Best External Solid State Drive For Mac
The Right Connections
Buying an external hard drive for your Mac is not all that different from buying one for your Windows PC, except for one very important complication: Newer MacBooks and MacBook Pros only come with Thunderbolt 3 ports, but the arrival of Thunderbolt 3-equipped drives has been a trickle, rather than a flood. Most of the current models are designed for photographers and video editors who need to store mountains of footage and access it very quickly. As a result, they are typically SSDs or RAID arrays, which means they're also very expensive. So what's a Mac user who just wants to back up his or her files using Time Machine to do? Read on as we answer that question, along with all of your other Mac external storage quandaries.
A New File System
Why Samsung T5 portable SSD is the most demanding drive is the amazing speed, security it provides to the professionals are ready to spend good amount for this shock-resistant solid state drive as it’s not included in the inexpensive drives instead top drive in expensive drives list. It does mean the price is higher, but if transfer speed is the most important consideration when looking for the best external hard drive for your Mac, then this is the drive to go for.
Thunderbolt 3 and USB Type-C are the latest innovations in the external storage market, but before we get to them, we need to address a basic building block of hard drives that
An external drive's file system is the most important factor that determines whether or not it's readable by Macs, PCs, or both. Since the late 1990s, Apple has used the Mac OS Extended file system, commonly abbreviated as HFS+, to power its laptop and desktop computers. But with the release of the macOS High Sierra operating system, Cupertino switched to an entirely new file format. It's simply called the Apple File System, and it's the first format to be used on Apple computers as well as the iOS ecosystem of iPads, iPhones, iPods, the Apple TV, and the Apple Watch.
There are many benefits to switching from HFS+ to the Apple File System, including better security thanks to native encryption, but the most important thing to note for external drive shoppers is backward-compatibility. Any drive formatted with HFS+ (which includes most Mac-specific drives on the market today) will work just fine with a Mac that's running macOS High Sierra.
Neither Apple File System nor HFS+ works with Windows, however. If you plan to use your external drive with computers that run both operating systems, you should consider a drive formatted with the exFAT file system. Microsoft introduced exFAT about a decade ago, which means that it's still relatively young, as far as file systems go. You won't get the security and efficiency of Apple File System, but you will get the convenience of being able to transfer files back and forth between Windows and macOS simply by plugging in and unplugging your drive.
Of course, you can easily reformat almost any drive you buy, so you're not limited to buying only those intended for use with Macs. If you really fancy a drive formatted for Windows (which will usually come preformatted in the NTFS format), you can use the Disk Utility in macOS to reformat it after you bring it home from the store. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but they're rare. The only drive we've tested recently that isn't Mac-compatible even if it's formatted is the pro-oriented Akitio Thunder3 PCIe SSD, which uses a lightning-quick Intel SSD inside. It relies on
SSD vs. Spinning Drive
Once you've settled on a file system, you then have to determine which storage medium you want:
A solid-state drive (SSD) offers quick access to your data because it stores your bits in a type of flash memory rather than on spinning platters. SSDs are often smaller and lighter than spinning external drives, as well, which is also thanks to the lack of moving parts. Their small size means they can often fit into a jacket or pants pocket, which makes them a better choice if you're looking for a portable external drive that you'll be carrying with you frequently. One major downside, however, is that they're much more expensive. You could pay more than 30 cents per gigabyte for an
For professional videographers who edit lots of 4K footage and gamers or movie buffs who have large libraries of multi-gigabyte titles, an external RAID array is worth considering, since it combines the speed of an SSD with the gargantuan capacities of a spinning drive. An array typically contains as few as two or as many as eight spinning drives, which all work together to both
On the other hand, if you're looking to buy an external drive mainly to back up your files (which you should definitely do) and it will rarely leave your home office, an inexpensive spinning drive will work just fine.
