Top 8 Best External Hard Drives on a Budget

In the digital age that we live in today, we often use computers to store important information. So much so, that it is important to make sure we have a way to back up information just in case you lose your precious data. This, of course, is where an external hard drive comes into play. It is important to find a great external drive that not only has enough storage space, but also has data transfer capabilities.

With all of the external drives on the market, however, choosing the right one can be difficult. Luckily, HDDMag is here to help trim down the options and find the perfect external drive for you! Here, you can find the best external hard drive for mac, the best portable external hard drive, and more!

Continue reading to find out the best external hard drive that fits your needs and preferences!

1) Seagate Expansion Review

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The Seagate Expansion is one of the best picks when it comes to external hard drives, allowing the user an experience of an affordable yet convenient storage device. It comes with a super-fast USB 3.0 connection, allowing for a time-efficient data transfer. It is available in storange space capacities that range from 1 TB to 4 TB.

The Seagate Expansion drive is easy to use as it requires no installation or configuration on the Windows operating system. It is a simple plug-and-play device along with drag-and-drop options to save files onto the hard drive. The hard drive is also extremely portable as it weighs around 6 ounces and has compact dimensions.

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2) Western Digital Elements Portable HDD Review

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The WD Elements comes as a portable and reliable hard drive. It is available in multiple storage capacities that include 1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB and 4 TB. In addition to that, the WD Elements offers both USB 3.0 and 2.0 compatibilities. It allows for great transfer speeds that could go up to 5 GB/s. Furthermore, the WD Elements allows for plug-and-play functioning on Windows, whereas it offers easy reformatting for Mac.

Physically, the hard drive may not be the best, but it is still portable enough. The drive weighs around 8 ounces and comes in dimensions which may be slightly larger than other external hard drives being compared. The Western Digital Elements has an exterior coated with a matte plastic case, which allows for an aesthetically pleasing look as well as a surface which would be resistant to scratches.

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3) Seagate Backup Plus Review

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The Seagate Backup Plus is a simple yet wonderful production by the Seagate company. It comes in storage space starting from 500 GB to 1 TB all the way up to 5 TB with increments of one terabyte. The hard drive offers USB 3.0 port compatibility and, therefore, allows for quick file transfer. The great thing about the Seagate Backup Plus is that it has the Seagate Dashboard software installed on it which allows for quick, easy, customized backup plans to be accessed. A one-click or automatically scheduled backup plan could be set up, allowing for the safe backup of all media and files, including those shared on platforms such as Facebook and Flickr.

The Seagate Backup Plus is easy to use with both Macs and Windows without the need for reformatting. Furthermore, the hard drive is a shiny silver color and allows for high portability as it is compact and weighs only around 5 ounces.

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4) Western Digital My Passport Review

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The Western Digital My Passport is a trustworthy and aesthetically pleasing storage device which allows you to fit tons of media and files right into your hand. It is available in sizes of 1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB, and 4 TB. My Passport allows for both USB 2.0 and 3.0 compatibilities. The hard drive is equipped with the WD Backup software, allowing the user to set up an automatic backup option for photos, music, videos, and other files, not to mention it’s lightnight fast transfer speeds. Furthermore, the drive comes with password protection, allowing for privacy and security.

The My Passport hard drive has a unique and appealing touch to it in terms of visual design. It comes in various bright colors and is built to be both durable and strong. My Passport also offers high portability through its compactness and light weight.

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5) Toshiba Canvio Basics Review

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The Toshiba Canvio Basics is a classical external hard drive which is simple and easy to use. Being available in sizes ranging from 500 GB to 3 TB, the hard drive offers rapid file transfer with USB 2.0 and 3.0 compatibilities. It allows for a transfer speeds of 5 GB/s and a seek time of around 12 milliseconds. The Canvio Basics is an out-of-the-box usage device, with easy plug-and-play storage that requires no setup. It has a compact design and weighs around 8 ounces, offering portability along with its excellent performance. The hard drive also has an internal shock sensor allowing for safety during drops.

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6) Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Slim Review

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The Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Slim is yet another one of the beautiful creations of Seagate. Adding onto most of the internal features of the Seagate Backup Plus, the Ultra Slim allows for one of the thinnest and beautiful hard drives to have existed. It is only 9.6 millimeters thick and comes in royal gold and platinum colors along with a metallic design. The drive allows for high portability and an appealing look, allowing the user to slip the drive in their pockets or bags.

Furthermore, the device offers high-performance plug and play under 1 and 2 TB. The Backup Plus Ultra Slim also includes the Seagate Dashboard software, allowing for easy and self-customized backup plans to be created by the user.

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7) Toshiba Canvio Connect II Review

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The pocket-sized Toshiba Canvio Connect II offers you high functionality along with extreme portability. The drive comes in sizes of 1 TB, 2 TB, and 3 TB. It allows you to manage and manipulate your media and files in a smart way. The Canvio Connect II allows for easy backup of files and folders, along with the option to back up the whole system. It offers both local and cloud backups along with password protection on the drive. This allows the user to easily access their content using any device through the internet. Furthermore, it offers the option to schedule automatic backups and serves as a smart hard drive which manages your files and media for you.

The drive is lightweight and extremely compact, therefore allowing for a real portable experience. The Canvio Connect II is a revolutionary approach to designing external portable drives as it offers the user multiple functions within one portable hand piece.

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8) Silicon Power Rugged Armor A30 Review

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The Silicon Power Rugged Armor A30 is a portable hard drive with various interesting features. It comes in capacities of 1 TB and 2 TB along with USB 2.0 and 3.0 super-fast interfaces and compatibilities, thus ensuring that it will meet all your needs. The Armor A30 works with both Windows and Macs, therefore eradicating the need for reformatting. Furthermore, it allows for better management of files and media through the Silicon Power software which is available to download for free. The Armor A30 has been tested and is compliant with the United States military test standards for dropping. It is equipped with the military-grade shockproof material and guarantees physical safety.

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Last update on 2024-05-03 at 05:42 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API