The 16 Best External Hard Drives and SSDs for 2024 – CNET

Western Digital, which owns SanDisk, sells its WD My Passport SSD as well this SanDisk External Portable SSD for basically the same price. I like the design of this model a little better and it’s technically ruggedized with an IP65 rating, meaning it can withstand a sustained spray of water. Also, it’s dust- and shock-resistant and has a USB-C interface.

The latest version offers speeds up to 1,050MB/s (just over 1GB per second) and is right around $100 for the 1TB version. While step-up models like the SanDisk Extreme Pro offer faster read/write speeds with the right computer, that may be overkill unless you regularly work with very large files.

Your speed will vary if you’re moving a mishmash of files to or from the USB drive, but when copying a single large file you should be able to get close to those fast transfer speeds.

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Pocket powerhouse|This rugged external mini SSD is water-resistant, shock-resistant, and has a USB-C interface.

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First released in 2022, the WD Black P40 has come down in price and is now pretty affordable. It’s an ultrafast SSD that’s more geared toward recent Windows PCs equipped with USB 3.2 Gen2x2 dual-lane architecture that allows for a theoretical 20Gbps data transfer rate. But it can also be used with consoles and Macs. It’s capable of speeds up to 2,000MB/s.

Rated for surviving drops of up to 2 meters, the drive is durable and has an RGB lighting element that can be customized with a Windows PC.

You do pay a bit of a premium over the WD Black D30 (see below), which comes with a stand and is more geared to game consoles. But this drive is more future proof as an increasing number of PCs are equipped with USB 3.2 Gen2x2. Kingston’s XS2000 has similar specs for around $10 less for the 1TB model, but some users have noted this drive offers slightly better write speeds.

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For better or worse, there’s currently only one way to expand the storage on your Xbox Series X/S for next-gen Series X/S games: the Seagate Expansion Card. Similar to the storage situation with the PS5, you can plug in any external SSD or hard drive to expand the storage for standard Xbox games (previous-gen), but you can only store native Xbox Series X/S games on the game console’s internal memory or the Seagate Expansion Card.

It plugs into a proprietary slot on the back on the Xbox Series X/S and “replicates the Xbox Velocity Architecture” (Microsoft’s internal NVMe SSD tech) with peak speeds of up to 2.4GBps of raw I/O throughput. Microsoft says that’s more than 40x the throughput of the Xbox One.

The expansion card comes in 1TB ($150) and 2TB ($250) versions.

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This is SanDisk’s entry-level SSD, and while it doesn’t have quite the same speedy performance as the step-up Extreme model, it’s just a step or two behind with 800MB/s speeds compared to 1,050MB/s (that’s about 1GB per second). The Extreme model is also ruggedized, while this one isn’t. However, SanDisk says it’s drop-tested to 2 meters. The 1TB version costs around $65, while the 2TB goes for $110. They offer more than enough speed for general use (by that I mean folks who aren’t moving around hundreds of gigs of video files). ” page-position linktext linkurl can-collapse=”false” can-truncate=”false” truncate-on-page-load=”false” offer techobjectinfo=”{“uuid”:”068e80c7-c4b5-46f8-8e37-e313e697b144″,”slug”:”sandisk-2tb-portable-ssd”,”name”:”SanDisk 2TB Portable SSD”,”productType”:”PRODUCT”,”updateType”:”EZMONEY”,”mod”:1710360999551}” overridecredit overridecaption=”” imagegroup=”{“uuid”:”a4d32d2f-09e2-4c73-8bd7-ca1de054e8fd”,”alt”:”san-disk-ssd.jpg”,”caption”:null,”credits”:”Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET”,”imageData”:{“id”:”a4d32d2f-09e2-4c73-8bd7-ca1de054e8fd”,”filename”:”san-disk-ssd.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/145467190bb9cb43b186c6d5d895155b1d9986c9/hub/2024/01/26/a4d32d2f-09e2-4c73-8bd7-ca1de054e8fd/san-disk-ssd.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2024-01-26 22:48:09.000000″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false},”size”:””,”float”:””,”lightbox”:false,”imageUrl”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/145467190bb9cb43b186c6d5d895155b1d9986c9/hub/2024/01/26/a4d32d2f-09e2-4c73-8bd7-ca1de054e8fd/san-disk-ssd.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”imageCaption”:null,”imageCredit”:”Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET”,”imageAltText”:”san-disk-ssd.jpg”,”imageFilename”:”san-disk-ssd.jpg”,”imageWidth”:1596,”imageHeight”:898,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageDateCreated”:”2024-01-26″,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” usepricing=”true” ng-block=”{“id”:”du2ad72bjtl6zpf”,”type”:”listicle”}” edition=”us” data-key=”cnetlisticle__91d64418-bdbc-490d-9ef1-8d71e9673e7b” index=”4″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” tagslugs=”hv28,seagate,western-digital” isbestlistredesign=”true” imagecredit class=”c-bestListProductListing”>

