We all love saving tons of photos, videos, and even movies on our laptops. So the default in-built storage on a MacBook can quickly run out, especially if you’ve been using it for a while. That’s why it’s handy to get an external drive too on which you can easily transfer all your big files. This will ensure your computer always has sufficient space. So without further delay, let’s go ahead and find out the best external SSDs for Mac.
#1. SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable External SSD
Enjoy seamless transfers with this USB C SSD that gives up to 550MB/s read speeds. This external SSD for Mac is rugged and resistant to both water and dust with an IP55 rating.
WD My Passport For Mac (Best Overall) The Western Digital 2TB My Passport For Mac is the perfect. Backup Plus for Mac Model STCB2000900 Type External Compatibility Compatibility Mac OS X 10.6 or higher or Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP3 (32-bit and 64-bit) operating system Performance Capacity 2TB Physical Spec Form Factor 3.5' Configuration Interface USB 3.0 Features Features Backup Plus for Mac desktop drive.
Along with being compact and pocket-sized, it’s also durable and shock-proof. So your data can stay safe during minor falls or drops. It comes with a 3-year limited warranty. You can choose from varied capacities from 250 GB to 1 TB, according to your needs.
Pros
- Water and dust resistant
- Shock-proof
- 4 storage capacities available
- Good price
Cons
- Slower read/write speeds
Price: $329.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
#2. Samsung X5 Portable SSD 2TB – Thunderbolt 3
Take your storage to the next level with this SSD. Designed with Thunderbolt 3 ports, the X5 is made for busy professionals who want to render high-resolution content quickly. Its thermal management and password protection features ensure safety and security.
Further, it offers impressive read/write speeds of 2,800/2,300 MB/s. So you can transfer a 20GB 4K UHD video from your computer to the SSD in as little as 12 seconds, depending on your system configurations. The innovative design is inspired by supercars!
Pros
- Thermal management
- Impressive read/write speeds
- 3 storage capacities available
- Sleek look
Cons
- Expensive
Price: $699.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
#3. Seagate STJD1000400 1Tb Solid State Drive
This high-speed, portable solid-state drive is perfect for streaming stored videos directly to your Macbook. It’s an excellent choice for backing up your data on the go.
Moreover, its a mini USB 3.0 SSD with a lightweight, minimalist design that’s convenient to carry every day Finally, you can enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included three-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Multiple storage capacities available
- Good price
Cons
- No USB C – you’ll need a separate adaptor
Price: $144.99 for 1TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
#4. LaCie Water Resistant Rugged 2TB SSD
For those who want ultimate protection on their external SSD for Mac, this rugged one can withstand the pressures of life! It can survive a 3-meter drop and a two-ton car crash. Moreover, it is IP67-rated dust water-resistant.
You can take advantage of a one-month complimentary membership to Adobe creative cloud apps when you get this drive. Further, it comes with a 5-year limited protection plan so you can have long-term peace of mind about it’s functionality.
Pros
- Drop protection
- Multiple storage capacities available
- 5-year protection plan for data recovery
Cons
- Slightly pricey
Price: $451.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
#5. Crucial 1TB X8 Portable SSD
Incredible performance with read speeds of up to 1050 MB/s makes this one of the best SSDs for Mac. It has a durable design featuring an aluminum core. It offers drop protection for up to 7. 5 feet, and can also withstand extreme temperature. It’s shock and vibration proof so you can carry it around in your bag with ease.
Finally, you can rest assured about quality because this SSD is backed by Micron, one of the well-known storage tech manufacturers in the world. It also includes a 3-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Withstands extreme temperatures
- High-speed
- Sleek design
Cons
- Only available in 2 capacities
Price: $164.95 for 1TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
#6. WD 2TB My Passport Go SSD Cobalt
Check out this pocket-sized SSD for Mac and Windows computers. It’s convenient to carry and is also capable of surviving drops up to 2 meters. The protective bumper acts as a cushion and absorbs shocks and bumps.
It offers a transfer rate of 400MB/s which is pretty decent. Further, it comes with a 3-year warranty and you can get it in 2 cool color options namely cobalt blue and amber. All in all, it’s an excellent everyday choice for your storage needs.
