One of the worst feelings as a creator is losing valuable content because you forgot to back up your files. It doesn’t matter if it’s professional work for a client or a leisurely side project. So in honor of World Backup Day this week, on March 31, we put together a list of seven external hard drives that are fast and reliable to ease the tedious process of backing up files. Here are our favorites:
Samsung T5 Portable SSD 1TB
To kick it off, let’s look at the Samsung T5. This portable solid-state drive (SSD) uses USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface to provide transfer speeds up to 540 Mb/s, which is almost five times faster than external hard-disk drives (HDD). The Samsung T5 is sturdy, but also portable, weighing less than two ounces and measuring less than half an inch thick. Users can choose from storage sizes of 1TB or 2TB, and four different colors.
WD My Book External Hard Drive 4TB
The WD My Book is a heftier, more cost-friendly external hard drive. The My Book works best as a desktop companion and is compatible with both Windows and Apple full system backups. The 4TB external hard drive is ready to use right out of the box and includes hardware encryption and security software to protect your content. The WD My Book also offers capacity options up to 10TB.
SanDisk Extreme Portable 2TB
The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is optimal for backing up files on the go. Not only is the Extreme Portable pocket-sized, but it is also dust-, water-, and shock-resistant to handle the bumps and elements of travel. This SanDisk SSD uses a USB 3.1 Type-C connector with adapters for other cables so you can connect to almost anything.
G-Technology G-Drive Mobile Pro 1TB
If you’re looking to edit and work off your external hard drive, the G-Technology G-Drive Mobile Pro is probably the way to go. The Mobile Pro uses Thunderbolt 3 connectivity to offer transfer speeds of up to 2800 MB/s. Creators can freely edit 8K footage and write thousands of lines of code straight from the G-Drive Mobile Pro. It also has three-meter drop protection and a 1000-pound crush-proof rating.
LaCie Rugged Mini 5TB
Chances are you’ve seen a colleague or friend carrying around a LaCie Rugged Mini external hard drive. This hard drive has been a reliable option for creators for many years and still receives glowing reviews. The Rugged Mini uses USB 3.0 to transfer data around 130MB/s, so it isn’t the fastest, but the Mini is affordable, incredibly durable, lightweight, and offers reasonably high storage.
Seagate Expansion Desktop Drive 14TB
The Seagate Expansion is a great desktop hard drive option and gives users 14TB of storage at a manageable price. The Seagate Expansion is perfect for creators that spend most of their time in the editing suite and need somewhere to store past projects. The desktop drive has an easy-to-use interface and is ready for storage within seconds.
Samsung T7 Touch Portable SSD 1TB
The Samsung T7 Touch was an Innovation Award Honoree at CES 2020 and for good reason. Most notably, the portable SSD has a fingerprint scanner for unlocking the device, and an LED ring to signal if a backup is in progress. It also uses USB 3.2 to offer read speeds up to 1050 MB/s and write speeds up to 1000 MB/s.
Feature image via Canva