You can expand storage for PS4 games on your PS5 by adding a standard external SSD because you can play PS4 games directly from an external SSD. However, that’s not the case for PS5 games, which take up a ton of space and can only be played from the PS5’s internal drive or an M.2 SSD that you install in a special expansion bay inside your PS5. 

While the Seagate FireCuda 530 technically isn’t an external SSD, it’s not so different from Seagate’s Storage Expansion Card for the Xbox Series X/S in that it’s an NVMe SSD with very high transfer speeds (up to 7,300MB/s, according to Seagate, though my PS5 listed the top rate at 6,800MB/s).

Several M.2 SSDs will work with the PS5 (see our complete list) but ideally, you want one with an integrated heatsink. Otherwise, you’ll have to add one. 

The Seagate FireCuda 530 with heatsink starts at $60 for the 500GB version and jumps to $133 for the 1TB version (most popular). The 2TB goes for around $230, while the 4TB sells for around $400.

Read more: Here’s How to Boost Your PlayStation 5 Storage

 

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As its name implies, Kingston’s XS2000 is capable of speeds up to 2,000MB/s. Like the WD Black P40 Game Drive and SanDisk Extreme Pro (see below), it’s an ultrafast SSD that’s more geared toward recent Windows PCs equipped with USB 3.2 Gen2x2 dual-lane architecture that allows for a theoretical 20Gbps data transfer rate. But it can also be used with consoles and Macs. (Note the XS2000 is silver, while its predecessor is black).

Its design is a little more plain than some SSDs on this list, but the XS2000 is compact (it’s about half the size of a harmonica), lightweight and comes with a rubber sleeve that’s supposed to make the device water-, shock- and dust-resistant, though it doesn’t have an IP rating. It’s a decent value at $100 for the 1TB model.

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If you’re looking for a high-capacity external drive for your Xbox One, the WD Black P10 2TB portable hard drive is a good value at around $95 (the 5TB version is about $120). It gives you portable storage for your coveted game collection. This external drive also comes with a digital code that gives you one month of Microsoft’s Game Pass Ultimate if you’re a new subscriber. There’s also a standard version of the portable hard drive, which also works with PCs and the PS4 for slightly less (it’s missing the Xbox branding but is otherwise the same drive). The portable drive can deliver speeds up to 130MBps.” page-position linktext linkurl can-collapse=”true” can-truncate=”true” truncate-on-page-load=”true” offer techobjectinfo=”{“uuid”:”406a5d9f-eb7c-4618-8e86-0b862cc07833″,”slug”:”wd-black-p10-game-drive-for-xbox-one-wdba6u0020bbk-hard-drive-2-tb-usb-3-2-gen-1″,”name”:”WD_BLACK P10 Game Drive for Xbox One WDBA6U0020BBK – hard drive – 2 TB – USB 3.2 Gen 1″,”productType”:”PRODUCT”,”updateType”:”EZMONEY”,”mod”:1710361000956}” overridecredit=”Amazon” overridecaption=”

Best for Xbox| This portable hard drive is a great value and comes with a month of Microsoft’s Game Pass Ultimate if you’re a new subscriber. 

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While this drive works with both the PS4 and PS5, it can only store PS4 games if you’re using it with a PS5 (you can play PS4 games without lag directly from the portable hard drive). The 5TB version is $130.

Note that Seagate makes an SSD Game Drive For Xbox but not PS4. The storage drive costs around $160 for 1TB.

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This portable storage giant will make sure you have plenty of room for PS4 games.