Pros
- Protective bumper
- Good price
- Color options
Cons
- Transfer rate on slower side
Price: $329.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
#7. Samsung T5 2TB Portable SSD
For the stylish and modern professional, this is one of the best SSDs for your Mac! With a USB 3.1 interface, the T5 provides transfer speeds of up to 540 MB/s depending on your system. So transfers and backups of large-sized data including 4K videos and high-resolution photos will be much quicker and faster.
Furthermore, the impressive performance comes in a compact package that’s easy to carry with you. Perhaps the best part is the classy color options such as blue, gold, and red.
Pros
- Good speed
- Value for money
- Color options
Cons
- Looks a bit delicate and may not have drop protection
Price: $319.85 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
#8. Sabrent Rocket Nano 512GB USB 3.2 SSD
For ultimate portability, check out this ultra-slim SSD. It’s sleek and durable – an ideal travel companion whether for work or leisure. Easily transfer your media with the smooth plug-and-play technology.
It provides speeds of up to 1000MB/s, depending on your system configurations. Further, you can get it in 3 convenient storage capacities of 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2TB. You can also choose either black or silver color options.
Pros
- Slim and compact
- Good price
- Color options
Cons
- No drop protection
Price: $299.99 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
#9. G-Technology 2TB G-DRIVE mobile SSD
Carry your data worry-free on this shock and vibration resistant SSD for Mac. The durable design comes with iP67 dust and water resistance.
The USB C connectivity offers transfer rates of up to 560MB/s. Further, you can buy with confidence given the industry-leading 5-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.
Pros
- Dust and water-resistant
- Shock-proof
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Bulky
Price: $329.95 for 2TB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
#10. Seagate Barracuda Fast 500GB SSD
With reliable performance and a speed of up to 540MB/s, you can enjoy smooth data transfer on this external SSD for Mac. It features a minimalist design and green LED accent light.
It’s a perfect solution for carrying media on the go or even for external Xbox or PlayStation storage. It offers seamless installation and loading. Moreover, you get a limited product protection plan too.
Pros
- Minimalist design
- LED light indicator
- Reliable performance
Cons
- No drop protection
Price: $109.99 for 500 GB capacity
Check out on Amazon
Check out on Amazon
Summing Up
Well, as you can see, there’s a wide variety of external SSDs for Mac. Most come with warranties so are a valuable accessory to get. Let us know in the comments below which one you prefer and why.
I have been writing about tech for over 10 years now. I am passionate about helping people solve their tech problems with easy and practical solutions. At iGeeksBlog, I write and edit how-to guides and accessory reviews for all things Apple. My work has previously appeared in Live IT and Woman’s Era magazines. When not working, I love reading and traveling.
- https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mehak/Using 'Rebuild' Feature of Database Utility in Mac Entourage
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Whether you collect your movies digitally, work on massive video editing or music editing projects, or just have a ton of pictures and videos you want to back up, an external hard drive is a must-have. Only a decade ago, a 1TB external hard drive would cost a small fortune. Now you can find 2TB options for under $100 dollars.
Now that massive amounts of storage are so affordable, there really is no reason you should ever deal with the soul-crushing experience of having your laptop’s hard drive go kaput, and having all of your hard work, movies and music vanish into oblivion. Save yourself from despair and go with one of the best external hard drives below.
1. Western Digital My Passport
BEST OVERALL
The best external hard drives let you automatically schedule backups to continually keep your laptop or desktop computer backed up without any intervention. That’s why we appreciate the Western Digital My Passport, which makes it easy to backup your most important files without a second thought. And with 256-bit AES encryption password protection, you can protect your files from being compromised. Plus, it’s portable enough to take with you in your laptop bag, yet provides enough storage to back up the entire contents of your computer several times over. The WD My Passport hard drive comes in a variety of colors and with options for 1, 2, 4 and 5TB.
Please note that if you’re using a Mac, you should opt for the Apple-friendly WD My Passport for Mac instead.
© Provided by SPY external hard drives wd my passportBuy: Western Digital My Passport $119.99Buy: Western Digital My Passport for Mac $111.062. LaCie Mobile Drive
BEST UNDER $100
This sleek and portable LaCie Mobile Drive is compatible with both Mac and PC without any additional formatting. This drive has a USB-C port for fast data transfer and also ships with a USB-C to 3.0 cable for computers without USC-C compatibility. Available in 1TB all the way up to 5TB models, this portable drive packs a ton of storage in a tiny frame.
