Cheap external hard drive: uses, features and our top 5

Finding a cheap external hard drive that provides correct performance and reliability is not as easy as it seems. There are quite a few things that we need to consider, connectivity, speed, type of drive, amount of storage, etc. In this article we will quickly see these characteristics, our recommendations in each case and of course our TOP 5 of best external hard drives.

Index of contents

Currently several types of external hard drives coexist on the market, and all of them are oriented to one type of use and user. But of course, they all serve the same purpose, storing data, although, also reproducing it in some cases. Do the terms of SATA, NVMe, USB Type-C, Thunderbolt, SSD, HDD ring a bell? Well, you will see them soon, so let's start.

Massive external storage

To have a 120 or 200 GB hard drive we already have flash drives (pen drives) that do this job, here it is about having a massive storage capacity, of enormous proportions, although without going overboard either.

The ideal will be to acquire a hard disk of at least 1 TB (1024 GB) or if we hope to store a lot of it, we could even consider units that reach 4 TB of storage, yes, these units will almost always be mechanical (HDD) of 2.5 inches.

The most current solid state drives (SSD) are usually around 512 GB, and even more, but they are quite expensive, since SSD technology still has a high cost for each GB of space.

Types of external hard drives and size

You should know the different types of units that exist on the market today, since connectivity and speed will largely depend on them.

HDD or mechanical hard drives

These units will be the traditional ones, the cheapest ones, surely the ones with the most storage capacity at present, at least at affordable prices.

HDDs come in two types of configurations and the truth is that there are notable differences between them. For example, we have the largest disks, 3.5 inches or about 165 x 135 x 48 mm. They are the typical ones that are placed in desktop computers and are available in external boxes that also need extra 12 V power. These disks will be recommended when we need a very large amount of storage of about 4 TB or more.

Then there are the 2.5-inch or 100 x 68 x 9 mm, which are the disks that are traditionally mounted on laptops. These also fit inside an external box and do not need external power, just that of the USB. There are also large capacities of more than 2 TB.

2.5 or 1.8 inch SSD

Leaving mechanical disks behind, we now have SSDs or drives in solid state. They are characterized by not having mechanical elements, but memory chips where the information is stored.

This allows them to be much smaller, less heavy, faster and more portable than the previous ones. You may have noticed that they also use a 2.5-inch configuration, although in this case they are thinner, it is only used for mere accessibility reasons. The 1.8-inch ones are even smaller, than the previous ones, with 90 x 50 x 9 mm, and none of them need external power.

The problem is that they are more expensive than HDDs, and it also does not have as much storage capacity, between 250 GB and 1 TB. For this reason it is ideal for businesses and people who travel and need, for some reason, a high speed of data transfer, for example, for design and streaming.

External M.2 SSD

Ultimately we have the most current units, which consists of a small external box where an M.2 SSD is placed, which can even be NVMe and be connected through Thunderbolt to provide high data transfer speeds.

They present variable measurements depending on the type of box used, 22 mm wide and between 30 and 80 mm lake. They are like large flash drives, very portable, although certainly expensive and with a storage of a maximum of 2 TB, although at a fairly high price. Normally, we buy the box and SSD separately ourselves, and then assemble them together.

Multimedia hard drive

These drives are a bit out of line with what a pure external hard drive is. This is because, in addition to being able to store data, they also have a firmware in the external box capable of playing multimedia content, videos, photos, music and also sharing it over the network in most cases. It's kind of like a very basic NAS.

These units are usually presented in 3.5-inch format, that is, the largest, since more complex hardware needs more space. They offer their own management software, although they are also more expensive than normal ones.

