7 Best External Hard Drive for Mac With Features Details
Today we are here with the top Mac-compatible external drives whether you’re seeking the best external hard drive for Mac or need additional storage space.
Using a MacBook has a lot of advantages over other systems. MacBooks are highly-portable and compact, easy to use, rarely have any serious issues that require complex troubleshooting methods, and do what they are supposed to without requiring you to jump through any hoops.
However, certain disadvantages to constantly using a Mac for your business include the overall capacity shortage on their drives. That's not to say there aren't specific MacBook models with a lot of storage capacity, but you'd have to spend a lot of money to buy them.
On the other hand, the more affordable MacBooks usually come with around 512 GB of SSD, which is serviceable but is certainly not a lot. For example, a Windows laptop for a similar price would likely have double that amount of SSD storage.
Furthermore, even if you are willing to spend more money on SSD for your Mac, you cannot upgrade the computer’s storage after purchasing it. MacBooks are manufactured in a specific way that makes it very difficult for end-user to add more SSD or RAM to their MacBooks. In other words, there is no way to extend your internal storage; you are stuck with what you have.
Difference Between HDD vs. SSD vs. Thunderbolt
In the market, there are three types of external drives:
- HDD drives, which are the least expensive and have moving parts, are also known as mechanical drives.
- SSD drives, or Solid State Drives, contain no moving components inside and are thus faster yet more costly.
- Thunderbolt drives are the most costly and are similar to SSD drives but are considerably quicker because of Thunderbolt transfer rates.
Modern solid-state disks (SSD) are the ideal alternative since they are speedy, dependable, and small. SSDs, on the other hand, are still relatively costly, with 1TB drives costing roughly $90, whereas the same amount of money can get you a 4TB primary desktop hard drive with a USB interface but remember that drives with high-speed Thunderbolt ports tend to be more expensive. Hard drives are slower than SSDs, but a traditional hard drive is still the most cost-effective alternative if you need a lot of storage for crucial information and backups.
How to Choose Best External Hard Drive for Mac?
There are certain qualities that anyone looks for when considering hard drives for any backup. The main factor in selection is reliability.
It doesn’t matter how fast the disk is, how sleek it looks, or how good the discount was, If the drive fails when you need it, then it’s not worth even a penny.
Best External Hard Drive for Mac
The thing is that all hard drives fail. There is not a single model that is 100% fail-free. The difference is the failure rate. Devices produced by well-known, established companies have lower rates than drives from unknown manufacturers.
Please don't panic, though, because our buying guide will tell you everything you need to know in plain language. These are the best external hard drives for Macs that money can buy, and we'll talk you through the advantages of each one.
Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox
| Digital Storage Capacity | 2 TB |
| Connectivity Technology | USB |
| Brand | Seagate |
| Hard Disk Form Factor | 3.5 Inches |
| Hard Disk Description | Portable |
| Compatible Devices | PS4, PC, Gaming Console, Mac |
| Color | Black |
| Hard Disk Size | 2 TB |
| Specific Uses For Product | Business, personal |
| Included Components | USB cable, Quick start guide, Seagate Portable Drive external storage |
About This Best External Hard Drive for Mac:
- Easily store and access 2TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap; drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition. No software required
- This USB drive provides plug-and-play simplicity with the included 18-inch USB 3.0 cable
Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue...
Amazon.com
Easily back up yesterday’s memories and today’s documents, even on the go. Seagate Portable makes it possible for you with ease. Thanks to the plug-and-play simplicity of USB 3.0 and drag-and-drop functionality.
WD 2TB My Passport for Mac, Portable External Hard Drive
Every journey needs a passport. The My Passport for Mac drive is trusted, portable storage that perfectly complements your on-the-go lifestyle. Compatible with USB-C and USB-A, the My Passport for Mac drive comes equipped to connect with today's latest technology. With a stylish design that fits in the palm of your hand, there's space to store, organize, and share all the photos, videos, music, and documents that fill your life.
It is perfectly paired with backup software and password protection. The My Passport for Mac drive helps keep your files safe and your life Driving forward. For ChromeOS, This May require reformatting for other operating systems, and compatibility may vary depending on the user’s hardware configuration and operating system.
My Passport for Mac is formatted and ready to deliver plug-and-play storage out of the box.
Best External Hard Drive for Mac
| Digital Storage Capacity | 2 TB |
| Hard Disk Interface | USB 1.1 |
| Connectivity Technology | USB |
| Brand | Western Digital |
| Hard Disk Form Factor | 2.5 Inches |
| Hard Disk Description | Portable |
| Color | Navy |
| Hard Disk Size | 2 TB |
| Read Speed | 130 Megabytes Per Second |
About This Best External Hard Drive for Mac:
- Specially designed for Mac.
- You will get software for device management and backup with password protection. (Download and installation required. User account registration may be required.)
- 256-bit AES hardware encryption.
- SuperSpeed USB port (5Gbps); USB 2.0 compatible.
