Small Portable Hard Drives For Mac

LaCie Rugged Raid Pro 4TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – USB 3.0 Compatible – with SD Card Slot, Drop Shock Dust Water Resistant, for Mac and PC Computer Desktop Workstation Laptop (STGW4000800) Only 7 left in stock (more on the way).

1. Best Portable Hard Drives For Mac
2. Best Mac Compatible External Hard Drive
3. Best Backup Hard Drive For Mac

For those who chose a MacBook over an ordinary laptop must be short for some storage space, right? Well, upgrading storage space through apple is as costly as purchasing a new laptop. In this case, an external hard drive is less expensive and beneficial for storage requirements.

1. Shop for portable hard drive mac at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up.
2. LaCie (LAC9000633) Rugged Mini 4TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – USB 3.0 USB 2.0 Compatible, Drop Shock Dust Rain Resistant Shuttle Drive, for Mac and PC Computer Desktop Workstation PC Laptop. 4.2 out of 5 stars 3,120.
3. There are two types of external hard drive: hard disk drives (HDD, also known as mechanical or traditional hard drives) or solid state drives (SSD). An SSD is faster, lighter and less power-hungry, whereas an HDD drive will be cheaper and slower than an SSD. HDDs are also good for storing lots of data as they often have a high capacity.

You can switch your external hard drive from a Mac to a pc which makes data transfer for two different OS easier. Furthermore, external hard disks are less likely to get corrupted and are portable in nature.

Macbooks generally have SSDs which are capable of loading a program quickly but more likely to low on storage.

Furthermore, SSDs are quite costly and upgrading an SSD on a Macbook is definitely costlier than you could even imagine. An external hard drive is best for storing data such as photos, videos, movies, rendered projects and more.

Contents

• 1 10 Best External Hard Drives for MacBook in 2020
  • 1.3 3. Seagate Backup Plus Slim (2 TB)
  • 1.4 4. Western Digital My Book (8 TB)
  • 1.5 5. Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt
  • 1.6 6. G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB)
  • 1.7 7. Adata SD700 External SSD
  • 1.8 8. LaCie Rugged USB-C
  • 1.9 9. Samsung X5 (1TB)
  • 1.10 10. Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC external hard drive
• 2 What things to consider while buying External Hard Drive For Mac?
• 3 External Hard Drive Vs SSD: Which one is good for MacBook Pro?

10 Best External Hard Drives for MacBook in 2020

Although choosing an external hard drive is a complicated process but we have made a list of 10 best external hard drives for Mac that you should consider before your final decision.

1. Samsung Portable SSD T5

Starting off Samsung Portable SSD T5 which is an outstanding storage device, it can reach up to a speed of 550 MB per second for data transfer which is amazing. You can directly plug it into a USB-C port or USB-A port.

It contains no moving parts therefore chances of getting damaged due to mishandling are less. Even though SSD is costlier than a hard drive, the speed it offers is commendable. You will notice a significant boost in the overall performance while doing stuff that requires you to load large files and programs.

Overall, the SSD is fantastic but only if you can spare a few more bucks than your actual budget. You can get the SSD ranging from 250 GB to 2 TB from Amazon with some additional discounts.

2. Western Digital My Passport 4TB external hard drive

Western Digital My Passport 4TB external hard drive is the newest generation of external hard disks and is available in capacities from 1 TB to up to 4 TB. It offers cloud storage and 256-AES encryption alongside WD's software for backups.

The data transfer speeds won't disappoint you and the drive offers speed similar to what an SSD provides. If you are looking for a drive with good data transfer rate and maximum storage, consider Western Digital My Passport 4TB as a choice.

3. Seagate Backup Plus Slim (2 TB)

If you are looking for a reliable, portable, and affordable hard disk, Seagate backup plus slim is the thing you should have a look at. It supports Windows and Mac both and perfect for storing your essential data right away.

With the Seagate dashboard backup system, you can schedule backups and never lose your important files anymore. Backup automation can be set for daily, monthly, weekly or your desired time-frequency.

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Alongside, Seagate also provides a two-month membership for adobe creative cloud photography plan and a one-year subscription to Mylio create to manage your photo library.

• Affordable price
• Metal body
• Supports USB 3.0
• Comes with an automation backup software

• Doesn't support USB 3.0 cables

4. Western Digital My Book (8 TB)

This Hard disk is probably for creators and organizations that require a lot of storage for various purposes. Faster data transmission rate will let you transfer data in the meantime, all thanks to USB 3.0 support.