” imagegroup=”{“uuid”:”3d38d984-68ca-484d-aea5-1a7bea345cec”,”alt”:”seagate-game-drive-5tb.png”,”caption”:null,”credits”:”Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET”,”imageData”:{“id”:”3d38d984-68ca-484d-aea5-1a7bea345cec”,”filename”:”seagate-game-drive-5tb.png”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/cbd824f3fa6c597c0c820bcbf363a9c6fbd6c80f/hub/2024/01/26/3d38d984-68ca-484d-aea5-1a7bea345cec/seagate-game-drive-5tb.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&height=500″,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2024-01-26 19:12:10.000000″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false},”size”:””,”float”:””,”lightbox”:false,”imageUrl”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/cbd824f3fa6c597c0c820bcbf363a9c6fbd6c80f/hub/2024/01/26/3d38d984-68ca-484d-aea5-1a7bea345cec/seagate-game-drive-5tb.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&height=500″,”imageCaption”:null,”imageCredit”:”Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET”,”imageAltText”:”seagate-game-drive-5tb.png”,”imageFilename”:”seagate-game-drive-5tb.png”,”imageWidth”:1446,”imageHeight”:910,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageDateCreated”:”2024-01-26″,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” usepricing=”false” ng-block=”{“id”:”3mzwyuu3y3drg12″,”type”:”listicle”}” edition=”us” data-key=”cnetlisticle__4fbd597a-3347-48a1-9189-c29c49b9efe6″ index=”8″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” tagslugs=”hv28,seagate,western-digital” isbestlistredesign=”true” imagecredit=”Amazon” class=”c-bestListProductListing”>

You can use any SSD with your PlayStation PS4/PS5 or Xbox One, Xbox One Series X or Series S to store PS4 and Xbox One games and other content and pick up a nice speed bump when loading games compared with a standard external hard drive like the WD Black P10 above. Note that with the Xbox Series X, you can only archive Xbox Series X and S games to this drive, you can’t store full games on it (the Seagate Storage Expansion Card is required for that). The PS5 has the same restriction — you can only store full PS4 games on external drives.

On its surface, then, the WD Black D30 game drive isn’t all that special. It has up to a 900MBps transfer rate, which is basically what a console’s USB 3.1 connection caps out at. But it’s the design that sets it apart. It’s thicker and more rugged-looking than your typical SSD or flash drive and includes a detachable stand with rubber feet to keep it from moving around wherever you place it. This is an NVMe SSD (Non-Volatile Memory Express) that provides efficient performance and interoperability. It essentially looks like a mini hard drive, which is kind of cool. 

The standard version works with PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and One X and S consoles, as well as PCs. The Xbox version shown in the image simply includes an Xbox logo and a month of Game Pass Ultimate, a $15 value, for $20 more. Alas, only new subscribers can use the included code, so if you already have a Game Pass Ultimate subscription, you’re paying the extra $20 for the logo.

The 1TB version starts at $125 while the 2TB version starts at $180.

” page-position linktext linkurl can-collapse=”true” can-truncate=”true” truncate-on-page-load=”true” offer techobjectinfo=”{“uuid”:”3198d29d-bf2e-4aa0-b644-7568f45126c5″,”slug”:”wd-d30-1tb-game-drive-for-playstation-and-xbox-external-usb-type-c-portable-ssd-black”,”name”:”WD – D30 1TB Game Drive for PlayStation and Xbox External USB Type-C Portable SSD – Black”,”productType”:”PRODUCT”,”updateType”:”EZMONEY”,”mod”:1710361000816}” overridecredit=”David Carnoy/CNET” overridecaption=”” imagegroup=”{“uuid”:”f33842fd-a645-475a-b11e-6cd81c0eeb67″,”alt”:”WD Black D30 Game Drive”,”caption”:””,”credits”:”David Carnoy/CNET”,”imageData”:{“id”:”f33842fd-a645-475a-b11e-6cd81c0eeb67″,”filename”:”wd-black-d30-game-drive-ssd.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/ee14c05d0d81183dcaf5290c23ed8ba39ee5b06d/hub/2021/09/14/f33842fd-a645-475a-b11e-6cd81c0eeb67/wd-black-d30-game-drive-ssd.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2021-09-14 16:30:14.000000″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false},”size”:””,”float”:””,”lightbox”:false,”imageUrl”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/ee14c05d0d81183dcaf5290c23ed8ba39ee5b06d/hub/2021/09/14/f33842fd-a645-475a-b11e-6cd81c0eeb67/wd-black-d30-game-drive-ssd.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”imageCaption”:””,”imageCredit”:”David Carnoy/CNET”,”imageAltText”:”WD Black D30 Game Drive”,”imageFilename”:”wd-black-d30-game-drive-ssd.jpg”,”imageWidth”:4032,”imageHeight”:2268,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageDateCreated”:”2021-09-14″,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” usepricing=”true” ng-block=”{“id”:”tgex50v9x5v23l4″,”type”:”listicle”}” edition=”us” data-key=”cnetlisticle__86967be6-d3bc-417f-b669-1365369d38a1″ index=”9″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” tagslugs=”hv28,seagate,western-digital” isbestlistredesign=”true” imagecredit=”David Carnoy/CNET” class=”c-bestListProductListing”>