External Ssd Drive For Mac
Searching for Thunderbolt 3
So, to recap: Faster, smaller (both physically and in terms of gigabytes) drives come at a premium, while spinning drives offer a much better value while sacrificing speed. But what happens when you throw yet another variable into the mix: the connection between your drive and your Mac? As you might have guessed, the answer is more tradeoffs.
Every Mac laptop sold today comes with USB Type-C ports that support Thunderbolt 3, but other than a headphone jack, they are the only connectivity options available, which means you'll need an adapter to plug in any device that doesn't have a USB Type-C cable. Fortunately, Thunderbolt 3 via USB Type-C supports a blazing maximum potential throughput of 40Gbps, double the speed of the old Thunderbolt 2 standard and many times the 5GBps that USB 3.0 offers. Unfortunately, you won't find many Thunderbolt 3-compatible drives on the market currently. Even some Mac-specific drives are still sold with USB 3.0 connectors. Moreover, the Thunderbolt 3 drives you can buy are constrained by the maximum throughput of the drive itself, rather than the Thunderbolt 3 interface. The speediest SSDs we've tested recently top out at around 600MBps, for instance.
This means that for now, it's best to include Thunderbolt 3 support in your buying decision only if you're concerned about futureproofing. While it's nice of manufacturers to include a USB Type-C cable for people who own a USB Type-C-only MacBook, you can pick up a converter for a few dollars online if the drive you're eyeing doesn't offer one. Meanwhile, iMacs, Mac Pros, and Mac Minis all still come with USB 3.0 ports, so they won't require adapters, for now.
Other Considerations
Drives intended for PCs sometimes come bundled with software that will automatically back up your files to the drive when it's connected, but such software isn't really a consideration for Mac users, who already have an excellent built-in backup option in the form of Time Machine. The first time you plug in an external drive, Time Machine will ask if you want to use it as a backup drive. While you can customize backup options in System Preferences, such as asking Time Machine to exclude certain folders, there's no action required on your part if you're happy with the default settings. The next time you plug in your drive, Time Machine will automatically set to work creating a backup.
Unless your drive is never going to leave your home or office, you should also consider its physical durability. Rugged, waterproof drives are a good option not just for surfers and BMX riders, as their marketing seems to suggest, but also for people who are carrying their drives to and from school or work, where they might occasionally get spilled on or dropped on the floor. (Check out our favorite rugged drives.)
Finally, you might want to consider how the drive will look when it's plugged into your Mac. Some drives, like the WD My Book, come in a variety of colors. Many others feature copious amounts of aluminum and industrial-chic styling to match the design cues of your MacBook or iMac.
We've selected a few of our favorite drives for Macs below; for more, check out our main list of best hard drives. You can also read our full list of hard drive reviews, as well as our top SSDs.
Best External Hard Drives for Macs Featured in This Roundup:
CalDigit Tuff Review
MSRP: $179.99Pros: Rated to survive 4-foot drops. Certified waterproof and dustproof. Comes with USB 3.0 and USB-C cables.
Cons: Warranty limited to two years. SSD option is still unreleased.
Bottom Line: Not only is the CalDigit Tuff a rugged hard drive designed to survive extreme conditions, it's also a terrific value.
Read ReviewLaCie 5big Thunderbolt 2 Review
MSRP: $3999.00Pros: Supports RAID Level 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10. Allows for hot-swapping of drives in certain configurations. 4K video editing speed.
Cons: No USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.0 ports.
Bottom Line: The LaCie 5big Thunderbolt 2 is a powerful external hard drive system capable of holding up to 40TB of data individually, and more than a petabyte when connected together. But it doesn't come cheap, and it lacks USB ports.
Read ReviewWestern Digital My Book Review
MSRP: $249.99Pros: Comes in a variety of large capacities. Three-year warranty.
Cons: Requires external power adapter.
Bottom Line: With a full 8TB for less than $250, the 8TB version of the Western Digital My Book is a deep well of affordable storage for your photos, music, videos, and more.
