8 best usb 3 hard drive

USB 3.0 (also known as USB 3.1 Gen 1) external hard drives are a common type of data storage device widely used for expanding computer storage, backing up data, and transporting large files. Here is some information related to USB 3.0 external hard drives:

  1. Data Transfer Speed: USB 3.0 offers significantly faster data transfer speeds compared to its predecessor, USB 2.0.USB 3.0 can provide data transfer rates of up to 5 gigabits per second (Gbps), which is approximately ten times faster than USB 2.0's maximum speed of 480 megabits per second (Mbps).

  2. Compatibility: USB 3.0 external hard drives are backward compatible with USB 2.0 ports, meaning they can be used with older computers that do not have USB 3.0 ports. However, when connected to a USB 2.0 port, the data transfer speed will be limited to USB 2.0's slower rate.

  3. Capacity: USB 3.0 external hard drives are available in various storage capacities, ranging from a few hundred gigabytes to several terabytes. Users can choose the capacity that best suits their storage needs.

  4. Portability: Many USB 3.0 external hard drives are designed to be portable and come in compact, lightweight enclosures. These drives are suitable for on-the-go storage and can easily be transported between locations.

  5. Power Source: Most USB 3.0 external hard drives are bus-powered, meaning they draw power from the USB port of the connected computer, eliminating the need for an external power source. However, some larger-capacity drives may require an external power adapter.

  6. Operating Systems: USB 3.0 external hard drives are compatible with various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. They can be used for data storage, backup, and file sharing across different platforms.

  7. File Backup: Many external hard drives come with software or built-in features for automated data backup. This can help users safeguard their important files by regularly backing them up to the external drive.

  8. File Security: Some external hard drives offer encryption and password protection features to enhance the security of stored data, preventing unauthorized access in case the drive is lost or stolen.

  9. Price Range: The cost of USB 3.0 external hard drives varies depending on factors such as storage capacity, brand, and additional features. Smaller-capacity drives tend to be more affordable, while high-capacity models can be more expensive.

USB 3.0 external hard drives are a versatile and convenient solution for expanding storage space, backing up important data, and transporting files between computers. When choosing an external hard drive, it's essential to consider factors like capacity, data transfer speed, and any additional features that may be important for your specific needs.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best usb 3 hard drive on the market
  

Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX2000400)

Seagate

Based on 96 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Easily store and access 2TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a great laptop hard drive. Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this compact external hard drive makes backup a snap. Just drag and drop To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition—no software required—and enjoy plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable.

  • Easily store and access 2TB to 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 just 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
  • Enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included one-year limited warranty and 1 year rescue data recovery services

Product features

Always Spacious. Always Easy.

Back up yesterday’s memories and today’s documents, even on the go. Seagate Portable makes it possible thanks to the plug-and-play simplicity of USB 3.0 and drag-and-drop functionality.

What's Included

Seagate Portable, 18-inch (45.72cm) USB 3.0 cable, Quick start guide

WD 4TB My Book Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 - WDBBGB0040HBK-NESN

Western Digital

Based on 7 reviews Check latest price

Product description

The My Book drive is trusted desktop storage designed to complement your personal style with a massive amount of space to store your photos, videos, music and documents. Equipped with password protection and perfectly paired with WD Backup or Apple Time Machine, My Book desktop storage helps keep your files safe.

  • Auto backup with included WD Backup software and Time Machine compatibility
  • Password protection with hardware encryption
  • Trusted storage built with WD reliability
  • USB 3.0 port; USB 2.0 compatible
  • 3-year manufacturer's limited warranty

Product features

Complete Backup

My Book desktop storage comes equipped with WD Backup software and Time Machine compatibility* to help make sure your photos, videos, music and documents don’t get lost. You can set it to run automatically to your schedule. Just pick the time and frequency to back up important files from your system.

*Reformatting required.

