We buy all the products we test — no freebies from companies. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our testing.
External hard drives are an easy and affordable way to expand your computer's storage, back up data, easily share files and projects, and keep confidential files secure. Some of the latest advancements offer cutting-edge encryption and even physical keypads for access codes.
Our team of tech experts purchased the most promising external hard drives, each with a range of different attributes, and tested them on a variety of operating systems (including gaming consoles) to ensure compatibility. We also noted how they are formatted out of the box, measured speeds, noted their various functions and features, and even conducted some drop tests to verify manufacturers' claims.
The SanDisk Extreme Portable V2 is a great choice for most users thanks to its lightning-fast speeds, compact size, and heavy-duty construction. If you're looking for expanded memory without breaking the bank, the Seagate Portable offers a fantastic cost-to-memory ratio.
If you're seeking an even more portable digital storage solution for shorter-term use, a memory card or USB flash drive could serve you well.
Editor's Note: We updated our external hard drive review on October 7, 2025, to add several new products to our lineup.
The SanDisk Extreme Portable V2 stands on top of the podium in the realm of external solid state drives (SSDs). During our speed assessment, this device showed superior results to any other model in our review. If you're looking for a lightning-fast hard drive that you can travel with or throw in a laptop bag, the V2 is a solid option — it's one of the most compact, lightweight, and rugged models we've seen. It features an integrated hoop on the device's body to attach a carabiner or clip, and our testers noted that “this radical little hard drive can be clipped to just about anything while adventuring.” The device's casing features an added bonus in the form of a rubber coating, which provides an extra degree of shock and water protection while preventing it from slipping during turbulent transport.
We didn't find many flaws with the SanDisk Extreme Portable V2 during testing, but our team remarked that “its capabilities are reflected in its price tag”. A one-terabyte model will already put a dent in your wallet, but if you're searching for a two or four-terabyte version, be prepared to drop extra funds for the added memory capacity. If you want storage on a budget, you'll have to switch over to an HDD, like the Seagate Portable. Still, we often find that in the tech world, if you want the best, it will cost you, and the SanDisk Extreme is the best external SSD that we've seen to date.
If you need a high-speed, easy-to-use HDD that can not only fit in your pocket but also fit most budgets, look no further than the Seagate Portable. This model is highly compatible — our testers stated, “It is formatted as NTFS out of the box and is super easy to plug in and use across multiple platforms.” This includes Windows, Mac, and Chrome operating systems, without requiring reformatting or additional software downloads; however, it works best with Windows. Seagate's lightweight design may look simple, but it packs a swift punch by outperforming every other HDD of comparable physical size during our read-and-write testing. With high speeds, tech often reflects performance with price, but this particular drive stands out as one of the most affordable options we reviewed, and even offers data recovery services in case anything happens while you're on the go.
With great transfer speed and a reasonable price tag, it wasn't a surprise when we found the Seagate Portable lacked in certain areas, the most notable being that it has no shock, water, or dust protection. Our team wouldn't particularly recommend this drive for “anyone dealing with bumpy, harsh, hot, or wet environments”. There are also no security measures in place, such as encryption or password protection, to keep personal data under wraps. If you need a more secure storage device, check out the Apricorn Aegis Padlock Fortress FIPS 140-2 Level 2. But despite these drawbacks, we found the Seagate to be a genuinely user-friendly HDD that works at a rapid pace and will fit into your pocketbook or laptop bag without hurting your wallet.
Not everyone needs top-of-the-line performance from their external hard drive, and some devices offer a simple, easy-to-use format, supreme compatibility, and high-end security features all at a fraction of the price. The Western Digital My Passport Portable is this drive. With the lightest build and smallest footprint among all HDD-type drives we reviewed, our team noted, “It is such a compact unit that we could easily slip the thing into our back pocket or computer bag without noticing a difference.” This extremely portable drive has 256-bit encryption and is constructed from 50% recycled materials, making it an environmentally friendly option for those who support sustainability. It doesn't need an outside power source and is compatible with a wide range of operating systems. The icing on the cake is that this slick and stylish little drive costs about a third of the leading models in our lineup.
