External Hard Drive

Buy External Hard Drives Online | SSD & HDD Storage Solutions

Are you worried about losing years of your work as you are running out of internal data storage? Or do you have to delete your files again and again to create space for new files? No worry. External Hard Drives are the right answer to address these and many other problems, allowing users to back up their critical data, expand their storage, and keep their data protected from data disasters. External Hard Drives are portable data storage solutions, enabling users to enjoy massive storage at a fraction of a cloud subscription and lightning-fast file transfer, among others. However, external hard drives for photography, video editing, and gaming come in various form factors and capacities such as USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 hard drives, Thunderbolt 4 SSDs, portable NVMe SSDs, rugged SSDs, and the like. Understanding portable hard drives can help you choose the best external hard drive for gaming and other applications. 

What is an external hard drive?

Simply speaking, external hard drives, also known as portable hard drives, are data storage devices that can be connected to your device through Thunderbolt, FireWire, or USB connections. External data storage solutions are known for offering portability, plug-and-play convenience, faster transfer rates, and extra storage for users. 

Types of External Hard Drives: 

External storage solutions differ considerably in terms of storage technology, interfaces, and capacities. Here are some types of external hard drives that you need to know to buy the right external backup storage for laptops, gaming consoles, and desktops. 

Three types of external hard drives are available in the market: 

1-    Portable SSD External Hard Drives
2-    Portable HDD External Hard Drives
3-    Desktop External Hard Drives 

1-    Portable SSD External Drives: 

External Solid-State Drives are the pinnacle of external storage solutions, featuring cutting-edge capabilities including rugged design, faster read/write speed, and comparatively slim form factor. External SSDs are often recommended for mission-critical applications. In comparison with traditional external hard disk drives, portable SSDs are faster, supporting speeds of 1,000 MB/s or more with USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt connections. Furthermore, they are energy-saving, quiet, and offer OTG (On-The-Go) functionality, enabling direct connection with smartphones or tablets. 

You can find various types of external SSDs, helping you meet your specific needs. 

Portable SSDs by Interface Types: 

Interfaces of portable SSDs have undergone tremendous improvements, with each generation bringing significant enhancements in supported data transfer rates. For example: 

•    USB 3.2 Gen 1 is an entry-level interface for portable SSDs, supporting up to 5Gbps speed. USB 3.2 Gen 1 SSDs are compatible with all modern laptops and devices. 
•    USB 3.2 Gen 2 is an interface that most mid-range external SSDs use. USB 3.2 Gen 2 SSDs can support up to 10Gbps speed, making them suitable for 4K video editors, gamers, and photographers. 
•    USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 is a high-speed interface that is made part of premium portable SSDs. USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 SSDs can deliver up to 20Gbps speed; however, fullest speed is possible only with a compatible host device. 
•    The USB 4 interface has become the standard interface in most external SSDs. It offers Thunderbolt-grade performance with the added advantage of broader compatibility. USB 4 portable SSDs can support up to 40Gbps speed, making these high-capacity external hard drives ideal for professional creative workflow, power users, and video production. USB-4 SSDs are compatible with USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 ports. 
•    Thunderbolt interfaces are the fastest interfaces available in the market. Thunderbolt SSDs support the maximum speed, making them suitable for 3D rendering, 4K/8K video editing, and running applications directly from connected portable SSDs. You can purchase Thunderbolt 3 & 4, which can support up to 40Gbps speed, and Thunderbolt 5 SSDs that can deliver up to 80Gbps speed. 

Portable SSD External Drives by Form Factor: 

Form factors of external solid-state drives indicate connection standard and physical size. Each form factor of external hard drive comes with performance, durability, and portability. Let’s discuss some of them to help you buy the right external drive for your needs. 

•    Stick or Thumb-Drive Style SSDs: 

Thumb-drive or stick-style external SSDs are built to combine the speed and capacity of SSDs with the convenience of a USB flash drive. You can simply plug them directly into a USB port on a host device and enjoy ultra-fast sequential read/write and ultimate plug-and-play convenience. 

