5 Best External Hard Drives for Data Backup

Taking backup copies of your data is critical in avoiding or minimizing loss or damage to some of the vital files. External hard drives that are considered to be reliable give the opportunity to store both personal and business files smoothly.

Well, if it is the questions of speed, there are two types of drives that you can be fond of: SSD or HDD, Both can be the best if you choose the right ones, taking into consideration the questions of durability, performance and, of course, money.

Experts Choice: 5 Best External Hard Drives for Data Backup

Searching for the top external hard drives to protect your priceless information? Our curated list of top-rated options offers reliable storage solutions for all your backup needs.

At a Glance

 

Product	Key Features	Pros	Cons
Crucial X9 Pro	10Gbps, IP55 dust/spray resistance, compact design	Fast speeds (1,050 Mbps+), durable, affordable for performance	Higher price compared to budget SSDs
WD My Passport	Up to 6 TB capacity, compact and portable	Affordable price per TB, excellent for incremental backups	Slower speeds than SSDs
Seagate Expansion Desktop	Up to 24TB capacity, 280MBps transfer speed	Massive capacity, low price per TB	Requires AC power, less portable
Lexar SL600 Blaze	20Gbps speed, unique lanyard design	Blazing-fast, 5-year warranty	Higher cost
SanDisk Pro-Blade Transport	Modular SSD (1TB-4TB), 20Gbps performance	Flexible storage, great for organizing projects	Minor operational glitches

 

Crucial X9 Pro: Best Overall SSD for Backup

This particular SSD model, the Crucial X9 Pro, is special for its high performance and security of backup data. The product offers 10Gbps network performance with over 1,050 Mbps read and write speeds, making it suitable for users who require high transfer rates.

The SSD has an IP55 rating for water spray and dust; hence, this makes it more rigid in this type of harsh conditions. It is lightweight, takes up little space and thus can be easily carried, looks great in pocket and bags, making it perfect for travelling.

Features:

• 10Gbps performance: Enables fast data transfer speeds.
• IP55 dust and spray resistance: protects the drive from environmental damage, making it ideal for outdoor use.
• Compact design: easy to carry, perfect for users who need portability.

Pros:

• Fast read/write speeds: Provides more than 1,050 Mbps, which ensures quick backup is carried out.
• Durable and portable: It’s dust and water resistant, making it durable, particularly for the users who often travel.
• Affordable for high performance: Altogether, it provides good results in terms of performance and cost, which is comparatively low than the other expensive SSDs.

Cons:

• Higher price: It is more costly than other cheaper SSD products that the users maybe seeking in the market.

Best For: Users who need a fast, reliable SSD for quick and secure backups.

WD My Passport (6TB)—Best Portable HDD

Those who need to save huge data will pick the WD My Passport because of its design, which allows for a maximum storage capacity of up to 6 terabytes. Because it is lightweight and portable, the gadget is ideal for people who are always on the move.

To stick to its rather plain nature, while it may not be as fast as today’s SSDs, it is still reasonably cheap and perfect for data backup processes for those users who do not require incredibly fast drives.

Features:

• Large storage capacity: Comes in storage size of up to 6 TB, which makes it suitable for data storage.
• Compact and portable design: Compact and portable to transport or use on the move, preferably when going for a trip.

Pros:

• Affordable price per terabyte: This suits a group that requires extra space for storage and it shall be affordable.
• Great for incremental backups: This feature enhances its storages capacity much to the ability of making multiple backups at different intervals.

Cons:

• Slower speeds compared to SSDs: However, this feature of being a hard drive is a downside as it is not as fast as the SSDs, which may be essential for clients who require fast transfer of data.

Best For: This type of consumer is general users who are seeking a large-capacity external storage device that is affordable for daily data backup purpose.

Seagate Expansion Desktop (Up to 24 TB): Best Desktop HDD for Massive Storage

The Seagate Expansion Desktop, for example, is capable of storing up to 24000 GB, meaning that it is ideal for those who have a lot of data, such as a media collection or a data center.

