At times we are short on inbuilt storage and have to rely on some kind of external backup solution. And the best external hard drives offer an effective way to counter that. They bring a backup solution that can be used for carrying your files wherever you go. External hard drives are an excellent way to protect, secure and save all your files and folder.
- Best 2t External Hard Drive For Mac Catalina
- Best 2t External Hard Drive For Macbook
- Wd 2t External Hard Drive
USB flash drives and microSD memory cards are not always enough to get the work done. They are comparatively low on read and write speeds and carrying large files could be an issue on these. That's where external hard drives come into play. Portable hard disks are one of the best ways to store and secure large files that require a lot of storage space and faster read/write speeds.
The Best External SSD Drives in 2020: Our Picks. Please note that the items recommended below are picked mainly based on 1). The criteria listed above 2). Our own hands-on using experience 3). Reputation research we did, mostly gathering industry benchmarking test reports. Best 2TB External SSD: Samsung T5 Portable SSD. Mac Pro (Late 2013) Mac mini (M1, 2020) Mac mini (2018 – 2020). LaCie 2TB Mobile Drive External Hard Drive USB-C USB 3.0 - Previous Gallery Image. This especially durable external hard drive is the best option for Mac users who prioritize fast transfer speeds. Pros Available in 250 and 500GB, and 1 and 2TB sizes.
Further, portable SSDs take the external hard drives up a notch and offer a more durable and a lot faster solution. There are secured drives as well, which are specifically designed to keep your files extremely secure. But these could be costly.
The best external hard drives are those which offer ample storage, fast read and write speeds, and are not heavy on the wallet. These are cost-effective and practical. Here's our pick for the best external hard drives that you can buy right now. Whatever your storage needs, here's something for everyone.
Seagate
4TB at a budget
- You can easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive. Included is an 18-inch USB 3.0 cable.
Samsung
Extra Fast
- It offers superfast Read-Write speeds of up to 540 MB/s. The Samsung SSD comes with a top to bottom metal design that fits in the palm of your hand.
MiniStation
NFC external HD
- It is ruggedized and is USB PC Compatible plug-and-play. It is compatible with Mac after formatting. It has integrated wrap-around USB 3.0 Cable
Western Digital
Affordable 2TB
- It comes with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatibility. Moreover, WD offers 2 year of manufacturer's limited warranty.
Seagate
Stylish 5TB
- Store and access 5TB of photos and files with Seagate Backup Plus Portable, an on the go USB drive for Mac and Windows.
Western Digital
My Passport
- It is designed for Mac. It comes with WD Discovery software for WD backup, password protection and drive management.
G-Technology
Armored
- It comes with triple-layer shock resistance for added durability. It is rain-and dust-resistant (IP54) with a 1000lb crush rating.
LaCie
Rugged Mini
- Travel with a massive capacity of up to 5TB in an ultra compact portable external hard drive. Included is Adobe creative cloud.
iStorage
Encrypted HD
- It is a USB 3.1 Portable Hardware Encrypted Hard Drive. It is real time military grade AES-XTS 256-bit hardware encryption.
We recommend buying the Samsung T5 SSD that offers read-write speeds of up to 540 MB/s. Moreover, it comes with optional password protection and AES 256 bit hardware encryption. It features a top to bottom metal design that fits in the palm of your hand. The company is also offering three years warranty with this product.
If you are looking for a rugged external hard drive, you should go with the G-Technology one mentioned here. It offers triple-layer shock resistance for added durability. Moreover, it comes with rain and dust resistant (IP54) enclosure with a 1000lb crush rating so it'll withstand being squashed in the cabin baggage section. It is ready to go with mac and Windows.
We all love saving tons of photos, videos, and even movies on our laptops. So the default in-built storage on a MacBook can quickly run out, especially if you've been using it for a while. That's why it's handy to get an external drive too on which you can easily transfer all your big files. This will ensure your computer always has sufficient space. So without further delay, let's go ahead and find out the best external SSD for Mac.
