The best external hard drives for data storage – which ones? Here are our tips

A full laptop hard drive, photos on your mobile that no longer fit anywhere, or the stress of losing files that you haven’t backed up anywhere other than on a single device – these are the most common reasons why people eventually turn to an external hard drive. The problem is that there’s a huge range to choose from, and the differences between models aren’t always obvious at first glance. Here’s what to look out for.

SSD or HDD – which should you choose for data storage?

HDD It’s a tried-and-tested, cheaper option – it’s excellent for archiving large data sets, although it’s slower and more susceptible to damage from shocks, as it contains moving mechanical parts. SSD drive It doesn’t have these limitations: it’s faster, more resistant to drops and usually smaller, but it costs more for the same capacity.

If you mainly archive photos, documents or backups and rarely use them, an HDD will be more than enough. If you work with files on an ongoing basis – editing videos, transferring large projects between computers or taking your drive with you when travelling – you’ll notice a real difference in how comfortable it is to work with an SSD.

What capacity of external hard drive is sufficient?

It depends on whether, what you want to store and for how long. 1–2 TB is often enough to back up documents and photos from your mobile phone. If you work with high-resolution video footage or have a whole library of games, it’s worth considering 4 TB or more – 4K files and modern games can take up tens or even hundreds of gigabytes each.

A good rule of thumb: buy with a bit of a buffer. A drive that is 90 per cent full fills up completely much faster than one that still has some free space left – and transferring data to another drive once this one runs out of space is far more of a hassle than paying a little extra for more capacity from the outset.

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Which connector and data transfer standard are important?

Most external hard drives connect via USB-C or the older USB-A. The shape of the connector alone says nothing about speed – that is determined by the standard: USB 3.2 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gb/s) is sufficient for everyday file transfers, USB 3.2 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gb/s) is useful for larger collections, whilst USB4 or Thunderbolt allow you to take full advantage of high-speed SSDs, which anyone working with video footage will appreciate.

It’s worth checking out, Does the port on your computer support the same standard as the drive? – Even the fastest hard drive won’t speed up data transfer if you connect it to a slower port.

Is it worth buying a shock- and water-resistant hard drive?

If the hard drive stays on your desk and you rarely move it around, a reinforced design isn’t a priority. If, on the other hand, you carry it in your rucksack, to a film set or when travelling, it’s worth checking IP protection rating and declared resistance to falls from a specified height – Some models of portable SSDs are designed to survive being dropped into water or onto concrete.

Which file system should I choose to ensure the drive works on both Windows and Mac?

It’s a detail that’s easy to overlook, but which ends up being the most frustrating. NTFS is native to Windows and has limited support on macOS, whilst APFS and HFS+ work the other way round. If you’re moving a drive between different operating systems, format it to exFAT – this format can be read and written to without any problems by Windows, macOS and most newer consoles and TVs.

How can I secure data on an external hard drive?

External hard drive It’s easy to lose them or leave them somewhere by accident, which is why when storing important files It’s worth checking whether the model has hardware-based encryption, e.g. AES-256, and password protection. This provides an extra layer of security should the drive fall into the wrong hands.

However, an external hard drive alone should not be the only copy of anything truly important. A safe rule of thumb is to keep your data in three places: on your computer, on an external hard drive, and in the cloud or on a second storage device kept in a different location. A hard drive can break, get lost or be stolen – in which case a single backup won’t be enough.

Which external hard drive should you choose for specific uses?

External hard drive – how to choose the right one?

Choosing an external hard drive boils down to a few questions:

• How much data do you want to store?
• How often do you use them?
• Where will you be using the hard drive most often?

The answers to these three questions rule out most models, which wouldn’t have been a good choice for you anyway.

Where can I buy an external hard drive?

You don’t need to compare the storage capacities, USB standards and file systems of all the available models yourself. Von Halsky, the shopping assistant in the InPost Mobile app, will search through the offers and suggest options tailored to your needs. Simply describe what you need the drive for – for example, "a fast SSD for video editing, at least 2 TB" – and By Halsky will help you find and compare suitable offers.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about external hard drives

Is an SSD always better than an HDD?

Not always – an SSD is faster and more resilient to damage, but an HDD still offers more gigabytes for the same price. For a rarely used archive, an HDD can be the better value for money option.

Does an external hard drive work with a games console?

Yes, most USB drives are compatible with consoles, although it’s worth checking the requirements for your specific console model – some games must be run from the internal hard drive, whilst the external drive is mainly used for storage.

How long does an external hard drive last before it breaks down?

It is difficult to give a single figure – it depends on the type of drive, how it is used and the storage conditions. An SSD is usually more durable than an HDD, but any drive can fail, which is why you should never rely on a single backup of your important data.

Can I use the same external hard drive on my computer and my games console?

Yes, provided the drive is formatted using a file system supported by both platforms. In practice, it is safest to check the documentation for the specific console, as some require formatting before first use.