SanDisk makes the Extreme Portable SSD (see above) that delivers speeds up to 1,050MB per second transfer rates. But if you’re a photographer or videographer looking for an even faster SSD drive for your PC or Mac, the Extreme Pro Portable SSD is the way to go for extra storage space. The latest version is capable of delivering up to 2,000MBps (2GBps) read/write speeds if you pair it with the right equipment. In order to get the maximum speed, you need a host system that supports USB Gen 3.2 Gen 2×2 speeds.

Compatible with Macs and Windows PCs, it’s technically ruggedized with an IP65 rating, meaning this can withstand a sustained spray of water and is dust-resistant. It’s also shock-resistant (3 meter drop protection) and is equipped with a forged aluminum chassis that acts as a heatsink. It has a USB-C interface and includes both USB-C-to-USB-C and USB-A-to-USB-C cables. The 1TB version is around $125 while the 2TB has dipped to around $190.

Note: Some users say they have encountered reliability issues with this drive and even had files mysteriously erased. SanDisk has acknowledged some firmware problems with certain drives. It’s unclear if these issues have been resolved or not, but we didn’t encounter any problems with the test drive we were using.

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SanDisk’s flagship Pro-G40 SSD starts at around $180 for a 1TB drive, while the 1TB version of Other World Computing’s Envoy Pro FX goes for $250. Both offer top-end speeds (the Envoy Pro FX gets up to 2,800MB/s transfer speeds while the Pro-G40 tops out slightly higher at up to 3,000MB/s). While the drive will work just fine with Windows and Linux computers, OWC has long catered to the Mac market, and this external SSD certainly plays well with Macs.

Yes, it costs more than the Pro-G40, but it seems very well built with an aluminum chassis that does a good job dissipating heat (it doesn’t heat up too much). Alas, it doesn’t come with some sort of carrying case, but it’s an impressive drive if you can afford it and are looking for ultrafast transfer speeds.

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Yes, even drive makers like Seagate are starting to incorporate recycled materials into their products. The Ultra Touch comes in 4TB and 5TB storage capacities (we tried the 5TB) and aside from the eco angle, it’s a pretty standard mechanical drive that features USB-C connectivity (yes, it’s compatible with a variety of devices, including Macs, Windows machines and Chromebooks). It weighs in at 267g or 0.589 pounds.” page-position linktext linkurl can-collapse=”true” can-truncate=”true” truncate-on-page-load=”true” offer techobjectinfo=”{“uuid”:”4a50a5fd-4750-496f-87d9-c76c2f50ebfe”,”slug”:”seagate-ultra-touch-hdd-5tb-external-hard-drive-15mm-pebble-grey-post-consumer-recycled-material-6mo-dropbox-and-mylio”,”name”:”Seagate Ultra Touch HDD 5TB External Hard Drive – 15mm, Pebble Grey, Post-Consumer Recycled Material, 6mo Dropbox and Mylio, Rescue Services (STMA5000400)”,”productType”:”SERIES”,”updateType”:”EZMONEY”,”mod”:1710360999516}” overridecredit=”Amazon” overridecaption=”” imagegroup=”{“uuid”:”3b9baa8c-8187-40ba-ac6b-79ea91fd5886″,”alt”:”seagate-ultra-touch.jpg”,”caption”:null,”credits”:”David Carnoy/CNET”,”imageData”:{“id”:”3b9baa8c-8187-40ba-ac6b-79ea91fd5886″,”filename”:”seagate-ultra-touch.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/d593eafa52e4d3d61b756863a799998869e0ce30/hub/2024/01/29/3b9baa8c-8187-40ba-ac6b-79ea91fd5886/seagate-ultra-touch.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2024-01-29 18:49:28.000000″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false},”size”:””,”float”:””,”lightbox”:false,”imageUrl”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/d593eafa52e4d3d61b756863a799998869e0ce30/hub/2024/01/29/3b9baa8c-8187-40ba-ac6b-79ea91fd5886/seagate-ultra-touch.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”imageCaption”:null,”imageCredit”:”David Carnoy/CNET”,”imageAltText”:”seagate-ultra-touch.jpg”,”imageFilename”:”seagate-ultra-touch.jpg”,”imageWidth”:3754,”imageHeight”:2112,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageDateCreated”:”2024-01-29″,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” usepricing=”false” ng-block=”{“id”:”y0y85yd7akc69yr”,”type”:”listicle”}” edition=”us” data-key=”cnetlisticle__3ff76659-3309-423c-8737-18f1cc11225d” index=”12″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” tagslugs=”hv28,seagate,western-digital” isbestlistredesign=”true” imagecredit=”Amazon” class=”c-bestListProductListing”>