That being said, the Western Digital My Passport Portable fell behind during our read/write performance testing. Our testers also noticed that “Despite its phenomenally small footprint, this hyper-light hard drive fell in the ranks due to its lack of water, dust, or drop protection,” leaving it vulnerable to an unfortunate mishap with water, sand, or constant transportation. Although these may be dealbreakers for some, this affordable product is our go-to choice for budget-conscious buyers who simply need a reliable hard drive.
Ultimate compatibility, including embedded systems
CONS
Expensive
Not very user-friendly
SPECIFICATIONS
Drive Type Tested
HDD
Compatibility
Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Chrome, and Embedded Systems
Size
4.71" x 3.34" x 0.78"
Weight
7.5 oz
Measured Max Speed
137.67 MB/s
If you're interested in the highest level of security, the best option is the Apricorn Aegis Padlock Fortress FIPS 140-2 Level 2. The Fortress stays true to its name and integrates a 7-16 digit keypad entry system, dust and water resistance, 100% hardware-based 256-bit AES XTS encryption, and an LED status indicator, which our testers love, remarking it “helped us know when we were logged in, transferring data, or locked out of the device”. It also comes with tamper-proof hardened epoxy and self-destruct pins to keep all your sensitive information locked down under several vaults. Packed into this bombproof hard drive is a long list of safety and security features that combine to comply with FIPS 140-2 standards, which specify security requirements for cryptographic products used by the US government to protect sensitive information.
We found that the Aegis Fortress's integrated USB-A cord is both a bonus and a drawback. If you have a newer system, you may need to purchase an adapter; however, this hard drive is designed to work with various platforms, including embedded systems. This security machine is one of the heaviest and largest options in our entire review, and it lacks impact protection, which was somewhat of a shock to our testers. It also took us some time to understand the numerous functions and features stuffed into this hard drive, and it may not be recommended for inexperienced tech users. Despite several drawbacks, the Aegis Fortress is one of the most advanced and unique products we have encountered, and we would wholeheartedly recommend it to someone requiring the highest levels of data protection.
For a desktop backup that automatically updates and has blazing transfer speeds (for an HDD), the Western Digital My Book is an absolute win. Our testers noted, “Compared to other HDD models, the WD My Book is easily the fastest that we observed throughout our experimentation.” Optimal rates were measured at over 200 MB per second on Windows, which is more than 50 MB per second faster than any other HDD we tested. This desktop drive includes 256-bit encryption, password protection, and a 3-year limited manufacturer's warranty, offering enhanced security and a wide range of large storage capacities. It sits neatly and has an inconspicuous appearance, allowing for seamless blending into your desk or home environment.
Unfortunately, our team of tech wizards remarked, “portability is not a strong suit for the My Book. It's heavy, scratches easily, and requires an additional power source for operation.” So it's best when it lives attached to a desktop or stationary in a home office. As this device is not rated for water resistance, we didn't test it, but we suspect it wouldn't survive because the case has many ventilation holes. Still, if you desire automatic backups, a massive amount of storage, and all of this at the easy click of a button, this is the best option.
The Western Digital My Passport Portable truly lives up to its namesake by being small, light, and highly transportable.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
How We Tested External Hard Drives
After many hours of research, we purchased 11 of the most promising hard drives available today. We tested read and write speeds using both sequential and random tests. We performed this task on both PC and Mac computers, utilizing all available USB ports. We averaged reported optimal rates using three different GB loads, and performed “actual” speed tests where we dropped files of three different sizes: 1 GB, 5 GB, and 10 GB. We learn how different “optimal” speeds can be from “actual” speeds, and used the info to define performance differences. For any 'rugged' drive that claimed water, dust, pressure, or drop ratings, we actually tested to see if they'd hold up. Yes, we even drove over two of them with a car. Finally, we weighed and measured each one, so you have the information you need if you're shopping for a travel drive. For a deeper look at our comprehensive testing, take a look at our how we test article.
Our external hard drive testing is divided into three rating metrics:
Read/Write Performance (60% of overall score weighting)
Usability (30% weighting)
Portability (10% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
This review is brought to you by experienced gear testers Austin Palmer, Aspen Weaver, and Ross Patton. Austin has been building his own computers and managing hard drive storage for video game play since age nine. He's a true gear junkie in many realms and has been working with GearLab for many years. Aspen has been behind the scenes of high-scale video and photo productions for over a decade, editing movies and documentaries, all while utilizing large-scale storage with years of footage and imagery. Ross has spearheaded many categories for GearLab, including WiFi extenders, iPhone gimbals, and jump starters. His background is in Environmental Science, so he is no stranger to the lab or the field.
