Best External Hard Drives of 2026

Kenneth Collin Avatar
Kenneth Collin
Last Updated: 4 Feb 2026

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External hard drives are a popular and convenient way to store and back up data. These devices come in various sizes and capacities, ranging from a few hundred gigabytes to several terabytes. They are designed to be portable and easy to use, making them ideal for both personal and professional use. External hard drives can be used to store photos, videos, music, documents, and other files. They are compatible with most operating systems and can be easily connected to a computer or laptop via USB or other ports. Overall, external hard drives are a reliable and cost-effective solution for data storage and backup needs.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Toshiba Canvio Partner 2TB Portable Hard Drive Cover #TOP 1
Toshiba Canvio Partner 2TB Portable Hard Drive
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Seagate 2TB Portable External Hard Drive Cover #TOP 2
Seagate 2TB Portable External Hard Drive
ftb score rating icon 9.7
UnionSine HD2510 500GB Portable External Hard Drive Cover #TOP 3
UnionSine HD2510 500GB Portable External Hard Drive
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 External Hard Drives

Toshiba Canvio Partner 2TB Portable Hard Drive

10636820
Black
2 TB
Toshiba Canvio Partner 2TB Portable Hard Drive Cover
Toshiba Canvio Partner 2TB Portable 2.5’’ External Hard Drive, USB 3.2, Mac & Windows compatible. (HDTB520EK3AB)

The Toshiba Canvio Partner is an external hard drive that offers a generous 2TB of storage space, allowing you to keep all your important documents, photos, music, and videos in one place. With its USB 3.0 interface, you can enjoy fast transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps, making it effortless to move large files quickly. Its user-friendly design means you can simply plug it in and start using it immediately, without the need for any software. Plus, its lightweight and compact structure makes it perfect for carrying on the go.

What We Like
High storage capacity
Fast data transfer speeds
Easy plug-and-play use
Portable and lightweight design

Seagate 2TB Portable External Hard Drive

STGX2000400
Black Matt
Seagate 2TB Portable External Hard Drive Cover
Seagate Portable Drive 2TB, External Hard Drive, Dark Grey, for PC Laptop and Mac, Data Rescue Services, Amazon Exclusive (STGX2000400)

The Seagate Portable Drive is a handy 2TB external hard drive that allows you to easily store and access your content while on the go. It is designed for seamless compatibility with both Windows and Mac computers, making backup as simple as drag and drop. Setting it up requires no software, just connect it to your computer for automatic recognition. Additionally, the included 18-inch USB 3.0 cable ensures plug and play convenience, allowing you to transfer files effortlessly.

What We Like
Large 2TB storage capacity
Easy drag and drop backup
No software installation needed
Plug and play setup

UnionSine HD2510 500GB Portable External Hard Drive

UnionSine
HD2510
Black
500GB
UnionSine HD2510 500GB Portable External Hard Drive Cover
UnionSine HD2510 500GB USB 3.0 Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive HDD Compatible with PC, Mac, Laptop, Xbox, Xbox One, PS4 (Black)

The UnionSine HD2510 Hard Drive offers versatile compatibility, allowing you to connect it to various devices like TVs, game consoles, and computers. This ensures you can easily access your data wherever you need it. Its improved design features rounded corners and a non-slip surface, providing a comfortable grip during use. With lightning-fast transfer speeds of up to 120MB/s read and 103MB/s write, you can quickly move large files. Plus, the plug-and-play functionality makes setup effortless, as there's no need for software installation.

What We Like
Versatile device compatibility
Comfortable non-slip design
Fast transfer speeds
Easy plug-and-play setup

Toshiba Canvio Partner 1TB Portable Hard Drive

Canvio Partner
Black
1 TB
Toshiba Canvio Partner 1TB Portable Hard Drive Cover
Toshiba Canvio Partner 1TB Portable 2.5’’ External Hard Drive, USB 3.2, Mac & Windows compatible. (HDTB510EK3AB)

The Toshiba Canvio Partner is an excellent external hard drive that offers a generous 1TB of storage, allowing you to easily store all your important documents, photos, music, and videos. Its USB 3.0 interface ensures fast transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps, so you can quickly move large files without hassle. Designed for convenience, the drive is plug-and-play, meaning you can start using it immediately without any software installation. Furthermore, its compact and lightweight design makes it perfect for those who need to take their data with them wherever they go.

What We Like
High storage capacity
Fast data transfer speeds
Plug-and-play functionality
Portable and lightweight design

ModusTech 1TB Portable External Hard Drive

ModusTech
Black
ModusTech 1TB Portable External Hard Drive Cover
ModusTech 1TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0/Type-C – Slim High-Speed HDD for Backup, Storage, Gaming – Compatible with PC, Mac, Laptop, PS4, Xbox, Windows, MacBook, Smart TV (Black, 1TB)

The ModusTech External HDD offers ultra-fast USB 3.0 and Type-C connectivity, allowing you to transfer files at speeds up to 5 Gbps. This means you can back up large files like HD movies and games effortlessly. Its compact and portable design makes it easy for you to carry your data wherever you go. Plus, with a plug-and-play setup, you can start using it immediately without any software installation. With massive storage options, the drive caters to all your data storage needs.

