The best external hard drives. External hard drive: reliability rating, models, manufacturers, volume The best external hard drives

Despite the rapid development, external hard drives have become a must-have accessory for many. cloud technologies... Still, it is calmer when the data is with you, and not somewhere on the Internet. Especially when it comes to important data and backups. There are a lot of disk models, but it is not so difficult to choose your own among this variety. Let's clarify!

The first thing you pay attention to when choosing any drive is the volume. How many gigabytes do you need to be happy? 500? No, not today, but in general. 2 TB? No one, except yourself, will tell you how much disk is better to take.

If you are not one of those who collect collections of your favorite music in FLAC and do not shoot video in 4K resolution, then 500 GB drives such as Western Digital Elements Portable, Seagate Expansion and Transcend StoreJet 25M3 USB 3.0 will satisfy you.

For those who need to store a lot of high-definition videos, there are many required programs, music and photos in RAW format of course you need a bigger disk. For example, 1 TB like HGST Touro S and Western Digital Elements Portable, or 2 TB in general - Western Digital My Passport Ultra, Seagate Wireless Plus.

At first glance, all external hard drives are rectangular and differ from each other only in the type of finish. But if you look closely, some of them are more compact and thinner. Usually such models have the word "Slim" in the name.

Degree of protection

Since myself HDD- the device is mechanical and fragile, it is natural that some companies produce models in protective boxes.

For example, the Transcend StoreJet 25M3 USB 3.0 and the Transcend StoreJet 25H3P USB 3.0 are shock-resistant to U.S. Army drop standards MIL-STD-810G 516.6 - with three-stage shock protection, anti-slip rubber case and high-tech internal suspension mechanism hard disk.

Software

Almost all external hard drives come with proprietary software. Some programs help to easily and quickly back up data, while others protect the disk from unauthorized access.

For example, Western Digital My Passport Ultra allows you to set a password for accessing data and has an automatic program on board. Reserve copy WD SmartWare Pro. It automatically searches for all your personal files on disk, including email, and makes a backup. You can also choose specific files and folders or general file categories, backups which you wish to create. It is noteworthy that the copy can be made both on a hard drive and in the Dropbox cloud.

The Seagate BackUp Plus Slim, Seagate BackUp Plus Ultra Slim also come with backup software, and the Transcend StoreJet 25M3 USB 3.0 even has a separate button that starts the backup process.

Wi-Fi and other add-ons

Life rushes faster if the wires are removed, Western Digital and other companies are confident. The emergence of wireless external hard drives was expected. These devices unfold around themselves Wi-Fi network and allow you to stream media and files to absolutely any device - computer, smartphone, tablet.

The Seagate Wireless Plus, for example, lets you connect up to seven various devices and supports Apple TV, AirPlay, Samsung SMART TV and DLNA. This disk can work not only from the mains, but also from the battery - the charge will last for 10 hours.

Western Digital's My Passport Wireless is another wireless external hard drive. Up to eight devices can be connected to it. In addition, this drive has a slot for SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards, which allows you to quickly and conveniently transfer pictures and videos from the camera. Western Digital My Passport Wireless 2 Tb supports streaming media content to DLNA devices - TVs, media players, game consoles. Time autonomous work in broadcast mode 6 hours and 20 hours in standby mode.

Now you can see that the huge mass of external hard drives can be classified with confidence. For those who need to save space in their purses, there are ultra-thin models. If you want to always carry your hard drive with you and be sure of the safety of your data, then you should choose a shock-resistant one. Those who are accustomed to having several copies of everything and everything should study the features of the backup software that comes with the disks. A wireless paradise will be presented by discs with Wi-Fi. Well, as for the volume, here is already the owner of the master, but remember: the place is never superfluous.

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Wondering what is the best external hard drive to buy in 2016? In this post, we have compiled the five best external disk drives in terms of price / quality ratio.

External hard drives are very popular today for storing important data. They are also very useful for backing up data. They are portable and easy to use. At the same time, today the market is more than ever filled with all sorts of options for external hard drives. On the one hand, this is good news: you have plenty to choose from. On the other hand, with a huge choice comes the headache of deciding what to buy.

5. Seagate Backup Plus Slim

This is the best external storage device available on the market: among its features include USB 3.0 interface, 2 terabyte capacity, 2 years warranty, dimensions - 113 mm (4.4``) long, 76 mm (3.0 '') wide and weighs 159 g. It is the thinnest 2 TB storage medium available. Plus, it has a very elegant design. Since it supports USB 3.0, the transfer speed is amazing. The metal construction makes the disc stronger and more beautiful. This is a really fast accumulator of information. But the best part about it is that when you buy it, you also get backup software, as well as a two-year subscription to Microsoft One Drive's 200GB online storage.

