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Top 16 best small external hard drive: Which one do you want?

Dylan Abbott
  May 18, 2024 6:48 AM

A small external hard drive is perfect for storing files that you need quick access to, such as music, photos, or videos. They are also great for storing files that you don't want to take up space on your computer's internal hard drive.


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Last update on 2024-05-18 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API


Buying guide

When it comes to data storage, there are a lot of different factors to consider. You need to think about capacity, portability, speed, and security. And then, of course, there's price.

The best small external hard drive for you will depend on your specific needs. But if you're looking for some guidance, here are five things to keep in mind when shopping for an external hard drive.

1. Capacity

One of the most important things to consider when purchasing an external hard drive is capacity. How much data do you need to store?

If you just need a little extra storage, you can find drives with capacities as low as 500GB. But if you need a lot of space, you can find drives with capacities up to 10TB.

2. Portability

If you plan to take your external hard drive with you on the go, you'll want to consider its portability.

Some external hard drives are small and lightweight, making them easy to take with you when you travel. Others are larger and more bulky.

3. Speed

When it comes to speed, there are two things to consider: read and write speeds.

The read speed is how fast data can be transferred from the external hard drive to your computer. The write speed is how fast data can be transferred from your computer to the external hard drive.

Generally, the higher the read and write speeds, the faster the external hard drive will be.

4. Security

If you're storing sensitive data on your external hard drive, you'll want to consider its security features.

Some external hard drives come with built-in security features, such as password protection and encryption. Others do not.

5. Price

External hard drives can vary in price, depending on their capacity, portability, speed, and security features.

But overall, they are relatively affordable. You can find external hard drives starting as low as $50.

So, what's the best small external hard drive for you?

It really depends on your needs. But if you're looking for a general guideline, here are five things to keep in mind when shopping for an external hard drive.


Final thoughts

If you're looking for a small external hard drive that is both affordable and offers decent performance, the Seagate Backup Plus Slim is a good option. Although it is not the most advanced or fastest small external hard drive on the market, it is still a good option. Additionally, the Seagate Backup Plus Slim is also a good value for its price.


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