Connection types and transfer speed

We could well place this section within the other, but to make it more bearable and generic, we have decided to list the types of connection interfaces here. Let's see them from slower to faster:

• USB 2.0: This interface was the one used for drives from a few years ago. It is true that we still have USB 2.0 in our computers, but the speed will be quite low, about 35 MB / s. We do not recommend purchasing a USB 2.0 drive / box. eSATA: it is a fairly little used interface at present, also oriented to external hard drives. It will provide us with a theoretical speed of 300 MB / s. USB 3.1 Gen 1 and Gen2: USB 3.1 gen 1 is also the 3.0 of life and 3.1 Gen2 is 3.1, what happens is that the current standardization calls them this way. The first of them gives us a theoretical speed of 600 MB / s and the second gives us a theoretical speed of 1.2 GB / s, almost nothing. But the reality is quite different, since it will influence the interface itself, the speed of the external disk and the disk of our PC. After all, we are not going to get such speeds, but more than 400 MB / s for sure. Thunderbolt (via USB Type-C): without a doubt the fastest interface of all at a theoretical speed of 40 Gb / s with version 3 or what is the same, 5 GB / s. In any case, there is no hard drive capable of reaching such speeds yet, unless it is a multi-disk RAID 0 NAS. In any case, under this interface will be the fastest and most expensive external drives on the market.

What use are you going to give to your external disk?

Well, you know that it is all about amount of storage, but sometimes it is interesting to see many other factors so that our external hard drive adjusts to the needs. For this reason, we have made a list of possible uses and what we recommend.

• I'm interested in a disk to travel: well, then what you need is something small, and with an amount of storage perhaps not too large. We recommend 2.5-inch HDDs if you're not on a budget, 2.5-inch or 1.8-inch SSDs if you want not too much space, but low weight, and finally M.2 if you want something even smaller. I want to save multimedia content or games: then what really interests you is a large disk, remember that each game or movie in UHD occupies at least 50 GB. So we can almost rule out SSDs as they are not too big and cost quite a bit as well. Here we recommend a 2.5-inch HDD with 2 or more TB if you are going to move a lot or a 3.5-inch one if you just want to free up space on your main disk. Hard disk for backups: here the space will also take precedence and it will also be appreciated that a disk can be changed for a larger one eventually. In most cases the external disk will be kept in a static place, so it would be best to buy a 3.5-inch one with more than 4 TB to go, if possible USB 3.0. If you are dedicated to design: then you need something fast, your PC or laptop will have Thunderbolt so take advantage of this interface to buy a fast disk with a good capacity. Surely you want to store your rendered videos directly on the external hard drive. I want to play multimedia content from the disc: then what you need is a multimedia hard drive, whose box has a firmware capable of playing content. These hard drives are almost always 3.5 inches since the hardware is more complex and needs space.

What else do we need to know?

There are still some interesting things about external hard drives that are worth knowing. They will not give us an extra speed or space, but they are details that improve the product.

Hardware security

There are external hard drives that implement a hardware file encryption function, that is, natively and without backup software. This encryption corresponds to the 256-bit AES implementation almost always, whose function is to prevent hackers from accessing data or drives both physically and digitally.

Wi-Fi connectivity

Well, there are also hard drives with integrated Wi-Fi, which implies two things: one, that we can send and collect files through the wireless network, and two, that the disk will need dedicated power.

This type of functionality is normally found in multimedia hard drives, due to the fact that they are capable of transmitting content and have more advanced firmware. Sometimes they even support DLNA to stream directly to SmartTV. It will be an interesting functionality for those who want a multimedia disc.

Build quality

Is it advisable to go to the cheapest hard drive, whatever the brand? Well, it is not recommended, since inside there will be second-class units, from mediocre manufacturers and surely with poor reliability.

And just the same happens with the external box, a product of this type is exposed to shocks, falls and a lot of jogging, so having a safe and quality box is essential. Assess that it is made of aluminum or any other metal, thick and safe, because you will appreciate it.

We always recommend well-known brands, it is true that sometimes their products also fail, but at least we will have a guarantee of support.

TOP 5 cheap external hard drives

Without further ado, let's start with our current TOP 5.

Toshiba Canvio Advance

Toshiba Canvio Advance - External Hard Drive (3000 GB, 2.5 ", 3.0 (3.1 Gen 1), White)

• 2.5 "external hard drive I just glossy pianoSuperSpeed ​​USB 3.0 portUSB powerAutomatic backup software

72.93 EUR Buy on Amazon

Toshiba is undoubtedly one of the most notable manufacturers of hard drives on the market, and also the cheapest. As for external drives, it is also one of the best, I myself have a 2.5 ”and 1 TB HDD for almost 10 years now and it is still in perfect condition there.