#1. SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable External SSD
Enjoy seamless transfers with this USB C SSD that gives up to 550MB/s read speeds. This external SSD for Mac is rugged and resistant to both water and dust with an IP55 rating.
Along with being compact and pocket-sized, it's also durable and shock-proof. So your data can stay safe during minor falls or drops. It comes with a 3-year limited warranty. You can choose from varied capacities from 250 GB to 1 TB, according to your needs.
Pros
- Water and dust resistant
- Shock-proof
- 4 storage capacities available
- Good price
Cons
- Slower read/write speeds
Price: $329.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
#2. Samsung X5 Portable SSD 2TB – Thunderbolt 3
Take your storage to the next level with this SSD. Go wild online casino. Designed with Thunderbolt 3 ports, the X5 is made for busy professionals who want to render high-resolution content quickly. Its thermal management and password protection features ensure safety and security.
Further, it offers impressive read/write speeds of 2,800/2,300 MB/s. So you can transfer a 20GB 4K UHD video from your computer to the SSD in as little as 12 seconds, depending on your system configurations. The innovative design is inspired by supercars!
Pros
- Thermal management
- Impressive read/write speeds
- 3 storage capacities available
- Sleek look
Cons
- Expensive
Price: $699.99 for 2TB capacity
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#3. Seagate STJD1000400 1Tb Solid State Drive
This high-speed, portable solid-state drive is perfect for streaming stored videos directly to your Macbook. It's an excellent choice for backing up your data on the go.
Moreover, its a mini USB 3.0 SSD with a lightweight, minimalist design that's convenient to carry every day Finally, you can enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included three-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Multiple storage capacities available
- Good price
Cons
- No USB C – you'll need a separate adaptor
Price: $144.99 for 1TB capacity
Check out on Amazon https://fuihkm.over-blog.com/2021/02/volume-control-on-multi-output-device-for-mac.html.
#4. LaCie Water Resistant Rugged 2TB SSD
For those who want ultimate protection on their external SSD for Mac, this rugged one can withstand the pressures of life! It can survive a 3-meter drop and a two-ton car crash. Moreover, it is IP67-rated dust water-resistant.
You can take advantage of a one-month complimentary membership to Adobe creative cloud apps when you get this drive. Further, it comes with a 5-year limited protection plan so you can have long-term peace of mind about it's functionality.
Pros How to find the os x version on mac.
- Drop protection
- Multiple storage capacities available
- 5-year protection plan for data recovery
Cons
- Slightly pricey
Price: $451.99 for 2TB capacity
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#5. Crucial 1TB X8 Portable SSD
Incredible performance with read speeds of up to 1050 MB/s makes this one of the best SSDs for Mac. It has a durable design featuring an aluminum core. It offers drop protection for up to 7. 5 feet, and can also withstand extreme temperature. It's shock and vibration proof so you can carry it around in your bag with ease.
Finally, you can rest assured about quality because this SSD is backed by Micron, one of the well-known storage tech manufacturers in the world. It also includes a 3-year limited warranty. Free desktop games for windows 7.
Pros
- Withstands extreme temperatures
- High-speed
- Sleek design
Cons
- Only available in 2 capacities
Price: $164.95 for 1TB capacity
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#6. WD 2TB My Passport Go SSD Cobalt
Ctrl taste mac. Check out this pocket-sized SSD for Mac and Windows computers. It's convenient to carry and is also capable of surviving drops up to 2 meters. The protective bumper acts as a cushion and absorbs shocks and bumps.
It offers a transfer rate of 400MB/s which is pretty decent. Further, it comes with a 3-year warranty and you can get it in 2 cool color options namely cobalt blue and amber. All in all, it's an excellent everyday choice for your storage needs.