Samsung T7 Shield Stick and Kingston DataTraveler Max are two well-known examples of thumb-drive SSDs. 

•    Rugged Portable SSDs: 

Rugged external SSDs are designed to withstand harsh outdoor conditions, making them suitable for users who need to work outdoors constantly, such as videographers, outdoor adventurers, field photographers, and the like. 

They come with specialized features such as IP-rated water and dust protection, reinforced casing, and rubberized exterior. Rugged outdoor solid-state drives are also shockproof, supporting shock protection from 2-3 meters or even higher. 

LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 is one example of a rugged portable SSD offering up to 4TB storage, along with an IP68 rating for dust, water, and drop protection up to 9.8'. 

•    Pocket-Sized Portable SSDs: 

Over the years, pocket-sized external SSDs have become quite popular. They feature an ultra-compact size that is even smaller than a credit card, allowing users to fit them easily into their pockets. Alternatively, users can utilize a handy carabiner loop to attach them to their belt loop for extra security. Pocket-sized SSDs are therefore recommended for students, business users, and travelers who need to move constantly.

For example, Seagate Ultra Compact SSD is one such example of these ultra-portable, thumb-sized, high-speed solid-state drives (SSD) designed for life on the move. It offers blazing-fast transfer speeds of up to 1,000 MB/s, up to 2TB storage, IP54-rated dust and water protection, three-meter drop protection, and a grippy rubber sleeve for extra security. 

2-    Portable HDD External Drives: 

Portable HDDs are another type of external hard drive, preferred by users who are looking for an affordable external data storage featuring plug-and-play convenience. Broad compatibility, low cost per terabyte, and massive storage capacities have helped portable HDDs carve out a loyal customer base in the market. 

External hard disk drives are provided with a 2.5-inch hard drive within an enclosure. They are connected to the host device through a USB interface through a USB cable that is normally USB 3.0 or USB-C. More importantly, portable HDD external drives are bus-powered, making sure that they can draw all needed power through the connected device, and they don’t need extra cables for powering. Therefore, these USB external hard drives are suitable for gaming consoles, laptops, desktops, and you can even connect them to smartphones. 

Similar to external SSDs, portable HDDs are also available in different types, offering varying form factors and interfaces. 

•    Wireless Portable HDDs: 

These are portable HDDs that can help users access data and files without the need for physical cables connecting HDDs with the host device. They can create their own WiFi or connect to existing WiFi networks, allowing multiple devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets to access the internet and share data. 

Seagate Wireless Plus is one such example of a wireless portable hard disk drive that helps your streamlessly share media to mobile devices without any need for a physical cable. 

•    Encrypted/Secure Portable HDDs: 

These are purpose-built secure external hard drives that come with built-in hardware encryption and password protection, allowing you to protect your sensitive data from evolving cyberattacks. Thanks to robust security features, including 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption, password-based and biometric (fingerprint) access, tamper-resistant casings, and encrypted portable HDDs are suitable for government workers and business professionals who need to handle confidential information. 

WD My Passport Portable Hard Drive is, for instance, one of the best encrypted portable hard drives you can purchase online in the market. It is also a USB-C external hard drive that comes with a USB Micro-B-to-USB-A, plus an A-to-C dongle for connecting to a computer's USB-C port. Similarly, iStorage DiskAshur DT2 is another example of secure portable HDDs. 

•    Rugged Portable HDDs: 

Similar to rugged portable SSDs, rugged external HDDs are also available, designed to withstand harsh outdoor settings. Thanks to rubberized exterior, shock-absorbing internal mounts, and reinforced casing, rugged portable HDDs allow users to enjoy reliable protection against water, dust, and drops. 

G-DRIVE ArmorATD - 1TB is one example of rugged portable HDDs, helping users protect their data from accidental drops thanks to an easy-grip rubber bumper, internal shock mounts, and a premium aluminum enclosure. 

