Those in need of a great external hard always want a model that has enough storage for their games, media and other things they want to store. Transfer rate and price are also important in buying an external hard drive. To make your work easier, TechTrends put together a list of the best external hard drives in 2022, so you can choose from.
As in 2022, there are two options when it comes to the type of data drive you will be looking for, either an HDD or an SSD. The former is less expensive but it is slower, while the latter is faster and a little more expensive. The intentions of buying an external hard drive come first and the memory type comes after. For example, if you want to store games on your external hard drive, an SSD is more suitable for you. However, for those requiring an external hard drive for keeping files and media safe, then HDD is a better option. We have put together a list of the best external hard drives in 2022 and give an overview on their performance, shapes and sizes. Without further ado, let’s get to the list.
Best External Hard Drives in 2022
A good external drive can provide you with enough space and work as an effective alternative for your lack of space on your phone, laptop, etc. External hard drives come in many shapes and sizes. We have made a list of the best external hard drives in 2022, which can help you find the one you are looking for.
- WD My Passport Portable Hard Drive: The best value external hard drive
- WD_Black P50 Game Drive: The best external SSD
- SanDisk Extreme Portable: The best portable, accident-proof external hard drive
- Seagate Expansion HDD: The best external hard drive for big storage
- Samsung SSD T5: The best Samsung external hard drive
- Silicon Power Bolt B75 Pro: A light, sturdy and underrated SSD
- Seagate the Last of Us Part II 2TB Game Drive: The best PlayStation branded external hard drive
- Seagate Spider-Man special edition drive: The best aesthetically pleasing hard drive
1. WD My Passport Portable Hard Drive
Specifications:
- Capacity: up to 5TB
- Storage Type: HDD
The My Passport drive designed by Western Digital has been developing over the past few years and it will definitely become better in the future as well. Although the world is moving more toward SSDs, we do need HDDs as they are still important and useful. This model is far better than all the others on the list and the reason behind that is the My Passport has all features combined in one; capacity, price, value, build-quality, and performance. Getting into more details, this hard drive can work with a USB connection which means the size can be kept down. It is small, nearly the size of a mobile phone and it has a good aesthetic, which is a chic half-ribbed, half matte and metal finish.
When it comes to capacity, our favorite is the 4TB version. There is a two-folded reason for that; firstly, this space can provide enough space for many data, files, photos, games, videos and music. In addition, you can save a lot on the 4TB, which follows the rule of bigger drive, better value. However, the file transfer is not as speedy as you might expect but it is still the top one on the list of the best external hard drives in 2022.
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2. WD_Black P50 Game Drive
Specifications:
- Capacity: up to 4TB
- Storage type: SSD
Now we have come to the best SSD external hard drive and you should know which one it is when looking for the best external hard drives in 2022. Western Digital’s Black P50 drive is the right pick for those looking for the best of bests in SSDs. This external drive is portable and SSD; it also offers a cool design and an amazing transfer speed that are usually seen in the best gaming PCs. Therefore, it sits top of the SSD external hard drives. Although it errs on the side of a gaming drive, we cannot deny its amazing performance. It has the speed of ‘up to 2000MB/s’, which means that you can load games pretty quickly, and files and medica can be retrieved and saved quite fast, with consistency added to the table.
About the looks of the drive, it has a military metal-style with a rectangular shape that shows sleek molded metal. You can hold it in the palm of your hand quite easily as well. Moreover, you can connect it to your device with the USB-C port and enjoy a very good speed. However, it might get a bit warm when you are using it but that seems fair and can be ignored when considering the performance of this external hard drive.
3. SanDisk Extreme Portable
Specifications:
- Capacity: up to 2TB
- Storage type: SSD
Without a doubt, one of the most important things to keep in mind when trying to find the best external hard drives in 2022 is how it can hold against bumps, falls, squeezes and exposures to dust and water. The next one on the list, SanDisk Extreme Portable, fits that criteria as it can withstand all sort of accidents. Therefore, it is a perfect choice for those who use this outdoors or those who really need a well-protected external hard drive. It is also resistant to dust and water as well as shock. All of these features are for an external drive that will stay safe on a hook or in your hand.