It also offers 256 AES encryption for securing your data and makes sure your personal data is secured in the storage device. New camera apk. Even though it meets the requirements of a regular user, the only thing where Western Digital My Book (8 TB) lacks is portability.

Therefore, if you are looking for a hard disk for work purposes and if portability is not an issue, Western Digital My Book (8 TB) is definitely the right choice.

• High storage
• Data encryption
• Compatible with the time machine

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Alongside, Seagate also provides a two-month membership for adobe creative cloud photography plan and a one-year subscription to Mylio create to manage your photo library.

• Affordable price
• Metal body
• Supports USB 3.0
• Comes with an automation backup software

• Doesn't support USB 3.0 cables

4. Western Digital My Book (8 TB)

This Hard disk is probably for creators and organizations that require a lot of storage for various purposes. Faster data transmission rate will let you transfer data in the meantime, all thanks to USB 3.0 support.

It also offers 256 AES encryption for securing your data and makes sure your personal data is secured in the storage device. New camera apk. Even though it meets the requirements of a regular user, the only thing where Western Digital My Book (8 TB) lacks is portability.

Therefore, if you are looking for a hard disk for work purposes and if portability is not an issue, Western Digital My Book (8 TB) is definitely the right choice.

• High storage
• Data encryption
• Compatible with the time machine

• Requires power source to work
• Not portable

5. Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt

Buffalo MiniStation thunderbolt offers data transmission at a speed of twice of what USB 3.0 offers. You can enjoy this feature if your device has a thunderbolt port. Another good thing about Buffalo MiniStation thunderbolt is its price. It is affordable and portable.

• Also Check: 10 Best Cooling Pads For MacBook Pro Reviewed

However, it is a hard drive, not a solid-state, therefore, the data transmission will definitely be high but the overall performance of your pc will remain unchanged. Lastly, if you don't have a thunderbolt port in your pc, you can use the traditional USB 3.0 port.

• USB 3.0 port
• Affordable
• Formatted for Mac

• Not a Solid State drive

6. G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB)

With the new products, Apple is on its way to completely shift to USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports but there are still some people who are using old hardware and for them, G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB) is going to work like a charm.

The body of the HDD is made up of metal which makes it durable and strong against accidents such as dropping off the drive on the floor or whatnot. Targus usb 3 0 docking station mac. It runs at a speed of 7200 RPM and can transfer data at a rate of 195 MB/s which is efficient for transferring music, videos and software.

• Metallic body for durability
• High data transmission rate
• USB 3.0

• Should be reformatted for Windows OS

7. Adata SD700 External SSD

Adata SD700 is an affordable External SSD which is IP68 rated which certainly makes it a water-resistant storage device. The overall performance of this SSD is commendable and as per our research, Adata SD700 External SSD is the only SSD with an IP68 rating.

You can expect faster transfer rates and better booting speed if you are planning to install an OS on the SSD. Don't worry about the storage space as it is available in 1 TB capacity also. The maximum read and write speed is up to 440 MB/S, all thanks to the USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface. How to download adobe on mac.

• Lightweight and portable
• Shock resistant
• Supports Android, Mac, and Windows
• 3 years of Warranty

• Mac users must format it to FAT32 to use this product

8. LaCie Rugged USB-C

Lacie rugged USB-C hard disk can be distinguished easily because of its unique rubber casing that makes sure your hard drive doesn't get damaged when it drops from up to 1.3 m height. It can withstand rain, dust and can even survive 1-ton pressure. This is certainly the best choice for content creators.

Alongside hard disk, you will also get access to a one-month subscription to Adobe creative cloud all apps plan. The company also provides 3 years of warranty for the device and will also help you to restore the data if lost.

Also Check:

Photoshop for mac free. download full version cs5. In terms of speed, Lacie rugged USB-C hard disk is not very fast as it provides only 120 MB/s which is comparatively lesser than the HDDs mentioned in this listicle. However, there are various variants available for this hard disk on Amazon.

• Durability
• Affordable
• Resistant to water

• Lesser data transmission speed

9. Samsung X5 (1TB)

Samsung never disappoints with its amazing hardware capabilities. With Samsung X5, you can transfer data at a rate of 2,300 MB/s which is the fastest speed an SSD can provide you. The build quality is super amazing as it is made up of metal, making it stronger than storage disks that are made up of plastic bodies.

Best Portable Hard Drives For Mac

The shock-resistant capability can save up your drive from a fall of 2 meters. Alongside this, it comes with Thunderbolt 3 technology that is ideal for faster data transfer of up to 40 GB per second which is unbelievable. You can take full advantage of this SSD on your MacBook or Macbook pro without having to format anything.

