The SeaGate FireCuda is the best hybrid hard drive on the market. It can fit up to 2TB of data, and then its 8GB of solid state cache storage learns which data you use most, so that you can access. Seagate 4TB BarraCuda SATA 6Gb/s 256MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Hard Drive (ST4000DM004). In that case, your best option is a desktop-class hard drive. We define these as having one or more spinning-platter drives inside and requiring a dedicated power cable plugged into AC power to work.
There might come a time when you run out of storage on your laptop's hard drive or simply want to back up all of your files. You can open your computer and upgrade the storage inside, assuming your computer is repair-friendly. Alternatively, you can buy an external hard drive. Not only is it a useful way to back up your data, but it lets you easily move files from one device to another. These are the best external hard drives you can buy today.
The best external hard drives:
Editor's note:We will update our list of the best external hard drives over time.
1. Seagate Backup Plus Slim
Our list starts with the Seagate Backup Plus Slim. The headline feature is how slim it is relative to other external hard drives with similar storage configurations. Another nice touch is the aluminum enclosure, along with temporary memberships to Mylio Create and Adobe Creative Cloud.
The 120MB/s transfer speed isn't the fastest, but it's typical of mechanical hard drives. Also, the Backup Plus Slim uses USB 3.0 instead of USB-C, which is something to note if your computer only has USB-C ports.
2. Western Digital My Passport Ultra
At first blush, the Western Digital My Passport Ultra looks like any other external hard drive. However, taking a closer look reveals a surprisingly compact hard drive with one key feature: USB-C.
Also read:The best USB-C cables
Yes, there's a USB-C port on the My Passport Ultra. The hard drive comes with a USB-C-to-USB-C cable, though it also includes a USB 3.1 adapter for those with access to the older port. Transfer speeds hover around 125MB/s, so don't expect blazing read and write speeds. At least the hard drive features an anodized metal finish.
3. Samsung T5
Unlike mechanical hard drives, the Samsung T5 is an external solid-state drive (SSD). That means there are no moving parts to worry about. That also means the Samsung T5 is incredibly slim and compact, easily fitting in a shirt pocket.
Don't let the size fool you into thinking transfer speeds are slow, however. Thanks to its use of Samsung's V-NAND flash memory and USB-C, the T5 provides transfer speeds of up to 540MB/s.
4. SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD
We continue the portable SSD offerings with the SanDisk Extreme Portable External SSD. According to SanDisk, maximum sequential read and write speeds are rated at 1050 and 1000MB/s, respectively.
Apart from being speedy, the Extreme Portable External SSD is also rugged. The portable SSD features an IP55 rating for protection against water and dust. Also, it can withstand drops from up to two meters onto a concrete floor.
5. Adata SE800
There are plenty of hard drives out there with massive capacities, but they sacrifice a great deal of portability. On the other hand, the Adata SE800 offers a powerful combination of up to a 1TB capacity and heavy-duty endurance.
With read and write speeds of up to 1000Mbps and a weight of just 40 grams, the SE800 is perfect to take on the go. It packs USB-C connectivity, but the durability features are where this Adata option really shines. The hard drive is MIL-STD 810G rated for drop tests and it carries an IP68 rating for water and dust.
Speedy USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity helps to guarantee top speeds while a hairline brushed metal finish gives the Adata SE800 a luxurious feel. It comes in either 512GB or 1TB capacities.
6. Western Digital My Book Duo
Jumping from the most portable hard drive to the least, the Western Digital My Book Duo is a tank. It's best for those who mostly stick to their desks and want to maximize their storage options.
The My Book Duo is RAID-0 ready with WD Red drives inside and a USB-C port along with two USB-A options allow for plenty of peripherals. As for speed, the My Book Duo handles up to 360Mbps sequential reading and can switch to RAID-1 to mirror your data. There may be faster speeds out there, but with a capacity of up to 24TB, you should never be hurting for space with this one.
7. LaCie Rugged
Another option that's designed to face the elements, the LaCie Rugged makes our list of the best external hard drives for a number of reasons. From the capacity of up to 5TB to the six different formats, there's plenty of flexibility available in a compact package.
You'll probably never misplace the LaCie Rugged thanks to the bright orange bumper. The bumper works twofold — protecting the device from falls and water, and housing a convenient USB-C cable. You can max out the laptop transfer speed at 130Mbps and the LaCie Rugged can reportedly withstand up to one ton of pressure.