This drive offers similar specs to the SanDisk Extreme SSD, with up to 1,050MBs read/write speeds, but it doesn’t have a ruggedized exterior. That said, I’ve used one regularly and it’s held up well and offers relatively zippy performance. I’ve included it here because the 2TB is better priced than some comparable 2TB models. ” page-position linktext linkurl can-collapse=”true” can-truncate=”true” truncate-on-page-load=”true” offer techobjectinfo=”{“uuid”:”aecfbb57-1574-483a-9bdf-c1ec04f23054″,”slug”:”wd-2tb-my-passport-ssd-usb-3-2-gen-2-type-c-portable-ssd-silver”,”name”:”WD 2TB My Passport SSD USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Portable SSD (Silver)”,”productType”:”PRODUCT”,”updateType”:”EZMONEY”,”mod”:1710361000431}” overridecredit=”WD” overridecaption=”” imagegroup=”{“uuid”:”d68d5c10-7f0b-41b2-b6d8-8bcb257d96ca”,”alt”:”wd-2tb-my-passport-ssd.png”,”caption”:null,”credits”:”Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET”,”imageData”:{“id”:”d68d5c10-7f0b-41b2-b6d8-8bcb257d96ca”,”filename”:”wd-2tb-my-passport-ssd.png”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/c54a307c6454e23bc4ae1db7567a92cc73ac8fd7/hub/2024/01/26/d68d5c10-7f0b-41b2-b6d8-8bcb257d96ca/wd-2tb-my-passport-ssd.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&height=500″,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2024-01-26 20:39:23.000000″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false},”size”:””,”float”:””,”lightbox”:false,”imageUrl”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/c54a307c6454e23bc4ae1db7567a92cc73ac8fd7/hub/2024/01/26/d68d5c10-7f0b-41b2-b6d8-8bcb257d96ca/wd-2tb-my-passport-ssd.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&height=500″,”imageCaption”:null,”imageCredit”:”Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET”,”imageAltText”:”wd-2tb-my-passport-ssd.png”,”imageFilename”:”wd-2tb-my-passport-ssd.png”,”imageWidth”:1650,”imageHeight”:992,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageDateCreated”:”2024-01-26″,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” usepricing=”false” ng-block=”{“id”:”8sxatva69d9xvty”,”type”:”listicle”}” edition=”us” data-key=”cnetlisticle__be296172-2a55-4ccb-97b9-690356c42e10″ index=”13″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” tagslugs=”hv28,seagate,western-digital” isbestlistredesign=”true” imagecredit=”WD” class=”c-bestListProductListing”>