WD 4TB Elements Desktop Hard Drive HDD, USB 3.0, Compatible with PC, Mac, PS4 & Xbox - WDBWLG0040HBK-NESN

Western Digital

Based on 13 reviews Check latest price

Product description

WD Elements desktop storage with USB 3.0 offers reliable, high-capacity, add-on storage, fast data transfer rates and universal connectivity with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 devices. The sleek design features up to 10TB capacity plus WD quality and reliability.

Formatted NTFS and compatible with Windows 10, Windows 8.1 or Windows 7. Compatibility may vary depending on user’s hardware configuration and operating system.

  • Fast data transfers
  • High-capacity add-on storage
  • Plug-and-play ready for Windows PCs
  • WD quality inside and out
  • 2-year manufacturer's limited warranty

User questions & answers

Question: Does this come with the power adapter
Answer: Looking at Western Digital's Warranty information page I see this: ----- Elements - THIS MODEL - (Product Designator WDBWLG ) 1 year in the USA, Canada & Latin America 2 year in Europe, Middle East & Africa 3 year in Asia Pacific & India ------ My Book FIRST I FOUND LISTED Product Code WDBBGB NO warranty info for US, Canada & Latin America NO warranty info for Asia Pacific & India 3 Year for Europe, Middle East & Africa https://www.amazon.com/Book-Desktop-External-Drive-WDBBGB0080HBK-NESN/dp/B01LQQHLGC/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1547662493&sr=1-1&keywords=western+digital+my+book&refinements=p_n_feature_three_browse-bin%3A668383011%2Cp_n_feature_two_browse-bin%3A5446816011 ----- The only "My Book" for the USA, Canada & Latin America I see listed is: Product Code WDBFJK , and that has only a 2 year warranty and sells for a higher price. https://www.amazon.com/Book-Desktop-External-Drive-WDBFJK0080HBK-NESN/dp/B01B6BN0Q2/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1547665593&sr=1-6&keywords=western+digital+my+book+8TB&refinements=p_89%3AWestern+Digital There are other variations of the "My Book" series that have 3 year warranty in The USA, Canada & Latin America: My Book for Mac, My Book VelociRaptor Duo, My Book Thunderbolt Duo, My Book Mirror, My Book Pro, My Book Pro II, My Book World, My Book World II, My Book Studio, My Book Studio II, My Book Home, My Book Office, My Book Elite, My Book Studio, My Book Studio LX, My Book Live, My Book Duo, My Book Duo Pro Thos have Product Designators: WDBYCC, WDBUWZ, WDBUPB, WDBUSK, WDH2U, WDG1T, WDG2TP, WDG1NC, WDH1NC, WDG2NC, WDH2NC, WDH1Q, WDH2Q, WDH1CS, WDH1B, WDBAAH, WDBAAJ, WDBC3G, WDBACH, WDBACG, WDBCPZ, BDTB, WDBUTV, WDBFBE, WDBRMH, WDBDFM It seems that all should refer to WD website to match Product Designator with warranty for your locale: https://support.wdc.com/warranty/warrantypolicy.aspx#group1
Question: Is this compatabible with the ps
Answer: No this hard drive is designed for a pc as an internal storage. For a ps4 external hard drive look for an item called external hard drive.
Question: Will this work with a system that only has USB2.0 ports
Answer: No, you'll need to have your own screws.
Question: which one is better? elements 8tb or my book 8tb
Answer: Black, Red Pro, Gold, RE Enterprise

WD 2TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive, Black - WDBYVG0020BBK-WESN

Western Digital

Based on 26 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Every journey needs a passport. The My Passport drive is trusted, portable storage that gives you the confidence and freedom to drive forward in life. With a new, stylish design that fits in the palm of your hand, there's space to store, organize, and share your photos, videos, music, and documents. Perfectly paired with Western Digital backup software and password protection, the My Passport drive helps keep your digital life's contents safe.

  • Slim design
  • Automatic backup - easy to use
  • Password protection + 256-bit AES hardware encryption
  • WD Discovery software for WD Backup, password protection and drive management
  • SuperSpeed USB port; USB 2.0 compatible

Product features

Backed Up

Make sure everything you create while on your own life journey - photos, videos, music, and documents - doesn’t get lost. The My Passport drive comes equipped with WD Backup software that can be set to run automatically to your schedule.

