The Samsung Portable SSD T5 is also the fastest external hard drive I tested, regularly averaging up to 400mb/s when reading images and generally sticking above 350mb/s for write speed. If outright speed is your main criteria, this is the one for you. WD My Passport 1TB SSD WD 1TB My Passport SSD External Portable Drive, USB 3.1, Up.

Hello, i currently got a new gaming PC and it came with a 256 GB SSD along with a hard drive. However, i have already used all the available space on the SSD, and would now like to download games and store it in the Hard Drive. I have already went to the settings and put 'download new content on HDD' or something along those lines. Seagate Barracuda Fast SSD 1TB External Solid State Drive Portable – USB-C USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, Xbox & PS4-3-Year Rescue Service (STJM1000400) 4.8 out of.

There might come a time when you run out of storage on your laptop’s hard drive or simply want to back up all of your files. You can open your computer and upgrade the storage inside, assuming your computer is repair-friendly. Alternatively, you can buy an external hard drive. Not only is it a useful way to back up your data, but it lets you easily move files from one device to another. These are the best external hard drives you can buy today.

The best external hard drives:

Editor’s note:We will update our list of the best external hard drives over time.

1. Seagate Backup Plus Slim

Our list starts with the Seagate Backup Plus Slim. The headline feature is how slim it is relative to other external hard drives with similar storage configurations. Another nice touch is the aluminum enclosure, along with temporary memberships to Mylio Create and Adobe Creative Cloud.

The 120MB/s transfer speed isn’t the fastest, but it’s typical of mechanical hard drives. Also, the Backup Plus Slim uses USB 3.0 instead of USB-C, which is something to note if your computer only has USB-C ports.

2. Western Digital My Passport Ultra

At first blush, the Western Digital My Passport Ultra looks like any other external hard drive. However, taking a closer look reveals a surprisingly compact hard drive with one key feature: USB-C.

Also read:The best USB-C cables

Yes, there’s a USB-C port on the My Passport Ultra. The hard drive comes with a USB-C-to-USB-C cable, though it also includes a USB 3.1 adapter for those with access to the older port. Transfer speeds hover around 125MB/s, so don’t expect blazing read and write speeds. At least the hard drive features an anodized metal finish.

3. Samsung T5

Unlike mechanical hard drives, the Samsung T5 is an external solid-state drive (SSD). That means there are no moving parts to worry about. That also means the Samsung T5 is incredibly slim and compact, easily fitting in a shirt pocket.

Don’t let the size fool you into thinking transfer speeds are slow, however. Thanks to its use of Samsung’s V-NAND flash memory and USB-C, the T5 provides transfer speeds of up to 540MB/s.

4. SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD

Cheap Ssd External Hard Drive

We continue the portable SSD offerings with the SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD. According to SanDisk, maximum sequential read and write speeds are rated at 1050 and 1000MB/s, respectively.

Apart from being speedy, the Extreme Portable External SSD is also rugged. The portable SSD features an IP55 rating for protection against water and dust. Also, it can withstand drops from up to two meters onto a concrete floor.

5. Adata SE800

There are plenty of hard drives out there with massive capacities, but they sacrifice a great deal of portability. On the other hand, the Adata SE800 offers a powerful combination of up to a 1TB capacity and heavy-duty endurance.

With read and write speeds of up to 1000Mbps and a weight of just 40 grams, the SE800 is perfect to take on the go. It packs USB-C connectivity, but the durability features are where this Adata option really shines. The hard drive is MIL-STD 810G rated for drop tests and it carries an IP68 rating for water and dust.

Speedy USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity helps to guarantee top speeds while a hairline brushed metal finish gives the Adata SE800 a luxurious feel. It comes in either 512GB or 1TB capacities.

6. Western Digital My Book Duo

Jumping from the most portable hard drive to the least, the Western Digital My Book Duo is a tank. It’s best for those who mostly stick to their desks and want to maximize their storage options.