© Provided by SPY external hard drives lacieBuy: LaCie Mobile Drive $92.493. SanDisk 500GB Extreme Pro
GREAT PORTABLE OPTION
This small external hard drive is as rugged as it is portable. With both USB-A and USB-C connectors, you don’t have to worry about compatibility between older and newer devices. It also provides read and write speeds up to 1050mbps, making for speedy data transfers. As for its rugged side, dust and water resistance show its toughness, so spilling a little water on it isn’t the end of the world. It is small enough to go unnoticed when you don’t need it and be everything you need when you do.
© Provided by SPY sandisk external harddriveBuy: SanDisk 500GB Extreme Pro $106.994. WD 250GB Wireless External Hard Drive
BEST FOR BUSY PEOPLE
When you don’t have time for fumbling with connecting an external drive to your laptop, the WD 250GB Wireless drive is for you. Using a built-in WiFi-5 access point, it connects to your laptop without the need for a cable. Of course, there is the option for a wired connection, which produces faster transfer speeds. But storage isn’t the only trick up its sleeve. It can also serve as a power bank in a pinch.
© Provided by SPY wd 250 gb wireless external hard driveBuy: WD 250GB Wireless External Hard Drive $179.995. Crucial 1TB X8 Portable SSD
GREAT FOR GAMERS
This external hard drive is compatible with both PlayStation and Xbox consoles and offers both USB-A and USB-C connections. And with newer games hogging up more and more of your hard drive, you don’t want to be left out of the fun just because your storage is maxed out. It provides 1TB of additional hard drive space as well as a splash of durability being drop-proof from 7.5 feet.
© Provided by SPY crucial hard driveBuy: Crucial 1TB X8 Portable SSD $164.956. Samsung T5 Portable SSD
MOST COMPACT
Boasting crazy fast 540mbps transfer speeds and a metal frame that’s about the size of a credit card, the Samsung T5 is an impressive portable hard drive option. Beyond the incredible transfer speeds, this Samsung protects your data with AES 256-bit encryption in the form of optional password protection. And don’t worry if you’re computer doesn’t have a USB-C port, this external hard drive comes with a USB-C to Type-A cable. While this hard drive only comes in 1TB and 2TB options, that’s still ample memory for most people.
© Provided by SPY external hard drives samsung t5Buy: Samsung T5 Portable SSD $129.997. Adata SD700 3D NAND 256GB Rugged External Hard Drive
RUGGED AND PORTABLE
When you take your data to the extreme (literally) you are going to need an external that can handle the elements. That’s where the water, dust and shockproof Adata SD700 comes in. Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but tough enough to take a real beating, this 256GB hard drive keeps your data safe when the elements aren’t. It doesn’t have as much storage as others, and the 440Mbps write speed is nothing to write home about, but if you need to get work done when it gets nasty out, you’ll want a hard drive that can handle the elements.
© Provided by SPY adata sd700 external hard driveBuy: Adata SD700 3D NAND 256GB Rugged External Hard Drive $58.998. LaCie Rugged Raid Shuttle 8TB External Hard Drive
RUGGED AND LOTS OF STORAGE
This monster of a hard drive holds a whopping 8TB of storage. But this isn’t designed to just sit on your desktop. It’s built for adventure (well, as much as a hard drive can be). It’s shockproof and water-resistant — not quite as rugged as the Adata SD700 — but can certainly deal with getting packed around and take a little bit of a beating. And when you purchase this LaCie external hard drive, you get a one-month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud.
© Provided by SPY lacie rugged hard driveBuy: LaCie Rugged Raid Shuttle 8TB External Hard Drive $464.999. G-Technology 1TB ArmorATD
RUGGED PICK FOR MAC AND WINDOWS
This tiny, yet durable G-Technology 1TB external hard drive is IP54 rain and dust-resistant and even has the durability to withstand 1,000 pounds. You could probably accidentally drive over it and it wouldn’t break (but you’d be better off not testing that theory out). It’s available in 1TB all the way up to 5TB options and has a USB-C connector that’s best for newer devices.
© Provided by SPY g technology rugged external hard drive2tb Backup Drive For Macbook Pro
Buy: G-Technology 1TB ArmorATD $69.9910. ADATA SE800 IP68 Rugged Hard Drive
SMALL AND TOUGH
Even though this doesn’t look like a rugged hard drive, it certainly can handle its fair share of punishment. But it’s not just rugged, it’s also speedy with 1,000mbps transfer speeds. It also boasts USB-C connectivity and USB 2.0 backward compatibility. Now for the rugged stuff. When the USB cover is closed, it can handle being submerged in six feet of water for up to an hour without damage. It’s also dust and impact resistant. Told you it’s more rugged than it looks.