Due to the high transfer rates of up to 280 MBps, it effectively manages large file sizes. Though it needs AC power that may not be portable, it is still one of the most cost-effective choices in relation to the amount of storage users may need.

Features:

• Up to 24TB capacity: Firstly, it is created for data storage and is perfect for large media libraries and massive backups.
• 280 MBps transfer speeds: Provides efficient data transfer for handling large files.

Pros:

• Excellent for massive data storage: Able to be used by individuals that deal with a large amount of media files or any other big data copies.
• Low price per terabyte: Low price per terabyte: Provides for the cheap way of storing data, especially when it is in a large amount.

Cons:

• Requires AC power: Needs a power source, making it less portable than smaller drives.

Best For: Users needing massive data storage, including large backups, media libraries, or data centers that require high capacity at a lower cost per terabyte.

Lexar SL600 Blaze: Best 20Gbps SSD for Speed

The Lexar SL600 Blaze is a high-speed external SSD that supports read speed of up to 20 GB/s, which is ideal for users who require quick data transfer, most importantly for the large files.

It has a very unique design and has the option of Lanyard, making it easier to carry around. The prime drawback is that the drive is considerably more expensive than the consumer version; however, the drive offered with the professional level access has a 5-year guarantee for use in professional occupations.

Features:

• 20Gbps speed: Provides lightning-fast data transfers, making it perfect for processing big files rapidly.
• Unique design with lanyard option: Sleek and portable, allowing for easy transport.

Pros:

• Blazing-fast data transfer: Great for people who deal with very big files or when one wants a fast means of backing up data.
• 5-year warranty: Is ideal since it will give long-term reliability to the system and, therefore, include peace of mind.

Cons:

• Higher cost: It has a relatively higher cost, which may not be well acceptable in the market, especially to the users that are operating on a limited budget.

Best For: Computer users who require quick and movable means of data backup, especially for bulky pieces of information.

SanDisk Pro-Blade Transport: Best Modular Storage System

SanDisk has incorporated the modularity in the Pro-Blade Transport by providing SSD cartridges with capacities from 1 TB to 4 TB for optimal flexibility in storage space increase. The latest drivers are equipped with 20Gbps performance intended for rapid data transfers and projects’ arrangements.

While minor operational glitches have been noted, it remains a top choice for users needing a high-speed, expandable backup solution.

Features:

• Modular SSD cartridges (1TB-4TB): Allows for easy expansion of storage, ideal for growing projects.
• 20Gbps performance: Ensures fast and efficient data transfers for quick backups.

Pros:

• Flexible storage options: Users can swap SSD cartridges to expand storage easily.
• Great for organizing projects: Ideal for keeping projects or backups neatly organized on separate cartridges.

Cons:

• Minor operational glitches: Some users may experience occasional system lock-ups during heavy use.

Best For: Those who are in constant need of a flexible, expandable, as well as a high-speed backup system to fit their growing storage requirements.

FAQs

Are external hard drives good for backing up data?
Of course, external hard drives are handy, compact, and inexpensive means of data storage and data replication.

What are the most reliable external hard drives?
In this case, it would be important to know which are the best external hard drives. Seagate, Western Digital, and Crucial happen to be some of the most reputable manufacturers of these high-quality external hard drives.

Which external hard disk is best for long-term storage?
There is a huge number of HDD models available in the market that can satisfy a wide range of consumer’s requirements; for example, Seagate Expansion Desktop is a powerful tool for long-term storage with large capacity and low cost.

Which is better, SSD or HDD?
SSDs have faster access time and more reliability than HDDs, whereas the latter has a larger storage capacity at a cheaper price for data backup.

Is a 256GB SSD better than a 1TB external hard drives?
SSDs are quicker to perform their operations; however, a 1TB hard drive can store a lot more than a 1TB SSD can.

Final Words

Because of their versatility and relatively low price, external hard drives are regarded as the primary tool for data backup. In fact, no matter what type of storage you decide to use, like an SSD for speed or an HDD for storage capacity, your data is safe. Make sure you get a good and reliable external drive today in order to backup and store personal documents long-term.