2 best external hard drive for laptop backup

An external hard drive for laptop backup is a popular and reliable data storage solution that allows you to back up and store important files, documents, photos, videos, and other data from your laptop or computer. These devices are commonly used for data backup, storage expansion, and data transfer. Here's some key information about external hard drives for laptop backup:

Purpose: The primary purpose of an external hard drive for laptop backup is to provide a secure and separate storage location for your data, reducing the risk of data loss due to hardware failures, accidental deletion, or malware attacks.
Capacity: External hard drives come in various storage capacities, typically ranging from a few hundred gigabytes (GB) to several terabytes (TB).Choose a capacity that suits your backup needs and budget.
Portability: Most external hard drives are compact and lightweight, making them highly portable. They can be easily carried in a bag or pocket, making them ideal for users who need to access their data on the go.
Connectivity: External hard drives typically connect to your laptop or computer via USB ports. USB 3.0 and USB-C are common connectivity options, offering fast data transfer speeds. Some models may also support Thunderbolt or eSATA connections for even faster performance.
Compatibility: External hard drives are usually compatible with both Windows and macOS operating systems. Some drives may come pre-formatted for one system, but they can be reformatted to work with the other.
Backup Software: Many external hard drives come with backup software or utilities that make it easy to schedule automatic backups of your data. This software can help simplify the backup process and ensure that your data is protected regularly.
Security: Some external hard drives offer built-in encryption features to secure your data. These drives may require a password or PIN to access the stored information, adding an extra layer of protection.
Durability: Look for external hard drives with rugged or shock-resistant designs if you plan to use them in environments where they might be exposed to physical damage or rough handling.
Price: The cost of external hard drives can vary significantly based on their capacity, brand, and features. It's essential to balance your storage needs with your budget when choosing an external drive.
Alternatives: In addition to traditional external hard drives, you can also consider other backup options such as network-attached storage (NAS) devices, cloud storage services, and solid-state drives (SSDs), depending on your specific requirements.

Remember that regularly backing up your laptop or computer is crucial to protect your data from loss or corruption. An external hard drive can be an excellent tool for this purpose, providing a convenient and cost-effective way to keep your files safe and accessible.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best external hard drive for laptop backup on the market

500GB External Hard Drive - MegaZ Backup Slim 2.5'' Portable HDD USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, Laptop, PS4, Xbox one and Chromebook, 3 Year Warranty

MegaZ

Based on 1 reviews Check latest price

Product description

2019 LATEST VERSION

Updated with reliable USB 3.0 connector, MegaZ portable external hard drive 2526 is the latest version.

KEY FEATURES

Plug-and-Play High Speed Connectivity

Ready to plug in and play without software installation or external power required.

Ultra fast transfer speed at up to 5Gbit/s, effectively improve your PC's performance.

Compatible With More Systems/Devices

Pre-formatted as exFAT for: Windows/Mac OS(10.6.5 and above)/PS4/Xbox.

Y cable will be needed for Wii U.

Durable and Light Weight

Protected by sturdy an compact case, MegaZ portable drive makes you bring your files and collections anywhere with its massive space and reliability.

SPECIFICATIONS

Item Dimensions: 4.52 x 3.15 x 0.39 in

Item Weight: 140 g(4.9 oz)

USB 3.0 Cable Length: 49 cm(19.29 in)

NOTE

Type of file system used for the drive, type of operating system, and various other factors can affect the actual storage capacity displayed by your computer.

160 GB ≈ 149 GB

250 GB ≈ 238 GB

320 GB ≈ 298 GB

500 GB ≈ 465 GB

1TB GB ≈ 931GB

MANUFACTURER WARRANTY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

45 Days Money-Back Guarantee for ANY reason, return your undamaged MegaZ product and receive a full refund for ANY reason.

3 Years Manufacturer Warranty for quality-related issues. For 36 months after the date of purchase, we take care of all quality-related issues with a replacement or full refund including the return shipping cost.

