Which external hard drives have a good balance of price and portability for on-the-go use?
| Product ⇅ | Price ⇅ | Storage Capacity (TB) ⇅ | Interface Type ⇅ | Transfer Speed (MB/s) ⇅ | Dimensions (mm x mm x mm) ⇅ | Weight (g) ⇅ | Power Supply ⇅ | Warranty (years) ⇅ |
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Samsung Portable SSD T7 USB 3.2 Gen 2 1TB (MU-PC1T0T/AM)
US
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£144.34 ≈ | 1TB | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen2) | 1050MB/s | Height 2.2in, Width 3.4in, Depth 0.3in | 0.13lbs | USB Cable | 3 Years Limited |
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Samsung Portable SSD T7 (MU-PC1T0T/AM) is a portable 1TB external SSD that connects via USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen2) for fast transfers up to 1050MB/s read. It is lightweight and compact, making it well-suited for moving files on the go, while using hardware AES 256-bit encryption. The T7 is backed by a 3-year limited warranty. ★ Ideal forIt offers a strong price-to-portability balance because it's a 0.13lbs portable drive with USB 3.2 Gen2 over USB-C and speeds up to 1050MB/s for quick transfers while traveling. |
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Western Digital WD My Passport, Works with USB-C - 6TB (My Passport going forward)
US
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£199.04 ≈ | 6TB | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | up to 5Gb/s | 4.22 x 2.95 x 0.81 in | 0.52lb | USB-powered | 3-Year Limited Warranty |
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WD My Passport, Works with USB-C - 6TB is a portable 2.5 external HDD with USB 3.2 Gen 1 (adapter included) and built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption with password protection. It's bus-powered, making it convenient for on-the-go backups and file storage. The included WD software supports device management and backups. ★ Ideal forA 6TB portable, USB-powered HDD with USB 3.2 Gen 1 and transfer rate up to 5Gb/s is a strong price-and-portability balance for on-the-go storage, especially when you want a lightweight drive that still supports USB-C with the included adapter. |
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Seagate One Touch external SSD 2TB (STKG2000400)
US
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£493.82 ≈ | 2TB | USB Type C | 1030MB/s | 50 mm x 70 mm x 10.6 mm | 74 g | USB bus | 3-year limited warranty |
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The Seagate One Touch external SSD (2TB, STKG2000400) is a USB-powered, travel-ready drive designed for fast file transfers up to 1030MB/s. It uses USB Type-C connectivity and is compatible across common platforms including Windows and Mac. It's well-suited for backing up and moving large photo and video libraries on the go. ★ Ideal forIt's a 2TB portable SSD that's bus-powered (USB bus) and compact at 50 mm x 70 mm x 10.6 mm with 74 g weight, while offering up to 1030MB/s transfers over USB Type-C-good price and portability balance for on-the-go storage.
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LaCie LaCie Rugged SSD4 4TB
US
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£1124.39 ≈ | 4TB | USB4 (40 Gbps) | Up to 4000 MB/s read and up to 3800 MB/s write | 105 x 67 x 18 mm | 109 grams | — | 3 years |
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LaCie Rugged SSD4 4TB is a rugged portable external SSD built for on-the-go workflows, with USB4 (40 Gbps) connectivity for very fast file transfers. It's rated for dust and water resistance (IP54) and is built to withstand drops. It suits creators who need high-speed storage in challenging environments, like photographers and filmmakers. ★ Ideal forIt offers up to 4,000 MB/s read and up to 3,800 MB/s write via USB4, while weighing about 109 grams and using a compact 105 x 67 x 18 mm body for practical portability.
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CORSAIR EX300U 1TB USB Type-C External SSD (EX300U family)
US
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£124.21 ≈ | 1 TB | USB 3.2 Gen2 | 1100 MB/s | 64.3 x 64 x 12 mm | 0.098 kg | Bus Powered | 3 Years |
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The CORSAIR EX300U is a pocketable USB Type-C external SSD designed for fast, on-the-go transfers and backups. It offers sequential read and write speeds up to 1100 MB/s over USB 3.2 Gen2 and is MagSafe-compatible for easy mounting to supported iPhone models. It suits mobile creators and anyone moving large files between laptops and phones. ★ Ideal forIt balances portability with speed by using a USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C connection rated up to 1100 MB/s in a 64.3 x 64 x 12 mm, 0.098 kg drive that runs bus power and includes a MagSafe-compatible magnetic ring, making it easy to carry while still offering high transfer performance.
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