The downside of this drive is the lack of security options, since it does not have firmware that would help prevent unauthorized access to data. Plus, a two-year warranty isn't enough. But overall, the disc is very good.

The Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB is available in four color options: Silver, Blue, Red, and Black. The design is very elegant and the disc is very nice to look at. When used for the first time, it is formatted in file system NTFS, and therefore fully compatible with Windows. In order for him to work in the operating room MAC system OS, you just need to load the NTFS driver, and then there will be no need to reformat the disk.

4.

The Transcend StoreJet 25M3 is another great external storage device available on the market. The best parameters in it are shock resistance and ultra high speed data transfer via USB 3.0. Its outstanding features include: shockproof, USB 3.0 as well as USB 2.0 compatible, shockproof outer case rubber, reinforced internal hard drive gimbal, one-click backup, folder encryption, Transcend Elite's dedicated data management software - and last but not least, a quick restore button on the back.

This button makes it easier for you to reconnect after you have safely removed the hard drive from the system: if you want to reconnect the drive, just click this button. And there is no need to disconnect or reconnect the USB connector.

The operating voltage of the drive is DC 5V via USB, the drive type is hard SATA drive 2.5 ''. After 10 minutes, the drive enters power saving mode. One more good parameter here is a one-click backup. The disc comes with a three-year warranty.

For those who want to have all their files - music, complete collection of high-definition videos, and more - in one place, there is no better and more suitable product than this one.

3.

WD Elements Portable External Hard Drive (2TB) - 2TB capacity, USB 3.0 interface, 3.2 "(81.2mm) wide x 4.4" (111.8mm) thick, 5.0Gbps data transfer interface via USB 3.0. Plus, it's Windows compatible, comes with a 30-day trial version of the software, and is pre-formatted with NTFS system.

The disk gives you a lot of storage space at a very low cost. Its design is very simple and pleasant to look at. The disadvantage of this product is trial version software and a lack of security options because it lacks firmware to protect data from unauthorized access. The company provides a one-year warranty, which is very small compared to other external hard drives available on the market. But this is the cheapest 2TB drive available on the market.

For those who want to have all their files - music, complete collection of high-definition videos, and more - in one place, there is no better and more suitable product than this one.

Its simple design is cool. While this external hard drive is nowhere near as fast as the SeaGate, at such a low price it is well worth the purchase. Its simple interface allows it to be used both as a backup device and as a game console. When used for the first time, it is preformatted with the NFTS file system, so the drive is compatible with Windows.

2.

This is yet another top product available on the market. Features include USB 3.0, 2TB memory, 5Gbps maximum data transfer rate, password protection software, along with WD Smart Ware software that is compatible with Windows platform... The disc is 0.8 and 3.2 inches (20.3 and 81.3 mm) in height and width, respectively, and comes with a 3-year warranty.

Compared to its predecessor, this external hard drive is fast to operate. Since any user always wants to have security settings to protect their data from unauthorized access, the creators of this device solved the problem, so that along with the disk you get firmware, the password of which protects the storage device from such access.

The disc is available in four colors: titanium, black, blue and red. Its disadvantage is pricing policy: in order to get hold of this device external memory, you will have to pay a little more. Compared to other products available on the market, this disc is slightly more expensive.

For those who want to have all their files - music, complete collection of high-definition videos, and more - in one place, there is no better and more suitable product than this one.
This disc is very light in weight and nice to look at. It is pre-formatted with NTFS file system. The disc is also compatible with USB port 3.0, and with a USB 2.0 port, but for better performance, it is recommended to use it with USB 3.0. The great thing about its WD Smart Ware Pro software is that it works with external hard drives from other vendors.

1.

When you buy this external hard drive, you get the following features: 2 TB of memory, 1 year warranty, USB 3.0 interface. The height, width and thickness of the disc are 14.8 mm (0.6 ''), 80.0 mm (3.15 '') and 117.0 mm (4.6 ''), respectively, and it weighs 0.17 kg.

The data transfer process in it is very simple, fast, concise and efficient. You can simply drag and drop your files over the USB 3.0 interface. The drive is compatible with both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, but it is recommended to use it with USB 3.0 for better performance. The memory capacity is sufficient for storing 2000 hours digital video... It's pre-formatted and you don't need any software to configure the drive or install its driver. All this is done by the Seagate device itself. When the drive is connected, it will automatically detect operating system... It has built-in power management software to ensure it works with effective use energy.

The downside to this drive is that it lacks security features: it lacks built-in software to help prevent unauthorized access to data. One year warranty for it seems to be not enough either. But in general, it is - good drive... The design is very elegant and the disc is pleasant to look at. When used for the first time, it is formatted with the NTFS file system, so the drive is compatible with Windows. In order for it to work on MAC OS platform, you just need to load the NFTS driver and there is no need to reformat the disk.

