Best External Hard Drive for Photos Review
Hard drives are a great solution to your problems related to backing up of files.
These hard drives ensure that all of your data or files are safe and secured at one place.
External hard drives support a compact and practical backup answer for carrying your records at any place you go.
The foremost external hard drives hit that sweet spot among price and practicality.
Also, their cost-effectiveness makes them accessible by everyone.
Though for some people, it may be a bit inconvenient, the external hard drives are the only ticket if your options of small capacity storing data are not enough.
Storage arrangements like microSD memory cards and USB pen drives aren’t generally the best alternative, especially when you’re frequently dealing with huge documents or files and need quicker read/write speeds.
There are some other convenient SSD drives, which are much quicker and rugged; however, those hard drives tend to be highly-priced.
We bring you the top 10 external hard drives of 2020, which allows you to have extra storage space but at a much lower cost than SSDs in a robust package.
No matter what your capacity needs are, you’ll discover something on this rundown that will definitely suit your requirements.
Table Of Content
Top 10 Best External Hard Drive for Photos
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1. SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD
[amazon link=”B078STRHBX” title=”SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD”/] is a slim, travel-type, and low-vitality SSD.
The model is a member of solid-state drives appreciated for its small size and the non-existence of motion work on the inside.
It has a USB-C interface.
This trustworthy external hard drive with an IP55 level of protection, encased in a solid plastic case in a rubber treated shell doesn’t surrender to water molecules or dust particles.
This hard drive can oppose water flow for about 3 minutes and can easily hold out against the fall from a height of 2 meters.
The speedy document channelling lets you mobile High Definition (HD) images instantly and guarantees perfect video execution deserving a top position among the best versatile hard drives for photographic artists.
Its capacity is 250 Gigabytes to 2 TeraBytes.
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Pros
– It is both water-resistant and dust-resistant.
– It possesses a high transmission speed.
– It is designed for both Windows and Mac OS.
Cons
– No cons have been found for this drive yet.
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD Features
2. WD My Passport External Hard Drive
[amazon link=”B07VTFN6HM” title=”WD My Passport External Hard Drive”/] of the external hard drive has become the best hard drive for photographs for experts who favour the versatile storage of considerable size and that too at a reasonable expense.
It meets capacity prerequisites because of its little form factor, incorporated power supply, and inbuilt strength.
The maximum transfer speed of the drive is 5 gigabytes/s.
The package comprises software for reinforcement, encoding information, and association with social communities or distributed storage.
The dimensions of the drive are 4.22 × 2.95 × 0.44 inches.
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Pros
– It is available in various colours and different sizes.
– It comes with a password protected software.
– It is a social network friendly drive.
– It is available on a lucrative cost.
Cons
– It is not water-resistant.
WD My Passport External Hard Drive Features
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3. Samsung T5 Portable SSD
[amazon link=”B073H552FJ” title=”Samsung T5 Portable SSD”/] (Solid State Drive) external hard drive has a non-slip base, and a luxurious glossy case made of metal which makes it unique among numerous other drives.
Its feedback from various users has been praiseworthy.
The interior structure is manufactured in a way that it can withstand the fall when dropped from 2 meters down.
It is additionally the quickest external stockpiling model.
It has a typical USB-C interface.
Since the device is appropriate for transferring huge documents, for example, 4K videos, games, and high definition shots because of which this model is also known as the topmost SSD for picture editing, the hardware encoding, and secured encryption is a significant characteristic for experts who consider the privacy of their customer’s necessity and want to ensure the safety of their delicate and precious data or records with a password.
This external hard drive is small in physical size and yet incredibly stable, trustworthy that gives super quick transmission speeds.
Its capacity ranges from 500 GB to 2 TB, and weight is 1.8 oz.
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Pros
– It is super fast and shock-resistant
– It comes with a 3-year warranty period
– Secured encryption
– Compact designing of the drive.
Cons
– It is not water-resistant
– Storage and pricing can be more attractive
Samsung T5 Portable SSD Features
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4. WD My Passport SSD Portable Storage
[amazon link=”B07C58KFX1″ title=”WD My Passport SSD Portable Storage”/] is among the best offers in case you are looking for an ultra-compact, slim SSD external hard drive for photographs with the stability of a strong state drive and with a fancy configuration.
It is shock-proof and has a USB-C interface.
The body of this device is manufactured so compactly that it can fit easily in a regular pocket.
The self-recharging technology of this device makes it very convenient to users.
Also, it has data protection with hardware encryption and automatic backup software.
Its excellent design and the production’s incredible reputation make it the top portable hard drive with a meagre disappointment rate.
Its capacity ranges from 250 Gigabytes to 2 TeraBytes.
It has a max transfer speed of 540 MB/s and weighs 1.44 oz.
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Pros
– It is shock-resistant and ultra-portable
– It is provided with automatic backup software
– High file transmission speed
Cons
– Not moisture protected
– The requirement of reformat for Mac operating systems.
