One important note for console gamers is that the newer PS5 and Xbox Series X (and Series S) consoles are much more restrictive about using external drives. Ideally, you'll want redundant backups either off-site or using cloud storage for key data and large files (such as family photos) in case of theft or fire. But if they don't happen to be included, you can easily buy dongles for about $12.Īnd remember: A single backup doesn't cut it. Many of them include cables or adapters to accommodate USB-C and USB-A ports. Unless otherwise indicated, all the PC drives mentioned here are compatible with Windows but can be formatted for a Mac. But a lot of the time they'll be designated as working with a specific platform out of the box and sometimes come with backup software that's platform-specific. Most of the options on this list of the best external hard drive models will work across platforms - whether you have a Windows PC, Mac computer, PlayStation or Xbox - so long as the drives are correctly formatted for the right platform. Solid-state drives, on the other hand, don't have moving parts, which gives them up to four times faster read and write speed, but they cost a lot more per gigabyte. Prices have dropped significantly in the last few years, with even the high-capacity, state of the art, all-around best external hard drive models tipping the scales at 5TB but costing just over $100. There are also a huge number of high-quality hard drives and solid-state drives, too, making it easy to find the right one for your needs and budget.Ī traditional hard drive or mechanical drive that uses "old" hard drive technology, with mechanical platters and a moving read-write head to access data, is adequate for most people, thanks to speedier USB-C and USB 3.0 (as well as 3.1/3.2) interfaces. The PS5 and Xbox Series X can't run games off external drives, but transferring the games between the two is fast and efficient. Managing that storage space can be a huge pain in the butt, so the more storage you have the less you'll need to do that. That makes expandable storage a necessity if you want to store a decent chunk of your library at any one time. Games are large these days, and they're only getting larger.
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