5 Best External Hard Drives in 2024

By Robin Owens 10 days ago, Hardware

Affordable and high-quality external hard drives.

best external hard drive

Expand your storage space using the best external hard drive! It is an ideal backup option for big companies and average users. If you get a budget storage device for your files, you can’t enjoy high speeds but you will defiantly save a couple of bucks.

Top 5 Best External Hard Drives

  1. Seagate STGX2000400 - Our Choice
  2. Western Digital WDBYVG0020BBK - Budget
  3. Seagate STHN2000402 - Portable
  4. Toshiba HDTB420XK3AA - Popular
  5. Western Digital WDBWLG0080HBK - Wide Compatible

We have compiled a list of the best external hard drives that don’t cost much. Check out the post below and find a suitable HDD for your computer system.

1. Seagate STGX2000400

Our Choice
seagate stgx2000400 external hard drive

Capacity: 2 TB | Interface: USB | Speed: 120 MB/s

  • ✚ Pocket-size drive
  • ✚ Good per-gigabyte price
  • ✚ Backs up your mobile devices and social media
  • Short two-year warranty
Rating

Seagate STGX2000400 has all the features and performance features that you would expect from a external hard drive and also has been equipped with a single media writer which allows it to be used with a host system in case of multiple hard drives. Main features of the unit include the multi-level password security, Secure Digital encryption (SDE), data compression, schedule file management, and virtual memory management. These are some of the features that you will find in a good brand and can also be found in the Seagate STGX2000400 external.

Compared to other brands, it has been found that this model offers better durability, reliability, speed, read and write speeds, and high compatibility.

The interface of the external drive is USB 2.0, which is also found in other external hard drives from other manufacturers. The interface compatible with almost all the operating systems. When it comes to the price, this is one of the best and cheapest choices out there.

2. Western Digital WDBYVG0020BBK

Budget
western digital wdbyvg0020bbk external hard drive

Capacity: 2 TB | Interface: USB | Speed: 5 GB/s

  • ✚ Easy to use
  • ✚ Slim design
  • ✚ Price
  • The transfer rate is horrible
Rating

The Western Digital WDBYVG0020BBK external hard drive is considered one of the best products available in the market these days. This product comes with a number of features that make it stand out from the rest. It has been designed by a professional team of professionals who have a great deal of experience in the field of hard drives. One of the most important features that this drive has been the fact that it has slim design and easy to use.

One of the most unique features of the Western Digital WDBYVG0020BBK external hard drive is the fact that it can be used for both desktop and notebook computers. It can easily connect to the computer through the USB port that is present on most modern desktops. Once it is connected to the computer, you can easily upload all your files to your desktop computer using your laptop or tablet computer.

3. Seagate STHN2000402

Portable
seagate sthn2000402 external hard drive

Capacity: 2 TB | Interface: USB | Speed: 112 MB/s

  • ✚ Bundled Mylio Create and Adobe Creative Cloud
  • ✚ Slightly better than average
  • ✚ Two-year warranty
  • More expensive if you only want storage
Rating

The Seagate STHN2000402 external hard drive can help you maintain a clean, safe, reliable backup of your data anywhere in the world. This hard disk is available in capacities that are suitable for either small personal files or large corporate data. Many consumers find the Seagate Backup Plus Hard Drives an affordable solution that is designed to meet the needs of any business.

The Seagate STHN2000402 external hard drive offers several benefits to users that include easy access and portability. It is small in size, yet can store large amounts of data for users who need to back up their information. The small form factor of this unit makes it easy to bring the device around and use it in a variety of locations. The durability of the product is another important feature that many consumers appreciate, since it is made of metal and plastic.

4. Toshiba HDTB420XK3AA

Popular
toshiba hdtb420xk3aa external hard drive

Capacity: 2 TB | Interface: USB | Speed: 5 Gbit/s

  • ✚ The drive is very quiet
  • ✚ Price
  • ✚ No power cord (power brick) needed
  • The included USB cord may be too short for some people
Rating

Toshiba's HDTB420XK3AA external hard drive is a great choice for anyone who enjoys keeping up to date with their digital files. It allows you to bring all your collections together, with its convenient portability and ease of set up, providing high storage space, easy access to your files, and hassle-free storage. Compared to the typical external hard drives on the market, the Toshiba HDTB420XK3AA external hard drive takes this very concept to the next level.

One of the key pros to consider is how easy the Toshiba HDTB 420XK3A external hard drive is to use. It utilizes a class A media writer, which means that it works even better with NTFS or FAT formatted hard drives, giving you more room for storing your files.

5. Western Digital WDBWLG0080HBK

Wide Compatible
western digital wdbwlg0080hbk external hard drive

Capacity: 8 TB | Interface: USB | Speed: 5 Gbit/s

  • ✚ Is USB 3.0 compatible
  • ✚ Spins at 5400 RPMs
  • ✚ Has the largest capacity
  • Large
Rating

Western Digital WDBWLG0080HBK has the capacity to store more than seven hundred hours of data that can be easily accessed by the owner. This drive can be used in conjunction with an USB port, it has six large sectors that are easily accessed when the drive is in its normal state. In this drive, the data can be accessed through the operating system when connected to a computer.

Compared to other hard drives it has the same capacity but is much cheaper. This drive has an operating speed of 5 GB per second and can write millions of files in a day. It can easily store hundreds of movies or games. The slim, sturdy metal casing gives extra protection to the data from external damage.

IMAGE NAME FEATURES
seagate stgx2000400 external hard drive
Seagate STGX2000400
Our Choice
  • Pocket-size drive
  • Good per-gigabyte price
CHECK PRICE
western digital wdbyvg0020bbk external hard drive
Western Digital WDBYVG0020BBK
Budget
  • Easy to use
  • Slim design
CHECK PRICE
seagate sthn2000402 external hard drive
Seagate STHN2000402
Portable
  • Bundled Mylio Create and Adobe Creative Cloud
  • Slightly better than average
CHECK PRICE

How to Choose the External Hard Drive?

how to choose the best external hard drive

Looking for the best external hard drive, the first thing you should consider is security. In other words, you need a device that will protect your valuable files. No one wants a hard drive that might lose the backups.

To provide the fastest speed, hard drives use SSD technology or the latest connectivity technologies, like USB-C.

Speed

Choosing an external hard drive, you should necessarily check its speed. It directly depends on the connection the drive features. Plus, a solid-state drive is faster than a standard one. Most external hard drives use USB 3.0 connections. If you need the highest speeds possible, get a device with a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 USB Type-C connection. However, check whether your computer or laptop has a USB Type-C port.

how to choose the best external hard drive

Storage

Before you buy a hard drive, clearly decide how much storage space you need. Modern hard drives provide different storage options. If it’s your first external hard drive, go for 1TB. It is enough to store your files and it is not expensive. For most users, it is really enough.

However, it’s a different matter if you work with high-res photos and videos. In this case, you need more storage space. The market is flooded with hard drives featuring terabytes of storage at a reasonable price.

Size

You should also pay attention to the size. Think of how much space you need and make the right choice. For instance, if you buy a small hard drive, you will have to purchase an additional one after a while. At the same time, there is no sense in paying for storage space you will never use.

Moreover, decent hard drives should be reliable and rugged to securely store your files. Pick up compact and lightweight HDDs to carry them in your bag if necessary.

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