WD My Passport SSD Portable Storage Features
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5. WD My Passport Wireless Pro External HD
If you are looking for the best wireless storage hard drive or a drive that can read microSD card for photos, then [amazon link=”B01F5LVTO4″ title=”WD My Passport Wireless Pro External HD”/] can fulfil all your requirements.
Also, this drive is unavoidable for the photographers who travel to places frequently as it is not convenient to carry a laptop everywhere.
This hard drive possessing an SD card reader was intended to copy all the data present on a memory card to its internal drive.
Also, it is incorporated with a 6400 mAh power bank that can help you in charging your devices.
This wireless external hard drive is an ideal data stockpiling media for situations when you frequently stream data to a cell phone, Smart Television, or whatever else with the use of Plex.
It is the best external hard drive for picture takers and videographers, as it is somewhat general and makes the working cycle simpler.
This device is relatively common, which makes it the best option to choose that can make the working process of photographers and videographers much easier.
This drive has inbuilt wireless AC with password protection.
The capacity of the drive ranges from 1 TB – 4 TB.
It has an interface of USB 3.0. Its Maximum Transfer Speed is 433 MB/s.
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Pros
– Its battery life goes upto 10hrs
– Wireless networking standard with password security
– Can charge and connect upto eight devices
Cons
– This drive is heavy and large sized
– Not compatible with the Sony XAVC S format
WD My Passport Wireless Pro External HD Features
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6. LaCie Rugged Mini Portable HDD
If you require an external hard disk that is cost-effective and has got good durability, then [amazon link=”B00IRV005E” title=”LaCie Rugged Mini Portable HDD”/] is a reliable option.
This hard drive is resistant to dust particles, splash, and drop.
This drive can quickly meet the requirements of a travel photographer.
It can be operated with windows as well as Mac operating systems.
Though the file transferring process in the drive is a bit slower and as a compensation to this, free use of Adobe Creative Cloud is provided for a month.
The body of this device is enveloped in an orange elastic guard which helps in resisting water and dust particles.
This hard drive is configured in a way that it can withstand the fall from 4 feet.
Additionally, there is a 2-year warranty on the device.
The Max Transfer Speed of the drive is 130 MB/s and dimensions are 3.39 × 0.75 × 5.31 inches.
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Pros
– It is water-resistant drive
– This model possesses good durability
– It comes with a 2-year warranty
Cons
– File transmission speed is low.
– It needs reformatting for Mac operating systems.
LaCie Rugged Mini Portable HDD Features
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7. LaCie d2 Professional External Hard Drive
[amazon link=”B07G8JT7XN” title=”LaCie d2 Professional External Hard Drive”/] can be called an enterprise-class drive.
The manufacturing of this brand is well known among professional clients as dependable and relatively efficient.
It has a standard USB 3.0 interface.
The noiseless performance of this HDD(Hard Disk Drive) is an attractive feature that is accomplished by installing a novel fanless cooling instrument in it.
Data transferring speed reaches upto 7200 rpm.
The aluminium frame of the drive is a unique characteristic along with the blue light that flickers while robotically backing up the data.
It is a perfect HD drive for photo stockpiling with a warranty of 5 year that also includes data recovery.
It weighs 49.5 oz, and its maximum transfer speed is 240 MB/s.
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Pros
– It is compatible with both Mac OS as well as windows.
– It has an aluminium body frame.
– It comes with 1-month free Adobe Creative Cloud.
– Professional drive device
Cons
– It is a bit highly-priced
– Absence of on/off button on the drive.
LaCie d2 Professional External Hard Drive Features
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8. WD My Book Desktop External Hard Drive
The brand is well-known for providing enticing offers.
But this specific model stands apart on the grounds of its cost attractiveness.
[amazon link=”B01LQQHL4E” title=”WD My Book Desktop External Hard Drive”/] upholds external HD hardware encryption, automated backup via the company’s very own program, and is upheld through Apple’s Time Machine.
This desktop external hard drive uses a standard USB 3.0 interface and an exFAT design that is ideal for processing with both laptop and personal computer that runs on Windows or Mac operating systems.
It is enabled with social media and cloud storage import.
Its maximum transfer speed is 180 MB/s.
This drive has a polycarbonate case, high operation pace and better capacity, which makes it a convenient and versatile choice for users.
Its capacity ranges from 3 TB to 14 TB. It weighs 46 oz.
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Pros
– It offers you huge storage space.
– Supported with WD backup software.
Cons
– It needs reformatting for Mac OS.
– It requires an external adaptor for power.
WD My Book Desktop External Hard Drive Features
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9. G-Technology G-DRIVE USB-C Hard Drive
Mac users single out this hard drive model when they want the best.
[amazon link=”B082T285WW” title=”G-Technology G-DRIVE USB-C Hard Drive”/] possesses a stylish, graceful and high-class aesthetic around a superior performance tool.
It requires a security password to access.
It charges a viable MacBook and encodes all data robotically.
The G logo brightens up when the hard drive is processing automated backup.
Its light-weight aluminium case has a convenient power button.
It has a typical USB-C interface.
For photographers, this is a top-rated drive for Mac users due to its unfailing performance, strength, and silence.
Capacity range of the drive is from 4 TB to 14 TB.