This model is offered in 500 GB, 1, 2 and 3 TB in a 2.5-inch format with USB 2.0 and 3.0 that gives a speed of about 190 MB / s. They have a super elegant design in white, red, black and blue colors.

If you don't have an Advance budget, try the 1 TB Canvio Basics for a price that is hard to beat.

Toshiba Canvio Basics - 2.5 inch (1TB) USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive - Black 2.5 "External Hard Drive; Matte Finish; Superspeed USB 3.0 Port; USB Powered 47.82 EUR Toshiba Canvio Basics - 2.5 Inch External Hard Drive (6.4 cm), Black, 3 TB 2.5 "External Hard Drive; Matte finish; Usb 3.0 superspeed port; USB powered 95.50 EUR

Maxtor M3 Portable

Maxtor STSHX-M401TCBM - 4TB External Hard Drive (2.5 ", USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen 1)

• External HDD with USB 3.0 interface Has a capacity of 4 TB Data transfer speed 5 GB / s 2.5 "form factor System requirements: PC: Windows Vista / 7/8/10, Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.4.8 or later Upgrade the operating system to the latest version for increased performance and reliability

98.71 EUR Buy on Amazon

Another one that we cannot miss is this Maxtor, who does not know about Maxtor hard drives? Well, in this case it is a 2.5-inch drive with capacity, attention, 4 TB under a USB 3.0 interface. of course the HDD will limit the transfer to about 190 MB / s which is not bad.

It features a quality aluminum case with anti-fingerprint and anti-scratch treatment, and of course we don't need external power.

Maxtor STSHX-M500TCBM - 500 GB External Hard Drive USB 3.0 External Hard Drive; Seagate quality; 5.0 Gb / s 52.65 EUR Maxtor HX-M201TCB / GM - 2TB External Hard Drive (2.5 ", USB 3.0 / 2.0 Gen 1) 2TB USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive; Maxtor USB 3.0 Portable M3 Series - Made by Seagate 65.80 EUR

Seagate Backup Plus

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Seagate STDR4000900 Backup Plus 4TB Portable 2.5 USB External Hard Drive Storage Silver (> External Hard Drives)

• Metal design for durability Seagate Mobile Backup app means you can back up your files directly from your mobile device Compatible with PC and Mac

212.99 EUR Buy on Amazon

And what about Seagate? The manufacturer that surely sells more hard drives also has a cheap 2.5-inch external hard drive and no less than 4 TB of storage. It has backup software called Seagate Dashboard that makes disk maintenance easy. It is available in 1, 2, and 4 TB sizes.

Seagate Backup Plus Slim, 1TB - External Hard Drive (1TB, 1000 GB, 2.5 ", 3.0 (3.1 Gen 1), Silver) Product Description: Backup Plus Slim, 1TB; Depth: 12.3 cm; Height: 1.45 cm; Compatibility: Mac / PC 69, 88 EUR Seagate Backup Plus 2TB - External Hard Drive (2000 GB, 3.5 ", 3.0 (3.1 Gen 1), Gray) Product Description: Backup Plus 2TB; Height: 11.3cm; Cables included: USB; Box width: 10.45cm. 136.67 EUR

Seagate Backup Plus Hub (ideal for backup)

Seagate Backup Plus Hub STEL6000200 External 6TB Hard Drive, HDD, USB 3.0 for Desktop, PC, Laptop and Mac, 2 USB ports, 2 month subscription to Adobe CC Photography

• Two high-speed USB 3.0 ports built in on the front let you connect other USB devices and charge Formatted for Windows computers out of the box Install the included NTFS driver for Mac and use the swappable drive between Windows and Mac computers without reformatting Install the copy application Free Seagate Mobile Security on an iOS Mobile Device

80.81 EUR Buy on Amazon

This other Seagate comes as a 3.5-inch drive and external power, so portability is reduced. Its strength is its storage capacity through USB 3.0 with sizes of 2, 3, 6 and 8 TB. Allows installation of external Windows systems and MAC support in NTFS files.