Locked Down

Keep your digital life's contents secure with My Passport password protection and built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption. Just activate password protection and set your own personalized password using WD Discovery.

Seagate Game Drive For Xbox 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD, USB 3.0 – White, Designed For Xbox One, 1 Month Xbox Game Pass Membership, 1 year Rescue Service (STEA2000417)

Seagate

Based on 32 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Stop deleting games from the Xbox console just to make room for new ones—store 50+ titles with 2TB of portable external hard drive storage and gain free access to 100+ other titles with a limited-time membership to Xbox Game Pass. The Special Edition Game Drive for Xbox Game Pass delivers no-lag performance, quick step-by-step setup, and plug-and-play USB 3.0 connectivity—no power cable needed. Featuring a deluxe white design, it’s the perfect accessory for any gaming setup and its compact, travel-ready form factor means the adventure can go anywhere.

  • With 2TB of space on this portable external hard drive, store 50+ games and gain free access to 100+ other titles with a limited time membership to Xbox Game Pass
  • Experience no lag gaming and full throttle performance with a portable hard drive optimized specifically for the Xbox
  • Dive into the action with a quick step by step setup and plug and play USB 3.0 connectivity—no power cable needed
  • Featuring a deluxe white design, this gaming hard drive is the perfect accessory for any gaming setup and its compact, travel ready form factor means the adventure can go anywhere
  • Enjoy long term peace of mind with the included one year limited warranty and one year rescue service

Product features

Discover Your Next Favorite Game

Store the best titles and experience Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the must-have gaming subscription service for Xbox One that includes Xbox Live Gold and 100 high-quality console and PC games.

The Ultimate Game Plan

Gain access to 100+ adventures on Xbox One and PC. Play new Xbox Game Studios titles the day they launch.

Play together with friends on the most advanced multiplayer network with Xbox Live Gold.

Get exclusive member deals and discounts.

This isn’t a dream. It’s Xbox Game Pass. And it’s ready for the taking with the special edition Game Drive for Xbox. A one-month complimentary subscription comes with the 2TB drive, and two months with the 4TB drive.

Ready. Set. Go.

What’s Included

Game Drive for Xbox Special Edition Game Pass, USB 3.0 cable, Quick start guide, Xbox Game Pass trial

Seagate (STGD2000100) Game Drive for PS4 Systems 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – USB 3.0, Officially Licensed Product

Seagate

Based on 18 reviews Check latest price

Product description

No more deleting games from the PS4 console just to make room for new ones—store 100+ titles with 2TB of portable external hard drive storage. The Seagate Game Drive for PS4 delivers no lag performance, quick step by step setup, and plug and play USB 3.0 connectivity—no power cable needed. Featuring the classic black and blue design of PS4, it’s the perfect accessory for any gaming setup and its compact, travel ready form factor means the adventure can go anywhere.

  • Do not delete games from PS4 consoles just to make room for new ones; Store 50 plus games with 2TB of portable hard drive storage
  • Official Licensed PS4 product for seamless operation and compatibility; Operates under PS4 hard drive firmware
  • Dive into the action with a quick step by step setup and plug and play USB 3.0 connectivity; No power cable needed
  • This game drive features the classic black and blue design of PS4; It’s the perfect accessory for any gaming setup and its compact; Travel ready form factor means the adventure can go anywhere
  • Enjoy long term peace of mind with the included 3 year limited warranty

User questions & answers

Question: Is this legit
Answer: Yes its legit
Question: Can any wire plug into the game drive
Answer: No they are shape specific unless it is a universal usb
Question: Does it work with ps4 pro
Answer: Yes it works
Question: Does it come with the usb cord that will connect the ps4 to the hard drive
Answer: Yes,. Very easy to use

Product features

Officially Licensed for PS4 Systems

Meet the powerful external hard drive that delivers loads of capacity & perfect PS4 performance.

