Best Solid State External Hard Drive for Video Editing
The best external hard drives and SSDs for Mac and PC in 2021
Included in this guide:
When you're working with lots of files the best external hard drives and solid state drives (SSDs) can be an absolute godsend. The average desktop computer is unlikely to run out of disk space, but it's a good idea to free it up every now and then by clearing out all those old files, while if you're working on an SSD-based laptop then you're more likely to fill it up quickly and a handy external drive makes it easy to offload unwanted data and get things moving a little faster.
Having an external drive can also help you sleep more soundly in the knowledge that all your important files are safely backed up. If your main drive fails or your laptop gets lost and stolen, it's less of a disaster if you have one of the best external hard drives and a regular backup regime. And you don't have to break the bank to get enough external storage to hold all your files; you should easily be able to find a basic 4TB external hard disk for under $100/£100, which should do the job for most creatives.
External hard drives are ideal if your priority is to store the most data for the lowest price, but they're not without their drawbacks. They're slow and their moving parts mean that unless you invest in a rugged solution, they're not great if you want something to take out and about with you. For a faster and more portable (but also more expensive) option you should go for an SSD. But whatever external drive you choose, you'll find that they're generally easy to use; simply plug them into your Mac or PC via Thunderbolt or USB and you should be good to go. Some come with their own software for easy backups, however you'll also be able to drag and drop files around if you prefer to be in control.
In this article, we list the very best external hard drives and SSDs available today, and include all the facts and figures you need to find the right model for you. Additionally, if you've bagged a PS5, check out our best SSD for PS5.
Don't have room for a physical device in your workspace? Then alternatively, check out our guide to best cloud storage. And if you need to know about the best external drive bargains as well as other great seasonal savings, be sure to take a look at our guide to Black Friday 2021.
The best external hard drives and SSDs 2021
01. Western Digital My Passport
The best external hard drive overall
Specifications
Capacity: 2TB-4TB
Interface: USB 3.0
Transfer speed: Up to 480MB per second
Warranty: 3 years
Reasons to buy
+Good capacity and speed +Strong encyption
Reasons to avoid
-WD backup software is basic -Needs formatting for Mac
If you're after plenty of reliable storage at a good price, it's hard to go wrong with the Western Digital My Passport range. This popular storage option is one of the best external hard drives around and provides plenty of capacity, from 1TB to 5TB, and if security matters to you then its 256-bit AES encryption should appeal. It's also perfect if you want regular backups; it comes with WD's own backup software so that you can set it up and leave it to get on with keeping your data secure.
Data transfer speeds are impressive. And while it can't match the speeds of solid state drive devices (SSDs), it hits a great balance between high storage and quick file transfers, without knocking the price way up. That makes this our pick as the best external hard drive available today.
If you want something even faster, though, Western Digital also offers SSD and Ultra versions: check our WD My Passport deals for the best prices.
02. Samsung T7 Touch
The best external SSD right now
Specifications
Capacity: 500GB-2TB
Interface: USB 3.2 Gen2
Transfer speed: Up to 1,050MB per second
Warranty: 60 months
Reasons to buy
+Tiny +Robust +Fast
Reasons to avoid
-Quite easy to lose
You might not think that speed really matters when you're looking for the best external drive, but you'll soon change your mind when you're copying over gigabytes of files and watching the progress bar crawl along at a glacial pace. That's when having an SSD feels like the really smart option, and the Samsung T7 Touch is probably the best option available right now.
It's not just fast, it's secure too. It has a built-in fingerprint scanner backed up with AES 265-bit encryption, and once you set that up nobody except you will be able to access your files. You can alternatively use password protection if you prefer.
External SSDs may cost considerably more than hard disks, but the faster speeds go a long way. You'll be able to easily load edit and save 4K video directly on the T7, which can be very slow with a USB hard disk. You can install applications onto it, and you could even run an entire alternative operating system off it at full speed, if wanted to.
