Best Portable External Hard Drive For Mac Photography
Storage space on your laptop or PC is insufficient for keeping all your files? Start using an external hard drive! This compact device will allow you to have your most important data at hand. To help you make the right pick, we have shortlisted 5 best external hard drive disks that are present on the market....Read more...Read less
- Desktop external hard drives: 'Cavernous' Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive safeguards all of your data We all know we should be backing up our data -- but nowadays, that's a massive task. Experts say the Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive (Est. $90 and up) makes it easy, quick and affordable.
- With the introduction of fast interface connection technologies (USB 3.0, Fire Wire, Thunderbolt), it became possible to use an external hard drive as a companion to or an extension of internal drives. Today, it is common to keep an entire RAW image library on an external drive.
If you’re looking for more speed, Western Digital external hard drive is what you need. With numerous backup options, your data will always be securely stored.
Seagate Backup Plus Fast portable is the best external hard drive for both windows and mac and gives a brilliantly fast performance with affordable price.Seagate Backup Plus is available in four different capacities like 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB and known as high capacity budget external hard drive. If you work with libraries of large image files, or in audio or video production, you need to be selective about your external hard drive. Writing files directly to an external drive can incur some hefty performance demands, so it's best to determine your needs before you buy a drive.
Compared with the other EHDs, this one is a bit heavier, yet, it’s all worth the functionality it offers.
Western Digital USB external hard drive is an amazing choice for any professional photographer since it allows storing large amounts of data in the ultimate security owing to automatic backup.
detailed parameters /wd-passport-59f8f137aad52b0010416102.jpg "Best Portable External Hard Drive For Mac Photography")
8 TB ( 3 TB, 4 TB, 6 TB, 10 TB, 12 TB, 20 TB)
Desktop
Mains (via power adapter)
2.23 lbs
Windows
Reformatting is required for Mac OS operating system
Automatic local and cloud backup
3-year warranty
You get 2-month complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan with this model. It lets you edit, share, and store your photos with ease.
Cord insulation is a bit stiff.
The Seagate Portable External Hard Drive is a reliable and compact device that you can throw into your bag or jeans pocket and have all the important data at hand 24/7.
detailed parameters5 TB (1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB)
Portable
via USB
0.545 lb
Windows, Mac OS
Seagate Dashboard backup
Limited 2-year warranty
With this model, you get the access to the free trial of WD SmartWare Pro. It helps store your backups on the external hard drive itself and in the Dropbox.
The user manual could be more informative.
The WD Element HDD transfers data very fast with the USB 3.0 (100 Mb/s). And with its capacity, this model can store quite large video/audio libraries as well as expand storage on your gaming console.
detailed parameters4 TB (1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB)
Portable
via USB
0.52 lb
Windows® 10, Windows 8, Windows 7
Reformatting is required for other operating systems
Automatic local and cloud backup with WD SmartWare Pro
Limited 2-year warranty
This HDD is very simple in use. It connects to a PC (both Mac and Windows) within a second via USB 3.0 at the maximal speed of 120Mb/s.
It is a bit noisy when running.
Thanks to high speed, capacious design, auto-setup, included 18' USB 3.0 cable, and aluminum body, this Portable External Hard Drive by Seagate is a reliable device to store photos, music, and documents.
detailed parameters2 TB (1 TB, 4 TB, 5 TB, 8 TB)
Portable (Desktop available)
via USB
0.418 lb
Windows, Mac OS
Seagate Dashboard backup
Limited 1-year warranty
This portable external hard drive provides extra protection of your data owing to 256-bit AES hardware encryption. The device looks rather stylish and you can choose one of 4 available colors.
Some users think the light indicator is too bright.
Having chosen this external hard drive, you will not only get a lot of storage space but you will also be sure about the top security of your data thanks to automatic backup.
detailed parameters 2 TB (1 TB, 3 TB, 4 TB)
Portable
via USB
0.35 lb
Windows
Reformatting is required for Mac OS X operating system
Automatic local and cloud backup
Limited 3-year warranty
Western Digital My Book
Type
This is a desktop external hard drive that helps you easily expand storage space if your computer's drive is overfilled with files. This Western Digital device is a perfect choice for professional photographers who make thousands of pictures and need immense storage space for them. Storing gigabytes of images right on your computer makes no sense, whilst an external hard drive disk not only contains all essential files but also backs them all up.