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We offer a rating of the best external hard drives, selected for the optimal combination of price and volume, information transfer speed. Feedback from users, connection methods and basic practicality were taken into account, since we are talking about an external portable device.

Where do you store your files?

On hard diskIn the cloud

An interesting version of a miniature hard drive that looks like a. WITH three sides rubberized, on the front plastic panel there is perforation and the company logo. Stylish modern design, tactilely pleasant materials. If you put such a drive on a smooth surface, then it will not slide. The weight in the device is not felt in the hand - about 40 grams.

The manufacturer has provided a convenient feature: in one of the corners of the body there is a hole for fastening. There are no moving parts to fall off when dropped. The device is considered one of the best in terms of data storage reliability. Connector for USB-C cable located at the bottom. Shows high read and write speed, over 500 MB / s.

high speed of file transfer;
very light weight;
compact dimensions;
nice design;

the body gets dirty easily;
high price.

Review from Alexander, 28 years old. I am engaged in professional video shooting, so I have several portable hard drives. SanDisk attracted with its cool design and, as it turned out, excellent speed at this size. It fits easily into a pocket, the body material is pleasant to the touch, and it is a pleasure to work with such a device. Aluminum analogs are a thing of the past for me.

The 2.5-inch drive has 1 TB of storage. In addition to the usual USB 3.0 Type A connector, it is equipped with a powerful Thunderbolt port. This is an indication that it will connect to the computer at the maximum file transfer rate. The casing is made of aluminum, it is moisture resistant, the degree of protection against impacts corresponds to the IP54 certificate.

Included with the device weighing 220 grams comfortable case for storage and carrying. The shockproof casing is designed in a festive shades of orange and gray.

reliable protection against dust and moisture;
shockproof housing design;
equipped with a Thunderbolt port;
spare plug for the port connector;
bright design.

low speed rotation.

Reviewed by Mikhail, 30 years old. Sufficiently voluminous external storage, easy to carry, can be used with or without a rubber casing, not afraid of shocks, tested. Heavy programs take a long time to run on it, but for storing movies, photos and music, it fits perfectly, in my opinion.

The storage device will take responsibility for storing 1000 GB files. In the external design, each element carries a semantic load aimed at protecting against mechanical damage. For the manufacture of the case, the manufacturer used plastic and rubber that have passed rigorous strength tests. The black and orange design looks stylish and modern. Equipped with USB 3.0 Type A.

A device for active people who know how to choose an external hard drive. It copes with the recording and playback of large multimedia files, it works almost silently.

high speed of work with documents;
reliability of data safety;
stylish design;
protection against mechanical shock;
affordable price;
large volume.

the data transfer rate is unstable;
not readable by modern TV.

Reviewed by Alexey, 45 years old. Liked appearance, small dimensions of the device, normal memory size combined with an adequate price. I didn’t know the firm, but decided to buy it. I have been using it for almost a year, the only complaint is that sometimes it throws files for a long time, on what it depends, I don’t understand. But in general, everything suits me, the disc does not heat up, does not make noise, never let it down.

The sleek and presentable design of the external HDD hides an internal disk space of 1 TB. The customer can choose between gold and silver. Portable device used to transfer files from one computer to another, or as long-term storage. It is connected to a computer for data exchange using the USB 3.1 interface.

The metal body is not only beautiful and durable, but also lightweight. The device is equipped with a function of reliable data encryption (AES 256-bit) and develops a file transfer speed of up to 5 Gbps. The manufacturer gives a 2-year warranty to the user.

elegant design, no frills;
good data transfer speed;
spacious storage;
neat assembly;
powerful software support
equipped with LED indicator;
excellent ratio of capacity and cost.

not protected from shocks and falls.

Review from Sergey, 34 years old. The declared file transfer speed is true, which is the main advantage of the disc. At the first connection, it prompts you to select additional package programs, including a utility for backups and a self-test program. It looks impressive and serious, I hope that you won't have to use the warranty card.

Capacious external storage device with 4TB storage capacity is suitable for work at home and in the office. The model is equipped with USB 3.0. The device supports most known platforms, allows you to create backups different types... Differs in high performance and reliability in a range of portable devices with a large amount of memory.

The body is made of durable non-marking plastic of a non-separable design, which is convenient to put on a table. The tempting allowable amount of cloud space is 200 GB. An additional interface allows the device to perform the function of charging mobile phones.

favorable ratio of capacity and price;
convenient desktop design;
scratch protection;
activity indicator;
high performance;
original design.

overall and heavy;
noisy work.

Review from Alina, 26 years old. I took it in order to throw off my home video archive and photos. The computer is already clogged, it is a pity to delete, nothing more. The external drive solved the problem of storing a lot of information. The manufacturer is well-known, the memory capacity is good, I hope it will not let you down. Conveniently, there is an additional socket for recharging the phone.