Detailed and methodical testing allows us to give our readers the most pertinent and exhaustive assessment for every hard drive our team reviewed.
Analysis and Test Results
After conducting extensive hands-on testing, we evaluated each drive based on three key metrics: drive speed (including optimal and actual read and write speeds), usability, and portability.
Worse Value
Better Value
What's the Best Value?
The value of an external hard drive will depend significantly on how you're planning to use it. At this point, it is crucial to highlight both the financial and functional differences between SSDs and HDDs. HDDs are mechanical devices with a motor and a spinning disk, making them more fragile. They often have a higher storage capacity and are generally more affordable. SSDs utilize non-mechanical flash memory with no moving parts, making them substantially more rugged, shock-resistant, faster than an HDD, and often pricier. Tech enthusiasts will tell you (and we agree) that HDDs are best for backing up large files, such as movies, games, videos, or photos, while SSDs are superior for frequently used files.
The WD MyBook fits in with its surroundings despite being the largest hard drive within our lineup.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
If you don't have a ton of files to store, you don't plan on using the device all of the time, and you aren't planning to travel with your drive, then an HDD is a perfectly suitable option. There is no reason to spend more than the cost of the WD My Passport Portable. The Seagate Portable HDD is also a great option for someone who needs swift transfer speeds while maintaining a budget-friendly price point. For those in the market for a large-capacity AC-powered desktop version, it's hard to beat the byte-to-dollar ratio of the WD My Book. While definitely not a budget product, the SanDisk Extreme Portable V2 is an SSD that may pay you back in terms of time, reliability, and accessibility.
External hard drives come in a myriad of different shapes and sizes.
Read/Write Performance
A hard drive's primary function is to back up data or play files directly from an external drive. It should be fast and efficient for this purpose.
To measure read and write speeds, we look at two different data points: optimal speed and actual speed. The optimal speeds were measured using third-party speed test applications for both macOS and Windows systems. The actual speeds are based on manually timed drag-and-drop tests using five different file sizes, which comprise a variety of file types. This gave us pertinent information to help us understand the real-world performance of each drive. Overall, the fastest SSD is the Sandisk Extreme Portable V2, and the WD My Book Desktop is the quickest and most consistent HDD.
We saw some of our highest tested speeds on Windows operating system come from the two SSD models, the Samsung T7 and the Sandisk Extreme V2.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
It is important to note our tests show that all manufacturers exaggerate read and write speeds. No product achieved actual speeds that were as high as the manufacturer claimed. It's also crucial to understand that read and write speeds are influenced by several variables, including the type of USB port, cable, platform function, computer type, background programs running, and more. For this reason, use the speeds of these drives only as a comparative reference. It's likely that if you test these speeds at home, they will differ, but the same comparative relationships will hold.
Many external hard drives come with a Micro-B end cable, which can be challenging to replace if lost or misplaced.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
Optimal Speeds
This test demonstrates the drive's performance when its capabilities are isolated and system functionality is limited. To test Mac systems, we used the AmorphousDiskMark. For Windows PCs, we used the CrystalDiskMark. Using both of these disk speed software programs, we gathered data from both sequential and random tests, as well as speed information on USB-C and USB-A ports. Sequential tests demonstrate the drive's ability to read a file from point A to point B, while random tests assess its capacity to access random data points within a large database.
Using two different operating systems gave us a range of data, allowing for a further understanding of each hard drive's speed and functionality.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
Unless you work directly from your hard drive, the sequential test is more important than the random one. This indicates how quickly the drive can read and write a large chunk of data, as well as how efficiently it transfers data from one location to another. The speeds are also significantly faster than those of random tests.
The Sandisk Extreme V2 is not only the fastest model we tested, but also one of the smallest.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
For SSD versions, the SanDisk Extreme Portable V2 is by far the most revved-up model, showing a phenomenally high read speed of 1066.51 MB per second using Windows and 1062.10 MB per second running Mac OS. As for HDD models, the WD My Book led the transfer charge, showing a commendable 201.96 MB per second for Windows OS and 197.4 MB per second for Mac OS, making it the fastest HDD tested.