Capacity
It's one of the most high-capacity USB external hard drives available on the market. Several capacity options are available: 3 TB, 4 TB, 6 TB, 8 TB, 10 TB, 12 TB, 16 TB and 20 TB. Thus, even the most demanding buyer can find the right model of this fantastic hard drive. The 8 TB external hard drive disk allows you to store all your files: images, photos, games, music, videos, movies, and so on. Therefore, storing HD-videos and Blu-Ray movies won't be a problem any more!
Speed
This cutting-edge USB external hard drive surely has what to boast of in terms of data transfer rate. If connected via USB 3.0, the maximum speed reaches 5 Gb/s, so you will be able to copy files momentarily and an HD movie will require several minutes (forget about painful 2-hour waits!). If the other device or computer has USB 2.0 support only, don't worry - this external HDD is 100% compatible with USB 2.0 but the read/write speed falls to 480 Mb/s.
Design and Size
Western Digital My Book desktop external hard drive has a stylish black plastic casing that has 4 small feet, so you can easily put the device upright. This unit looks stunning on your computer desk. As usual, an external hard drive of this kind can be placed right near the monitor. The front panel of this external HDD has a light indicator and a stylish Western Digital logo. The overall weight of the unit is 2.23 lbs, so it's not the best device to carry around. Oh, let's also mention the form factor of the external HDD that is 3.5'.
OS Compatibility and Backup
Best Portable External Hard Drive For Mac Photography Portsmouth
This WD external hard drive disk is compatible with Windows OS, so if you are using Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10, you just need to connect the computer and the external HDD via a USB cable. Although, it doesn't mean that this model can't be used as Mac hard drive external device. Since Windows and Mac OS are based on different file management systems, after a quick reformatting, Western Digital external hard drive will become Mac-friendly. If you are concerned about security of your data, this device is surely a must-have. First of all, the unit is supplied with WD Backup software - it works quietly and performs automatic backups. No need to say, you can set a schedule of backups, and if you have a Dropbox account - this software can save backup files right to it! But that's not all - Acronis True Image WD Edition software backs up files on a system level, which means it makes a copy of the whole system (with all settings, installed apps, etc.). Be sure, if a system failure occurs, you will be able to restore it entirely thanks to Acronis True Image.
Additional Info
VIDEO
WD 8TB My Book unboxing and review
Key Specs
It's really fast. It's faster than my old seagate barracuda internal drive connected through Sata III. It has an average sequential read and write of 160 MB/s.
Features
The drive is faster than I expected. It took about 1 day to copy 5.14 TB to it via USB 3. Those were mostly music files 3MB to 60mb plus some videos.
Size & Weight
A file backup hard drive made for desktops. Not made to be highly portable as in the smaller, pocket-sized versions; it's made as a book-sized appliance that sits next to your desktop computer.
Seagate Backup Plus Portable
EXPAND YOUR DATA STORAGE CAPABILITIES
Aiming to produce a capacious and compact HDD at the same time, Seagate engineers have designed the new series of Backup Plus external hard drives. Made smaller to fit into a pocket of your jeans, this external HDD offers 5 TB of memory to store tens of thousands of photos, documents, and other media. The manufacturer also sells 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB models, so you can choose the one that meets your needs best.
Its capacity is only one of the many great features the Backup Plus has to offer, though. Made to be convenient and safe to use on-the-go, this drive is durable enough to withstand accidental drops and scratches. The Seagate Plus is produced from metal, so it ensures great shock resistance. Also, if color matters to you, this model is available in black, red, silver, and blue, so you can choose the one you like more.
Software is what we absolutely love about Seagate. This small device can backup data automatically from any gadget, you only need to set it up right.
The only weak point of this model is its cord insulation. It’s a bit stiff. That said, being stiffer also means it is more resistant to wear and tear, so it should serve you for a long while.