• High data transmission rate
• Supports thunderbolt 3
• Shock-resistant up to 2 meters

• Heats up really quick
• Comparatively expensive than the other disks

10. Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC external hard drive

In terms of flexibility, Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC external hard drive is really good as it supports both Mac and windows out of the box. The disk doesn't get damaged due to dust and water which is again a positive point.

It encrypts the user data at 256 bit AES security which additionally makes everything on the drive, secure. Overall, it is a great drive for Mac owners as well as windows owners too.

• Secure for handling user data
• Protects from water and dust

• Low-speed data transfer

What things to consider while buying External Hard Drive For Mac?

So those were some of the best external hard disk drive solutions for Mac. However, you must be confused about which external HDD to choose. But not to worry, let me just point some of the key factors that you need to consider while buying an external hard drive:

1. Storage

One of the first and the most important thing that you need to consider is the storage space of your external HDD. As you already know that Macbook does not come with a huge space. Hence, you better choose something which offers you enough space to store all your files.

For many users, 1 TB of space should be good enough. But if you need to store a huge number of files and save them for a longer period of time, then getting 2TB of HDD would be an ideal choice.

Apart from 1TB and 2TB of storage options, you can also consider getting huge storage options like 4TB. But for a day to day work, 4TB of HDD does not help much. Also, they are quite expensive.

2. Transfer speed

After the storing capacity, transfer speed is the second most important thing that you have to consider. You don't want to get an external hard disk drive for Mac, which takes too long to copy files. Instead, you need something that can get the job done as quickly as possible.

So the first thing that you must do is avoid USB 2.0 powered external HDD. As they are outdated and not fast enough. Instead, you should get an external HDD with USB 3.0, 3.1 Gen 1 or USB 3.2 Gen 1. All of these are capable of offering an exceptional transfer speed. On the other hand, I would like to recoomend you to buy the best external SSD for Mac that offers good transfer speed.

3. Compatibility

The next thing you need to check its compatibility. External HDD formatted for Windows 10 may have connectivity issues with Mac OS and vise versa. So since you are using a Mac powered machine, I would recommend you to get an external HDD with Mac OS compatibility.

Although there is no need to focus on the compatibility part way too much. Since you can always format your external HDD using a Windows Computer with exFat Format. So you can easily use the HDD with your Macbook. But yes, if you get a pre compatible external hard disk drive then it saves you from extra work and headaches that you have to face.

4. Security

If you are someone who takes security really seriously, then you must look for security features. Most of the manufacturers do ship security software and backup software. So you can easily encrypt your drive or take a backup of it. Even, if you don't consider encryption feature, backup feature is something that you must and should consider.

Even to make sure your HDD stays safe, they use strong casing from physical damage. So you can consider getting such external hard disk drives that save you from every side.

External Hard Drive Vs SSD: Which one is good for MacBook Pro?

Whenever it comes to a primary storage solution for computers, HDD and SSD's are the only solutions we have. However, in the last couple of years, the usage of HDD has dropped drastically, and people are not moving to SSD's for better performance.

But there are quite a lot of users who are still unaware of the difference between a hard disk drive and a solid state drive or SSD.

However, not to worry, let me just draw a quick difference between both and help you to understand better.

1. Storage Capacity

HDD's are a great option if you want something for storage. HDD's are available in a wide range of storage capacities like from 500GB to 12 TB. Even, for enterprise uses, you will find a large capacity of HDDs.

SSDs are also available with large capacities. However, when it comes to the costing of an SSD and an HDD, SSDs are quite expensive. Hence, if your main goal is to store huge amount of data, HDD is an ideal choice.

2. Speed

Whenever it comes to speed, SSDs are a better option. Since a hard disk drive uses a round plate with a layer of magnetic material. And the data is stored on this magnetic layer only. So the disk spins and the magnetic head is used for reading and writing data.

Also, the speed that the disk spins is measured in RPM. And on an average, an HDD has about 5,400 RPM, and it will have a read/write speeds of around 100 MB/s.

However, when it comes to SSD's, there are no moving parts. As a result, it offers you a much faster data transfer rate. On average, it offers you around 550 MB/s and 520 MB/s of data transfer rate.

3. Reliability & Durability

There are quite a lot of factors that determine the lifespan of drivers. However, you should know that an SSD can sustain a limited number of write cycles compared to HDD which has no read/write limits.