Pros
- Protective bumper
- Good price
- Color options
Cons
- Transfer rate on slower side
Price: $329.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
#7. Samsung T5 2TB Portable SSD
For the stylish and modern professional, this is one of the best SSDs for your Mac! With a USB 3.1 interface, the T5 provides transfer speeds of up to 540 MB/s depending on your system. So transfers and backups of large-sized data including 4K videos and high-resolution photos will be much quicker and faster.
Furthermore, the impressive performance comes in a compact package that's easy to carry with you. Perhaps the best part is the classy color options such as blue, gold, and red.
Pros
- Good speed
- Value for money
- Color options
Cons
- Looks a bit delicate and may not have drop protection
Price: $319.85 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
#8. Sabrent Rocket Nano 512GB USB 3.2 SSD
For ultimate portability, check out this ultra-slim SSD. It's sleek and durable – an ideal travel companion whether for work or leisure. Easily transfer your media with the smooth plug-and-play technology.
It provides speeds of up to 1000MB/s, depending on your system configurations. Further, you can get it in 3 convenient storage capacities of 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2TB. You can also choose either black or silver color options.
Pros
- Slim and compact
- Good price
- Color options
Cons
- No drop protection
Price: $299.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
#9. G-Technology 2TB G-DRIVE mobile SSD
Pros
- Protective bumper
- Good price
- Color options
Cons
- Transfer rate on slower side
Price: $329.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
#7. Samsung T5 2TB Portable SSD
For the stylish and modern professional, this is one of the best SSDs for your Mac! With a USB 3.1 interface, the T5 provides transfer speeds of up to 540 MB/s depending on your system. So transfers and backups of large-sized data including 4K videos and high-resolution photos will be much quicker and faster.
Furthermore, the impressive performance comes in a compact package that's easy to carry with you. Perhaps the best part is the classy color options such as blue, gold, and red.
Pros
- Good speed
- Value for money
- Color options
Cons
- Looks a bit delicate and may not have drop protection
Price: $319.85 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
#8. Sabrent Rocket Nano 512GB USB 3.2 SSD
For ultimate portability, check out this ultra-slim SSD. It's sleek and durable – an ideal travel companion whether for work or leisure. Easily transfer your media with the smooth plug-and-play technology.
It provides speeds of up to 1000MB/s, depending on your system configurations. Further, you can get it in 3 convenient storage capacities of 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2TB. You can also choose either black or silver color options.
Pros
- Slim and compact
- Good price
- Color options
Cons
- No drop protection
Price: $299.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
#9. G-Technology 2TB G-DRIVE mobile SSD
Carry your data worry-free on this shock and vibration resistant SSD for Mac. The durable design comes with iP67 dust and water resistance.
Best 2t External Hard Drive For Mac Catalina
The USB C connectivity offers transfer rates of up to 560MB/s. Further, you can buy with confidence given the industry-leading 5-year limited manufacturer's warranty.
Pros
- Dust and water-resistant
- Shock-proof
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Bulky
Price: $329.95 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
#10. Seagate Barracuda Fast 500GB SSD
With reliable performance and a speed of up to 540MB/s, you can enjoy smooth data transfer on this external SSD for Mac. It features a minimalist design and green LED accent light.
Best 2t External Hard Drive For Macbook
It's a perfect solution for carrying media on the go or even for external Xbox or PlayStation storage. It offers seamless installation and loading. Moreover, you get a limited product protection plan too.
Wd 2t External Hard Drive
Pros Mac mojave 10 14.
- Minimalist design
- LED light indicator
- Reliable performance
Cons
- No drop protection
Price: $109.99 for 500 GB capacity
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Summing Up!
Play minecraft windows 10 on xbox one. Well, as you can see, there's a wide variety of external SSDs for Mac. Most come with warranties so are a valuable accessory to get. Let us know in the comments below which one you prefer and why.
I have been writing about tech for over 10 years now. I am passionate about helping people solve their tech problems with easy and practical solutions. At iGeeksBlog, I write and edit how-to guides and accessory reviews for all things Apple. My work has previously appeared in Live IT and Woman's Era magazines. When not working, I love reading and traveling.
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