“Low Disk Space.” That message drives me crazy. What to do? It’s so easy (and fast) to download stuff, and there are so many photos to capture and save. A reliable, high-capacity external hard drive is the answer. Here, I show you how to choose the best external hard drive as well as the top 11 drives to buy.
Choosing the best external hard drive
This is what you have to consider before you buy an external hard drive:
- Storage capacity – Not just how much space you need today but how much you may need in the future. If you are a movie buff and take a lot of photos, an external hard drive of at least 2TB or 4 TB would be the minimum.
- Speed and connectivity – All the better external hard drives have a USB 3.0 or higher connector for faster data transfer. USB-C or Thunderbolt connections deliver better performance and broader compatibility with the latest devices. Wireless external drives are also making an appearance.
- Type – Traditional external drives are mechanical, where data is read off a spinning disk. Solid state device (SSD) drives have no moving parts, are faster, smaller and more shock resistant, but also cost more.
- Portability – The latest generation of portable external hard drives are ultra-light and compact. Desktop external hard drives are bulkier and some even require an external DC power source.
- Durability – Rugged and shock-resistant external hard drives are better for travel. You can invest in a carrier or case separately, too.
- Software – A good external hard drive will come with built-in backup software and/or encryption features to safeguard your data. Automatic backup options and password protection add an extra layer of security.
- Compatibility – Most external hard drives today offer cross-platform compatibility, including support for both Mac and Windows systems.
- Warranty and Recovery – The best external hard drives come with a long warranty. They may also offer Recovery options within that period so you don’t lose your files even when the drive fails.
The 11 best external hard drives
Here are the best external disk drives in Singapore, covering traditional mechanical drives, SSDs and wireless drives. All prices are for 1TB models unless specified otherwise.
1. Samsung T9
Easily topping our list with transfer speeds up to 2,000 Mbps (2GB file in 1 sec) via USB 3.2 2×2 (dual lane), the Samsung T9 is perfect for anyone loaded with data but short on time. Best of all, it’s the size of a credit card and weighs just 122g.
- Type: SSD portable
- Capacity: Up to 5TB
- Connection: USB 3.2 2×2 Type-C
- Warranty: 3 years
Buy from S$199 on Samsung Lazada
2. Seagate New One Touch
Simple and affordable, Seagate’s One Touch series is the reliable workhorse of their stable.
- Type: Mechanical portable
- Capacity: Up to 5TB
- Connection: USB 3.0
- Warranty: 3 years
Buy from S$85 on Lazada Shopee
3. WD My Passport
WD’s My Passport series is their answer to Seagate’s One Touch, offering the same affordability and 3-year warranty.
- Type: Mechanical portable
- Capacity: Up to 5TB
- Connection: USB 3.0
- Warranty: 3 years
Buy from S$85 on Lazada Shopee
4. Seagate Expansion Desktop Hard Drive
With up to 18TB of storage, the Seagate Expansion range is meant for digital hoarders. Do note that it requires a direct socket connection and can’t work off USB power.
- Type: Mechanical desktop
- Capacity: Up to 18TB
- Connection: USB 3.0
- Warranty: 3 years
Buy from S$219 (6TB) on Lazada Shopee
5. Seagate Ultra Touch
The Ultra Touch series is an upgrade from Seagate’s One Touch range and offers USB-C compatibility for faster file transfer.
- Type: Mechanical portable
- Capacity: Up to 5TB
- Connection: USB 3.0, Type-C
- Warranty: 3 years
Buy from S$119 (2TB) on Lazada Shopee
6. Toshiba Canvio Advance V10
Toshiba’s reliability is the draw here but the Canvio Advance range is also surprisingly affordable.
- Type: Mechanical portable
- Capacity: Up to 4TB
- Connection: USB 3.0
- Warranty: 3 years
Buy from S$72 on Lazada Shopee
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7. Verbatim Store N Go Secure with Keypad Access
USB 3.1 and Type-C are very good but the USP here is the inbuilt keypad to lock your drive with a code (up to 12 digits long) without using any software.
- Type: Mechanical portable
- Capacity: Up to 2TB
- Connection: USB 3.1 Type-C
- Warranty: 2 years
Buy from S$116 on Lazada
8. Sandisk E61 SSD Extreme
Extreme is correct – this SSD HDD is rated IP55 for water and dust resistance, can operate in temperatures from 0ºC to 70ºC, and offers up to 1500G shock resistance. Perfect for an active, on-the-go lifestyle… or those with little ones at home!
- Type: SSD portable
- Capacity: Up to 4TB
- Connection: USB 3.0 Type-C
- Warranty: 5 years
Buy from S$133 (500GB) on Lazada Shopee
9. ASUS FX RGB
Probably the most stylish model on our list, the ASUS FX gaming drive’s futuristic patterns and RGB lighting are meant for those who want to stand out.
- Type: Mechanical portable
- Capacity: Up to 2TB
- Connection: USB 3.1
- Warranty: 1 year
Buy from S$109 on Lazada Shopee
10. LaCie Rugged
Drop-, crush- and rain-resistant for all-terrain use, this LaCie model is the more affordable alternative to the Sandisk Extreme series.
- Type: Mechanical portable
- Capacity: Up to 5TB
- Connection: USB 3.0 Type-C
- Warranty: 2 years
Buy from S$149 on Lazada Shopee
11. SSK Portable Wireless
The convenience of cable-free connection would have placed this wireless hard drive cum 3,800mAh power bank much higher on our list but for the lack of warranty.
- Type: Mechanical portable wireless
- Capacity: Up to 2TB
- Connection: USB 3.0
- Warranty: No warranty
Buy from S$188 on Lazada
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