5 Best External Hard Drive Enclosures in 2024

By Robin Owens 7 days ago, Hardware

Affordable and high-quality external hard drive enclosures.

best external hard drive enclosure

If you want to expand the storage capacity of your PC, try using an external hard drive enclosure that allows you to access all your files in no time. You can also use it to access files stored on your laptop from your desktop computer. After putting your hard drive into an enclosure, you can take it with you on a trip wherever you go.

Top 5 Best External Hard Drive Enclosures

  1. ORICO 2189U3 - Works well for BIOS
  2. SSK M.2 NGFF SSD - Great little housing
  3. UGREEN 2.5" USB C 3.1 - Easy setup
  4. SABRENT EC-OCUB - Good budget-friendly enclosure
  5. SSK Aluminium M.2 NVME SSD - Fast inexpensive enclosure

We have rounded up the best external hard drive enclosures for SSD that you can find in 2021 on the market. There are several things that you need to take into account when selecting an external hard drive enclosure.

1. ORICO 2189U3

Works well for BIOS
orico 2189u3 external hard drive enclosure

Capacity: | Interface: | Speed: |

  • ✚ Pretty nice looking
  • ✚ Has a small blue LED embedded
  • ✚ Using it is super simple
  • Does not fit snugly against the drive
Rating

ORICO 2189U3 external hard drive enclosure is a simple, sleek and stylish device that protects your computer from all the dangers of an external hard drive. It is suitable for PCs and laptops that have capacities up to 1 TB. In addition, it can fit into the smallest of places as well, such as USB ports and other ports on your desktop or notebook. You can be assured that the investment you have made in this enclosure is worth it. All you need to do is plug it in and enjoy the protection and security that this product offers.

An enclosure is made from shock-resistant, weather-resistant and shock-proof materials, ensuring the maximum safety for your data. The installation process is very easy. You do not need any special skills to install this enclosure as it comes with a manual that is easily accessible.

2. SSK M.2 NGFF SSD

Great little housing
ssk m 2 ngff ssd external hard drive enclosure

Capacity: | Interface: | Speed: |

  • ✚ Metal Enclosure
  • ✚ Cheap
  • ✚ Good Speeds
  • Enclosure that the SSD sits in feels cheap
Rating

SSK M.2 NGFF SSD has been designed by putting a standard M.2 SSD into a metal casing, this then gives the enclosure a neat slim design that fits nicely into the lid of your laptop.

SSK M.2 NGFF SSD not only looks good but works great as well, the SSD is placed into a tight enclosure which makes sure nothing comes out and causes any damage to the internal workings of your machine. There are three hinged sections on the front of the box which allow it to latch into the lid. The top flap also has an external security lock which protects your hard drive from unwanted opening. To protect against dust accumulation the sides of the enclosure are also lined with soft foam. One side of the enclosure also has a rubberized pocket which can store your other accessories such as skins, these really help to make your SSK M.2 NGFF SSD look good, the outer case is a durable heavy duty clear type of material, this means you can put your laptop in there and not worry about it getting scratched.

3. UGREEN 2.5" USB C 3.1

Easy setup
ugreen 2.5 usb c 3.1 external hard drive enclosure

Capacity: | Interface: | Speed: |

  • ✚ Lightweight
  • ✚ Portable
  • ✚ Software is easy to use after initial setup
  • The blinking light is a little of a distraction
Rating

UGREEN 2.5" USB C 3.1 rated as the top external hard drive for both its portability and storage capabilities. One of the best things about the UGREEN 2.5 USB C 3.1 external enclosure is that it is extremely compact and can be used in a variety of different environments. For example, they are available in a magnetic form that makes it possible to place it inside a laptop case. This way the device is still portable and yet protected from damage.

In addition to being able to use it inside a laptop case, they are also great for use with netbooks or desktops in situations where you need additional storage but don't want the size or weight of traditional external drives. It is compatible with almost all current models of USB storage drives including the Crucial BLS, SanDisk and WD Gold series.