Seagate Backup Plus Hub STEL4000200 4TB HDD External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for Desktop, PC and Mac, 2 USB Ports, 2 month subscription to Adobe CC Photography Share files between Windows and Mac computers; Protect your data with a simple and flexible backup 115.45 EUR Seagate Backup Plus Hub STEL10000400 External 10 TB, HDD, USB 3.0 hard drive for desktop, PC, laptop and Mac, 2 USB ports, 2 months subscription to Adobe CC Photography 199.99 EUR

LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C (SSD Thunderbolt)

LaCie Rugged, USB-C, 2TB, External Hard Drive, Portable HDD, USB 3.0, Transportable Drop, Shock, Dust, and Rain-Resistant Drive for Mac, PC, 1-month Adobe CC Subscription (STFR2000800)

• Enjoy high-speed file transfers and durability in the field with the Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C External Hard Drive For those who need speed, transfer at speeds up to 130MB with the integrated Thunderbolt cable contained in the Compartment when not in use Travel the world in peace with an external hard drive and rain, dust and water resistant laptop Includes a free one month subscription to the Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps Plan which allows you to access applications for the editing photos and videos

128.82 EUR Buy on Amazon

LaCie is one of the brands that sells the cheapest external hard drives with Thunderbolt connectivity under USB Type-C. It is evident that the price increases, but also the speed, up to 510 MB / s in the SSD version. In addition, this unit offers AES 256 bit hardware encryption and IP54 drop protection.

Orico NVMe M.2 SSD (box for M.2 SSD)

ORICO Aluminum M.2 NVMe SSD Case, Ultra-Slim M-Key to USB3.1 Gen2 Type-C 10Gbps External Hard Drive, Storage up to 2TB for Samsung 970 EVO / 970 Pro / Crucial P1 / WD Black SN750 and more - Gary

• Compatibility: Made for NVME M-Key M.2 SSD (PCI-E based). Compatible with Windows XP / 7/8/10 and Mac OS. Fitted SSD sizes include 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280. Fits storage up to 2TB. Great performance: By adopting UMSP and Trim compatible JMS583 master controller and latest USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port, it supports high speed Data transfer rate up to 10Gbps and can read and write up to 950+ Mb / s for compatible SSDs. Delicate and slim: Made from well-processed aluminum alloy, the case pairs well with any device. Made compact and lightweight, it can slip into your pocket, with ease. Cooling effect: copper bars with holes in the PCB, 4 conductive thermal pads attached to the case, and aluminum alloy case ensure perfect cooling performance. What's in the box: ORICO M.2 to USB 3.1 hard drive cage, Type C to Type C cable, USB A to Type C cable, screwdriver, screw set, service card and our user manual.

39.99 EUR Buy on Amazon

As a gift we show you this excellent external box to mount your own M.2 unit as an external hard drive. The good thing about this box is that it supports M.2 M-Key drives up to 2280 NVMe type and USB Type A and C connectivity under USB 3.1 Gen2. They have a very attractive price and we have carried out the review of this product ourselves, and verified first-hand its excellent performance with transfer rates that reach almost 700 MB / s.

We can also find it in silver:

ORICO Aluminum M.2 NVMe SSD, Ultra-Slim M-Key to USB3.1 Gen2 Type-C 10Gbps External Hard Drive, Storage up to 2TB for Samsung 970 EVO / 970 Pro / Crucial P1 / WD Black SN750 and more - Silver 39, 99 EUR

Conclusion and links of interest

So far our little post about our TOP 5 comes looking for a cheap and good quality external hard drive, and we have also given different ideas so that you have a little clearer which one adapts to your needs.

The truth is that even today it is not too advantageous to buy an external SSD having USB sticks at such a good price, since the price is much higher than that of HDDs, for this reason, it is very good to buy this small one. box for M.2 next to M.2 itself to mount our own external SSD.

Well, nothing, we hope that this article has been useful to you to have things clearer. Which external hard drive seems the best option? Have you found an even better one? Well, write us in the comments which one it is.