Budget-friendly external hard drives for portable storage
Portable storage in the form of external hard drive needs to deliver on three basic things: firstly such drives need to be non-bulky for greater mobility, they should possess enough space to store almost anything required, and finally have decent data transfer speeds. Here are some great options available on Amazon that are budget-friendly and at the same time aim to fulfill those aforementioned needs. These hard drives are all 1TB and were chosen based on their features and specifications.
Seagate Backup Plus Slim 1 TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – Light Blue USB 3.0 for PC Laptop and Mac
The Seagate Backup Plus Slim is a stylish and good looking external hard drive with an elegant brushed metal finish that is available in several colors. It is easily pocketable, measuring only 11.5 x 7.8 x 1.2cm and weighing 159g. It promises up to 120MBps in data transfer speeds on the USB 3.0 interface which helps in transferring data between different computers extremely fast. It is completely plug and play on both Windows and macOS, so you don't have to worry about drivers or formatting when switching between operating systems. A 3-year warranty also backs it for peace of mind. As a bonus, it comes with a 1-year subscription to Mylio Create and a 2-month subscription to Adobe Photography CC which are great value additions and make the Seagate Backup Plus Slim an amazing proposition if those services interest you.
Western Digital WD 1TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive
The Western Digital WD My Passport is a slim, portable external hard drive that fits in the palm of your hand. It measures a diminutive 10.7 x 7.5 x 1.1cm and tips the scales at a light 118g. It is constructed from high-quality plastic and features an interesting half corrugated design that looks striking. It offers a 'Superspeed' USB 3.0 port that is backwards compatible with regular USB 2.0 ports which means you don't have to worry about where you plug your portable drive into. There is also hardware-based 256 bit AES encryption present here, which is a high-end security feature not normally found in this budget segment. A 3-year limited manufacturer's warranty gives you the confidence to depend on this hard drive. If security and reliability are of paramount importance to you, the Western Digital WD My Passport should be a great purchase.
Toshiba Canvio Basic 1TB A3 USB3.0 (Black)
The Toshiba Canvio Basic A3 offers an understated, muted aesthetic that blends in well with a professional environment with a sleek matte black finish. While it is a little thick, coming in at 10.9 x 7.8 x 1.4cm and 150g, still very easy to transport. It features an inbuilt shock sensor to better handle being dropped and keep your data safe. It is completely plug and play, meaning that you can just easily drag and drop your files onto the drive for storage. It offers USB 3.0 support and has a 5400RPM HDD on the inside to give you speedy access to your data whenever you need it. For a portable external hard drive for use in a professional environment, the Toshiba Canvio Basic A3 should definitely be considered.
Seagate Expansion STEA1500400
Store all your important files and carry them on the go with the help of the Seagate Expansion STEA1500400. It comes with different storage options, ranging from 500GB to 5TB so that you can choose the one that best fits your needs. Thanks to the USB 3.0 port, you just need to plug in the external hard drive to your laptop or computer and you will be good to go in no time. You do not need to set up any software before using it, as it comes with an easy plug and play support. Finally, the 18-inch long USB cable should add to your sense of convenience.