- 3-year limited warranty.
WD 2TB My Passport for Mac Portable External Hard Drive HDD with backup software and password protection, Blue - WDBA2D0020BBL-WESN
Amazon.com
My Passport for Mac portable storage works straight out of the box with Mac devices, making it easy to keep you moving on your journey. Drag and drop files to and from, or set up a backup routine with included backup software to help protect the contents of your digital life.
You can keep your digital life's content secure with My Passport password protection and built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption. Just activate password protection and set your personalized password using the included software.
WD BLACK 5TB P10 External Hard Drive Compatible with Playstation, Xbox, PC, & Mac
| Digital Storage Capacity | 5 TB |
| Hard Disk Interface | USB 3.0 |
| Connectivity Technology | USB |
| Brand | WD_BLACK |
| Special Feature | Game Drive for PC, Playstation & Xbox |
| Hard Disk Form Factor | 2.5 Inches |
| Hard Disk Description | External Hard Disk Drive (HDD) |
| Compatible Devices | Laptop, Gaming Console, Desktop |
| Installation Type | External Hard Drive |
About This Best External Hard Drive for Mac:
This hard drive is available in capacities up to 5TB that can hold up to 125 games so that you can save old favorites and still have room for new titles (As used for storage capacity, one terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes. Total accessible capacity varies depending on the operating environment. The number of games is based on a 36GB average per game. The number of games will vary based on file size, formatting, other programs, and factors.)
It comes with an 18-inch (457mm) USB Type-A to Micro-B cable with a SuperSpeed interface up to 5Gbps, but cable length may vary. It's compatible with Xbox Series X/S (play and store Xbox One games, archive Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S games) and PlayStation 5 (play and keep PS4 games, archive PS5 games) consoles.
A portable form factor with a sleek metal top covering provides fast access to your growing game library. It comes with a premium HDD with a 3-year limited warranty, purpose-built for gamers based on WD_BLACK quality and reliability.
WD_BLACK 5TB P10 Game Drive - Portable External Hard Drive HDD, Compatible with Playstation, Xbox, PC, & Mac - WDBA3A0050BBK-WESN
Amazon.com
Everything that goes into WD_Black devices is designed to take your game further, no matter what you play. With speeds up to 140MB/s and up to 5TB of extra storage, the WD_Black P10 Game Drive will push your console or PC to new levels of performance, allowing you to drive your game and play without limits.
Maxone 500GB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive for Mac
| Digital Storage Capacity | 500 GB |
| Hard Disk Interface | Serial ATA-300 |
| Connectivity Technology | USB |
| Brand | Maxone |
| Hard Disk Form Factor | 2 Inches |
| Hard Disk Description | Mechanical Hard Disk |
| Compatible Devices | Laptop, PC |
| Color | Rose Pink |
| Hard Disk Size | 500 GB |
| Hard Disk Rotational Speed | 5400 |
About This Best External Hard Drive for Mac:
- Ultra Slim and Sturdy Metal Design: It is merely 0.4 inches thick. The all-Aluminum anti-scratch model delivers remarkable strength and durability, keeping this portable hard drive running calm and quiet.
- A Reliable Game Drive: This PS4 external hard drive features fast and stable performance for PS4, PS4 Pro, and Xbox One and does not refuse or delete a game. It is compatible with Microsoft Windows and Mac OS(10.6.5 and above) in the meantime.
- Improve PC Performance: Powered by USB 3.0 technology, this USB hard drive is much faster. Compatible with USB 2.0 backup drive, allowing for a super-fast transfer speed of up to 5 Gbit/s.
- Plug and Play: This external drive is ready to use without an external power supply or software installation. Maxone 500GB ultra slim portable external hard drive for Mac is ideal extra storage for your computer and game console.
Maxone 500GB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive HDD USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, Laptop, PS4, Xbox one - Rose...
Amazon.com
Maxone Ultra Slim Portable Hard Drive: USB 3.0 Ready, USB 2.0 Compatible
Powered by USB 3.0 technology, Maxone portable hard drives are much faster than USB 2.0, allowing for speedy transfer when organizing your files. This portable hard drive, by default, is formatted as exFAT, which works well with Windows and Mac. Some of the old devices may need to reformat.
No reformat is required for Windows and Mac, plug it in and play. You will need y cable for Wii U. To maximize performance, please connect your hard drive to a USB 3.0 port, also compatible with USB 2.0.
WD 5TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive
| Digital Storage Capacity | 5 TB |
| Connectivity Technology | USB |
| Brand | Western Digital |
| Hard Disk Form Factor | 2.5 Inches |
| Hard Disk Description | Portable |
| Compatible Devices | PC, Mac |
| Color | Black |
| Hard Disk Size | 5 TB |
About This Best External Hard Drive for Mac:
- USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 Compatibility
- Compatible with PC, Mac, PS4 & Xbox
- Fast Data Transfers, Improve PC Performance
- High Capacity
- Memory Storage Capacity: 5TB
WD 5TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive HDD, USB 3.0, Compatible with PC, Mac, PS4 & Xbox - WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN
Amazon.com
You only need to connect this portable drive to your PC for an instant storage upgrade. WD Elements is the ideal companion for taking important files with you on the go.
