External hard drives can make your digital life better in three key ways: first, by expanding the amount of photos, videos and other files you can save and store; second, by freeing up space on your device to allow your programs to run faster; and three, by protecting your content to ensure important files don’t get lost or worse, stolen.![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/2/6/1/126190375/698003856.jpg)
Finding the best external hard drive for your Mac can breathe new life into your workflow. Especially if you have a MacBook, iMac or Mac Mini, you may have limited internal upgrade options.
Once Time Machine is configured properly, your Mac will backup hourly for the past 24 hours, daily for the past month and will save a weekly backup for all previous months to an external hard. Finally, we timed how long each external hard drive took to back up with Time Machine on a 2016 MacBook Pro. To spot any widespread reliability issues, we read through Amazon reviews for each of the drives we tested, and we counted the number of reported drive failures. Best for Business: WD 8TB My Book Desktop External Hard Drive - USB 3.0 Buy on Amazon Buy on Best Buy Buy on Bhphotovideo.com If you’re a business owner, chances are you’ll want an external drive with plenty of space for backups, files, and more. The technology of external hard drives and connection ports is constantly changing which is why we’ve taken a closer look at the best external hard drive for Mac of 2018. The great thing for Mac users is that external HDDs have never been cheaper and storage sizes have never been bigger.
Protecting your data is essential for small business owners and freelancers. Extra storage is a boon for those of us who want to extend the life of their laptop, as well as anyone stuck with too-small phones and an ever-expanding library of mobile photos. And while they may lack the sleek appeal of internal hard drives and graphics cards, external drives offer a plug-in, portable option for users who want a simple solution to their storage needs.
By 2019, these drives have vastly improved over the floppy disks of days gone by. The ones on our list earn high marks for processing power and useful features, so finding the one that’s right for you will probably come down to price and available space.
Read on to learn more about the best external hard drives:
CalDigit Tuff
Shop NowWestern Digital My Book
Looking for something with a ton of space for all your files and data? The Western Digital My Book is pretty huge -- boasting anywhere from 3TB to 10TB of storage, which should be more than enough for the vast majority of users. The hard drive is a little bulky, but that's not a bad thing -- after all, this drive is built specifically for desktop use, not necessarily taking on the go with you.
When it comes to specs under the hood, the drive offers a USB 3.0 port, and it's compatible with USB 2.0 too. It also comes with a 3-year manufacturer's warranty, so in the event that you get the drive and it doesn't work as advertised, you should be able to get a new one.
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Samsung Portable SSD T5
This is a top of the line external hard drive for any power user looking to upgrade their device. Samsung’s Portable T5 is designed with an SSD drive, which means it has no moving parts inside. SSDs are therefore less likely to become damaged when thrown in a bag or moved from office to office, making them a great option for commuters and freelancers.
This drive comes with up to 2TB of storage and has a USB-C port for easy connections with phones and small devices. It’s also smaller than the average business card, measuring less than half an inch thick and weighing just 51 grams. But don’t let its diminutive size fool you — the drive is packed with processing power and can transfer files at up to 540 MB/sec.
The drive claims to be “future-proof,” and it should be because the company only offers a three-year warranty on the T5. Get it on sale at Amazon for $428, which is $52 off the original price.
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SanDisk Extreme 900 Portable SSD
If you’re more interested in speed and storage space than taking your external hard drive on the road, the SanDisk Extreme 900 Portable SSD is one to watch. Significantly faster than its cousin, the Extreme 500, this drive is designed with USB 3.1 Gen 2 technology. The Gen 2’s data rate allows the SanDisk to transfer files up to a staggering 850 MB/s -- faster than any other product on our list.
The one downfall of the product is that it isn’t dust- or water-resistant so it may not be the best travel buddy for your extreme backpacking adventures. It’s still probably worth it for the lightning-fast transfer speed, however. You can own the SanDisk Extreme 900 Portable SSD for $100 off the original price of $800.
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Western Digital My Passport SSD
You’ve probably seen this device on a coworker’s desk before. WD’s My Passport is a classic for a reason, with a simple, elegant design, up to 2TB of space and read speeds up to 540 MB/s. It also comes with encryption and password protection firmware built-in, as well as WD Discovery software that includes WD Backup, WD Security, Social Media and Cloud Storage import, and more. Some users have noted that the device tends to heat up under heavy use, so you’ll want to keep that in mind if you plan to purchase an enclosure for it.
As an all-in-one device at a reasonable price point, it’s tough to say no to the WD My Passport series. Find it now for almost 50 percent off the original price.
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BestExternal Hard Drives for MaciMore2019
When it comes to storing data, personal information, and essential documents, you can never save it in enough places. External hard drives are not only useful for storing data but are an excellent way to transport files from one location to another. When you take into account price, ease of use, and portability, the Seagate Backup Plus Slim is the most reliable hard drive you can carry around with you at all times.
Best Overall: Seagate Backup Plus Slim (2 TB)
If you want a reliable external hard drive that has a decent amount of storage, is super easy to carry around, and has a very affordable price tag, the Seagate Backup Plus Slim is the best option for most people. Formatted for Windows and Mac right out of the box, it's easy to carry all your important documents from desktop to laptop without missing a beat.
The Seagate Dashboard back up system is a fantastic simple tool that can let you schedule backups to ensure you never miss any critical files you need in case something terrible happens to your computer. You can set automatic backups daily, weekly, or monthly, and change the frequency whenever you want.
Seagate also throws in a one-year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create. This can help you wrangle your photo library if you don't already use some sort photo managing tool, and a two-month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Great backup software
- USB 3.0
- Metal enclosure
Best Overall
Seagate Backup Plus Slim (2 TB)
Reliable, portable, and affordable.