Like the older Samsung T5 it's compact, lightweight and robust, with a shock-resistant aluminium housing that means it can withstand drops of up to two metres. And it's no slouch; it's twice as fast as the T5, with read/write speeds up to 1,050MB/s and 1,000MB/s. Best of all we're currently seeing some epic discounts on the Samsung T7, so get in there if you want to save big on one of the best SSDs around.
03. Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC
The best external hard drive for all-round security
Specifications
Capacity: 2TB
Interface: USB 2.0/ 3.0
Transfer speed: Max 5 Gbps (USB 3.0)
Warranty: 3 years
Reasons to buy
+Rugged design +NFC security +256-bit AES encryption
Reasons to avoid
-Not the fastest
Even the best external hard drives are susceptible to knocks and drops; that's the risk you run when you rely on a storage solution with moving parts inside. For properly bulletproof storage you'd do well to spend more on an SSD, but for a cheaper option there's the Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC. Its rugged design means that it can withstand a lot more rough handling than other external hard drives, and there's an extra layer of security if you're taking it out and about, in the form of 256-bit AES encryption so that nobody but you can access your files should your drive fall into the wrong hands.
You can quickly and easily unlock the device using an NFC (Near Field Communications) card, and it also offers a generous 2TB of storage space. It's not the fastest external hard drive, but its rugged design and security features more than make up for that.
04. Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive 5TB
The best external hard drive for PC and Mac backups
Specifications
Capacity: 1TB-5TB
Interface: USB 2.0/3.0
Transfer speed: 120 MB per second
Warranty: 2 years
Reasons to buy
+Great backup software +Fast transfer speeds +Large capacity
Reasons to avoid
-Lacks Thunderbolt
For a reliable backup solution that you can set up and forget about, the Seagate Backup Plus is just the ticket. It comes with its own backup software and can be set up to safely store data from just about all your devices. So not only will it move files from your computer, it can also grab data from your phone, cloud storage and social media accounts if you want.
It's fast with a good choice of storage capacity from 1TB-5TB, and it's a good looker with an attractive slim metal design that's also nice and portable. Bear in mind, though, that if you're a Mac user you'll find that it's formatted for PC, however if you install the Mac NTFS driver you'll be able to use it on both platforms without the need for reformatting.
05. Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt
The best external hard drive with Thunderbolt
Specifications
Capacity: 1TB-2TB
Interface: Thunderbolt, USB 3.0
Transfer speed: Up to 10 Gbps on Mac
Warranty: 3 years
Reasons to buy
+Does the job well +Also has USB port
Reasons to avoid
-Not as fast as an SSD -Needs reformatting for Windows
For the best external hard drive speeds on a Mac, you need something that'll use that super-fast Thunderbolt connection, so look no further than the Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt. While hard drives that connect over USB 3.0 are reasonably fast, with this one you should get double that speed.
Obviously you won't get SSD speeds out of this external hard drive, but this is as good as you'll get with an old-fashioned platter. And if you're not on a Mac you can still connect via its USB 3.0 port.
06. G-Technology G-RAID with Thunderbolt 3
The best high-capacity external hard drive with Thunderbolt
Specifications
Capacity: 8TB-24TB
Interface: Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1
Transfer speed: 440 MB/second
Warranty: 5 years
Reasons to buy
+Very high capacity +Easy to remove disks +HDMI 2.2 port
Reasons to avoid
-Big and heavy
Here's a top external storage option for Mac users who need a heavyweight backup solution. G-Technology's G-RAID dual hard drive is designed to look great next to your MacBook or iMac with its aluminium casing, and it provide a serious hit of storage; options range between 8TB and 24TB, and if you connect via Thunderbolt you should get a pretty decent 440MB/s transfer rate out of it.
The G-Raid also features an HDMI 2.2 port on the back that'll route a video signal for an external display over the G-RAID's Thunderbolt 3 cable, which has plenty of bandwidth to spare, even with the hard disk going at full speed. And there's also a USB-C port to connect to Macs or PCs that lack Thunderbolt.
