So we look not only at the versatility and general performance of the drives - across a number of benchmarks - but also their relevance to specific use cases, after sales and warranty as well as sheer value for money. That however came at the cost of endurance, especially at the lower end of the market and is likely to be an issue if you use our SSD storage extensively.Īll newer MacBook and desktop Macs (iMac, Mac Mini, Mac Pro) come with one or more Thunderbolt ports which are also compatible with USB Type-C. While we will talk mostly about hard drives as storage device write and read on spinning metal or glass platters, we have to mention SSD (solid state drives) as well as they have grown both in capacity and in performance. Best external hard drives for Mac: How we chose them? There are other things as well, including a rugged build if you plan on taking it out in the field with you, and portability if you plan on traveling around with it. If you’re storing very important files, especially for work, consider getting one that has more robust security features. Many external hard drives have USB 3.0 connections, but since MacBooks and Mac accessories rely on the power and data transfer speed of USB-Cs, USB Type-C or Thunderbolt 3 or 4 connections are certainly favorable.
Finding one that’s not only affordable, but has enough storage space – a minimum of 1TB is highly recommended – for your present and future needs is definitely ideal, even if you have more than enough money to splurge for something expensive.Īnother deciding factor, however, is the connection. In this article, we have put together five of the best external hard. Of course, those two things are absolutely vital. Mac users may be looking to cheaply expand their hard drive's capacity, in which case external HDs come very much in handy. When choosing the best external hard drive for your Mac, you need to consider other things beyond storage capacity and price. What to look for in a external hard drive for your Mac LaCie Mobile Drive 4TB External Hard Drive USB-C - Next Gallery Image. LaCie Mobile Drive 4TB External Hard Drive USB-C - Previous Gallery Image. It's more pricey than the other drives of its capacity, but the extra security it offers will be well worth it for many people. LaCie 2TB Mobile Drive External Hard Drive USB-COnly at Apple. When you consider all that extra security, the prices won't scare you away either. What's more, the data is encrypted by the 256-bit AES protocol, with multiple forms of protection in place to ensure the bad guys don't get in no matter how persistent. I dont think this ever happens when the SD card is in the mac itself, just the external SD reader (if it does, it happens infrequently) - On rare occasions, a hard drive that is connected directly to the mac via either USB or thunderbolt will disconnect and i will receive a notifications that the hard drive has been ejected improperly. If someone tries to tamper with your iStorage drive, you can configure it to self-desturct. If you're worried about people getting access to your data if your external hard drive is stolen, than you'll like the iStorage drive here.