Store a massive collection of new and classic games  | Simple USB 3.0 plug-and-play setup  | Game anywhere with travel-friendly portability

Store 50+ Games*

Dread clearing the best classics from the PS4 system just to make room for new releases? Not any more. Keep them all together and relive the adventure anytime, anywhere.

*Based on an average storage requirement of 39GB for PS4 games published on or before June 2018.

LaCie Rugged USB-C 5TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – USB 3.0, Drop Shock Dust Rain Resistant Shuttle Drive, for Mac and PC Computer Desktop Workstation Laptop, 1 Month Adobe CC (STFR5000800)

LaCie

Based on 3 reviews Check latest price

Product description

LaCie Rugged USB C is a powerful, trusted external hard drive for Mac and Windows computers. Quickly and easily connect to the latest laptops and PCs using Rugged’s reversible USB C cable—or the included USB 3.0 adapter for legacy USB 3.0 devices. Enjoy a high speed USB C 5Gb/s interface and confidently tackle any terrain with drop, crush, and rain resistance. Plus—take advantage of a complimentary one month membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps Plan for access to awesome photo and video editing apps; It even includes two year limited warranty protection plan and Rescue Data Recovery services for long term peace of mind.

  • Quickly and easily connect to the latest Windows and Mac computers with Rugged’s reversible USB-C cable, or legacy computers using the included USB 3.0 adapter
  • Enjoy fast USB-C 130MB/s file transfers, backups, and image browsing
  • Confidently tackle any terrain with drop, crush, and rain resistance
  • Take advantage of a complimentary one-month membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps Plan for access to awesome photo and video editing apps
  • Enjoy long-term peace of mind with an included two-year limited warranty protection plan and Rescue Data Recovery services

User questions & answers

Question: Will this work with older macbook air models. i have an early 2014 mojave
Answer: This LaCie Drive works best with select MacBook models 2015-current. The operating system required to use this drive must be OS X v10.5 or later. We hope this helps answer any compatibility questions you may have.
Question: Can I use a usbc to usb
Answer: A USB 3.0 cable is included with the drive, and that can be connected to a USB 2.0 port on the computer, but that will of course greatly reduce performance if you choose to do so.
Question: can i have a new macbook pro. can i get either the thunderbolt usb-c or the usb-c
Answer: A USB-C hard drive is compatible with Thunderbolt 3 ports on a Mac, so this will work. Also works of course with USB-C ports, and older USB 3.0 ports using supplied cable.
Question: How does usbc differ from the thunderbolt usb-c option? i see thunderbolt usbc is more expensive
Answer: USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 share the same physical connection type (USB-C). USB-C devices can be connected to Thunderbolt 3 ports, as TB3 supports USB-C devices. However, TB3 drives cannot be connected to USB-C ports on computer. So, this USB-C drive will connect to USB-C ports, Thunderbolt 3 ports, or using included cable, USB 3.0/2.0 ports.
Question: Can I take the hard drive out and use it as a regular desktop hard drive
Answer: I’ve done this with about 30+ 2tb, 4tb, and 8tb drives over the years- converting an external to an internal- and they are all still running fine to this day. Usually $30-40 cheaper than the internal and you get a free usb cable to boot. Just make sure you don’t hurt your hands while doing it. Twisting a flathead screw driver in the seams seemed like the way to go if I recall. They don’t make the cases easy to open. For someone below: Don’t use these for RAID. NAS rated drives are different because they handle higher heat, able to run 24/7 with cross checks, etc. read more about what makes the iron version a NAS approved drive compared to the standard barracuda.
Question: will it work with a mac for time machine
Answer: Just reformatted the external hard drive using Disk Utility. Works for Mac :) Im not a tech savvy person, so I found this website to be useful when selecting what option to select when erasing the hard drive. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4276140?start=0&tstart=0I chose to use Journaled as I am using this for a Time Machine back up, like Matthew Chellew suggests in the first answer.
Question: Does it work well with an Xbox One
Answer: Like a charm, exactly what I purchased it for. Plug into any of the three ports (all 3 of the original XBox One ports are 3.0) and give it a minute. The XBox will recognize it and you have to choose for storage or media. Choose storage for games and you are up and running. Do be aware that this HDD does require its own power supply. I was transferring games within 5 minutes. FWIW within half an hour there was a power outage in the middle of a transfer and the external drive, the XBox One and the data are were ok when power came back on. If a data transfer is interrupted for any reason simply delete the failed portion on the destination drive and start the process over.
Question: What is the diference between Seagate 5TB usb 3 model numbers STEB5000100, STBV5000100 and STDT
Answer: The STBV is the older "Expansion" model with a lightly textured plastic case and slightly sloped front bezel. Sold only in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific with a 1-year, 2-year, or 3-year warranty, respectively.The STEB is the replacement "Expansion" model for the above with a more interesting texture and feet on one edge to stand vertically. It is sold in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific with a 1-year, 2-year, or 3-year warranty, respectively.The STDT is the "Backup Plus" model that looks like the STBV except with no sloped front and comes with backup software (on the disk) for both Windows and Mac OS, and includes 200GB of cloud storage with OneDrive for 2 years. It is sold in North America only with a 2-year warranty.The STDT comes in capacities of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8TB. The STEB and STBV go up to 5TB.They all use the same SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface. I suspect the internal drives have small differences and firmware, but I can find no information about that.

