We Use CookiesWe use cookies to enhance the security, performance, functionality and for analytical and promotional activities. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our privacy policy

10 Best External Hard Drives 2025 in the United States

How do we rank products for you?

Our technology thoroughly searches through the online shopping world, reviewing hundreds of sites. We then process and analyze this information, updating in real-time to bring you the latest top-rated products. This way, you always get the best and most current options available.

headphones-stars

Our Top Picks

#1

Winner

Seagate Game Drive for Xbox 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD - USB 3.2 Gen 1, Black with built-in green LED bar , Xbox Certified, 3 year Rescue Services (STKX2000400)

Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,366
Storage Capacity
Transfer Speed
Portability

Most important from
19094 reviews

Storage Capacity
With its 2TB capacity, it effectively triples storage space, allowing gamers to keep all their favorite games installed without juggling storage.
Transfer Speed
This drive provides the same performance as the internal storage, ensuring quick load times and a seamless gaming experience.
Portability
The compact and lightweight design makes it easy to carry to a friend’s house or on the go.
Durability
The build quality is robust and well-made, fitting snugly into the console without sticking out awkwardly.
Compatibility
It works on Xbox, PC, and PlayStation, though it's best suited for Xbox One and PS4 games.

The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is a strong choice for gamers looking to expand their storage with its 2TB capacity, allowing you to store a large library of games without worrying about running out of space. With a transfer speed of up to 600 MB/s, it ensures quick loading times for your games, which is crucial for an enjoyable gaming experience. The drive is also USB 3.2 Gen 1 compatible, making it easy to connect to your Xbox Series X, Series S, or any generation of Xbox One, which is a significant advantage for users within the Xbox ecosystem.

In terms of portability, the drive is compact and lightweight, measuring just around 4.72 x 3.15 x 0.79 inches and weighing about 5.9 ounces, making it easy to carry to a friend’s house or on the go. The built-in LED bar that lights up in Xbox green adds a stylish touch and complements your gaming setup nicely.

The Seagate Game Drive offers a mechanical hard disk with a rotational speed of 7200 RPM, but it may not match the speed and durability of solid-state drives (SSDs), which are more expensive but provide faster data access and greater durability. Additionally, as it is designed specifically for Xbox, users with other gaming systems or those who want compatibility with multiple platforms might find this limiting. Security features include a 3-year Rescue Data Recovery Services, providing peace of mind in case of unexpected issues. This is a notable strength, as data recovery can be crucial for preserving your game saves and personal files.

Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,366
Storage Capacity
Transfer Speed
Portability

Most important from
19094 reviews

Storage Capacity
With its 2TB capacity, it effectively triples storage space, allowing gamers to keep all their favorite games installed without juggling storage.
Transfer Speed
This drive provides the same performance as the internal storage, ensuring quick load times and a seamless gaming experience.
Portability
The compact and lightweight design makes it easy to carry to a friend’s house or on the go.
Durability
The build quality is robust and well-made, fitting snugly into the console without sticking out awkwardly.
Compatibility
It works on Xbox, PC, and PlayStation, though it's best suited for Xbox One and PS4 games.
#2

WD_BLACK 8TB D10 Game Drive - Portable External Hard Drive HDD Compatible with Playstation, Xbox, PC, & Mac - WDBA3P0080HBK-NESN

Rating
10.0
Data Transfer Speed
Portability and Durability
Connectivity

Most important from
1548 reviews

Data Transfer Speed
This drive delivers speeds slightly faster than advertised, reaching up to 258 MB/s, making it a strong performer for large game libraries.
Portability and Durability
The noise level is noticeable compared to smaller, slower drives, but remains acceptable given the speed gains and active cooling.
Connectivity
The drive is very easy to connect and use with gaming consoles like the PS4, effectively supporting large game save files and content.

The WD_BLACK 8TB D10 Game Drive offers a large storage space of 8 terabytes, which is excellent if you need to store a huge library of games, videos, or other files. It uses a mechanical hard disk (HDD) spinning at 7200 RPM, which helps it reach a solid data transfer speed of up to 250 MB/s—fast enough for most gaming needs but not as quick as SSDs. This drive is designed specifically for gamers, featuring active cooling to keep it running smoothly during long sessions and two USB charging ports to power your gaming accessories, adding convenience.

It connects through USB 3.2, ensuring good compatibility with PCs, Macs, and gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox. While it’s labeled portable, the drive is somewhat bulky and heavier than smaller portable SSDs, which might make it less ideal if you want to carry it around frequently. Also, as a mechanical HDD, it’s more vulnerable to shocks compared to solid-state drives.

If you’re looking for a reliable and high-capacity external drive focused on gaming storage and don’t mind the size or speed limits of an HDD, this WD_BLACK D10 is a strong choice. For those who prioritize faster speeds or truly lightweight portability, an SSD might be a better option.