The dimensions of the drive are 7.72 × 5.06 × 1.39 inches.
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Pros
– It possesses automated backup
– It is a high capacity drive.
– Available at a lucrative or attractive cost
Cons
– It needs reformatting for windows.
– The transmission speed and rpm of drive can get better.
G-Technology G-DRIVE USB-C Hard Drive Features
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10. Seagate Backup Plus Hub External Hard Drive
The principal characteristic of this external hard drive 4TB is its adaptability.
[amazon link=”B01HD6ZLIY” title=”Seagate Backup Plus Hub External Hard Drive”/] allows a New Technology File System(NTFS) driver that can be installed in Mac, whereas Windows devices can access this drive immediately.
It allows you to charge any device via the USB 3.0 port, even during the file or data transfer.
Only one trigger will start the process of saving with its user-oriented backup software.
It is the finest choice for photographers; it permits users to put the data altogether from various sources such as clouds, devices or social networks.
You can install an application and incorporate any tablet or phone into the document transferring chain.
This way, you have all your files or data from any source secured and saved without paying an extra penny.
The maximum transfer speed of this drive is 160 MB/s.
Its dimensions are 4.65 × 1.61 × 7.8 inches and weigh 37 oz.
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Pros
– It supports 1 Micro-USB 3.0 port plus 2 USB 3.0 ports
– It comes with a 2-month plan of Adobe Creative Cloud.
– Software Backup provided
– Power cable and adapter included.
Cons
– No data ciphering.
– Speed could be better.
Seagate Backup Plus Hub External Hard Drive Features
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Best External Hard Drive for Photos Buying Guide
In this section, we will be talking about all that you should look for and the factors you need to take into consideration to pick an ideal hard drive.
Kinds of storage mechanism
SSDs or Solid State Drives use the latest flash technology, which means there are no rotating parts present inside.
Hence, the best SSD will be small in size, makes no noise, better read/compose speed, and protection from external impacts.
Utilize compact SSDs to expand the inbuilt memory of a PC.
A similar hard drive or HDD utilizes some delicate moving parts that are resistless against shaking, which tend to make it noisier and more massive.
The mechanical idea of the HDD gives benefit by providing resistance from electromagnetic impacts and statics, which will guarantee the safety of data near any electrical gear.
Competence or capacity
Capacities are indirectly associated with the kind of hard drive through expense.
The portability of Solid State Drives (SSDs) is considered more pricey as far as gigabytes of memory.
Thus, SSDs are put at a higher cost and smaller volumes (max 2-4 TB) in the marketplace.
Their unique feature isn’t the capacity of the drive but portability, data transfer speed, low power utilization, and external safety which are essential for a travelling photographer and editing.
HDD offers more storage room up to a few dozen terabytes and that too without making a hole in your pocket.
Hence, an external Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is appropriate for local backup and may be considered as the best stockpiling device for photographs.
Speed and Performance
Speed: In HDDs, the idea of rotating speed was invented, the standard of which was 5400-7200 rpm.
The speed of reading/writing of content was valid for both the kinds of discs.
Usually, the first one being higher in speed is several hundred MB/s faster than the second one.
An SSD displays very high performance as compared to an HDD because of its direct reach to the cells of flash memory.
Out of the best drives for photographers, no external hard drive will rotate at the max speed mentioned in its specifications or calculated based on the type of its connection.
It takes more time to transfer multiple files compared to the files of equal size. However, the installed software and Operating System also makes a difference.
Performance: Performance generally depends on the type of gadget, connection interface, and the speed markers. With the advent of quick interface advances (USB 3.1 Gen-2 with a two-way speed of 10 Gb/s, and Thunderbolt 3 with a two-way speed of 40 Gb/s), it is now possible to get external storage drives.
These external storage drives work as extensions to the internal storage drives, provided they are compatible.
The most recent types of interface enhance the efficiency and inconsistency of the connection since new interfaces are generally less compatible with the earlier version.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Which device is best suitable to store images?
A. Hard drives are very suitable for storing pictures as they are not expensive and offer quick access to files.
It is very convenient to copy whole data from one hard drive to another in significantly less time, especially if you have thunderbolt connectivity or USB 3.0.
Q2. Are SSDs good for long term storage purposes?
A. It depends on the technology used for designing the drives and how they are used.
Some applications prefer HDDs, whereas some prefer SSDs.
Solid State Drives(SSDs) are expected to last longer as compared to Hard Disk Drives(HDDs).
Q3. Which drive tends to last longer SSDs or HDDs?
A. Solid State Drives(SSDs) tend to last longer as compared to HDDs, especially the MLC or SLC variants.
It is because SSDs don’t possess any mechanical mechanism whereas hard disk drives are mechanical drives which have a chance of failing at some point.
SSDs inform you when to replace it to avoid any loss of your data.
Conclusion
With so many benefits to offer, an external hard drive is a must-have device for photographers.
As you can see, every external hard drive has its characteristics and performs different functions in some way.
And if you are a photographer who travels as frequently as I do, then you might need at least one hard drive from each category.