What We Like
Fast data transfer speeds
Portable and lightweight design
Easy plug-and-play setup
Ample storage capacity

Sonnics 1TB Portable Hard Drive for All Devices

5060291656664
Dark Grey
Sonnics 1TB Portable Hard Drive for All Devices Cover
Sonnics 1TB DarkGrey External Portable Hard drive USB 3.0 super fast transfer speed for use with Windows PC, Apple Mac, Smart tv, XBOX ONE & PS4

The Sonnics 1TB Hard Drive offers a super-fast USB 3.0 transfer speed of up to 5Gbps, making it incredibly efficient for transferring files quickly. Its ultra-slim and lightweight design means you can easily carry it around, perfect for on-the-go use. You won’t need an external power source, as it runs directly from USB ports, ensuring convenience wherever you are. Additionally, it is formatted to FAT32, allowing you to use it with both Windows and Mac systems without any hassle.

What We Like
Super-fast transfer speeds
Lightweight and portable design
No external power needed
Compatible with multiple systems
#TOP 7

Sonnics 1TB Silver USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive

5060291657623
Silver
Sonnics 1TB Silver USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive Cover
Sonnics 1TB Silver External Portable Hard drive USB 3.0 super fast transfer speed for use with Windows PC, Apple Mac, Smart tv, XBOX ONE & PS4

The Sonnics 1TB Portable Drive offers super-fast transfer speeds with its USB 3.0 connection, allowing you to move large files quickly and efficiently. Its ultra-slim and lightweight design makes it easy to carry around, perfect for those on the go. You don’t need an external power source as it runs straight from any USB 2.0 or 3.0 port, giving you hassle-free use. Plus, it comes pre-formatted to FAT32, ensuring compatibility with both Mac OS and Windows systems, so you can easily share files across devices.

What We Like
Fast USB 3.0 transfer speed
Lightweight and slim design
No external power needed
Compatible with Mac and Windows
Easy to use with smart TVs

WD 5TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive

WD
WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN
Black
WD 5TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive Cover
WD 5TB My Passport portable external storage, external hard drive, USB 3.0, portable HDD with software for device management, backup and password protection, works with PC, Xbox &Playstation, Black

The WD My Passport Drive offers trusted, portable storage to keep your digital life organised and safe. Its slim design allows for easy carrying, making it perfect for on-the-go use. With built-in backup software, you can effortlessly schedule automatic backups of your essential files, ensuring that your precious photos, videos, music, and documents are never lost. Additionally, the drive features 256-bit AES hardware encryption, providing an extra layer of security through password protection, so you can feel confident about your data's safety.

What We Like
Portable and stylish design
Automatic backup software included
Strong password protection
Fast data transfer speeds
#TOP 9

ModusTech 500GB Portable External Hard Drive

ModusTech
MT500
Black
500GB
ModusTech 500GB Portable External Hard Drive Cover
ModusTech 500GB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0/Type-C – Slim High-Speed HDD for Backup, Storage, Gaming – Compatible with PC, Mac, Laptop, PS4, Xbox, Windows, MacBook, Smart TV (Black, 500GB)

The ModusTech External HDD is an excellent choice for quick and efficient data management. With ultra-fast USB 3.0 connectivity, you can transfer files at speeds up to 5 Gbps, making backups and data transfers effortless. Its compact and portable design allows you to carry large amounts of data easily, whether for work or leisure. Additionally, it features a plug-and-play setup, meaning you can start using it immediately without any software installation. This convenience lets you focus on your tasks without delays or complications.

What We Like
Fast data transfer speeds
Portable and lightweight design
Easy plug-and-play setup
Ample storage capacity options

SanDisk Professional 4TB G-Drive ArmorATD Portable External Hard Drive

SDPH81G-004T-GBA1D
SanDisk Professional 4TB G-Drive ArmorATD Portable External Hard Drive Cover
SanDisk Professional 4TB G-Drive ArmorATD, portable rugged external hard drive, HDD up to 130 MB/s, Dust, Drop, Shock & Water resistant, USB-C (5Gbps), USB 3.0, Thunderbolt 3

The SanDisk Professional G-Drive ArmorATD is designed for those who need reliable and fast storage. With a USB-C connection offering transfer speeds of up to 130MB/s, you can quickly back up your important files. Its rugged design features a triple-layer shock resistance, ensuring your data stays safe even in tough conditions. Additionally, the rain-and dust-resistant enclosure provides extra protection, making it perfect for outdoor use. This hard drive is a convenient solution for storing critical photos, videos, and files with confidence.

What We Like
Fast transfer speeds
Rugged and durable design
Water and dust resistant
High storage capacity
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are external hard drives still worth it?

SSD external hard drives easily outperform their traditional rivals: the mechanical hard drives. This is because these external SSDs are faster, more durable, and efficient and have higher portability. They even manufacture external SSD for gaming now.

2. Can PS5 connect to external hard drive?

External HDDs and external SSDs are compatible with PS5, but you can only play PS4 games from them. PS5 software is designed to run from the console's ultra-fast custom SSD, so PS5 games cannot be played while stored on external devices.

3. What are external hard drives used for?

External hard drives are mainly used for storage Every computer – whether it's a tower desktop or laptop – is equipped with an internal hard drive. The hard drive is where all your permanent computer data is stored. Whenever you save a file, photo, or software to your computer, it's stored in your hard drive.

Editor's Notes

During our external hard drive research, we found 153 external hard drive products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 2,657,162 customer reviews through our big data system to write the external hard drives list. We found that most customers choose external hard drives with an average price of £35.52.

The external hard drives are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of external hard drives, including Toshiba, Seagate, UnionSine, ModusTech, Sonnics.

Written by
Kenneth Collin Avatar

Kenneth Collin graduated from Imperial College, London, at 22. He is a UX/UI designer, a web developer, and a writer, amongst others. At age 14, Kenneth programmed his first app. Kenneth's app served as a remote control for censored devices. "When I was 8, I would pick up scraps from electronics and try to rebuild or at least fix them," Kenneth said in one of his recent articles on Home repairs for top gadgets.