Expect to pay a small fortune for the largest capacities. But thanks to the easy drive removal system, you could always buy a cheaper, lower capacity G-RAID and upgrade it with off-the-shelf hard disks yourself.
07. iStorage diskAshur2
The best external hard drive for security
Specifications
Capacity: 1TB
Interface: USB 3.1
Transfer speed: Up to 160MB/s read, 143MB/s write
Warranty: 3 years
Reasons to buy
+Military-grade encryption +Fast transfer speeds +Self-destruct feature
Reasons to avoid
-Design not for everyone
There are plenty of external hard drives that secure your data with 256-bit AES encryption, but if you want to take security to the next level then check out the iStorage diskAshur2. You might mistake it for an SSD given the price and amount of storage available, but it's actually a hard disk; you're paying a premium for some serious security.
The key feature of this external hard drive is its built-in keypad that enables you to set your own 7-15 digit PIN. Without that, the diskAshur2's 256-bit AES encryption ensures that nobody can see what's on your drive. And if you're extra-sensitive about security, there's also the option to create a self-destruct PIN that'll wipe the drive when entered.
There are plenty of storage and colour options, and if you want extra speed, iStorage also does a range of similarly secure external SSDs (with prices to match).
08. Adata SD700 External SSD
The best cheap external SSD
Specifications
Capacity: 256GB, 512GB or 1TB
Interface: USB 3.0
Transfer speed: Up to 440MB/s read/write
Warranty: 3 years
Reasons to buy
+Great performer +Cheap price +Rugged and water resistant
Reasons to avoid
-No USB Type-C
SSD storage is fast but as we all know it's expensive compared to a hard disk. If you want the cheapest possible external SSD it's easy to build your own; check our guide further down the page. But if you'd rather just buy an external SSD at a great price, your best option right now is the Adata SD700.
Not only is it a great-value SSD, it's also good and rugged. SSDs can take a lot more punishment than hard drives, but this one goes a bit further: it's water-resistant for up to 30 minutes, and it's also IP68 rated, which means that it can withstand dust, dirt and sand. Perfect if you enjoy working on the beach!
Its capacity isn't all that but you can get a 1TB model if you need more storage; in all, though, it's a perfect mix of speed, price and durability.
09. WD My Book Duo
The best external hard drive for generous storage
Specifications
Capacity: 4TB-36TB
Interface: USB-C (Gen 1)
Transfer speed: Up to 360MB/s
Warranty: 3 years
Reasons to buy
+Huge amounts of space +Integrated USB hub +Includes backup software
Reasons to avoid
-Needs reformatting for Mac
If you work regularly with 4K or 8K video or massive 3D scenes, you're likely to need a bit more storage than most of the best external hard drives can provide. Basically you're going to need something like the WD My Book Duo, which delivers storage options up an incredible 36TB. And while that might seem far too much storage, there's a good reason why you might choose this over smaller external drives.
Instead of using all the storage normally, you choose to set up the My Book Duo's drives as a RAID 1 backup, which means your data's duplicated across two drives. So if one of them fails, everything's still safe on the other drive, making this the perfect choice for anyone who doesn't want to leave anything to chance where their files are concerned.
It provides two additional USB ports on the rear, so you can easily insert flash sticks. The device has 256-bit AES hardware encryption, and automatic backup software (WD SmartWare Pro).
It's also worth noting that the enclosure used is fully serviceable, and that WD ships the drive already pre-formatted for Windows users (NTFS). So you will need to reformat it to work with your Mac.
