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External Hard Drives Comparison - July 2025
| 1 Best Choice  9.7Exceptional | 2 Best Value  9.5Excellent | 3  9.4Excellent | 4  9.3Excellent | 5  9.1Excellent | 6  9.0Excellent |
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ModelSeagate Portable 4TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, Xbox, & PS4 - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX4000400) | Model Western Digital 5TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 - WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN,Black | Model UnionSine 1TB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive USB3.0 HDD Storage for PC,Mac, Desktop, Laptop, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360-Super Fast Transmission-HD-2510(Black) | Model Western Digital 4TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive HDD, USB 3.0, USB 2.0 Compatible, Black - WDBPKJ0040BBK-WESN | Model Toshiba Canvio Advance 2TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Black - HDTCA20XK3AA | Model Maxone 500GB Portable External Hard Drive, Ultra Slim USB3.0 HDD Storage Compatible for PC, Desktop, Laptop, Charcoal Grey |
BrandSeagate | Brand Western Digital | Brand UnionSine | Brand Western Digital | Brand Toshiba | Brand Maxone |
Reviews | Reviews  | Reviews | Reviews | Reviews | Reviews |
Features | |||||
Worth the money 9.4 | Worth the money 9.3 | Worth the money 9.1 | Worth the money 9.1 | Worth the money 9.1 | Worth the money 8.9 |
Simple to use 9.6 | Simple to use 9.6 | Simple to use 9.6 | Simple to use 9.3 | Simple to use 9.4 | Simple to use 9.1 |
Storage space 9.6 | Storage space 9.6 | Storage space 9.3 | Storage space 9.4 | Storage space 9.8 | Storage space 9.1 |
Light weight 9.9 | Light weight 9.4 | Light weight 9.6 | Light weight 9.3 | Light weight 9.6 | Light weight 9.6 |
Movability 9.6 | Movability 9.4 | Movability 9.9 | Movability 9.3 | Movability 9.9 | Movability 9.3 |
Tech Specs | |||||
product dimensions 11.71 x 8 x 2.01 cm 260 g | product dimensions 11.05 x 8.2 x 2.08 cm 235.87 g | product dimensions 11.58 x 8 x 1.27 cm 145.15 g | product dimensions 10.72 x 7.49 x 1.91 cm 210.07 g | product dimensions 10.92 x 7.87 x 1.4 cm 149.69 g | product dimensions 11.94 x 8.38 x 1.02 cm 155.5 g |
flash memory size 4 GB | flash memory size 5 | flash memory size 1 TB | flash memory size 4 | flash memory size 2 MB | flash memory size 500 GB |
customer reviews4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 255, 793 ratings 4.6 out of 5 stars | customer reviews 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 200, 738 ratings 4.6 out of 5 stars | customer reviews 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 34, 942 ratings 4.5 out of 5 stars | customer reviews 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 88, 021 ratings 4.5 out of 5 stars | customer reviews 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 12, 887 ratings 4.5 out of 5 stars | customer reviews 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 44, 655 ratings 4.4 out of 5 stars |
item dimensions l x w x h 11.7 x 8 x 2 Centimetres | item dimensions l x w x h 11 x 8.2 x 2.1 Centimetres | item dimensions l x w x h 11.6 x 8 x 1.3 Centimetres | item dimensions l x w x h 10.7 x 7.5 x 1.9 Centimetres | item dimensions l x w x h 10.9 x 7.9 x 1.4 Centimetres | item dimensions l x w x h 11.9 x 8.4 x 1 Centimetres |
hard drive 4 TB Portable | hard drive 5 TB Mechanical Hard Disk | hard drive 1 TB Mechanical Hard Disk | hard drive 4 TB Mechanical Hard Disk | hard drive 2 TB Portable | hard drive 500 GB External hard drives |
color Black | color Black | color Black | color Black | color Black | color Charcoal Grey |
hardware platform PC, Mac | hardware platform PC, Mac | hardware platform - | hardware platform PC | hardware platform PC, Mac | hardware platform PC, Mac, Laptop, PS4, Xbox one |
hard disk interface USB 1.1 | hard disk interface - | hard disk interface USB 2.0/3.0 | hard disk interface - | hard disk interface USB 3.0 | hard disk interface USB 2.0/3.0 |
number of usb 3 0 ports- | number of usb 3 0 ports 1 | number of usb 3 0 ports 1 | number of usb 3 0 ports 1 | number of usb 3 0 ports - | number of usb 3 0 ports - |
Available On | Available On | Available On | Available On | Available On | Available On |
Our Top 3 Picks
Here are the top 3 recommended products with more information to help you find the right product for you
9.7
1SeagateSeagate Portable 4TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, Xbox, & PS4 - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX4000400)
9.9 Light weight9.6 Simple to use9.6 Storage spaceMain highlights- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition—no software required
- This USB drive provides plug-and-play simplicity with the included 18-inch USB 3.0 cable
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap—just drag-and-drop!