The My Book Duo is RAID-0 ready with WD Red drives inside and a USB-C port along with two USB-A options allow for plenty of peripherals. As for speed, the My Book Duo handles up to 360Mbps sequential reading and can switch to RAID-1 to mirror your data. There may be faster speeds out there, but with a capacity of up to 24TB, you should never be hurting for space with this one.

7. LaCie Rugged

Another option that’s designed to face the elements, the LaCie Rugged makes our list of the best external hard drives for a number of reasons. From the capacity of up to 5TB to the six different formats, there’s plenty of flexibility available in a compact package.

You’ll probably never misplace the LaCie Rugged thanks to the bright orange bumper. The bumper works twofold — protecting the device from falls and water, and housing a convenient USB-C cable. You can max out the laptop transfer speed at 130Mbps and the LaCie Rugged can reportedly withstand up to one ton of pressure.

8. Western Digital Black P10

Pretty much all of the best external hard drives so far have been made for everyday use. However, gamers often find themselves needing extra storage too with how large games have become. That’s where the Western Digital Black P10 makes its name. With a capacity of up to 5TB, you should be able to manage up to 125 new games at a size of 36GB apiece.

Also read: The best gaming laptops you can buy right now

Beyond the storage capacity, the Black P10 has an industrial design that feels like it belongs in your gaming arsenal. It’s smaller than a standard Xbox controller and sits flat, and speeds of up to 140Mbps should keep you running smoothly. Weighing in at just about eight ounces, you should be able to stuff the Black P10 in a backpack and not feel any difference.

That was our list of the best external hard drives you can buy right now. Check out a few of these other PC accessories to complete your setup:

What’s the best external hard drive for photos for photographers? An SSD (solid state drive) hard drive, of course. It’s an improvement version of the HDD (hard disk drive). Why do photographers should adopt this new SSD hard disk technology? The reason is simple: just like a memory stick, there are no moving parts within an SSD hard drive. So you’ve got both reliability and high performance for photo and video editing. I’ll go through some of the best portable SSD hard drives by looking into two main factors, speed and reliability. Top rated external SSD external hard drives for photographers should be:

• USB-C compatible for fast data transfer
• Shock, dust, and water resistant
• Small and lightweight
• Compatible with major operating systems like Mac, Windows, and Linux

A List of Top 10 Best Portable SSD Hard Drives for Travel Photographers in 2020

SanDisk Extreme 900 portable SSD

Top of the notch SSD hard drive from global brand SanDisk, the Extreme 900 portable SSD is unbeatable in term of speed. This is amazing. Photographers with high end DSLR camera love this kind of high-performance portable SSD hard drive. You don’t even need drivers when connecting your computer to the hard drive. The other important feature we should not overlook is temperature and impact resistant.

Pros

• Read up to 850 MB/s and write up to 850 MB/s, using USB 3.1 Gen 2
• Compatible with PC & Mac computers

Cons

• Speed not matched as mentioned
• Not for running operating system

Samsung T3 Portable SSD

Second after SanDisk, I’d recommend Samsung T3 Portable SSD. The Samsung SSD T3 works well with PC, Mac, and even Android operating system. It’s very compact and lightweight. This sleek SSD hard drive fits well in your pocket, so you can take all your photos with you anywhere you go.

Pros

• Read-write up to 450 MB/s
• Achieve the best performance with USB-C cable (make sure you have a USB-C cable support at least 5Gb/s transfer speed)

Cons

• Not friendly with Apple devices

VectoTech Rapid 2TB External SSD USB 3.0 Portable Solid State Drive

This portable SSD hard drive is a great addition to your storage needs. It’s easy to use; it’s plug and play. The SSD drive offers fast transfer speeds. Slick and lightweight is usually preferable by travel photographers. In addition, VectoTech Rapid Portable SSD is shock and vibration resistance, so it’s a plus when you move around a lot.