BACK UP AND SAVE UP
The first thing you should do after purchasing this external hard drive is to install the Seagate Dashboard app. This is important to do especially if you deal with lots of data. The thing is, this app has a Protect function which enables performing quick backups with but a single click, thus guaranteeing safety of your files. In addition to that, it allows you to create your own backup schedule so that the software runs backs up at a time you need.
Also, we recommend installing the Seagate Media app. This app will come in handy if you have a large library of images on your smartphone or laptop, which you wish to store on the HDD.
And with the Seagate Plus, for example, you'll get a 2-month complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan. It will provide you access to Lightroom CC, Photoshop CC and more, offering you plenty of editing tools to retouch your photos.
On top of that, Seagate gives its users a one-year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create. This is the app that helps organize photos into a life calendar, as well as allows you to edit, share, and sync them across multiple devices.
ONE FOR ALL
It is not the news that this HDD by Seagate is compatible with both Mac and Windows PCs right out-of-the-box. What you might not have been aware of though is that it doesn't require reformatting for being used with Mac. This means if you have gadgets running on Mac, you will only need to install the Mac driver before the first use. Handy, isn't it?
GREAT IN ALL MATTERS
Fast data copying with the USB 3.0/2.0, lots of storage space, scheduled auto backups, user-friendly software, and shockproof housing are the many benefits that Seagate offers its users. So, if you are looking for an easy way to store your data, the Seagate Plus drive hits the sweet spot.
Additional Info
Western Digital Elements
Plug and Transfer
The WD Element can rightly be called one of the most reliable external hard drives on the market. It is quite compact for the model with a storage space of 2 TB and fairly affordable for the external HDD of its range. Plus, the manufacturer offers you more and less capacious models (1 TB / 2 TB / 3 TB) so that you could get the one that meets your individual needs.
As any other portable hard drive in our review, this one is powered through the USB cable. You can either use USB 3.0 or 2.0, but as you know, data transfer is faster with the former: it is 100 Mb/s with USB 3.0 and about 38 Mb/s with its alternative. Speaking in terms of time, to burn a 1GB video file on your WD, you will need to wait for either 10 or 40 seconds with USB 3.0 or 2.0 respectively.
The Element HDD is compatible with most OSs: Windows 7 and higher, Mac, and Linux. For Windows users, it is ready to use right from the box, just plug it into your PC and you are ready to go. The external hard drive is NTFS pre-formatted for Windows. If you reformat your hard drive in FAT-32 for example, it will work on any system. Gamers can also benefit from this model since this WD hard drive can easily expand storage on Xbox One, PS4, and other gaming consoles. A great opportunity to have all the important data at hand 24/7.
Intuitive Control
As we have mentioned before this model is user-friendly and it starts working right after you plug it in. It’s like using a flash drive, though no flash drive will give you so much storage space at this price. But there is more!
The Element hard drive comes with the WD SmartWare Pro. It allows you to back up your data in Dropbox thus expanding your data storage options greatly. The installation app is on the HDD, you just need to run it on your PC and follow several simple instructions. However, don’t forget to save it elsewhere before formatting the hard drive.
Made to Last
Being made of high-quality materials, the WD Element pleases its user with a pretty durable construction. It is wear-proof and can withstand accidental drops and hits, thus protecting the hard drive and all your data reliably.
The front and back sides of the housing have a matte finish so it is not a fingerprint magnet. That is a clever touch considering how annoying fingerprints on a glossy surface can be. Otherwise, the design is pretty simple, no bells and whistles. If you care little about your HDD being eye-catching and more about its functionality, that wouldn't be much of a problem, though. Finally, this 4TB model is pretty compact, so there is no need to carry your briefcase for the HDD only. Just drop it in your pocket.
Good Value for Money
Without a doubt, the WD element hard drive is a pretty simple and user-friendly model that can store hundreds of video files, thousands of audio tracks, and so many more for you securely. At the same time, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Does it sound like the hard drive you are looking for? Then the WD HDD is right up your alley.
