for the top 10 best external hard drives to buy in 2021 because of its:
- Good solid track record
- Large storage capacity
- Compatibility with Windows 10, 8.1 and 7
- Password protection and hardware encryption feature
But note, the WD MyPassport 4TB external hard drive might require reformatting when used on a Max OS X operating system.
#2: ADATA HD710M Pro
If you are the less careful kind of individual that usually lose your data due to your external hard drive falling from your hands and damaging, then the ADATA HD710M pro is the best kind of external hard drive for you to buy in 2021. It has three layers of anti-shock technology and can survive a 1.5m fall.
The Adata HD710M Pro external hard drive also offers protection from dust and it is waterproof as it can survive for up to sixty minutes submerged in two-meter of water.
It is available in 1TB and 2TB models and pretty much ideal for data transferring and storing of game files. The Adata HD710M Pro is well compatible with both Windows and Mac operating system.
#3: Seagate Ultra Touch HDD 2TB External Hard Drive
If you are looking for an external hard drive to buy in 2021 with strong security features and a quick way to back up your data, then the Seagate Ultra Touch HDD 2TB drive is the right one for you.
It has an elegant design with a fabric-covered enclosure, it’s small and light and provides backup and recovery functions. You can protect your data with a password and AES-256 hardware encryption.
One other reason why we consider the Seagate ultra touch HDD 2TB external hard drive as one of the best external hard drives to buy in 2021 is because, buying this external hard drive comes with a gift of the 2-month membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan, which allows you to have access to Adobe’s Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC applications.
#4: Western Digital My Book 8TB
This external hard drive has a large capacity and is compatible with USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports.
You can protect your data with a password and 256-bit AES hardware encryption. The only disadvantage to this hard drive is that it needs to be connected to an AC wall to get power.
#5: Lacie Mobile Drive
The Lacie mobile drive is one of the best external hard drives to buy in 2021 when it comes to dual-purposiveness…
If you are looking for a Mac-friendly external hard drive, then this is going to be your best choice as you don’t need to reformat the hard drive before using it. It is also Windows, USB-C and USB 3.0 compatible. Depending on your budget it has a capacity from 1TB to 5TB. It is also excellent to back up your data.
#6: Toshiba Canvio Flex 4TB Portable External Hard Drive
This is one of the best external hard drives to buy in 2021 based on multi-purposiveness…
The drive is compatible with Mac OS, Windows and Tablets.
#7: Toshiba Canvio Advance 4TB Portable Hard Drive
Are you looking for an external hard drive for your gaming console, then this the hard drive of your choice as it is compatible with PlayStation, Xbox and PC.
#8: Seagate Expansion 6TB Desktop Hard Drive
This external hard drive is compatible with PC, Xbox One or PS4 and it requires to be connected to an AC wall to get it powered up.
#9: Fantom Drives 4TB GForce 3
The GForce 3 Fantom Drive is compatible with Windows, Mac OSX and Linux and game consoles.
#10: Power 1TB Armor A60
The Silicon Power 2TB Rugged Portable External Hard Drive Armor A60 has water-resistant protection and is shockproof.
It is ideal for game consoles as it is compatible with Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PS4. It is also compatible with Windows and for Mac users, the external drive has to be reformatted.
Why Would You Need to Use an External Hard Drive?
There are so many reasons why you will need to use an external hard drive in 2021… And here are some of them:
#1: Expandability
Have you run out of space in your computer device or game console, an external hard drive can give you extra storage space at a cheaper cost.
#2: Backup
An external hard drive can be used to back up computer data and ensure that you still have your data in case your PC is stolen or crashed. Note that whenever you backup your data to an external hard drive, ensure that you check the external hard drive periodically because data stored in an unpowered hard drive can deteriorate over time and become unrecoverable.
#3: Portability and Convenience
External hard drives can be carried about easily and are the easiest mass storage device that can easily be installed and you can easily connect them to a computer device. Also, with external hard drives, you can easily share large files with other computers without needing an internet connection.
Disadvantages of an External Hard Drive
The disadvantage of an external hard drive is that you have to carry them everywhere and if you are not careful, they can get stolen, fall and get damaged, thereby leading you to lose all your data. Also, if you have sensitive data and you don’t encrypt your external hard drive, somebody can get access to those sensitive files.