© Provided by SPY ADATA SE800 IP68 Rugged Hard DriveBuy: ADATA SE800 IP68 Rugged Hard Drive $79.9911. Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Touch 2TB
MOST STYLISH
As far as style points go for an external hard drive, this one scores all of them. This 2TB external hard drive sports a fabric design topped with a solid black border. It works with both Mac and PC and is a great choice for when you want to schedule automatic backups or keep your files encrypted with password protection.
© Provided by SPY seagate 2tb external hard driveBuy: Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Touch 2TB $72.9912. G-Technology 2TB Durable Portable Storage
MOST DURABLE
We review Amazon products all day, and we can tell you that it’s extremely rare for any product, let alone a tech product, to break the 4.7-star barrier. But that’s what the G-Technology Durable hard drive has on its resume. It’s IP67 water- and dust-resistant and can withstand a drop from nine feet without damaging the drive. Its USB-C connectivity provides lightning-fast 560mbps transfer speeds as well. It’s also expensive, but well worth it for the protection and speed provided.
© Provided by SPY external hard drives G technologyBuy: G-Technology 1TB Durable Portable Storage $329.9913. Buffalo Ministation
BUDGET BUY
Compact and lightweight, the Buffalo Ministation can be used to schedule automatic backups on PCs with Buffalo Backup Utility. If you rock a Mac, you’ll need to reformat the hard drive first, then use Time Machine to schedule backups. It provides USB 3.0 connectivity with TurboCopy for speedy file transfers. And you can feel good knowing that your hard drive is covered by a two-year warranty.
© Provided by SPY external hard drives buffalo ministationBuy: Buffalo Ministation $89.9914. Seagate Desktop 8TB
BEST FOR PROFESSIONAL USE
This behemoth of a hard drive could very well be the only hard drive you’ll ever need. With 8TB of storage, it would take a massive library of videos, pictures and projects to fill this beast up. It’s best for desktop use and great for music-making and video editing projects. Because Seagate is one of the most trusted names in memory storage, and because of its extra-large capacity, this is one of the best options for professional use. This hard drive has more than 3,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, and it’s a hard drive you can really rely on for your most important files. But if you’re looking for a portable option, you’ll want to take a look at more mobile drives like My Passport or LaCie.
And, yes, Apple users, this desktop hard drive is compatible with both Mac and PC computers.
© Provided by SPY external hard drives seagateBuy: Seagate Desktop 8TB $144.992tb Backup Drive For Pc
15. ADATA HD830 5TB
MOST DURABLE 5TB HARD DRIVE
Everything about this hard drive is rugged. From the protective side columns to the grooved surface, it looks like it can take a punch. In fact, it can withstand being submerged in six feet of water for over two hours and spills up to four feet. While G-Technology makes a better overall hard drive, this external hard drive boasts similar protection and a much larger capacity at a similar price point. This USB-C, 5TB hard drive is great for those who are a little more “carefree” with their electronics.
© Provided by SPY external hard drives adataBuy: ADATA HD830 5TB $149.9916. Toshiba Canvio Basics
ALSO CONSIDER
This hard drive is a solid option for PCs and comes with 2TB of storage. It can be used with Mac, but it will need to be reformatted to do so. Unfortunately, any previous data stored on the hard drive will be wiped during this process, which is a pain. It is compatible with both USB 2.0 and 3.0 for speedy transfer times and includes a one-year warranty from Toshiba. This external hard drive has made 88% of 12,000 customers on Amazon happy campers.
© Provided by SPY external hard drive toshibaBuy: Toshiba Canvio Basics $59.9917. WD_Black P10 Game Drive
BEST HARD DRIVE FOR GAMERS
This 5TB external hard drive can hold up to 125 games. Even better, it’s compatible with PS4, Xbox One, PC and Mac. Plus, the stylish and durable black case will be an excellent add-on to your gaming setup. We’re big fans of Western Digital, which makes some of the best external hard drives. This device was built specifically for gamers and has a ridiculously high 4.8-star rating on Amazon with more than 900 reviews.
© Provided by SPY best hard drive for gamersBuy: WD_Black P10 Game Drive $107.95