Additional Info
Seagate Portable
PLENTY OF STORAGE FOR A REASONABLE PRICE
Seagate is a well-known company producing innovative and reliable data storage devices for over 40 years. Today, the company offers a wide range of products, making it easy for buyers to find products they need. The Portable External Hard Drive is one of their best hard drives: it is capable of holding up to 2 TB of files and documents and it offers a super-fast transfer speed of 120 MB/s. However, these aren't the only benefits of this model. Just like most quality hard drives, this one has a slim, sharp design. It weighs only 0.418 lb so you can easily put it in your pocket if you need to carry it with you. Also, it is simple to use. Once you connect it to your computer and the operating system recognizes it - this usually takes a couple of seconds - it will be ready to use.
SMOOTH AND COMPACT
We've mentioned that this external HDD is rather lightweight. What we'd like to add is that it also has an ergonomic build making it convenient to hold in the hand. Plus, it has a beautiful matte coating that not only adds appeal to it but also prevents fingermarks, which often spoil the look of devices. More to that, the matte coating is pleasant to the touch and doesn't slip. It is also worth highlighting that this model is very durable thanks to its aluminum body. You can be sure it will endure falls and won't show the signs of wear and tear. This can be important for those who live active lives.
FAST-SPEED INTERFACE
With this Portable External Hard Drive, you will not need to trade capacity for speed as it has them both. On top of 2 TB of storage space, the drive boasts a speedy USB interface with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports making it compatible with old and new devices. This makes it a good purchase for families that use a mix of gadgets.
BACKUP AND RESTORE WITH SEAGATE DASHBOARD SOFTWARE
The advantage of buying from Seagate is that the company provides its users with Seagate Dashboard software for free, so they don't need to run any additional costs. This software allows not only backing up files but also restoring them should you ever damage or accidentally delete your files. The backups can run automatically or be performed manually on-demand when needed.
The Seagate Portable External Hard Drive has many strong points, however, it also has one minor con - as compared to some other external hard drives in its class, its operation is a little noisy. That said, given you're unlikely to keep it running non-stop, we believe, this shouldn't be an issue.
Summing up, we'd definitely recommend you to consider buying this external storage hard drive. Compact, reliable, and speedy, it will provide quick access to the files you need no matter where you go.
Additional Info
Western Digital My Passport
Type
This external hard drive disk is a portable model that is rather compact, so you can easily carry it with you in a laptop bag or backpack. A fantastic device that you can always have at hand no matter where you go: to work, on a trip, or to college. Since it's a portable external hard drive, it's powered from USB. Therefore, you just need to plug a USB cable into your PC or laptop and the HDD will work. No need to say, you can use the same USB 3.0 interface to connect the external hard drive disk to a TV and other devices.
Capacity
Having chosen this portable external hard drive, you can select one of the several available models that differ in the capacity they provide. All in all, there are the following capacity options: 1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB and 4 TB. Therefore, you can pick the most appropriate capacity according to your needs. For example, an external hard drive disk with 1 TB capacity is more than enough for storing great amounts of photos, music, documents and videos. However, if you have a massive collection of movies, we'd recommend you to choose either a 3TB model or a 4TB one.
Speed
The data transfer speed of this external hard drive depends on the type of USB connection you use. Western Digital has a USB 3.0 support, so if you plug it into the USB 3.0 slot of your PC or laptop, you will be able to transfer files at the maximum speed of 5 Gb/s. However, if your computer has only USB 2.0 interfaces, the read/write speed will fall to 480 Mb/s. However, these are the maximum rates, and the real speed might differ for various reasons. The spindle rotation speed of this external hard drive disk is 5400 RPM.
Design and Size
Western Digital portable external hard drive is rather compact. Just imagine! It's almost of the same size with your passport. The dimensions of the device are as follows: 4.3 x 3.2 x 0.6 inches. It goes without saying that the weight of the unit depends on its capacity and the one we have tested weighs 0.37 lbs. We all know that some people want to emphasize their personal style, and this external HDD will give a chance to pick one of 4 available colors: black, blue, white, and berry.
OS Compatibility and Backup
This USB external hard drive supports USB 3.0 connection and, of course, it is fully compatible with computers, laptops, and other devices that have USB 2.0 interface only. The gadget is ready to use right out of the box in case you use a Windows-operated computer (or laptop). If, however, you're a Mac user - a reformatting of the external hard drive's file system is required. Moreover, the unit provides the highest level of security for your data - both local and cloud automatic backups are available.