Compatible With - Microsoft Windows/ Mac/ PS4/ Xbox One(No need reformat)
Latest Model - Equipped with USB 3.0 connection, this portable hard drive enables you to backup massive data in seconds, delivering ultra fast transfer speed to improve your PC performance
Designed for PC and Mac - This external drive is ready to go without extra power supply or software installation needed
Slim Style Handy Sized Design - 11.5 X 8 X 1 cm, light weight hard disk drive protected by sturdy and compact case, comfortably fits your palm
Package Content - Portable external hard drive, 19-inch USB 3.0 hard drive cable, user’s manual, 3-Year friendly manufacturer warranty. Quick replacement or refund service. (1MB=1,000,000 bytes, 1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes. The actual usable storage capacity may be less, 500GB ≈ 465GB)

User questions & answers

Question:	Will this external hard drive work with Windows
Answer:	It will work with Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, MacOS X.
Question:	could i use this with my chromebook to xfer music from one mps player to another
Answer:	Based on my experience, I would say no. Chromebooks aren't good with zip files which is how music albums download.
Question:	Can i set this up to automatically back up certain files say once a week and walk away from it
Answer:	I'm sorry. I have only used this hard drive as a means to store videos for my DVR. I have never used it to do anything else, but it has been flawless as storage for my videos. I'm not sure I understand exactly what you're wanting it to do, but as a storage for videos, it has been flawless. I hope this helps and apologize if it doesn't.
Question:	What does it mean if this product starts beeping
Answer:	Since the product is not a sold state drive if you bump it or drop it the disk can become unbalanced the beeping indicates that

Seagate Backup Plus Slim 1TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – Black USB 3.0 for PC Laptop and Mac, 1 year Mylio Create, 2 Months Adobe CC Photography (STHN1000400)

Seagate

Based on 1 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Store and access 1TB of photos and files on the go with Seagate Backup Plus Slim. The perfect compliment to personal aesthetic, this compact portable external hard drive features a minimalist brushed metal enclosure and quick plug-and-play connectivity with the included USB 3.0 cable. Giving files extra protection is practically effortless—simply back up with a single click or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups. Plus—edit, manage, and share photos with a one-year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create and a two-month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan

Store and access 1TB of photos and files on the go with Seagate Backup Plus Slim, an external hard drive for Mac and Windows
This portable external hard drive features a minimalist brushed metal enclosure, and is a stylish USB drive
Simply plug this external hard drive for Mac and Windows into a computer via the included USB 3.0 cable to back up files with a single click or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups. Reformatting may be required for use with Time Machine.
Edit, manage, and share photos with a one-year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create and a two-month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan
Enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included two-year limited warranty

User questions & answers

Question:	does it come with a protective carry case
Answer:	The SV231DD2DUA has 2x dedicated ports for keyboard and mouse. There are 2x additional hub ports, for a total of 4x available ports. We do not recommend connecting an additional USB hub to the KVM. - Malcolm, StarTech.com Support
Question:	Can I play my pc games on this hard drive
Answer:	if you mean physical rotation, then as long as your cords are long enough it's fine. If you mean rotating the display in Windows, I've never tried. Fair warning, I had very bad luck with this product. Hot key switching failed early on and it started randomly blanking the video at bizarre intervals and is still doing so. Star tech wouldn't even respond to emails, let alone making it right. I would never recommend this POS to anyone
Question:	I assume a portable hard drive is faster than the regular internal hard drive is that true because I want to load all my programs operating system on
Answer:	Any small switch-mode power supply that puts out 9 volts DC and 1.7 amps current (or 15 watts max) should work. The center cavity of the plug is the positive leg and negative is outer shell of the plug. If you have the original power supply that information is shown on the back of the power supply transformer. You might try contacting StarTech and seeing what they will sell you, but be advised it will probably be Big $$$$. Look on the interwebs for a 'generic' (there are many available) and cut the plug off of your old one and splice onto the new one if the plug isn't the correct size on your low-$$$ replacement. Good Luck!
Question:	Is it compatible with XBoxOne
Answer:	Hi, The SV431DD2DUA does support analog (VGA) signals, however, we do not recommend mixing digital (DVI-D) and analog signals with KVM inputs and outputs. If you reach out to us directly we can go over your exact setup and recommend the best solution for you. Dan StarTech.com Support