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9.5
2Western Digital
Western Digital 5TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 - WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN,Black
9.6 Simple to use9.6 Storage space9.4 Light weightMain highlights- USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 Compatibility
- Memory Storage Capacity: 5TB
- High Capacity
- Fast Data Transfers, Improve PC Performance
- Compatible with PC, Mac, PS4 & Xbox
- Compatibility: Formatted NTFS for Windows 10+. Reformatting may be required for other operating systems. Compatibility may vary depending on user’s hardware configuration and operating system.
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9.4
3UnionSine
UnionSine 1TB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive USB3.0 HDD Storage for PC,Mac, Desktop, Laptop, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360-Super Fast Transmission-HD-2510(Black)
9.9 movability9.6 Simple to use9.6 Light weightMain highlights- 【What You Get】 - 1 x Portable Hard Drive, 1 x USB 3.0 Cable, 1 x User Manual, Gift-type shell packaging ,Three-year manufacturer's warranty and free technical support services.
- 【Upgraded version】 - The mirror logo strip is combined with the striped non-slip design. The rounded corners of the shell are more suitable for holding. The strips play a heat dissipation function to ensure a stable and fast transmission process.
- 【Ultra-thin and quiet】 - The motherboard adopts JMicron 578 noise-free solution, giving you a quiet working environment. Lightweight and portable size designed to fit in your pocket for easy portability.
- 【Ultra-Fast Data Transfers】 - The external Hard Drive is used in conjunction with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports to provide ultra-fast transfer speed. The theoretical read speed is up to 125MB/s, and the write speed is up to 103MB/s.
- 【Plug and Play】 - With no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use.The hard disk chip is wrapped with an aluminum anti-interference layer to increase heat dissipation and protect data.
External Hard Drives Buyer's Guide
Written by Jim WilliamsIntroduction
External hard drives are portable storage devices that are used to store and back up data. They are an essential accessory for anyone who needs to store or transfer large amounts of data, whether it’s in the form of media files, documents, or software. When choosing an external hard drive, there are a few things to consider, such as capacity, connection type, and data transfer speed. In this buying guide, we will discuss the different types of external hard drives and their features to help you make the right choice.
Types of External Hard Drives
The two most common types of external hard drives available are HDD and SSD. HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is the traditional type of hard drive and is usually cheaper than SSD (Solid State Drive). HDD is better for storing large amounts of data, while SSD is faster and more reliable but more expensive. Both types come in different sizes, from 500GB to 4TB, depending on your storage needs.
Capacity
The capacity of an external hard drive is measured in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB). Depending on your storage needs, you can find an external hard drive with a capacity that fits your requirements. If you need to store large amounts of data, such as media files, choose a hard drive with a higher capacity.
Connection Type
External hard drives are available in two connection types: USB and Thunderbolt. USB is the most common connection type, and is compatible with most computers and devices. Thunderbolt is faster and more advanced, but requires a Thunderbolt-compatible device. It is also more expensive than USB.
Data Transfer Speed
Data transfer speed is an important factor to consider when choosing an external hard drive. It is measured in megabytes per second (MB/s) and determines how quickly data can be transferred from the hard drive to your computer or device. The higher the data transfer speed, the faster the transfer of data.
Conclusion
Choosing the right external hard drive for your needs can be a daunting task. It is important to consider your storage needs, connection type, and data transfer speed to ensure you get the most out of your purchase. With the information provided in this buying guide, you should now be able to make an informed decision when selecting an external hard drive.
Our ranking system
At BestChoice.ca, our team curates a selection of top products from a vast array available online, using a sophisticated ranking system based on carefully defined criteria.While traditional hands-on testing has its merits, our use of AI technology offers distinct advantages. AI allows us to process and analyze vast amounts of data from multiple sources, providing a comprehensive view that goes beyond what manual testing can achieve. This approach enables us to deliver insights that are aligned with current trends and consumer preferences, ensuring our reviews are both relevant and up-to-date.
Features
Our AI-driven analysis examines key attributes, capabilities, and other critical factors tailored to each product category. This method allows us to assess effectiveness from various perspectives, ensuring a well-rounded evaluation.
Consumer Reviews
We aggregate and evaluate consumer feedback from across the internet, giving weight to ratings and reviews that reflect the most reliable insights. AI enhances this process by filtering and prioritizing data, offering a balanced view without the need for direct personal endorsements.
Popularity
Our system also considers the popularity of products, analyzing factors such as market presence, reputation, and user satisfaction. By leveraging AI, we capture a comprehensive picture of a product's standing in the market, which may not always be evident through traditional testing.
Value for money
AI allows us to compare products based on attributes like price, specifications, and user feedback, helping to determine their value for money. This data-driven approach offers an efficient and reliable way to assess how products stack up against one another in terms of cost-effectiveness.