10. LaCie Rugged USB-C
This best rugged external hard drive
Specifications
Capacity: 1TB-5TB
Interface: USB 3.1
Transfer speed: 130 MB/s
Warranty: 2 years
Reasons to buy
+Withstands high drops +Water resistant +Backwards compatible with older USB
Reasons to avoid
-Bright orange may not suit
We're not entirely sure about that bright orange rubber casing, but one thing we're certain about is that the LaCie Rugged USB-C is an excellent choice if you're after the best external hard drive that'll cope with rough treatment. Lacie's rugged drives can take the pressure of a one-ton car and they can withstand up to 1.2 metre drops, and they're also rain-resistant. If you want plenty of storage to take on a camping trip, this is the ideal option.
That casing makes it difficult to lose, too. And if you need something a bit faster, Lacie also does a range of rugged SSDs that can withstand even rougher handling.
The best external hard drives: What to consider
The best external hard drives will have to have ample storage capacity for all your data, ideally with room to spare. A 500GB drive will probably do the job if you want to clear project files off your main computer, but if you regularly work with video then you'll probably need more than that. We'd recommend working out roughly how much storage space you need, then doubling it to be on the safe side.
You'll need also to be sure you can actually connect it to your PC or Mac. The early generation of rectangular USB-A ports are gradually being superseded by the newer, smaller reversible USB-C ports, which now dominate all modern laptops. So make sure you know which slots your device has, and that the external hard drive or SSD supports one of them.
External storage should also be fast and responsive, ideally as much as just moving things about on your normal computer. The external hard drives on this list are all pretty nippy, but if you want something even faster, a solid state drive (SSD) offers the ultimate in speed, even though these devices are also more expensive. For more on this, keep reading below.
Hard drive vs SSD: which is best?
When you're buying an external drive it comes down to a choice of two types: either a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). Hard drives have been around for a very long time and are built around a spinning platter; SSDs are a relatively recent development and store data using flash memory, which means that they have no moving parts.
This means that SSDs are lighter, faster and use less power than HDDs; however the downside is that you'll inevitably pay more for your storage if you opt for SSD.
In other words, if you want to store huge amounts of data while keeping prices low, a HDD is the way to go. But if speed is your top priority – for example, if you move a lot of large files, or want to run programs off the drive – then choose an SSD.
Alternatively, you can always use a smaller SSD for files that you need to access or move around often, and then store the other data that you use less often on a higher capacity HDD.
We've included both in this best external hard drive roundup. Right now, our top pick for best external hard drive is the Western Digital My Passport 4TB, which is a mechanical hard drive. We think it offers creatives the perfect balance of speed, reliability, portability and price for both Mac and PC users.
Can I make my own external hard drive or SSD?
Yes, you can! If you don't mind getting a little hands-on, you can save money by buying an internal hard drive or SSD and a suitable enclosure and putting it together yourself; it'll take five minutes, tops. For the best performance, go for an NVMe SSD and enclosure, but bear in mind that to get top speeds out of it you'll need to plug it into a USB 3.1 Gen 2 port. For less speed at a better price, seek out a SATA SSD and a compatible enclosure; it's also easy to find hard disks and enclosures for maximum storage at the lowest prices.
Note that you won't benefit from any useful automated backup software that you might get with a ready-made external drive, so of that matters to you then you'll either need to source your own or settle for one of the options above.
It's also worth knowing that if an external drive fails on you, it's possible that the fault's in the enclosure rather than the drive. So if your external drive dies, it's worth finding a cheap enclosure and swapping the drive into that to see if it comes back to life; it's worked for us before!
Related articles:
- The best drawing tablets
- The best video editing laptops
- The best USB flash storage for creatives
Beren Neale is the deals editor at Creative Bloq. After editing several creative and design magazines - including the graphic design mag Computer Arts - he found his home on the biggest global art and design website, helping digital creatives get the best deals on the kit that they need.
Related articles
Best Solid State External Hard Drive for Video Editing
Source: https://www.creativebloq.com/features/best-external-hard-drives-and-ssds-for-mac-and-pc
0 Response to "Best Solid State External Hard Drive for Video Editing"
Post a Comment