An external disk model that successfully combines reliability in use, progressive design, high level protection from moisture and dust. The manufacturer paid attention not only to performance, but also to protection from mechanical stress, reinforcing the case and a three-layer structure.

The result is a practical and durable External SSD that is shock-absorbing, moisture-proof and scratch-resistant.

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1000 GB of memory allows you to store photos and videos, various documents. Connects to any digital and mobile devices. Available in three colors: yellow, blue, black.

shockproof (Shock technology);
high write speed;
lightweight and compact;
adequate price;
neat appearance;
rich interface;
high-quality assembly;
protection from dust and moisture.

short cable.

Reviewed by Vitaly, 37 years old. I have been using it for 3 months, no complaints. It does not take up much space, I carry it with me instead of a flash drive. The speed characteristics suit me perfectly, the disc does not slow down and does not freeze. The only thing that miscalculated is the amount of memory, for work I need at least 3 TB. I dropped it three times on concrete, the survival rate is amazing. The appearance is interesting and unusual. A solid top 5 for durability and design.

Winchester for external connection with high speed characteristics. Great replacement for flash drives. 4000 GB is enough to free up memory on home computers with small hard drives.

It is connected to computers in the traditional way via a USB port, a modification of the 3.0 connector. Delivers a performance of 500 MB per second, Compact and works silently.

The exterior of the case is made of elegant black plastic with a matte effect, so dust and dirt do not linger on the surface. The drive is installed horizontally, equipped with an indicator.

compact and lightweight;
high speed of reading and writing;
easy to use;
stable performance during t use;
stylish design;
does not leave traces of dust on the case;
works silently.

no protection against mechanical stress
the activity indicator is too bright.

Reviewed by Roman, 21 years old. I am satisfied with the external disk. Searched for high speed file transfers, did not disappoint. Works completely silently working condition can be determined by the indicator. The appearance is neat, no frills. I am not inclined to store very important information on one drive, so I am ready for the unexpected, but I hope that it will not come to data loss. I have been using it for two and a half months, I have not found any errors during the transfer.

The disc is very compact in size, which is captivating at first glance. At the same time, it has excellent performance when exchanging data. Connects to computer and mobile devices, as well as via the USB-C 3.1 interface. The model is equipped with a universal cable with a Type-C connector at both ends, and a regular cord (Type-C on one side and Type-A on the other). The second option is specifically for interacting with legacy devices. The drive supports AES encryption using a 256-bit key. Solid metal body.

very fast;
compact;
two cables with different connector options;
low price in relation to volume;
ease of use "
modern design;
interaction with any electronic computer and mobile devices;
the ability to set a password;
3 year warranty.

the body slides in the hands;
the wires are short.
short cable.

Reviewed by Anastasia, 23 years old. It is pleasant to work with such a disc, and not only because of its appearance and compactness. It is noiseless, shows a high speed of writing and reading. I have set a password, as I use it both at work and at home. Basically, the price for such a quality external drive adequate, but this is the only thing that was a minus for, I wanted to initially buy something cheaper. I have no regrets, the device works out its money one hundred percent.

The portable device is capable of backing up large amounts of data. The compact and easy-to-use external hard drive will securely store digital information on 2 TB of its storage space. Nice appearance, classic shapes. The body is plastic, black, matte. The drive has a USB 3.0 interface, it is possible to connect via USB 2.0. Cables included. The manufacturer has provided a sleep mode function, which is very convenient when watching a video late in the evening, since the device will switch to economy mode on its own after a while of inactivity.

decent speed of information transfer;
compact dimensions;
good combination of volume and price;

Top external hard drives are led by the reliable and durable external hard drive from Transcend. It is covered in a black rubberized casing with a shockproof effect. This is very important, since the drive can be loaded with a terabyte important information... The design is recognizable by the contrasting green accents.

Toshiba has excellent developments in this area. Devices of this brand demonstrate a long service life, excellent performance. The disks show stability and high connection speed even during long and continuous work.

Among the best hard drives products Samsung, which is constantly working to improve its products. The devices are distinguished by a recognizable design, ergonomic body, high speed of operation, and high-quality assembly.

Western Digital uses advanced technologies. The software, interface and body of the device are thought out to the smallest detail. The products are distinguished by high speed characteristics. Drive cases have a presentable appearance. With a large amount of memory, the devices work stably and reliably.

In addition to memory drives, ADATA produces components for computers, tablets and smartphones. External storage the brand belongs to the category of reliable and durable. Suitable for home and office work.

An external hard drive from any brand, even if it is equipped with a shockproof and moisture-resistant case, needs careful handling and adherence to all manufacturer's recommendations regarding operation. Purchase a device for storing important information. To buy a good HDD drive, you need to responsibly choose a trading company to avoid counterfeiting.