Backing up your work, your memories, and your sensitive data is a must in the digital age. It’s never been easier and more convenient to store and access vast amounts of digital files, but their longevity hinges on how long our devices last. It’s paramount that any important information is backed up on an external hard drive as a failsafe against potential data loss. As is the case with almost everything digital, external hard drive technology continues to improve and becomes more affordable everyday. There’s no excuse not to back up any essential data you don’t want to risk losing. Here’s how to choose external hard drives for a Mac.
How to Choose an External Hard Drive
Storage Size
The amount of data a hard drive can store is an essential consideration. Photographers, videographers, editors, digital artists, music producers, and many other creators require ample space to backup what are frequently large amounts of data. Having at least one terabyte (TB) is considered the norm these days, though it’s often a good idea to invest in as much storage as is reasonable and affordable based on your needs.
SSD vs. HDD
The two main types of external hard drives are solid state drives (SSD) and hard disk drives (HDD). The former fall into a more recent category of hard drives internally comprised of flash memory — an arrangement of various electrical components. SSDs are incredibly fast, highly portable, and virtually immune to damage from average drops. Their biggest drawbacks are cost and the potential for failing electrical parts down the line.
HDDs are mechanical and run a bit slower than SSDs. However, you can acquire significantly more HDD storage for less money, making them an excellent choice for excess data offloading. When kept safely (i.e., free from drops and accidental damage), HDDs will typically outlast a solid state drive in the long-run thanks to their mechanical makeup.
Transfer Speed
Transfer speed refers to how quickly a drive can write data from a computer and how quickly a computer can read it from the hard drive. For average file storing purposes, an HDD is adequate for most users. But if you plan on running software from an external hard drive, or writing real-time data to an external drive such as in video editing or music production processes, you might want to consider an SSD for the fastest speeds.
Portability
How you intend to use the external hard drive is another factor to consider. If you just want a high-capacity, live-in drive to use when you’re in your office or studio, a desktop drive is perfect for that. They’re commonly the go-to for professionals needing to back up a ton of data. On the other hand, nothing is more convenient than a portable disk you can toss in a bag and take wherever you go. In some cases, a user may require portability.
Connectivity
Finally, we have connectivity. The vast majority of external drives these days connect via USB-A or USB-C. You shouldn’t have any connectivity issues when shopping for an external hard drive for Mac. Additionally, in the realm of connectivity is whether a disk is bus-powered or requires an external power outlet. Portable drives draw power directly from the computer, while desktop drives need an outlet.
Best External Hard Drives for Mac
HDDs
LaCie 1big Dock Thunderbolt 3 8TB External Hard Drive
Professionals will love the versatility of the 1big by LaCie. It doubles as a massive HDD storage device and a docking station, including a USB hub, an SD card slot, and DisplayPort video output for 4K monitors. The 1big is compatible with the latest Thunderbolt 4 for fast and reliable transfer speed and communication between devices.
Key Features:
- Storage: 8TB
- Read/Write Speed: 240MB/s
- Dongle Eliminator: Charge your laptop, your phone, and connect peripherals all through the hard drive
Seagate 2TB Backup Plus Ultra Touch USB 3.0 External Hard Drive, Black
Seagate external drives are among the best and most affordable options around. The Ultra Touch hits every mark in terms of capacity, compatibility, and ease-of-use. Its woven fabric exterior offers a more rustic and subdued look. A purchase includes a one-year subscription to Mylio — photo software for organizing, syncing, and editing your pictures across devices.
Key Features:
- Storage: 2TB
- Read/Write Speed: 120MB/s
- Password-activated hardware encryption to keep sensitive data secure
WD_BLACK P10 4TB Game Drive External USB 3.2 Gen 1 Hard Drive, Black
Western Digital’s BLACK series caters to gamers with high-capacity storage, industrial looks, and automatic PC/console integration. Mac users can still take advantage of everything these drives offer by simply reformatting the drive from Disk Utility upon connection. The BLACK P10 currently only offers a USB-A connection to a Mac computer, though don’t be deterred. These hi-cap, rugged drives are excellent values.
Key Features:
- Storage: 4TB
- Read/Write Speed: 140MB/s
- Durable and long-lasting multi-purpose HDD (gaming, storage, etc.)
WD My Passport 5TB USB 3.2 Gen 1 External Hard Drive, Black
My Passport is one of the most recognized series of external hard drives by Western Digital, due in every part to a combination of storage size, features, and affordability. The latest models have been redesigned in a smaller form factor for even greater portability. If a simple workhorse external drive is what you’re looking for, My Passport is a solid choice.
Key Features:
- Storage: 5TB
- Read/Write Speed: 130MB/s
- 256-bit AES encryption
SSDs
Crucial X8 4TB USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Portable External SSD
The Crucial X8 debuted in 2019, making it a newcomer to the external storage market. This portable SSD is touted as being reliable, durable, and exceptionally fast, with universal compatibility across Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Playstation, and Xbox. Its current price makes it a fantastic introductory SSD.
Key Features:
- Storage: 4TB
- Read/Write Speed: 1050MB/s
- Resistant to extreme temperatures and drops of up to 7.5’
SanDisk Professional PRO-G40 2TB USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Portable External SSD
The SanDisk PRO-G40 offers unparalleled professional performance for on-the-go creators in need of the fastest speeds, the most extreme durability, and a pocket-sized form factor. Its built-in aluminum core keeps internals cool under heavy duress, including high-resolution editing and rendering, and the professional-grade exterior is virtually indestructible.
Key Features:
- Storage: 2TB
- Read/Write Speed: 3000MB/s (Thunderbolt 3)
- 3-meter drop and 4000-pound crush resistance; IP68 dust and water resistance rating for any setting
LaCie Rugged 2TB USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C External SSD
LaCie’s Rugged HDDs, identified by their bright orange rubber casing, have been favored by professionals for years. Needless to say, the Rugged SSD provides all of the same durability and reliability with enhanced speed for data-heavy workflows and transfers. The palm-sized design is smaller than most other LaCies, and the all-black exterior is attractively subtle.
Key Features:
- Storage: 2TB
- Read/Write Speed: 2800MB/s (Thunderbolt 3)
- Covered by five years of Rescue Data Recovery Services
Conclusion
If we haven’t stressed the importance of backing up your files enough, you should definitely use an external hard drive to back up your files! External hard drives for Mac are basically affordable insurance policies for your most important data — whether your job calls for it, or you just want to organize and store personal photos and videos.
There’s a wide variety of options out there, so don’t feel obligated to settle for the first one you see. We’ve included some of our top favorites as an easy reference and introduction to external hard drives for Mac.