The WD My Book desktop drive is available in up to a 18TB configuration, but the 12TB is the best value at around $230. This drive has been around for a while and is geared toward people who need a lot of storage but don’t want to pay a ransom to get it. ” page-position linktext linkurl can-collapse=”true” can-truncate=”true” truncate-on-page-load=”true” offer=”{“id”:”fec4e5cc-b153-448c-87f7-8cfe1dd99101″,”label”:”WD My Book (Fall 2016)”,”slug”:”wd-my-book-fall-2016″,”edition”:[“US”,”ES”],”imageId”:”b02078dc-eab2-4d0d-b7f4-30641364b8f6″,”imgUrl”:”/content/image/redirect/b02078dc-eab2-4d0d-b7f4-30641364b8f6/resize/75×56″,”typeLabel”:”Series”,”objectType”:”content_product_series”,”icon”:”type-icon ct-cmg-tech-product-series ct-small”}” techobjectinfo=”{“uuid”:”fec4e5cc-b153-448c-87f7-8cfe1dd99101″,”slug”:”wd-my-book-fall-2016″,”name”:”WD My Book (Fall 2016)”,”productType”:”SERIES”,”updateType”:”PRISM”,”mod”:1710361003922}” overridecredit=”Amazon” overridecaption=”” imagegroup=”{“uuid”:”7808cfb7-91b9-4fe7-9d1f-99fc4ac22fef”,”alt”:”WD My Book 8TB”,”caption”:””,”credits”:”Amazon”,”imageData”:{“id”:”7808cfb7-91b9-4fe7-9d1f-99fc4ac22fef”,”filename”:”wd-my-book-desktop-drive.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/c4b0308e908c2f2c72c116e669485d4d8e3ccaad/hub/2020/03/05/7808cfb7-91b9-4fe7-9d1f-99fc4ac22fef/wd-my-book-desktop-drive.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2020-03-05 20:40:42.000000″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false},”size”:””,”float”:””,”lightbox”:false,”imageUrl”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/c4b0308e908c2f2c72c116e669485d4d8e3ccaad/hub/2020/03/05/7808cfb7-91b9-4fe7-9d1f-99fc4ac22fef/wd-my-book-desktop-drive.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”imageCaption”:””,”imageCredit”:”Amazon”,”imageAltText”:”WD My Book 8TB”,”imageFilename”:”wd-my-book-desktop-drive.jpg”,”imageWidth”:1500,”imageHeight”:945,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageDateCreated”:”2020-03-05″,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” usepricing=”true” ng-block=”{“id”:”7fshesgi1aoruye”,”type”:”listicle”}” edition=”us” data-key=”cnetlisticle__0d9bb9cc-f1f8-488f-9011-f45e4e53eb65″ index=”14″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” tagslugs=”hv28,seagate,western-digital” isbestlistredesign=”true” imagecredit=”Amazon” class=”c-bestListProductListing”>

After Seagate acquired LaCie several years ago, LaCie became the company’s premium brand, and this external HDD 5TB model can be found on a lot of video editors’ desks (including plenty at CNET). This rugged hard disk drive uses a USB-C interface, is compatible with Mac and Windows PCs and is water- and shock-resistant. A 4TB Thunderbolt with USB-C version is available for Thunderbolt-equipped Macs for about $250.” page-position linktext linkurl can-collapse=”true” can-truncate=”true” truncate-on-page-load=”true” offer=”{“id”:”493d87ef-40f3-42d5-8626-5114cb17ac65″,”label”:”LaCie Rugged USB-C”,”slug”:”lacie-rugged-usb-c”,”edition”:[“US”,”ES”],”imageId”:”d2bd0130-c31b-4858-bfe3-b9946baa9b37″,”imgUrl”:”/content/image/redirect/d2bd0130-c31b-4858-bfe3-b9946baa9b37/resize/75×56″,”typeLabel”:”Series”,”objectType”:”content_product_series”,”icon”:”type-icon ct-cmg-tech-product-series ct-small”}” techobjectinfo=”{“uuid”:”493d87ef-40f3-42d5-8626-5114cb17ac65″,”slug”:”lacie-rugged-usb-c”,”name”:”LaCie Rugged USB-C”,”productType”:”SERIES”,”updateType”:”PRISM”,”mod”:1710360999478}” overridecredit=”Amazon” overridecaption=”” imagegroup=”{“uuid”:”f94e39b0-9883-4910-929e-455a193c7150″,”alt”:”lacie rugged 5tb USBc”,”caption”:””,”credits”:”Amazon”,”imageData”:{“id”:”f94e39b0-9883-4910-929e-455a193c7150″,”filename”:”lacie-rugged-5tb-usb-c.png”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/16e5cd94130fa25685b7786d5c581b019bf14d8c/hub/2020/03/16/f94e39b0-9883-4910-929e-455a193c7150/lacie-rugged-5tb-usb-c.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&height=500″,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2020-03-16 14:47:11.000000″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false},”size”:””,”float”:””,”lightbox”:false,”imageUrl”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/16e5cd94130fa25685b7786d5c581b019bf14d8c/hub/2020/03/16/f94e39b0-9883-4910-929e-455a193c7150/lacie-rugged-5tb-usb-c.png?auto=webp&format=pjpg&height=500″,”imageCaption”:””,”imageCredit”:”Amazon”,”imageAltText”:”lacie rugged 5tb USBc”,”imageFilename”:”lacie-rugged-5tb-usb-c.png”,”imageWidth”:1730,”imageHeight”:1044,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageDateCreated”:”2020-03-16″,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” usepricing=”true” ng-block=”{“id”:”ry7mh40fngd65k2″,”type”:”listicle”}” edition=”us” data-key=”cnetlisticle__8eb21901-ce6c-46d3-8a0e-9498a89d3b59″ index=”15″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” tagslugs=”hv28,seagate,western-digital” isbestlistredesign=”true” imagecredit=”Amazon” class=”c-bestListProductListing”>