Product features

What Does a PC Crave? Extra Space.

For a laptop or desktop overflowing with files, Expansion Desktop delivers loads of add-on capacity. Take advantage of quick transfers and backups with drag-and-drop ease to help protect thousands of photos, songs, and more in one trusty place.

What's Included

Expansion Desktop, 18-inch (45.72cm) USB 3.0 cable, 18W power adapter, Quick start guide

Meet the Rugged Side of USB-C

From urban jungles to backwood trails, Rugged USB-C is ready to survive and ready to connect. Fusing legendary toughness with USB-C, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatibility, it works seamlessly with Mac and Windows alike. Fast transfers. Easy, reliable backups. It's all there.

Apricorn 2TB Aegis Padlock USB 3.0 256-Bit AES XTS Hardware Encrypted Portable External Hard Drive (A25-3PL256-2000)

Apricorn

Based on 314 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Apricorn's Aegis Padlock 3.0 is a state of the art hardware encrypted USB 3.0 portable drive. Simple and easy to use, Padlock 3.0 offers unparalleled security and supports AES XTS 256-bit encryption. Additionally, the software free design means it can be deployed without the need for Admin User rights and will work with any USB enable operating system. Completely cross compatible, the Padlock 3.0 is authenticated via the integrated keypad and can support up to 5 User PINs and an Admin PIN. The Aegis Padlock 3.0 ships with Padlock 3.0 drive with integrated USB 3.0 cable, USB 3.0 Y-extension cable, Quick Start Manual and is pre-formatted in NTFS.

  • Hardware encrypted drive
  • Simple to use pin access. RPM-5400
  • Administrator password feature
  • Bus powered
  • Utilizes Military Grade FIPS PUB 197 Validated Encryption Algorithm
  • Super fast USB 3.0 Connection - Data transfer speeds up to 10X faster than USB 2.
  • Software Free Design - With no admin rights needed

User questions & answers

Question: What happens if someone cuts the USB cord
Answer: You need to know what format your car player is suitable for. Then store the music file in the corresponding format in the USB drive, and I think it can be played.
Question: Will it backup automatically considering it has a keypad to access
Answer: It can work on the iPad 5.
Question: I work with data very few people can see. I would rather lose the data than have it retrievable by Aegis, can the back door be locked
Answer: This USB flash drive can copy photos of the iPhone for long-term storage.
Question: What is the differances between a25-3pl256-1000 vs a25-3pl256-1000f? besides the keypad, what other features are in the "f" ver
Answer: The file format that can be played is indicated on the product details page, please check. It also requires iPhone to have playback software that supports these formats. If the file information is 0, the transmission should be interrupted and the file has not been transferred.

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