The random tests tell us how quickly it can access random data without a sequential pattern. It accesses a database of information to locate a file, then reads and writes it. Once again, the SanDisk Extreme Portable V2 drive achieved the best random speed results, with rates of 271.43 MB per second using Windows and 79.04 MB per second using Mac OS, making it an incredible external drive for direct work. The Samsung T7 Portable was actually slightly faster than the V2 when tested on Mac OS, with recorded rates of 94.63 MB per second, but still came up a bit short at 222.22 MB per second with Windows.
The miniature Samsung T7 packs a serious punch when it comes to transfer speeds.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
Actual Speed Tests
While the AmorphousDiskMark and CrystalDiskMark tests provided valuable data on how these drives would perform under optimal conditions, the more critical test was the actual speed test. For this, we created files of 1GB, 5GB, and 10GB in size, each containing a diverse range of file types. We then manually timed each drive to see how long it took to drag and transfer the file from our Mac and Windows desktops to the external hard drive. Afterward, we calculated the MB per second and averaged all file transfers. Several external drives exhibited a decrease in speed as file size increased; however, many drives maintained their transfer rates or even improved efficiency as file sizes grew. A few products that performed at higher rates with larger files were the Sandisk Extreme Portable V2, Samsung T7 Portable, WD My Book Desktop, Seagate Portable, and AdataHD710M.
For SSDs, the SanDisk Extreme Portable V2 offers the fastest actual speed while using Mac OS at 472.78 MB per second, followed closely by the Samsung T7 Portable at 470.89 MB per second. As for HDDs, the fastest is, again, the Western Digital My Book with a top speed of 132.4 MB per second for Mac OS.
We were also pleasantly surprised by the Aegis Fortress transfer speeds of 117.09 MB per second on Windows OS and 97 MB per second on Mac OS. When purchasing a drive, you can generally expect the actual speed to be around half the claimed speed.
After manually timing each drag and drop test, we were able to calculate the actual speed for each drive.
Usability
With the current state of technology, we prefer to deal with the least amount of setup, formatting, driver installation, and overall headache possible. We examined each drive directly out of the box, checked and rechecked every hard drive's compatibility capabilities, used all included connections and adapters, noted security features and recovery solutions, and double-checked warranty information.
The highest scoring models for this metric are the Sandisk Extreme Portable V2, Samsung T7 Portable, and Aegis Fortress. The Sandisk Extreme comes with a USB-C cable and a USB-A adapter, while the Samsung T7 Portable includes both USB-C and USB-A cables for seamless use across multiple devices, including gaming consoles, smartphones, and cameras. These two hard drives come with optional 256-bit security encryption and password protection, but the Aegis Fortress offers significantly more comprehensive security measures.
The Sandisk Extreme V2 comes with both a USB-C cord and a USB-A adapter, furthering its functionality throughout a range of different hardware inputs.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
The Aegis Fortress boasts numerous security features that make it a true digital stronghold for your personal information. It comes out of a tamper-sealed box and requires you to set a 7-16 digit PIN pad before gaining secured entry. With an astounding array of features, including LED display lighting, NIST FIPS 140-2 level 2 certified encryption, tamper-proof housing, unattended auto-lock, self-destruct mode, ransomware protection, data recovery pins, and more, this hard drive has a significant advantage in keeping your sensitive data secure. The Aegis is also available in both SSD and HDD models, all of which come with an integrated USB-C 3.0 cable, ensuring you never lose track of a cord.
LED status lights on the Aegis Fortress keep you up to date on its activity, and an unattended autolock keeps your data safe the moment you walk away from a project.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
Another well-scoring, similarly security-minded hard drive is the iStorage diskAshur2, which is available in both SSD and HDD models. The diskAshur2 comes with its own integrated USB-C cable, LED status lights, 7-15 digit PIN pad, unattended auto-lock, brute force protection, data recovery software, and AES-XTS 256-bit encryption. This product was, in fact, a bit heavier and larger than the Aegis, but we noticed it to be more ergonomically sound, sleeker, and slightly more user-friendly right out of its tamper-sealed box.