- Available in capacities up to 5TB.
- This hard drive comes with a SuperSpeed USB-A cable for transfers up to 5Gbps.
- 2-year limited warranty.
- It comes formatted for Windows 11, 10, 8.1, and 7.1 and is compatible with Mac and other operating systems after reformatting.
Essential Questions & Answers About WD 5TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive:
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Will this drive [Elements Portable] work with my Xbox or PS4? What about my Mac or PC?
Yes, however, it’s best suited for PC or Mac. For the best gaming experience, we recommend the WD_BLACK P10, designed for optimal compatibility with Xbox/PS5/PS4.
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I'm not computer savvy; is the setup easy?
The setup is simple! Plug the drive into a USB Type-A 3.0 or 2.0 port using the included USB Type-A cable and open your device’s file manager, such as File Explorer or Finder.
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Do you need a battery for the drive to work?
Your PC powers the drive. So, you don't need to worry about battery or battery replacement.
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What needs to be done to format this device for mac?
To easily reformat to Mac, plug in the drive, open your Mac’s Disk Utility application, and follow the steps. Please note that this will erase any data on the drive.
WD 5TB My Passport for Mac – USB 3.0 Slim Portable External Hard Drive
| Digital Storage Capacity | 5000 GB |
| Hard Disk Interface | USB 3.1 |
| Connectivity Technology | USB |
| Brand | Western Digital |
| Hard Disk Form Factor | 2.5 Inches |
| Hard Disk Description | Portable |
| Color | Midnight Blue |
| Hard Disk Size | 5 TB |
| Cache Size | 5 TB |
| Model Name | My Passport |
About This Best External Hard Drive for Mac:
This unique bundle is just what you need to keep your data safe and secure. Its durability and slim form make it perfect no matter where you are. With the high capacity of 5TB, you can store and back up all of your files. This on-the-go storage solution is perfect for traveling with peace of mind.
HARD DRIVE FEATURES: 5TB Storage Capacity – USB 3.0 Type-C Interface (USB 3.1 Gen 1) – Bus-Powered, No External Power Required – 256-Bit AES Hardware Encryption
WD 5TB My Passport for Mac USB 3.0 Slim Portable External Hard Drive (Midnight Blue) + Compact Hard Drive Case...
Amazon.com
This WD 5TB My Passport for Mac USB 3.0 External Hard Drive is a compact, portable drive designed to work right out of the box with Mac systems. It comes with both USB Type-A and USB Type-C cables, so it's compatible with current and older systems.
As a bus-powered drive, no external power sources are required. For protection, it has built-in 256-bit AES encryption and password protection. Users can also download the WD Discovery and WD Drive utility software to help manage their data and drive.
2TB Portable Backup External Hard Drive, for Pc, Xbox, Mac
Featuring a sleek, matte-black design that is more compact than ever, it is a good portable hard drive — easy to carry and store in any pocket or bag.
| Digital Storage Capacity | 2000 GB |
| Hard Disk Interface | USB 2.0/3.0 |
| Connectivity Technology | USB |
| Brand | Bilim |
| Hard Disk Form Factor | 2.5 Inches |
| Compatible Devices | Gaming Console, Desktop |
| Color | 01 |
| Cache Size | 2 TB |
| Form Factor | Portable |
About This Best External Hard Drive for Mac:
- Standard Size: 4.72 x 2.75 x 0.47 inches and weight is5.36 ounces. Material: Metal
- About Design: The 0.47-inch thick design allows you to carry it easily in your laptop backpack or coat pocket. USB3.0 is designed to better assist you with file transfer, and you can match it with any computer to reduce the choice of doubt. 2TB of memory capacity is enough to save more temporary files.
- Scenario and Maintenance: Either you are working from home or storing any kind of files, the speed of it makes you feel very stable. When you're done using it, please put it in a hard drive protection box to prevent unnecessary trouble.
2tb External Hard Drive,USB 3.0 Portable Backup Hard Drive, for Pc, Xbox, Mac
Amazon.com
You can quickly add more storage capacity to your PC and other compatible devices, with up to 2TB of storage capacity to store your growing files and content. Step up your storage with up to 2TB capacity of this external hard drive so you can save your massive collection of photos, music, and videos and keep adding to them.
Conclusion: Best External Hard Drive for Mac
So we have looked at some exciting options for the best external hard drive for mac that you can buy right now. We have only selected the perfect options for MAC devices since MAC users usually need an external hard drive.
So in terms of performance and transfer speed, our picks will be the best options you can find on a particular budget. If you are unsure how to select the perfect storage drive for your MAC device, check the buying guide included with our picks. We have some handy recommendations about the best external hard drive for MAC if you are in a hurry.
