Best eSATA External Hard Drives of 2025

Kenneth Collin Avatar
Kenneth Collin
Last Updated: 31 Jan 2025

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eSATA External Hard Drives are high-speed storage devices that can be connected to a computer through an eSATA port. These hard drives are designed to provide fast data transfer rates, making them ideal for backing up large files, such as videos and photos. With their large storage capacities, eSATA External Hard Drives are also useful for storing software and other data that require a lot of space. They are a reliable and convenient way to expand your computer's storage capacity and ensure that your important files are always backed up.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual Dual-Bay RAID USB 3.2 + eSATA External Storage Enclosure Cover #TOP 1
OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual Dual-Bay RAID USB 3.2 + eSATA External Storage Enclosure
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Vantec NexStar3 SuperSpeed 3.5" SATA to USB 3.0 & eSATA External Hard Drive Enclosure Cover #TOP 2
Vantec NexStar3 SuperSpeed 3.5" SATA to USB 3.0 & eSATA External Hard Drive Enclosure
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Buslink CipherShield CSE-8T-SU3 8TB FIPS 140-2 256-bit AES USB 3.0/eSATA Hardware Encrypted External Desktop Hard Drive Cover #TOP 3
Buslink CipherShield CSE-8T-SU3 8TB FIPS 140-2 256-bit AES USB 3.0/eSATA Hardware Encrypted External Desktop Hard Drive
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 4 eSATA External Hard Drives

#TOP 1

OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual Dual-Bay RAID USB 3.2 + eSATA External Storage Enclosure

OWC
OWCMED3ER0GB
Black
Enclosure
OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual Dual-Bay RAID USB 3.2 + eSATA External Storage Enclosure Cover
OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual (0 TB) Dual-Bay RAID USB 3.2 (5Gb/s) + eSATA External Storage Enclosure for 3.5-inch SATA Drives

Features
Hardware RAID 0, 1, Span, And Independent Modes
0 GB Dual Bay USB 3.1 Gen 1 And eSATA Equipped Performance RAID Enclosure
Supports 2 X SATA HDDs. All Cables Included
International Products Have Separate Terms, Are Sold From Abroad And May Differ From Local Products, Including Fit, Age Ratings, And Language Of Product, Labeling Or Instructions.
Fast USB 3.1 Gen 1 & eSATA Connectivity-Accelerate Your Workflow With Transfer Speeds Up To 407MB/s
#TOP 2

Vantec NexStar3 SuperSpeed 3.5" SATA to USB 3.0 & eSATA External Hard Drive Enclosure

NST-380SU3-BK
Black
Vantec NexStar3 SuperSpeed 3.5" SATA to USB 3.0 & eSATA External Hard Drive Enclosure Cover
Vantec NexStar3 SuperSpeed 3.5" SATA to USB 3.0 & eSATA External Hard Drive Enclosure (NST-380SU3-BK)

Features
Maximum Transfer Rates Up To 5 Gbps w/USB 3.0
Easily Add Storage To Any System With USB 2.0, 3.0 Or eSATA
Hi-Quality Shielded USB 3.0 Cable Ensures Data Integrity And Speed
Backwards-Compatible With USB 2.0 Or 1.1
Aluminum Casing Cools Down Your Hard Drive
#TOP 3

Buslink CipherShield CSE-8T-SU3 8TB FIPS 140-2 256-bit AES USB 3.0/eSATA Hardware Encrypted External Desktop Hard Drive

CSE-8T-SU3
Black/Green
8000 GB
Buslink CipherShield CSE-8T-SU3 8TB FIPS 140-2 256-bit AES USB 3.0/eSATA Hardware Encrypted External Desktop Hard Drive Cover
Buslink CipherShield CSE-8T-SU3 8TB FIPS 140-2 256-bit AES USB 3.0/eSATA Hardware Encrypted External Desktop Hard Drive

Features
Encryption Key Is On The Removable Hardware Key; Can Be Removed And Stored Away To Prevent Unauthorized Access
FIPS 140-2 256-Bit AES Hardware Encryption
Operates Independently To The OS: Does Not Require Separate Drivers
Faster, Easier To Use, And Provide A Better Security Than Software Encryption

OWC Mercury Elite Pro 2TB 2000GB Silver - external hard drives Type-B

OWC
OWCME3QH7T2.0
Silver
2.0TB
OWC Mercury Elite Pro 2TB 2000GB Silver - external hard drives Type-B Cover
OWC Mercury Elite Pro 2TB 2000GB Silver - external hard drives (Wired, 5 - 42 °C, FireWire 800, USB 3.0 (3.1 Gen 1) Type-B, eSATA, HDD, -40 - 65 °C, FireWire, USB, eSATA)

Features
7200RPM, 64MB Cache. eSATA/FW800/FW400/USB3 Interfaces
OWC Mercury Elite Pro 2.0TB 7200 RPM Storage Solution For Mac Or PC
Connection Cables Included
3 Year OWC Limited Warranty
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is eSATA external hard drive?

eSATA is short for external Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA). eSATA external hard drive is a type of SATA interface hard drives. It is an extension to the Serial ATA standard that can enable the SATA drives to connect your computer externally.

2. Can you connect a hard drive through an eSATA port?

It is not possible to connect the drive directly to the eSATA port. You need some type of eSATA drive enclosure to put the drive into. eSATA uses a different cable in the first place and it does not supply power to run the hard drive from.

3. What is a eSATA drive?

eSATA, or external SATA, ports are a type of interface used for external hard drives that use SATA technology. Like FireWire 400, IEEE 1394, and USB, it allows for rapid data transfer speeds for external storage drives. SATA is the successor to ATA for internal bus interfaces.

4. What can I do with an eSATA port?

What types of devices use an eSATA port connection?. Optical Disc Drives.Hard Disk Drives.External Storage Arrays.Hard Disk Drive Dock.Network Attached Storage.

Editor's Notes

During our esata external hard drive research, we found 7 esata external hard drive products and shortlisted 4 quality products. We collected and analyzed 6,580 customer reviews through our big data system to write the esata external hard drives list. We found that most customers choose esata external hard drives with an average price of £115.42.

The esata external hard drives are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of esata external hard drives, including OWC, Vantec, BUSlink. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 28,400 consumers with an average rating of 4.2.

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.