Rating
10.0
Data Transfer Speed
Portability and Durability
Connectivity

Most important from
1548 reviews

Data Transfer Speed
This drive delivers speeds slightly faster than advertised, reaching up to 258 MB/s, making it a strong performer for large game libraries.
Portability and Durability
The noise level is noticeable compared to smaller, slower drives, but remains acceptable given the speed gains and active cooling.
Connectivity
The drive is very easy to connect and use with gaming consoles like the PS4, effectively supporting large game save files and content.
#3

Seagate Game Drive Hub 8TB, Externe harde schijf, USB 3.2 Gen 1, Xbox-gecertificeerd, Groene ledverlichting, Rescue-Services (STKW8000402)

Rating
9.7
Storage Capacity
Transfer Speed
Compatibility

Most important from
87 reviews

Storage Capacity
The actual usable storage space is around 7.4-7.6TB, which is standard for hard drives.
Transfer Speed
The drive allows for the storage but not direct play of Xbox Series X games, though transferring games to internal storage is faster than re-downloading.
Compatibility
You can store and play original, backwards compatible Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One games on this hard drive.

The Seagate Game Drive Hub is a solid choice for gamers looking for a high-capacity external hard drive, especially those who own an Xbox. With a generous 8 TB of storage, it provides ample space for game titles, downloadable content, and save files, helping to create what Seagate calls the ultimate Game Vault. One of its standout features is Xbox certification, ensuring seamless compatibility with Xbox Series X, Series S, and all Xbox One models. This makes it a perfect fit for those who want to expand their gaming library without hassle.

The drive includes dual front-facing USB-C and USB-A ports, which is a huge plus for connecting and powering peripherals like controllers or charging devices right from the hard drive. The built-in LED bar that lights up in Xbox green adds a nice aesthetic touch to any gaming setup.

On the downside, being a mechanical hard disk, it may not match the speed of solid-state drives (SSDs) when it comes to data transfer rates. While USB 3.2 Gen 1 allows for decent transfer speeds, users might still experience longer load times compared to SSDs, especially with large game files. Additionally, while the capacity is impressive, its physical size and weight might make it less portable for users looking for a drive that can easily move with them. In terms of durability, the product does come with a 3-year Rescue Data Recovery service, which is a reassuring feature in case of accidental data loss. However, it’s essential to remember that mechanical drives are traditionally more prone to damage from drops compared to SSDs. The Seagate Game Drive Hub is a commendable option for dedicated Xbox gamers needing substantial storage, offering good value with its features, though there are some trade-offs in speed and portability.

Rating
9.7
Storage Capacity
Transfer Speed
Compatibility

Most important from
87 reviews

Storage Capacity
The actual usable storage space is around 7.4-7.6TB, which is standard for hard drives.
Transfer Speed
The drive allows for the storage but not direct play of Xbox Series X games, though transferring games to internal storage is faster than re-downloading.
Compatibility
You can store and play original, backwards compatible Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One games on this hard drive.

Buying Guide for the Best External Hard Drives

Choosing the right external hard drive is all about understanding your storage needs, how you'll use the drive, and what devices you'll connect it to. Begin by figuring out how much space you might need and what you're storing — for example, large video files need more room than photos or documents. Think about how you plan to use the drive: Will it stay on your desk or will you carry it around? Do you want fast file transfers or just somewhere reliable to back up your data? Identifying your main usages will help guide your decision through the wide range of options available.
Storage CapacityStorage capacity refers to how much data an external hard drive can hold. It's usually measured in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB). The right choice depends on your files: for documents and basic photos, lower capacities (like 500GB to 1TB) work well, while spaces like 2TB or more are better for large photo, video, music collections, or backups. Think ahead about future needs—if you expect to store more things, a bigger capacity might save you from needing a new drive soon.
Drive Type (HDD vs SSD)External drives come mainly as Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) or Solid State Drives (SSDs). HDDs use spinning disks and usually offer more space for less money, making them great for backups and storing lots of files. SSDs store information without moving parts, so they're faster, quieter, lighter, and more resistant to drops, but tend to cost more. If you want speed and portability, an SSD is a good fit. If you mostly need lots of space for backups, an HDD is often enough.
Data Transfer SpeedTransfer speed describes how quickly files can move between your computer and the drive. This is mainly affected by the drive type (SSDs are faster) and the connection (like USB 3.0, 3.1, or Thunderbolt). If you're regularly moving large files or using the drive for editing directly, higher speeds (using SSDs and fast ports like Thunderbolt or USB 3.1 Gen 2) will make tasks quicker. For backups or smaller files, lower speeds are usually fine.
Portability and DurabilityPortability refers to how easy it is to carry the drive around. Slimmer, smaller drives are easier to travel with, while desktop-style drives are bigger and meant to stay put. Durability is about how well the drive can handle bumps, drops, or moisture. If you'll often travel or use the drive outdoors, choose a compact, rugged model, perhaps with a shock-resistant or water-resistant design. For staying at home or the office, regular drives are usually adequate.
ConnectivityConnectivity means the kind of cable or port the drive uses to connect to your device, like USB-A, USB-C, or Thunderbolt. The port affects both compatibility (will it fit your device?) and speed. Some drives come with multiple cables or adapters, which is handy if you plan to use it with different computers. When choosing, think about the ports available on your laptop or desktop and try to pick a drive that matches or can easily be adapted.

FAQ

Most Popular Categories Right Now