In addition to these, you can also purchase Ultra-Thin or Slip Portable HDDs, high-capacity portable HDDs, and gaming portable HDDs. 

3-    Desktop External Hard Drives: 

Desktop external hard drives are high-capacity external hard drives that are designed mainly to be placed on desktops rather than for mobility. Unlike external HDDs or external SSDs, they are equipped with larger 3.5-inch internal hard drives, enabling them to support high capacity reaching as high as 24TB in a single unit or more. 

Desktop external hard drives also support higher RPM, such as 7200 RMP or even higher for better performance. Unlike HDDs or SSDs, they are not bus-powered; you need to provide additional AC power. They are provided with USB 3.0, USB 3.2, USB-C, or Thunderbolt connections. Some advanced models even support RAID 0, 1, 5, or 10 for speed, redundancy, or both. 

Here are some types of desktop external hard drives. 

•    Single-Drive Desktop HDDs are the most common type of desktop hard drives. They offer a large internal drive within a single enclosure. Single-drive desktop HDDs are more affordable and very simple to utilize. 
•    Multi-Bay RAID Desktop Drives are advanced desktop hard drives that feature two more internal drives within an enclosure. Multi-Bay RAID Desktop Drives support RAID, delivering enhanced performance and data protection. 

How to Choose the Right External Hard Drive: 

When it comes to choosing the right external hard drives, you need to know what you want to do with the drives, how much you need, and how fast a hard drive can meet your professional or everyday needs. 

Here are some factors that you should consider before you buy an external hard drive online or from a physical store in the USA. 

1-    Storage Capacity: 

Undoubtedly, the space capacity of an external hard drive is one of the most important specs that you need to consider. The answer to the question of how much capacity you need depends on you. You can find various capacities in external hard drives, ranging from 64GB USB Flash drives to as high as 24TB or even higher. 

Concerning this, you need to look into these recommendations: 

•    250GB to 500GB external hard drives are for basic file storage, light backup, and documents. 
•    1TB external hard drives are sufficient for backing up a laptop, storing photo libraries, and holding thousands of documents. 
•    2TB external hard drives are enough for high-resolution videos and large gaming libraries, suitable for power users and gamers. 
•    4TB portable hard drives are sufficient for 4K videos and large archives, making 4TB external hard drives suitable for content creators and video editors. 
•    5TB -8TB external hard drives are recommended for multiple device backup, massive media libraries, and raw photo archives. 
•    10TB and higher external storage is normally desktop external drives, suggested for studios, long-term archival storage, and business uses. 

2-    HDD vs SSDs: 

After you have decided how much storage you need, the next big conundrum is choosing between external Hard Disk Drives and external Solid-State Drives. 

Portable HDDs comprise multiple moving parts, and they use magnetic spinning disks to store data. They are prone to physical damage and often produce noises. They are larger and slower as well. However, they offer low cost per terabyte, higher capacities, and are more suitable for secondary drives or data backup solutions and similar applications. 

Portable SSDs use flash drives to store information; they don’t feature any moving parts, operate quietly, and come in very compact form factors. They offer blazing-fast speed and are often recommended for gamers, travelers, and creative professionals. 

3-    Transfer Speed: 

Obviously, you are buying an external hard drive for transferring files back and forth between the drive and the host device. Therefore, you cannot ignore the transfer speed that external drives support. When it comes to transfer speed, you need to consider two factors: storage technology (HDDs vs SSDs) and the connector type that external drives carry. 

We have discussed earlier that external solid-state drives are faster and can process data quickly. However, external SSDs are expensive and come with limited storage. You need to consider all trade-offs before making the ultimate decision.

The connection between external hard drives and host devices can be of various types. USB interface is one of the most popular ones. Underlying USB connections are available in different variants, each supporting a certain level of speed. 