But you should know that SSD has a write cycle limit between 3000 and 10,000 which is a high number. So it would not be a problem for you.

Also, SSD's are lesser affected by any sort of damages compared to HDD. Since there are no moving parts in SSD, they tend to survive more. While HDD's might stop working if it encounters any physical damage.

Best Mac Compatible External Hard Drive

3. Cost

Finally, let's talk about pricing. Well, if you look at the cost of both HDD and SSD, you would happily pick up an HDD. Why? Because SSD's are expensive. When you choose an HDD, you will get a large amount of capacity for a lesser price. But on the other hand, if you choose an SSD, it would cost you 3-5x of an HDD price.

In the end, the conclusion is HDD's are a better option when it comes to storing data. Of course, SSD's are faster and more reliable. But they do come with a high price. But on the other hand, if you take care of your HDD in a good manner, it will offer you great performance for years.

Wrapping it up:

So, these were the 10 best external hard drives for Macbook Air and Pro. Every disk mentioned in this article has its own pros and cons, we have tried our best to list out the good and bad in every product. For Mac users, external SSD can be really helpful for storing content and transferring it to a different place.

For MAC Owners Who Love Doing More…

If it isn't the biggest and best wireless hard drive for MAC, then I don't want it for my precious videos, photos, and backups…

But hey, it's because I take my work personal.

It's also because I never stop…

Wireless Storage Lets You Work from Bed

Even before I get out of bed I'm already hitting the keys with new ideas…

You might say I'm obsessed with my work.

And you'd be right because I love to create!

But to fuel my creativity I need space, disk space that is…

WiFi Storage Makes Sense

Lots of disk space which is why having a portable WiFi hard drive makes total sense for me.

Look, for a while I tried to store my files on cheap USB thumb drives.

Hey, they're big enough and they come 3 in a pack, right?

The Vectorworks 2019 24 0 0. n I lost the thumb drive that had an important project saved on it.

I'd spent days working on this project and it really pissed me off so I don't save my important files on thumb drives anymore…

Alternative for USB Thumb Drive

But now I needed a solid alternative for storing my projects, something that was as easy to use as a thumb drive.

Mavis beacon typing lessons for mac. So after some research, and reading lots of product reviews, I figured out that buying a wireless hard drive was the answer to my storage problem.

Allison's WD Wireless SSD video convinced me…

Here's a link to see the WD 500GB My Passport Wireless SSD External Portable Drive.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL – a wireless hard drive has more benefits…

• Simple – I can download 100s of photos from my MAC, iPhone, and DLSR every day for editing and storing.
• Fast – I can directly access and edit video files that would normally take up a huge amount of storage on my MAC. Now I only keep a few working files on my laptop hard drive and copy everything else to external storage.
• Versatile – It allows all my devices to connect using wireless so I can move around while I work (or work from bed).
• Big – I've learned the hard way to keep backups of my work. And now I even back up my backups for extra protection.

Look, I could keep on going but you can imagine by now, especially if you also love to create that having gigabytes of easy to access extra storage space is crucial for your job…

Best Wireless Hard Drive for MAC (pick from 10 Best Sellers)

• SD 3.0 card reader for fast media offloads
• Wireless 802.11ac to stream 4K videos and view photos with the My Cloud mobile app on iOS and Android* |*4K streaming requires native player on mobile device with codec support for 4K video files and is subject to mobile device capabilities, hardware and software components and configurations.
• All-day battery (up to 10 hours)* |*Based on streaming HD 720p, 3 Mbps video to one device over Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz single band only. Actual battery life depends on file size, type, format, bitrate, devices connected, Wi-Fi connectivity, settings and other factors.
• Built-in power bank to charge your phone, action camera and more (with output up to 1.5A). Compatibility - Compatible with Windows10, Windows 8.1 or Windows 7, Mac OS X El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks or Mountain Lion operating systems. Requires DLNA/UPnPor Plex-enabled devices for streaming
• 2-year manufacturer's limited warranty

• USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatibility
• Fast data transfers
• Improve PC performance
• High Capacity; Compatibility Formatted NTFS for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7; Reformatting may be required for other operating systems; Compatibility may vary depending on user's hardware configuration and operating system
• 2 year manufacturer's limited warranty

• USB-C ready, USB 3.0 compatible
• Innovative style with refined metal cover
• Password protection with 256-bit AES hardware encryption
• Formatted for Mac
• 3-year manufacturer's limited warranty