Additional Info
VIDEO
WD My Passport 2TB Black Unboxing and SpeedTest
Features
Rubber 'feet' on underside keep it in place
Key Specs
High Capacity Available - Up to 4TB (The older model when released had up to 3TB capacity, up until a 6/28/16 release of a short lived 4TB model)
Size & Weight
I loved the blue of it, and I loved the portability it offered.
What Is an External Hard Drive?
External hard drives (EHD) are additional data storage devices. These handy gadgets provide a reliable backup of any information on your computer - from music and documents to 4k movies and PS4 games.
They can be connected to a computer via a USB cable, FireWire, or wirelessly. External hard drives are compact, portable, and very simple in use. You don’t need to install any software on your computer to start using it. Just plug it in and drag and drop your files.
These devices are usually very capacious. The storage space of a hard drive starts at 500 MB and can reach 20 TB, while its size and weight don't change. Some manufacturers even provide their customers with extra cloud storage space. This is a very handy feature when you work on several computers. So, even if you leave your HDD at home, your files will be with you.
As for the data transfer speed, external hard drives run at 120Mb/s, which is quite enough for regular use. However, if a higher speed is crucial for you, there are super-fast externalsolid-state drives (SSD) available on the market, too. They can transfer data at up to 10 Gb/s. Also, if you are a happy owner of PlayStation 4, we offer you PS4 hard drives for any taste and budget.
What Features to Compare
Type
The first thing to consider when selecting an external hard drive is whether you want a portable unit or a desktop one. Portable external hard drives are small in size, which makes them easy to carry, plus they work directly off a USB port, so all you need is a USB cable. Desktop external hard drive disk, in turn, are bigger in size, they boast higher capacity, and they are best suited for home use. Unlike portable models, they work off the mains via a power adapter.
Capacity
The next thing to consider is the capacity of an external hard drive disk. This parameter may vary, ranging from 200 MB up to 16-20 TB, so everyone should be able to pick the capacity that will best suit their needs.
Speed
Also, we recommend paying attention to the speed rate at which the data is transferred from/to the drive disk. The speed rate primarily depends on the type of USB interface used. For USB 2.0, the maximum data transfer rate reaches around 480 Mb/s, while for USB 3.0 it can be whopping 5 Gb/s. That said, you should not forget that the maximum speed can be achieved only if both a computer and a disk support USB 3.0. Another parameter determining the performance of an external hard drive disk is a spindle rotation speed. If possible, check it out as well. Generally, external drive disks have a spindle rotation speed of 5400 RPM or 7200 RPM.
Size andDesign
Check out the size and design of a disk. Most commonly, the form factor of external hard drive disks varies from 2.5' to 3.5'. This number refers to the dimensions of a magnetic disk located inside the casing. No need to say, the smaller the form factor is, the more compact and lightweight the device is. However, as we've mentioned above, remember that smaller HDDs are usually less capacious.
OS Compatibility and Backup
Pay attention to the default file system of the chosen external hard drive disk. It is crucial because HDDs are not universal: some are designed for Windows, some can work with both Windows and Mac OS, and some will require reformatting for compatibility with other operating systems. Actually, most HDDs can be reformatted to work with a system you need at any stage, but in most cases, this will mean deleting valuable files that you keep there. That's why it's best to check up OS compatibility right away.
Finally, check out safety features. The best external hard drives offer high-level data protection to make sure your files won't be lost and regularly perform local backups. Some models also support cloud backup, i.e. your files are copied to remote cloud storage. These backups are carried out automatically on a schedule that you choose.
Sources:
1. Natalia RealHOW TO BUY AN EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE, Digital Trends. December 9, 2012.
2. Lisa JohnstonTips for Buying a Portable or External Hard Drive, Lifewire. February 14, 2017.
3. Dong NgoStorage buying guide, CNET. November 20, 2015.
4. Michael BrownHow to buy the best portable hard drive, PCWorld. December 5, 2012.
5. Hard disk drive, Wikipedia.
6. Caron BeesleyGot Backup? Finding the Best Backup Option for Your Small Business Data, SBA. February 16, 2012.
7. Desire Athow10 Things to Consider When Buying An External Hard-disk based Storage Device, ITProPortal. June 24, 2008.
