Top 5 Best External Hard Drives of 2022 [Real Reviews]

What’s up guys, today’s review is on the top 5 external hard drives in 2021. Through extensive research and testing I’ve put together a list of options that will meet the needs of different types of buyers. So, it’s either price, performance, or its particular use, we’ve got you covered. For more information on the products, I’ve included links in the description box down below which are updated for the best prices. Now, let’s get started.

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5. Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB

Based on our research and experience the Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB has proven itself as the best low option if you want to increase the storage capacity of your device. Therefore, it deserves the title of, “The Best Budget External Hard Drive of 2021”. The device is super easy to use. Just plug it in your device and rock on. It’s available in 1TB, 2TB, 3TB, and 4TB versions offering compatibility with USB3 and USB2. The product comes in elegant black and measures 4.3×3.1×0.55 inches. Whether you’re going on a trip to a friend’s house or basically anywhere, you can keep this hard drive in every pocket and keep your content close.

The Canvio basic is elegantly designed to the matte surface resistant to stains. Also, the settings are simple as they get making this a good option for beginner users or the less tech savvy folks. The product arrives at 100% ready to use straight out of the box. To clarify, there is no need to install any software. Just intuitively drag and drop files in your laptop or your PC and you’re good to go. The drive is powered by USB 3.0 technology but also provides compatibility with USB 2.0 devices which will allow you to transfer as quickly as possible when organizing files. It should be noted that this hard drive is compatible with Windows and Mac, but Mac requires additional formatting.

To give the exact specifications, Windows compatibility includes Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 7, and Windows 8.1. If you have a Mac, reformatting is required. If you utilize a version 10.12 OSX, version 10.11 and version 10.10. But some users may see as a disadvantage is their slightly slower performance compared to other external hard drives, but you will probably agree that having lowest price in the market, it certainly justifies this shortcoming.

4. Seagate Portable 2TB

Up next, the Seagate Portable is on our list as the best portable external hard drive in 2021. Thanks to its removal disk, this device gives you the ability to easily store your material and access content on the move. With the 2TB hard drive size and dimensions of 4.6×3.15×0.58 inches, it is never been more convenient to transfer data on the go be it movies, videos, music, photos, or other important materials. The hardware interface is driven by the USB 3.0 technology. Also included in the mix is an 18-inch cable for connectivity. Thanks to the plug and play option, just do the old drag and drop and you’ll very easily make back up copies of your important documents of memories all on the go.

Note that unlike the budget option, this hard drive is designed to work with both Mac and Windows devices. Once again, no software is required. Just connect the portable hard drive to your computer and you will automatically recognize the device and establish the connection. The drive features a maximum speed of 120Mbps. It comes in black with a package also including Seagate portable USB 3.0 cable of 18 inches or 45.72cm as well as a quick start guide.

We all know that when the space of our computer is full it visibly slows down the device and operation. With this external hard drive, there is no need to delete your important files. Just connect Seagate portable 2TB to your computer and start it. The connection takes a very short time. Both in 5 minutes, your computer and this external hard drive will be connected, and you can start switching. If necessary, the files are also easily moved between the hard drive and the PS4. If you’re an epic gamer this a very nifty feature allowing you to expand your collection without a single slowdown.

Finally, it should be emphasized that the device will not work on a USB hub that has no power supply as well as on a standard USB port with a very small power supply. With that said, let’s move on to the next one.

3. LaCie Rugged Mini 4TB

If you travel often or want to use your external hard drive without any restrictions on all terrains, you’re probably interested in the most durable product. The LaCie Rugged Mini 4TB is justifiably on our list to grab that title. Thanks to the unique design, this product provides resistance to various weather conditions as well as protection from physical damage, water, and more. Let’s move on to the technical details. The product’s digital memory capacity is 4TB which is enough space for all the desired files, photos, movies, videos, etc. With this much memory capacity, you can transfer recordings to post-production from onset. You will easily backup and transfer files thanks to a read speed of as much as 130Mbps.