Crucial’s X6 external SSD is considered entry-level because it’s just not as fast as higher-end models, which can offer read/write speeds that are twice or even four times as fast (the Crucial X8 is the step-up model). Even so, the X6 is about 4x faster than a drive that isn’t solid-state, with transfer speeds of up 540MB/s for the 1TB and 2TB versions and up to 800MB/s for the new 4TB version, which has one of the lowest prices for a 4TB SSD at around $200.

Comparatively, the 4TB SanDisk Extreme SSD, which has a transfer speed rating of up to 1,050MB/s, costs $270. So you’re basically looking at a $70 savings if you’re willing to take a bit of a small speed hit (again, at least the 4GB version of the Crucial X6 has been bumped up to 800MB/s from 540MB/s).

” page-position linktext linkurl can-collapse=”true” can-truncate=”true” truncate-on-page-load=”true” offer techobjectinfo=”{“uuid”:”86fbbdde-2e41-4ac3-9fc9-ab3998345129″,”slug”:”crucial-x6-4tb-portable-ssd-up-to-800mb-s-usb-3-2-external-solid-state-drive-usb-c-ct4000x6ssd9-black”,”name”:”Crucial X6 4TB Portable SSD – Up to 800MB/s – USB 3.2 – External Solid State Drive, USB-C – CT4000X6SSD9, Black”,”productType”:”PRODUCT”,”updateType”:”EZMONEY”,”mod”:1710360999626}” overridecredit=”David Carnoy/CNET” overridecaption=”” imagegroup=”{“uuid”:”6b95b2fe-829a-4269-b76e-3176ac8d8e9d”,”alt”:”Crucial X6″,”caption”:””,”credits”:”David Carnoy/CNET”,”imageData”:{“id”:”6b95b2fe-829a-4269-b76e-3176ac8d8e9d”,”filename”:”crucial-x6-ssd.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/f40aa43c9156d5719bf690c83e23c627efea5520/hub/2021/05/18/6b95b2fe-829a-4269-b76e-3176ac8d8e9d/crucial-x6-ssd.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2021-05-18 19:15:14.000000″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false},”size”:””,”float”:””,”lightbox”:false,”imageUrl”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/f40aa43c9156d5719bf690c83e23c627efea5520/hub/2021/05/18/6b95b2fe-829a-4269-b76e-3176ac8d8e9d/crucial-x6-ssd.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”imageCaption”:””,”imageCredit”:”David Carnoy/CNET”,”imageAltText”:”Crucial X6″,”imageFilename”:”crucial-x6-ssd.jpg”,”imageWidth”:4032,”imageHeight”:2268,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageDateCreated”:”2021-05-18″,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” usepricing=”true” ng-block=”{“id”:”4eoffhno80mza20″,”type”:”listicle”}” edition=”us” data-key=”cnetlisticle__01c39d10-3219-4b4f-9ee8-7d4acb071830″ index=”16″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” tagslugs=”hv28,seagate,western-digital” isbestlistredesign=”true” imagecredit=”David Carnoy/CNET” class=”c-bestListProductListing”>