Are you looking for the best external hard drive to meet your needs in 2021? Whether you’re a gamer, a media center user, or in need of a high-performing, universal storage solution, you want to ensure you make the right choice.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide you a detailed overview of the top external hard drives available. We’ll break down the important specifications so you know what to look out for, and provide reviews of different models.
We’ll also tell you what makes a great external hard drive and how to select the right one for you. At the end, we’ll even give you a few recommendations to get you started.
Why Invest in an External Hard Drive?
An external hard drive provides an excellent storage solution for your desktop, laptop, or other device if you’re looking for more space or performance. This type of external device offers a reliable and safe method of backing up important documents, photos, and videos.
By investing in an external hard drive, you can also free up space on your built-in, or internal storage. This allows you to enjoy faster processing times and overall improved performance.
What Features Should You Look Out for in an External Hard Drive?
When selecting an external hard drive, there are a few factors you need to consider. Here are the different components that will help you select the right device.
Drive Type
The two main types of external hard drives are hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid state drives (SSDs). HDDs are traditional devices with spinning disks of metal. SSDs, on the other hand, contain no moving parts, making them faster and more reliable.
Drive Speed
The drive’s speed is determined by the technology used. Speed is measured in revolutions per minute, or RPM. For HDDs, 7,200 RPM is the standard, whereas speeds for SSDs are measured in milliseconds.
Connectivity
External hard drives can be connected to your laptop or desktop via a USB connection. However, recent years have seen improvements so that external hard drives function with other ports such as Thunderbolt or FireWire.
Capacity
The capacity of an external hard drive often depends on the size of the internal drive, as well as how much data you’re looking to store. Common capacity sizes are 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB.
The Best External Hard Drives of 2021
To help make your purchase decision easier, we’ve compiled this list of our favorite external hard drives of 2021.
1. Seagate Expansion Desktop – Our Top Pick
This Seagate Expansion Desktop external hard drive provides reliable, high-performance storage. The 8TB hard drive provides users with plenty of room to store photos, documents, and music. It’s also equipped with an ultra-fast USB connection.
2. Western Digital My Passport
This 2TB hard drive from Western Digital is perfect for storing your data securely. It functions as a portable device, so you can easily carry it wherever you go. You’ll also benefit from the automatic backup feature, to protect your data from accidental erasure.
3. Toshiba HDTB410XK3AA Canvio Basics
If you’re looking for a reliable storage solution for your files, this Toshiba hard drive is perfect. It offers a 1TB capacity with a USB connection and an onboard software to protect your data.
Conclusion
The right external hard drive provides you with a reliable and secure storage solution for all your data. When you make your purchase decision, it’s important to consider your requirements and what features you need as well as reviewing our top picks.
We’re confident that the products in our selection offer the best performance and reliability. So, why wait? Invest in one of these top external hard drives today!
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