Best Backup Hard Drive For Mac

• Designed for Mac and Time Machine ready
• Usb-c and USB-A compatible
• Password protection + 256-bit AES hardware encryption.Operating temperature: 5°C to 35°C
• Western Digital Discovery software for Western Digital backup, password protection and drive management
• Superspeed USB port; USB 2.0 compatible

• High speed and large capacity: 2TB storage capacity(HDD), Up to 300Mbps high speed wireless transmission, without geographical restrictions,remote access and manage the storage freely at anywhere by PC/Mobile phone, Point to Point(P2P) confidential transmission to ensure data security.
• Portable: Small size can be carried at any time, Built-in 3800Mah lithium-polymer battery, also can be used as power bank, charge your phones and other USB devices;
• Smart Control: Smart App(IOS & Android supported), smart upload/download, one Click backup, remote access easier. Supports multi-people sharing at the same time; Supports Samba and DLNA Protocol, all smart devices interconnection in the LAN, smart TVs, laptops and mobile phones can share SSKCloud data freely; Divide hard drive to Private Area and Public Area to better retain private information and improve security; One Click backup On Mobile Phones, Tablets ,PCs and iPads.
• Centralize all your data: Support IOS, Android, Windows, MAC, all have proprietary client software. Centralize all photos, videos, music and files in one safe place and easily access. With USB Host Port , supports all kinds of USB storage devices, such as USB Disk, Card reader etc. and managed by SSKCloud App/Software
• Function expansion: Supports USB 3.0 high speed transmission.Supports wireless relay and bridging function; ➤ SSKCloud App Download Website:http://eng.ssk.cn/

• Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
• Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
• To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
• This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
• Enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included one-year limited warranty and one-yr Rescue Data Recovery Services

• Store and access 5TB of photos and files with Seagate Backup Plus Portable, an on-the-go USB drive for Mac and Windows
• The perfect compliment to personal aesthetic, this portable external hard drive features a minimalist brushed metal enclosure
• Great as a laptop hard drive or PC hard drive, simply plug in via USB 3.0 to back up with a single click or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups. Reformatting may be required for use with Time Machine.
• Edit, manage, and share photos with a one-year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create and a two-month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan
• Enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included two-year limited warranty and two-yr Rescue Data Recovery Services

• Travel with a massive capacity of up to 5TB in an ultra compact portable external hard Drive
• For those who have a need for Speed, seamlessly connect to usb 3. 0 computers and transfer content Fast with speeds of up to 130MB/s
• Trek confidently with an external Hard Drive that offers all terrain durability of drop, crush, and water resistance
• Take advantage of a complimentary one month membership to the Adobe creative cloud all apps plan for access to awesome photo and video editing apps
• Enjoy long term peace of mind with the included two year limited

• Store and access content for years with up to 14TB in a USB drive
• A great external hard drive for Mac and Windows, this hub can charge mobile devices and transfer files from USB cameras and USB thumb drives via its two USB 3.0 ports
• Use seamlessly between windows and Mac by installing the provided NTFS driver for Mac
• Complimentary four-month membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan's photo and video editing apps (Must be redeemed within 1 year of drive registration. Not available in all countries)
• Enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included two-year limited warranty External desktop hard drive offers two front-facing, high-speed USB 3.0 ports for connecting to and recharging other USB devices like phones, cameras, and tablets

• Want an easy, on-the-go USB drive for storage? Seagate Backup Plus Portable hard drive offers 5TB
• The perfect complimentary laptop hard drive featuring a minimalist metal enclosure
• Simply plug this external hard drive for Mac and Windows into a computer via the included USB 3.0 cable to back up files with a single click or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups. Reformatting may be required for use with Time Machine.
• Take advantage of a complimentary two-month membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan for access to awesome photo and video editing apps
• Enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included two-year limited warranty

Last updated on 2020-11-03 at 03:53.

Which is the best wireless hard drive?

You're probably wondering which wireless hard drive I use, right?

Like I said, I like the Western Digital Passport with the 500 GB SSD for extra speed that lets me connect using WiFi or with USB.

But you can also get the same wireless hard drive with a large hard drive that isn't SSD.

I like to store my work files on my drive but you can use the storage for anything.

Which wireless hard drive did you choose?

Actually, they're all pretty good choices but I've always had pretty good luck with Western Digital. Plus the Passport works great with my MAC.

But hey, I'm still interested in knowing which portable drive you think is the best wireless hard drive for MAC owners…

Read about NAS storage devices…

• Best NAS for Home Backup – Network storage for doing full backups of your desktop for safekeeping.
• Best NAS Drive for Media Streaming – Network storage for storing and streaming a lot of large videos.