8. Western Digital Black P10
Pretty much all of the best external hard drives so far have been made for everyday use. However, gamers often find themselves needing extra storage too with how large games have become. That's where the Western Digital Black P10 makes its name. With a capacity of up to 5TB, you should be able to manage up to 125 new games at a size of 36GB apiece.
Also read: The best gaming laptops you can buy right now
Beyond the storage capacity, the Black P10 has an industrial design that feels like it belongs in your gaming arsenal. It's smaller than a standard Xbox controller and sits flat, and speeds of up to 140Mbps should keep you running smoothly. Weighing in at just about eight ounces, you should be able to stuff the Black P10 in a backpack and not feel any difference.
That was our list of the best external hard drives you can buy right now. Check out a few of these other PC accessories to complete your setup:
One of the biggest concerns many people face is not enough storage space in their computer system. With the rising need to store documents, photos, videos, and other files, the storage space problem arises. External hard disks are the best alternatives to solve this problem. To benefit from a large storage space, you can use a 4 TB hard drive. These drives come with very large storage capacity. Hence, it is easy to store many different games, HD movies, a collection of photos, etc.
When it comes to large storage space, the 4 TB hard drives are one of the most common options. If you are not satisfied with the storage space of 1 or 2 TB hard drives then 4 TB hard drives is a good alternative. You can connect it to your computer through a USB cable. Most of them come with quick data transfer rates. These drives work as supporting drives for computers to create a permanent backup for the data. With various choices available in the market, it becomes difficult to make choice. So, take a look at the below article to choose the best 4 TB hard drives:
Contents
- List of 10 Best 4TB Hard Drives Review in 2021:
- Key features to consider for the best 4 TB hard drives:
Bestseller 4TB Hard Drives On Amazon:
Bestseller No. 1Western Digital 4TB WD Red NAS Internal Hard Drive - 5400 RPM Class, SATA 6 Gb/s, SMR, 256MB Cache, 3.5' - WD40EFAX
List of 10 Best 4TB Hard Drives Review in 2021:
10. WD Black 4TB Performance Internal Hard Drive:
When you want to improve the performance of your desktop, this hard drive is useful. Western Design makes this hard drive for system builders, gamers, and creative professionals. Generally, it is suitable for digital artists, video editors, and photographers. You can expand the storage capacity up to 6 TB. There is the inclusion of the 2X DRAM cache. This cache provides up to 256 MB for quick read operations. One good thing is that it comes with a 5-year warranty from the manufacturer.
This drive is found compatible with PC and Mac. Especially for the desktop user, this drive is useful. This drive provides your system a boost in capacity, performance, and reliability. You can store a large number of images, videos, and apps.
Pros:
- Comes with large cache size
- Boost in desktop performance
- Versatile applications
Why We Liked 4TB Hard Drives?
Best Disc Drive For Mac
This hard drive is future-proof your gaming PC. It comes with sufficient capacity for downloading extra game content.
9. WD Red 4TB NAS Internal Hard Drives:
This internal hard drive is uniquely designed for use in the NAS systems with a maximum of 8 bays. It can support up to 180 TB/year of workload rate. This rate is determined as the amount of user data transmitted to or from the device. Depending on software or hardware components, the workload rate varies. There is support for the NASware firmware for broad compatibility
Using this drive, you can backup, stream, share, and arrange your digital content. This drive can share content with those devices you use in your home. Implementation of the NASware 3.0 technology improves the compatibility of your devices.
Pros:
- Fast data transfer speed
- Small size for use anywhere
- Organizes your digital content
Why We Liked 4TB Hard Drives?
We admire the fats speed of data transfer. It is easy to backup your digital content.
8. WD 4TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive:
This WD Elements 4 TB drive provides high-capacity storage. What makes it unique is it provides reliable data transfer at a fast speed. Moreover, it comes with universal connectivity with the USB 2.0 and USB 2.0 devices. As a result, you can backup your images, videos, and documents on the go. This drive is formatted NTFS for Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 operating systems. For use with other operating systems, reformatting is needed. It comes with 2 years warranty from the manufacturer.
Pros:
- Improve PC performance
- Quick data transfers
- High capacity
Why We Liked It?
To use this drive, simply plug it in. For storing a huge amount of data, this drive is useful.
7. Seagate BarraCuda 4TB Internal Hard Drive HDD:
This Seagate HDD is a 3.5 inch SATA hard drive. It comes with 6 Gb/s speed and 256 MB of cache. You can store more and compute quickly using this HDD. Using this hard drive, you can create an efficient desktop or gaming computer setup. You can consider this HDD as an instant SATA hard drive solution. Hence, it is suitable for almost all PC applications. You can use it for photo editing, video editing, gaming, etc.
