External hard drives are for storing large amounts of files, making backups and moving data between computers. Our range has over 390 models, from portable 2.5-inch drives to desktop 3.5-inch drives. Most of them come from Western Digital, LaCie, Seagate and ADATA.
How to choose an external hard drive
Size and power. Portable 2.5-inch drives are usually powered through the USB cable and fit in a bag. 3.5-inch models generally need a mains power adapter, but they offer larger capacities, which suits a desktop PC or a home archive.
Capacity. Our range includes drives of 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 and 20 TB. For photo and document backups, 1 or 2 TB is often enough, while a video archive is better served by 4 TB or more. For backups, capacity should be at least double the amount of data you store today.
Connector and USB version. Many drives use USB 3.2 Gen 1 (formerly known as USB 3.0), which carries up to 5 Gbit/s and does not hold back a mechanical drive. The cable end may be Micro-USB B, USB Type-A or USB Type-C, so check which ports your computer has before you buy.
Compatibility and use. Many drives come ready for Windows, while macOS often requires reformatting to exFAT. If you will carry the drive around, choose a model with a rubber casing or shock protection, because a mechanical drive does not like being dropped.
Brands in our range
- Western Digital: the largest brand group in our range, known for the portable My Passport and the desktop My Book drives.
- LaCie: owned by Seagate and known for its design and the Rugged series with an orange rubber sleeve, popular with photographers and video makers.
- Seagate: one of the world's biggest hard drive makers, offering the portable Expansion and One Touch drives.
- ADATA: known for portable drives, some of which have a shock-absorbing casing.
- Toshiba: maker of the portable Canvio series.
- Transcend: known for the StoreJet series, where some models are protected against drops.
- SanDisk: owned by Western Digital and best known for flash drives and memory cards.
- OWC: specialises in accessories and upgrades for Mac computers.
- Intenso and Verbatim: both known as makers of storage media, with Verbatim also known for optical discs.
Also in our range: CipherX.
External hard drives: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an external hard drive and an external SSD?
An external hard drive stores data on spinning platters, so it offers more capacity for the same money but is slower and more sensitive to knocks. An SSD is faster and more resistant to drops. For archives and backups, a hard drive is often enough.
Does an external hard drive need its own power supply?
Portable 2.5-inch drives usually run from the USB cable alone. 3.5-inch drives generally need a mains adapter. Check the product description to see whether the drive is powered over USB.
Can I use an external drive with both Windows and Mac?
Yes, if you format it with the exFAT file system, which both Windows and macOS can read and write. Formatting erases everything on the drive, so copy any important files off it first.
What capacity should I choose for backups?
Choose a drive at least twice the size of the data on your computer. If your computer holds 500 GB, a 1 or 2 TB drive is a sensible choice. That leaves room for several versions of your backups and for a growing archive.