The diskAshur2 has a sleek look and feel, but doesn't compromise looks for high-end security features.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
The Adata HD710 Pro had quite a few impressive features for its affordable price. LED status lights stood out by providing updates on power, data transfer, shock sensor issues, or disk errors, while the rubber outer layer offered grip for on-the-move transfers. The Adata is also compatible with a wide array of operating systems, including macOS, Windows OS, Android, Linux, Xbox, and PS5, allowing for easy use throughout your home and travels.
One of the more stylish drives in our review, the Adata HD710 Pro also comes with plenty of rugged protection for in-field operation.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
We found most Western Digital models to be quite convenient, but for somewhat different reasons. The My Book Desktop, MyPassport Portable, Elements, and MyPassport Ultra all can be used with Mac OS, Windows, and phones, but the P10 is also specifically compatible with game consoles. It should also be noted that the Elements needed to be reformatted when switching between various operating systems, and the Ultra for Mac had to be reformatted before use on Windows OS. All of the Western Digital products came with 256-bit encryption except for the P10 and Elements. Most of these models are available in capacities of up to 5 TB and include a three-year warranty. However, the My Book Desktop pushes storage capacity by starting at 1 TB and reaching a blistering 22 TB of storage.
WD's MyPassport Ultra for Mac was a breeze to use immediately on Mac OS, and can even be reformatted to fit other systems.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
Portability
In a fast-paced world of constant travel, remote work, and the endless quest for adventure, device portability can be crucial when shopping for an external hard drive. If you're always on the go, you need a drive that transports easily and has added durability. On the other hand, if you aren't planning on moving your drive, there's no reason to drop extra money on a shockproof device. For this metric, we look at the physical attributes of each model in our review, recording size and volume, and testing for durability and resilience.
If you need portability coupled with high performance, look no further than the Sandisk Extreme Portable V2. This model is IP-65 water-resistant, has a drop-test rating of 9.8 feet, and easily fits in a pants pocket. You could accidentally drop your hard drive down the stairs or spill coffee on it, and it would keep your data protected and still offer some of the highest transfer speeds we've seen. At 2" x 3.9" x 0.36", this model is about half the size of the average modern smartphone and even comes with a built-in carabiner loop and grippy rubber exterior for bumpy rides and easy access. The Samsung T7 Portable is also incredibly compact, weighing only 2.4 ounces and measuring 2.3 cubic inches, with a tested drop rating of up to 6.6 feet. These models are SSDs, so they have an added degree of durability compared to HDD models.
Every product that came with drop protection was tested to its limits.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
If you're looking for the lightest possible portable HDD, then the 4.3-ounce WD My Passport Portable is only 5.4 cubic inches in volume and can easily fit into a pocket with comfort. The WD My Passport Ultra is just under eight cubic inches, but very comparable in size and weight to the slightly larger WD Black P10, WD Elements, and Seagate Portable. All of these models are around 4.5" x 3.5" x 0.5" and weigh about 5 ounces, give or take. To put things in perspective, we'd say these models are about the size of a large wallet. Despite all being portable in size and weight, none of the aforementioned HDDs have impact protection certifications, which might be a concern for someone looking for a rugged and durable product.
Not only does the WD Black P10 come in two stylish color ways, but it is also easily transportable between systems and geared towards gaming storage.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
Both high-security drives we tested were in similar weight and size ranges. The Aegis Fortress is slightly smaller, at 12.27 cubic inches, and lighter, at 7.5 ounces, compared to the iStorage diskAshur2, which weighs 13.34 cubic inches and 8.4 ounces. These hard drives do come with water and dust protection and were fully functional after thorough soakings from every direction.
By comparing similar drives, our team was able to discover minute differences between similar products decisively.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
Another HDD that exhibits superior protection is the ADATA HD710 Pro. It is a slightly larger HDD than the others at 5.25" x 3.83" x 0.85", but it has military grade shock-protection, is drop-resistant up to 4.4 feet, is IP68 water and dust protected, and even has a rugged and rubbery exterior for durability when it matters.
After all is said and done, we want to provide not only our readers with the best information on external hard drives, but also ourselves.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
Conclusion
The market is saturated with different types of external hard drives. To help, we conducted countless objective and unbiased tests, which allowed us to determine which models outperformed the others. We recommend putting your money into a high-quality product; as such, we've noted which are the highest performing, which offer the best value for your dollar, and which fall into a niche category. We hope this review has been helpful, allowing you to find the perfect product for your budget and needs.