For instance, USB 2.0 is an old standard that can support up to 480MP speed that is not recommended. USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen1, or USB 3.2 Gen1 are all the same, offering up to 5Gbps speed. USB 3.1 Gen2 and USB 3.2 Gen2 can support up to 10Gbps speed. USB 3.2, or 3.2 2×2, is the fastest USB connection that can deliver up to 20 Gbps. 

External hard drives usually have two types of connectors: USB-A and USB-C. The USB-A connector is an old one, featuring a rectangular shape. USB-C is the newer type of connector, featuring a rounded shape that can support data, video, audio, and power transmission. Some connectors utilize USB-C ports for operating more advanced connectors such as Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and Thunderbolt 5, supporting 80Gbps transfer speed. 

Briefly speaking, Thunderbolt NVMe SSDs such as OWC Envy Ultra can support as high as 6000MB/s blazing speed. Contrary to this, portable HDDs can deliver 80 to 160 MB/s. In between you can find Desktop External Drives (150 to 250 MB/s), NVMe portable SSD with USB 3.2 Gen 2 (1,050 MB/s), NVMe portable SSD with USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 or USB4 (2,000 to 3,800 MB/s). So, you can find a large variety of options when it comes to transfer speed. 

4-    Portability and Durability: 

Portability is considered one of the most vital features. Typically, portable HDDs and SSDs are designed for users who are often on the road. They feature under 1 pound weight, bus-powered, demanding no additional power cable, and they are small enough to fit in your pocket. Within this category, SSDs are more portable than SSDs as they don’t come with magnetic discs. Desktop external drives are not designed for portability; they require an AC adapter and weigh 2-5 pounds. 

In terms of durability, SSDs are a better choice than HDDs. They don’t suffer from normal wear and tear, and they are not as prone to dropping as traditional Hard Disk Drives or HDDs. 

Best External Hard Drives for Different Uses: 

It should be known to everyone that not every external hard drive suits everyone. You need to choose an external data solution carefully to meet your needs perfectly. 

•    External Hard Drive for Gaming: 

In order to choose the best external hard drives for gaming, you need to choose at least 4TB of storage, USB 3.0, USB 3.2 Gen 2, or USB-C for fast load times, branded design, and RGB lighting. More importantly, you should prefer external SSDs over HDDs for modern gaming PCs and gaming consoles. 

Concerning this, external hard drives for PS5 can help you store and play PS4 games directly and store PS5 games, allowing you to free up internal space in the PlayStation gaming console. Seagate Game Drive for PS5, Toshiba Canvio Flex, and Seagate Game Drive External SSD for PlayStation are highly recommended external hard drives for PlayStation 5. 

Similarly, there are also you can also find external hard drives for Xbox. WD Black P40, Toshiba Canvio Advance, Crucial X6, WD Black P50, and WD My Passport 4TB HDD are some recommended external hard drives for Xbox gaming consoles. 

•    Video Editing & Creative Work: 

For creative tasks such as 4K video editing, 3D CAD designs, and large storage requirements for RAW photo libraries and 3D project files, users need to choose high-speed external drives featuring NVMe SSDs with USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, USB4, or Thunderbolt, minimum 4TB capacity, rugged design, and macOS and Windows compatibility for mixed studio workflows. 

In this background, recommended external hard drives for photographers are SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD, Samsung T7 Portable SSD, and G-Technology G-DRIVE Mobile SSD. Similarly, you can opt for Samsung T7 Touch, PNY RP60 SSD, and Toshiba Canvio Flex as they are considered the best external hard drives for video editing and photo editing.  

Why Shop External Hard Drives from Kijero: 

Kijero stands out in the market for offering an extensive range of storage devices, including internal and external SSDs, internal and external HDDs, and external hard drives. Our data backup solutions are comprehensive and specialized, allowing users to choose external hard drives for video editing, gaming, photographers, home users, office backup, and more. More importantly, we also offer gaming accessories as well, meeting all of your needs under one roof. We offer the best product at the best possible price in the market. 

Still Not Sure Which External Hard Drive Is Right for You? Contact today and find external hard drives that meet your budget, storage needs, and use cases.