4. SABRENT EC-OCUB

Good budget-friendly enclosure
sabrent ec-ocub external hard drive enclosure

Capacity: | Interface: | Speed: |

  • ✚ Included foam will keep the drive from shaking
  • ✚ Includes cable
  • ✚ Very easy to open and close
  • Inside cushion is very small
Rating

Like all SABRENT products, the EC-OCUB external hard drive enclosure is built using the best possible materials to ensure that your storage needs are met with great quality. It is almost entirely made out of metal alloys such as aluminum and has a metal plating for a smooth finish.

The three exterior ports, one front and two rear, allow it to connect to your host computer easily via a conventional USB cable or FireWire port. When you connect this unit to your host computer, it allows for fast, error-free access to your files and other data.

5. SSK Aluminium M.2 NVME SSD

Fast inexpensive enclosure
ssk aluminium m.2 nvme ssd external hard drive enclosure

Capacity: | Interface: | Speed: |

  • ✚ Easy to setup
  • ✚ Plug and play
  • ✚ Includes cables needed
  • Not easy to install SSD M.2.
Rating

The popularity of the SSK aluminium external hard drive enclosure is growing rapidly in the market. There are many benefits that a company can enjoy by using an effective SSK aluminium M.2 NVME SSD enclosure. These devices offer a host of advantages for a company to reap which include: reduced power consumption, increased storage space, enhanced airflow and much more.

One of the most significant benefits that a user enjoys by using this device is that it is extremely durable and robust. This is because SSK is a class apart from other devices which offers the best quality materials in the market. This is because of the fact that the SSK aluminium material that is used in the making of these devices is quite strong and long lasting. Furthermore, it is highly resistant to corrosion, cracking, and breaking which ensures that the device remains protected against internal damages. It also ensures that the device provides the users with maximum storage space which further reduces the overall cost of maintenance.

IMAGE NAME FEATURES
orico 2189u3 external hard drive enclosure
ORICO 2189U3
Our Choice
  • Pretty nice looking
  • Has a small blue LED embedded
CHECK PRICE
ssk m.2 ngff ssd external hard drive enclosure
SSK M.2 NGFF SSD
Budget
  • Metal Enclosure
  • Cheap
CHECK PRICE
ugreen 2.5 usb c 3.1 external hard drive enclosure
UGREEN 2.5" USB C 3.1
Easy setup
  • Lightweight
  • Portable
CHECK PRICE

How to Choose the External Hard Drive Enclosure?

how to choose the best external hard drive enclosure

Capacity Limitations

Keep in mind that external hard drives usually have less storage space than internal ones. You might have noticed that most options have a storage capacity of up to 4T-8T. It’s because they have special integrated controllers that restrict their size. When selecting an external hard drive enclosure, you need to check whether it supports a hard drive of a specific storage capacity.

Price Vs. Quality

When it comes to quality, a high price of an enclosure doesn’t guarantee stable performance. While some expensive models are pretty reliable, it’s not always the case with other models.

Before committing yourself to a purchase, make sure to read several reviews to select an enclosure that has the best value for money.

best external hard drive enclosure

Compatibility

If you have a 3.5-inch hard drive, you won’t be able to fit it into most laptops. However, you can purchase an enclosure and connect it to your laptop with a USB or external SATA (eSATA) cable. Desktop computer owners can connect a 2.5-inch drive to their PCs by using an enclosure. It’s also possible for them to use a mounting bracket for this purpose. Nowadays, some computers also come with 2.5-inch drive bays, which allows you to install an SSD internally.

Form Factor

Those who travel a lot need to purchase an enclosure with a small form factor as such models don’t take too much space in a bag. You can purchase an enclosure for a large 3.5-inch drive or a smaller 2.5-inch drive. Nowadays, the latter are more popular while the former are quite rare. Since many people are looking for portable hard drives, manufacturers release many 2.5-inch models that are similar to 3.5-inch ones in terms of speed and storage capacity.

Memory Type

External HDDs are usually less expensive. They have spinning disks, which makes them similar to hard drives that are installed on most affordable laptops. Besides, they allow you to store a lot of data. If you need to use an HDD to store your collection of media files, you can use it with an external hard drive enclosure. The only disadvantage is that HDDs are noisy and slow. If you need to access and copy many large files quickly, make sure to consider other options.

External SSDs. Similarly to internal drives, they have high read and write speeds. Besides, they are virtually noiseless. While they cost more than their HDD counterparts, there are still some budget models available.

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