The device is compatible with Microsoft Windows 7,8,10 and Mac OS 10.5 or later versions. It has a USB 3.0 hardware interface but is also compatible with 2.0. The disk also has the capability for on-demand backups, automatic backups, directory synchronization on several different devices as well as one-click backups all thanks to its easy backup software. With this product you also get the ability to work with creative cloud – a great option if you’re working with raw images that you want to transfer to the appropriate production. You also have access to Adobe Creative Cloud all apps if you’re interested in different great types of video and photo editing apps, note that these options are not mandatory.

The item comes in dimension of 3.39×0.75×5.31 inches – weighing in at just 0.88lbs. Although small, thanks to its powerful performance it is ideal for all people who are engaged in some creative business or simply like to travel. The package include a LaCie Rugged Mini hard drive, a USB 3.0 cable that is compatible with  2.0 as well as a quick install guide that will introduce you to the basic steps to easily connect, transfer photos, videos, music, backup, as well as much more. One thing we can point out as a drawback is that if you work in a program such as Lightroom, you can expect a slightly slower operation and data transfer. If you have a USB C however, this process will speed up.

2. WD 5TB My Passport

Next on our review list is the WD My Passport. We can freely say that it is an external drive with the best large storage on the market in 2021 – a whopping 5TB. Designed to fit in the palm of your hand, this fellow will likely guarantee that you no longer have to worry about space to store and organize your photos, music, movies, games, and many other documents anymore. It offers a read speed of 130Mbps along with a USB 3.0 hardware interface. However, note that the device is easily compatible with USB 2.0 ports. It is also compatible with both Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. If you have another operating system though such as Mac, it requires reformatting. It should be noted that depending on the system configuration and user hardware, the performance of the product can vary significantly.

User-experience is super smooth and is simple as it can be. All you need to do is activate protection and set your personalized password. This way you can be sure that you have completely protected your digital content. Thanks to the WD backup software, there is no need to worry but you can be sure that your data will be saved and will not be lost. You can adjust this option automatically depending on your schedule. The item comes in black measuring in at 4.22×2.95×0.75 inches and weighs 7.41ounces.

You can’t predict the course of the trip, but you can predict the reliability and durability of your WD 5TB My Passport hard drive. We’ve not managed to find many significant shortcomings with the WD 5TB My Passport but one of them would be the possibility of slipping. This product does not have a non-slip surface and as it is made of smooth plastic which makes it more vulnerable to slipping in some situations. This happens infrequently and won’t post any problem so don’t worry. And now, let’s move on the big one.

1. Samsung T5

Thanks to outstanding performance, you should not be surprised that the Samsung T5 has topped our list as the best overall external hard drive that you can find on the market in 2021. Designed to fit in your pocket or bag perfectly, this bad boy is available in a variety of color options – specifically you can opt for one of the following finishes – the beautiful metallic red, the elegant black, the cool blue, as well as the rose gold. But do keep in mind that the colors differ depending on the storage capacity. For example, the 2TB version is only available in black while the 250gb edition only comes in blue.

Samsung T5 allows you to transfer speed very quickly with a topnotch amazing speed of 540Mbps, it tops your average device in this field by almost 5 times – quite a feat you’ll have to agree. We could say it was among the key factors of crowning the Samsung T5 as the best item overall. Time is money they say, and this speed saves a nice chunk of that time. Moving on, the item has a 2TB digital storage capacity and USB 3.0 hardware interface while also offering USB 2.0 compatibility.

For your maximum comfort and convenience, USB Type C to C and USB Type C to A cables are also included in the mix. The device is well suited for the upload of 4k high resolution photos and videos as well as many other large data backups. The TP has a solid metal housing that can withstand falls of up to 6 feet or 2 meters. It is pretty nice that there are no moving parts, so the item is solid both outside and inside. With a thickness of just 0.41 inches and a lightweight of only 1.8 ounces, it smooth, sleek, and we love it.

Furthermore, the onboard AES 256-bit HW Encryption provides you with an optional secure password. It should be noted that some older versions of Mac, Android, and Windows operating system may not be supported.  The software requires Mac OSX 10.9 Maverick, Android 4.4 KitKat, Windows 7 or higher. Coming from Samsung, one of the leading brands in this industry, this product offers you the whole world in your pocket or bag so relax and enjoy the great performance of this external hard drive wherever you are. Is it the best one? You’re darn right it is.

To wrap up: Thanks for reading and that’s all for now. I hope to see you guys in the next review. Till next time, see you guys later.