Moreover, since it is an SSD, its speed is quite high and the performance is impressive. It can also challenge drives like Samsung T5 SSD when it comes to file speed. However, to get all these features, you do have to spend a little more as the price tag is a bit higher; it is worth it though.
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4. Seagate Expansion HDD
Specifications:
- Capacity: up to 16TB
- Storage Type: HDD
One aspect of the external hard drives that can attract a lot of attention is the sheer capacity of the storage it offers. For those tired of worrying about the space to save their media, files, games, and everything else, Seagate Expansion HDD is the perfect choice. The value it has is quite spectacular; the price is nice so it is one of the best external hard drives in 2022 that you can get for a fair amount of money. Moreover, it is pretty easy to use the drive; it can be as easy as plugging in the power cable, attaching the USB and starting it. It is a bit bigger and needs some space as it can access the mains power. However, the aesthetic is nice.
You can buy the Seagate Expansion in many capacities and out recommendation is the middle range, such as the 6TB size, which can be a perfect value for a perfect amount of money.
5. Samsung SSD T5
Specifications:
- Capacity: up to 2TB
- Storage Type: SSD
Samsung SSD T5 is considered the darling of best external hard drives but it not the newest on the market. Nonetheless, it is among the best external hard drives in 2022 and a top model. Moreover, since it has been out there for some time now, the price is very attractive. The features of this hard drive are very easy to outline. It has Samsung’s pedigree, build quality and design finishes in DNA. In addition, the SSD offers great performance and speed. What’s more is how beautifully compact, reliable, chic and robust it is. If you are keen on buying the T5, then it is good to know that there are many other variants out there from Samsung. We have T7 drive and T7 Touch drives that provide a better speed and some other features.
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6. Silicon Power Bolt B75 Pro
Specifications:
- Capacity: up to 2TB
- Storage Type: SSD
Not only is Silicon Power one of the most famous brands when it comes to external hard drives, but it also ensures making dependable, robust, competitively priced and quality drives for costumers. Silicon Power Bolt B75 Pro has all the above and it is pretty light. Therefore, you can easily transport it but it will give you confidence if you experience a lot of mishaps. It is military-grade shockproof and has aluminium case, so your data will be safe. The performance of this SSD is very solid; however, it is not spectacular. It is perfect for those who are looking for good value and need to upgrade to an SSD in order to get a faster performance but do not want to spend a lot on it. Despite that, it is one of the best external hard drives in 2022.
7. Seagate the Last of Us Part II 2TB Game Drive
Specifications:
- Capacity: 2TB
- Storage Type: HDD
One of the greatest external hard drives in 2022 is Seagate’s beautiful The Last of Us Part II PS4. This is a little more unusual and perfect for those who want to store their PlayStation 4 games. The design has laser-etched fern pattern like Ellie’s tattoo, with a beautiful matte finish. Aside from the exquisite branding, this model is a great HDD. It works very quietly and can store more than 50 games if they have an average size of 39GB. Since it has a limited-edition nature in design and branding of one of the best external hard drives in 2022 increases its price.
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8. Seagate Spider-Man special edition drive
Specifications:
- Capacity: 2TB
- Storage type: HDD
One of the most uniquely designed hard drives on the market that makes it so special when purchased is Seagate Spider-Man special edition drive. It also fits perfectly inro gaming setups with RGB courtesy of its neon pink lighting. The theme can also extend to desktop and the icons, which makes it special among the other HDDs. This external hard drive comes with some setup files that give instructions for Mac and PC, which can be inclusive and catered in the target group’s mind. Since it is small, it is perfect for those looking for a portable option but need some flair, too.
Although it is not the smallest external hard drive on the list of the best external hard drives in 2022, TechTrends recommend it if you want a lot of storage space and something that can make your setup look nicer. For example, it offers Spider-Man stickers, which are cute.
What to Look for in an External Hard Drive
Although purchasing a good external hard drive may seem like an easy task, it is not as you have to consider many aspects, including capacity, speed, quality, price and etc. If you are on the lookout for a SSD, then speed might be more important to you. And if you are looking for an HDD, then capacity might be a priority for you. SSDs are trying to increase the capacity, while HDDs are doing their best to increase the speed. According to your needs and requirement, you can pick one or more from the list of the best external hard drives in 2022 that are available for you.