Don't worry about lengthy setups or formatting procedures, plug in the Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB which is formatted for Mac right out of the packaging.
Best USB-C hard drive: Samsung T5 Portable SSD (1 TB)
This small compact SSD drive from Samsung comes with both a USB-C to USB-C cable and a USB-C to USB-A, meaning it's perfect to use with your MacBook or Mac.
Its fast 540 MB/s read and write speeds are more than enough to transfer any file. And should be able to store all your photo and video files with ease thanks to its straightforward software. Plus, if you're worried about encryption, the Samsung T5 Portable SSD has you covered with an optional password to launch the drive, and AES 256-bit hardware encryption on all your files.
Pros:
- USB-C
- SSD
- Super compact
- AES 256-bit hardware encryption
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/2/6/1/126190375/698003856.jpg)
Best USB-C
Samsung T5 Portable SSD (1 TB)
Fast and encrypted
With 540 MB/s read and write speeds the Samsung T5 Portable SSD is fast enough for photographers and videographers to transport all their work.
Compatible with Time Machine right out of the box, the 8 TB storage capacity on the Western Digital My Book is perfect for people looking for a lot of stage at a reasonable price. It's USB 3.0 meaning it's easy to take advantage of its storage speed with fast transfer speeds.
While portability is not the Western Digital My Book's strong suit and it needs a separate power source, it does offer 256-AES encryption when you download its easy-to-use security software, ensuring all your important files and documents stay private.
If you're looking for a drive that has lots of space, os you don't have to have multiple as your storage needs grow, look no further.
Pros:
- Lots of storage
- 256-AES encryption
- Time Machine compatible
Best Capacity
Western Digital My Book (8TB)
Lots of storage for those who need it
Western Digital offers 256-AES encryption when you download its security software, meaning you can rest easy knowing your private information and personal data is safe.
Best Thunderbolt 3 Drive: LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt
LaCie hard drives have always been good for people on the go because of the rugged design. The LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt can withstand some dust, dirt, and even a tiny bit of water being splashed on it.
It's 7200 RPM Hard drive keeps things running smoothly. And the included USB-C cable — which supports Thunderbolt 3 — makes it perfect for MacBook and Mac users alike!
Cons:
- Only 130MB/s
Best Thunderbolt 3 Drive
LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt
Rugged design with Thunderbolt 3
Hard Drive For Macbook
The LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt 3 is a favorite because it can withstand drops, dust, and even the occasional splash of water, making it easy to carry around!
Best for Legacy Hardware : G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB)
While Apple has been going the way of USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 for a while now, some of us still use older hardware and thus don't need hard drives that have USB-C connections. If you're still rocking USB-A or even a Thunderbolt 2 connection from your Mac, the G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB) is a perfect companion.
Its all-metal design is not only more durable than plastic hard drives, but it also looks stylish! Plus, it's 7200 RPM speed allows the G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 to achieve 195 MB/s read and write speeds. This makes it fast enough to transfer large video files quickly and efficiently.
Cons:
- Needs to be reformatted for Windows
Best for legacy hardware
G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB)
Stylish and fast even on older computers
With 7200 RPM, this hard drive works hard and fast to get your files transferred quickly. Plus, it uses USB 3.0, and it even has a Thunderbolt 2 port.
The CalDigit Tuff does the best it can to live up to its name, giving you a hard drive that isn't as delicate as most. Its official IP rating is IP57, meaning it can be submerged in 3-feet of water for 30 mins and come out the other side functional. That's not all; this Thunderbolt 3 compatible drive can also withstand falling from about 4-feet high. We still don't suggest that you purposely abuse the CalDigit Tuff. Still, it's always good to have peace of mind when you're carrying your hard drive around.
Cons:
- Only come in 2TB
Best rugged drive
The Best External Hard Drive For Mac
CalDigit Tuff
Can withstand drops and water
Official rated IP57, the CalDigit Tuff can survive an accidental dip into the water and has a great price tag.
If you're used to dealing with giant file sizes and need a hard drive that can handle transfer data fast, the Samsung X5 is one of the fastest SSD's you'll find. Its read and write speeds are 2,800MB/s and 2,300MB/s respectively, and the entire body is made of metal, making it much hardier than plastic drives. Plus, The internal frame on the inside is shock resistant for drops from 2 meters.
This SSD comes with Thunderbolt 3 technology included. This you can take advantage of the fast speeds on your Mac or MacBook Pro, and it doesn't need any formatting, so it's plug and play!
Pros:
- 2,800MB/s read speed
- Shock resistant
- Thunderbolt 3
Best fast drive
Samsung X5
Incredibly fast SSD
If you need blazing fast speeds for giant files, the Samsung X5 is a monster external SSD that can handle any workload.
Bottom line
The Seagate Backup Plus Slim is the most reliable hard drive you can carry around with you at all times. It is formatted for both Mac and Windows right out of the box, and its easy-to-use software can automatically do backups for you as often or as little as you want.
Seagate also throws in a one-year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create. This program can help you wrangle your photo library if you don't already use some photo managing tool. A two-month membership to Adobe's Creative Cloud Photography Plan means it's perfect for budding photographers as well.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Luke Filipowicz is an iMore staff writer who has been carrying around his Seagate Backup Plus Slim since his college days.
Lory Gil is the Managing Editor of iMore and an avid believer in having as many backups of your important files and documents as possible.
Rene Ritchie is the foremost authority on all things Apple and has insider knowledge about the goings-on at the biggest tech company in the world. When it comes to accessories for Mac, Rene has used them all.
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