Pros

• Super fast Read/Write speeds up to 450Mb/s
• Shock and vibration resistant
• 2-year manufacturer warranty

Cons

• Need driver installation with Mac OS powered devices

PNY Elite Portable SSD

This external Solid State Drive is ideal for photographers, videographers, graphic designers who needs to back-up or transfer large files. It was built with performance and reliability in mind. It’s also probably one of the most compact SSD hard drives in portable SSD class. It works on MAC and Windows out of box. Plug and play. The down size is storage capacity available, unlike the above reviewed portable SSD hard drives, which offer more capacity.

• Read up to 430 MB/s and write up to 400 MB/s
• Great look, feel and quality of materials

WD 2TB My Passport SSD Portable Storage – USB 3.1

What I really love about this WD My Passport SSD hard disk is its shock-resistance, compact storage in a durable design. The automatic backup feature is useful for most photographers. Overall, it’s the best SSD portable hard drive for Macs.

• Read speeds up to 540 MB/s
• USB Type-C and USB 3.1

U32 Shadow External 2TB USB-C (3.1 Gen 2) Portable Solid State Drive SSD

The Thunderbolt 3 compatibility makes the U32 Shadow External SSD drive outstanding for its speed and performance. On the other hand, this SSD hard disk is quite portable, which makes it easy to pack and travel.

• Compatible with USB 3.1/3.0 and Thunderbolt 3
• Durable build and design with aluminum housing

1tb Ssd Portable Hard Drive

LaCie Rugged 1TB Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 SSD Portable Hard Drive

If you travel a lot for photography purpose, LaCie Rugged Portable Hard Drive will survive extreme data security in most circumstances.

Best Ssd External Hard Drive

• Shock, dust, and water resistant for all-terrain use
• Speeds of up to 387 MB/s

Seagate Portable 4TB External Hard Drive USB 3.0

Seagate has been popular for years as a hard drive maker. This external SSD hard drive is quite affordable for most photographers. What’s more? You won’t sacrifice the reliability with this Seagate brand. Overall, it’s the best cheap external SSD hard drive everyone can buy.

• Lightweight and compact design
• Plastic top cover
• Mac compatibility

Samsung T5 Portable SSD

With read and write speeds up to 540 MB/s, it’s a great travel hard drive for photographers. It’s compact and lightweight.

• Compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Android devices
• Metal design
• Read-Write speeds of up to 540 MB/s
• Comes with USB Type C to C and USB Type C to A cables

SanDisk Extreme 500GB Portable SSD: The Best Waterproof

If your ultimate choice is the best water-resistant external SSD hard disk, you should not look further. The SanDisk Extreme 500GB is my favorite.

• Up to 550MB/s read speeds
• IP55 for water and dust resistance
• Shock-resistant (Shock-resistant (up to 1500G)
• Vibration-resistant (5g RMS, 10-2000 HZ)
• Non-operating temperature
• For PC and Mac users

Toshiba Canvio Advance 2TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0

Compatible with Mac and Windows, the Toshiba Canvio is a USB 3 portable hard disk made for storing photographs. It’s quite easy to use with a MacBook laptop to backup photos. Overall, it’s very reliable.

For those photographers with a massive collection of photographs, I’d recommend that you should either buy a few of the Toshiba Canvio external hard drives or get the 4TB capacity.

• Slim design
• Toshiba Storage Backup Software (downloadable)
• Automatic backup and password protection

Good to Know

Of all the digital storage, the SSD technology is a good investment. For most travel photographers, what we need most is digital storage to keep all their photographs. Having the best SSD hard drive is essential for most of us. I chose the to best portable SSD hard drives over normal external hard drives because of these two factors: reliability and speed.

These features are what we need to pay attention to before buying an external hard drive to store and backup our photos. The top rated external hard drives will make photographers and videographers easier for use in the home studio or travel, especially for backup large photo files. There are times we our normal external hard disks are having issues due to its old technology. With the best portable SSD hard drives you’ll feel more comfortable storing your valuable photos.

What’s else? If you’re looking for a gift idea for your friend who’s a passion photographer, giving the best external SSD hard disk is a great choice. The list above gives you a variety of options for either Windows or Mac users.