There is an improvement in data processing efficiency. The quick access to data suggests that game loads quickly. You can open applications faster and file transfer speed is quick.
Pros:
- Fast computing speed
- Quick data transfer rate
- Suitable for every PC applications
Why We Liked 4TB Hard Drives?
We liked the speed of file transfer and application loading.
6. Toshiba (HDWE140XZSTA) X300 4TB Hard Drives:
Toshiba makes this hard drive with the latest cache technology. It provides efficient performance. This 3.5-inch drive comes with 128 MB cache. It is specially designed for desktop workstations and gaming PCs. The large storage capacity makes sure this drive can store huge gaming libraries. There is no compromise in reliability.
Hard Disk Drive Best Buy
A 2-year warranty from Toshiba is included. You can expand the storage capacity up to 14 TB. Hence, you can store more games and other data. The data protection makes sure the data stays safe. The shock sensor makes sure the drive and data stay safe.
Pros:
- Store a large number of games
- Large cache size
- Safe data transfer
Why We Liked It?
There is no worry about data safety. The huge cache size offers a great gaming experience.
5. WD Black 4TB Performance Internal Hard Drive:
This SATA 6 Gb/s hard drive comes with 256 MB of cache. It is designed to improve the performance of your desktop. The storage space is expandable up to 6 TB. The DRAM cache offers up to 256 MB for making the read operations fast. Whether you are a gamer or professional, this internal hard drive is a suitable choice. One unique feature is it comes with a 5-year warranty from the manufacturer.
For those users who want to boost the performance of their PC, this drive is useful. It gives your system a boost in performance and capacity. The capacity is large to store the large gaming library.
Pros:
- Broad compatibility
- Future-proof design
- Suitable for gamers and professionals
Why We Liked 4TB Hard Drives?
The capacity is enough to store large games. Moreover, this internal hard drive is suitable for images, videos, and games.
4. Seagate Portable 4TB External Hard Drives HDD:
Using this Seagate hard drive, you can easily save and access 4 TB of data instantly. It is uniquely designed to function with Mac or Windows OS. The backup is easy and quick. To complete the setup, you need to connect the drive to a PC. As a result, the recognition is automatic.
It offers easy plug and play convenience with the help of an 18-inch USB 3.0 cable. You can backup memories and documents using this drive. The convenient plug & play convenience of USB 3.0 makes this drive famous. After installing, no need to remove the existing games.
Pros:
- Comes with a long USB 3.0 cable
- Can support advance games
- No need for extra software
Why We Liked 4TB Hard Drives?
We admire easy and quick setup. For storing a large amount of data and games, this drive is useful.
3. Western Digital WD Blue 4TB PC Hard Drives:
This WD hard drive is a SATA 6 Gb/s drive with 64 MB cache. To make the computing process reliable, this drive is very useful. There is the inclusion of cloning software from WD. The manufacturer designs this drive for desktop as well as all-in-one PCs with different storage capacities. It comes with 2 years of warranty from the manufacturer.
It is easy to copy the entire old data on your new hard drive. Especially for web and office applications, this drive is beneficial. You can use it as a primary drive in desktop PCs.
Pros:
- Reliable and durable
- Enhances PC storage
- Expandable storage capacity up to 6 TB
Why We Liked It?
The storage capacity and cache size are large. We liked the high-speed data transfer.
2. Seagate IronWolf 4TB NAS Internal Hard Drives HDD:
This 3.5-inch SATA hard drive supports 6 Gb/s of transfer speed. Moreover, it comes with a 64 MB cache. Now you can store more data and work quickly with the help of this NAS optimized hard disk. It is uniquely designed for the NAS enclosures. There are fewer chances of wear and tear. Also, noise and vibration are zero. Moreover, there is no downtime or lag. There is a boost in file sharing performance.
With the help of this drive, you can keep an eye on the health of the drive. IronWolf Health Management provides reliability. In lower capacities, the spin speed is 5900 RPM. In higher capacities, the spin speed is 7200 RPM.
Pros:
- Large cache size
- Reduced wear and tear
- Monitors the health of drives
Why We Liked 4TB Hard Drives?
The data transfer process is quick and flawless. The structure of this hard drive is durable.
1. LaCie (LAC9000633) 4TB External Hard Drive:
LaCie presents this portable HDD with tons of features. It is USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatible. Generally, it is suitable for PC, laptops, and Mac. The body of this drive is resistant to dust, rain, and shock. For those who require high-speed data transfer, this drive is a superb choice. It can transfer at speed of up to 130MB/s.
Pros:
- Small and portable design
- Rugged construction for durability
- Fast data transfer rate
Why We Liked 4TB Hard Drives?
The data transfer is safe and fast. This drive is compatible with most Windows and Mac operating system versions.
Key features to consider for the best 4 TB hard drives:
To remove your confusion on how to choose the best 4 TB hard drives, you can look at the below section:
Speed:
Along with storage space, speed is a very important factor to consider. It is useless to buy a hard drive that requires hours for data transfer. Hence, make sure the data transfer rate is high. Make sure to select the drive that comes with the fast maximum sequential read and write speeds. The high speed suggests that a huge amount of data is quickly transferred.
Generally, the expensive hard drives come with high data transfer speed. Usually, the 4 TB hard drives come with fast data transfer speed in Gb/s. On the other hand, the hard drives with limited storage space come with speed only in MB/s. Many of the 4 TB hard drives come with a 6 Gb/s data transfer rate.
Cache size:
Before a few decades, there was a problem faced with cache size. The cache size is important to consider for buying a 4 TB hard drive. In recent times, the difference between 32 MB and 64 MB cache drive is shown in terms of 10% quick loads of the 64 MB cache drives. Such differences are not easily noticeable by a user. The 4 TB hard drives discussed below come with 64 GB or 128 GB or 256 GB cache size. The cache sizes indicate the speed of read and write operations. The larger the cache size, the speed of these operations is faster.
Security:
External Disc Drive Best Buy
In addition to storage, security is a very important feature for choosing a 4 TB hard drive. Some of the expensive hard drives come with the latest security features. You may benefit from anti-theft, data recovery, encryption apps, and many more. These applications and software provide secure data access. Furthermore, in many of such drives, you can see the AES hardware encryption.
Durability:
With the long run use, the hard drives may get damaged since they have moving parts. Hence, it is better to pick a 4 TB hard drive equipped with a shock-resistant feature. It protects your device from external damage. In many of these hard drives, you may find protection against rain and scratches. To make sure you get a durable hard drive, you can check the warranty period. Most of these hard drives come with at least 2 years of warranty.
How much can a 4tb hard drive hold?
4Tb HDDs are becoming more popular as the demand for more data storage capacity increases by the day. The device will store images, music files, videos, photos, and more. The 4terabyte (TB) unit will handle quite a large volume. It is equal to 4 000 GB which equates to 4000000 MB or 4000000000 kilobytes. This is quite a lot for most everyday use. And unless you are into very intense gaming, graphics, movie, or music production, and it's highly unlikely that you'll reach the limit of the unit.
It will also take quite some time to fill up a 4TB hard disk drive (HDD). On average, a simple song takes about 5mb. Therefore, 4 TBs will hold as much as 875,000 songs or offers 68,000-playtime. The unit should handle about 500 DVDs. This is about 180 Blue-ray discs.
NB: the volume or capacity of the unit is influenced by the file format JPEG is making the friendliest and takes lesser space than its alternatives.
Does ps4 support a 4tb hard drive?
PS4 does work with 4TB hard drives. As matter of fact, it seems to be a preferred choice for most gamers. The large capacity makes it easy to store many games. Also, it puts a lesser strain on the unit thanks to the large capacity. The extra storage device makes good additional storage and will hold as many as 400 small games or up to 150 large ones without any issues.
When searching for the right 4TB external hard drive to use with the PS4, it's essential that you make certain it's compatible with the unit. This entails looking at the specifications as well as checking the compatibility test. Going for only credible bards is also a good approach.
What is the best 4tb external hard drive?
4TB are almost becoming standard in today's world. Gone is the era when they were at the peak. Nowadays, you'll be able to get 16TB HDDs, which are much larger. Nevertheless, they still remain a top pick for most people thanks to their practical capacity. The best 4 TB external hard drive is compatible with most operating systems (OS) out there. It will work from the word go and doesnt need lots of programming.
It also will be easy to install and operate even for a beginner. This makes it more practical for day-to-day applications. Another thing about the top choices is that they enjoy positive reviews and opinions from both experts and consumers. This is in regards to fast data transmission speed, easy managements, tough built, and longevity. Notable top brands include Buffalo, Western Digital, Samsung, Adata, Seagate, LaCie, and iStorage.
Concluding Note:
When you want to store a large amount of data on the go, you can use any of these 4 TB hard drives. They come with great reliability and portability.
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