Read ReviewLaCie Bolt3 Review
MSRP: $1999.00Pros: Blazing-fast throughput. Quiet. Includes Thunderbolt 3 cable. Can daisy-chain with USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 displays and accessories. Can charge laptop.
Cons: Thunderbolt 2 compatibility requires adapter (not included). No USB 3.0 ports.
Bottom Line: The 2-terabyte LaCie Bolt3 is the fastest external SSD we've tested. Take a look if 4K video editing and production are in your future, but be prepared to pay.
Read ReviewSamsung Portable SSD T5 Review
MSRP: $799.99Pros: Excellent performance. Includes USB 3.0 and USB-C cables. Compact. Android-, Mac-, and Windows-compatible.
Cons: While a comparable good per-gigabyte value, the drive itself is expensive.
Bottom Line: Samsung's Portable SSD T5 drive has a speedy USB-C interface, plenty of reliable storage, and it takes up about as much room in your pocket as a short stack of credit cards.
Read ReviewAkitio Thunder3 RAID Station Review
MSRP: $369.99Pros: Excellent connectivity options and transfer speeds. Solid build quality and attractive aluminum finish. Easy disassembly. Cooling fan can be disabled. No software required for Macs. Hardware RAID controller.
Cons: Expensive. SATA interface limits read/write speeds. Only 27W of power delivery.
Bottom Line: With its wealth of ports, the Akitio Thunder3 RAID Station is both a connectivity hub and a capacious external hard drive for multimedia content creators.
Read ReviewCalDigit AV Pro 2 Review
MSRP: $249.99Pros: Relatively low cost per gigabyte. 7,200RPM. Drive is easily removable from its enclosure. Thunderbolt 3 support.
Cons: Included Thunderbolt 3 cable is short. No DisplayPort or Thunderbolt 3 pass-through via USB-C.
Bottom Line: Aimed at multimedia professionals, the CalDigit AV Pro 2 is a well-designed, Mac-formatted external drive that comes in SSD and spinning disk versions, and includes both a USB hub and Thunderbolt 3 support.
Read ReviewPromise Pegasus3 R4 Review
MSRP: $1499.00Pros: Internal power supply. Little to no setup required. Supports daisy-chaining other Thunderbolt 3 devices. Lightning-quick file transfer times.
Cons: Does not boast class-leading throughput.
Bottom Line: One of just a few options for Mac-formatted external RAID arrays, the Promise Pegasus3 R4 is a good choice if you need to store mountains of data and access it quickly.
Read ReviewSamsung Portable SSD X5 Review
MSRP: $699.99Pros: Extremely fast data transfer speeds, thanks to Thunderbolt 3 and PCIe NVMe interfaces. Multiple capacity options. Sleek design.
Cons: Expensive. Heavy. No USB support. Difficult to connect to Windows PCs.
Bottom Line: The sleek, expensive Samsung Portable SSD X5 offers the fastest single-drive external storage money can buy, but it's suited mainly to well-heeled content-creation pros using late-model Macs.
Read ReviewSeagate Innov8 Review
MSRP: $349.99Pros: USB-C connection and drive ships with cable. Good cost-per-gigabyte value. Three-year warranty.
Cons: Only one USB-C port. Incompatible with some tablets and laptops. USB-C cable is short.
Bottom Line: Aimed at power users and those with big media collections, the Seagate Innov8 is an external hard drive that packs 8TB of storage and connects via fast USB-C.
Read Review
Protecting your data is essential for small business owners and freelancers. Extra storage is a boon for those of us who want to extend the life of their laptop, as well as anyone stuck with too-small phones and an ever-expanding library of mobile photos. And while they may lack the sleek appeal of internal hard drives and graphics cards, external drives offer a plug-in, portable option for users who want a simple solution to their storage needs.
By 2019, these drives have vastly improved over the floppy disks of days gone by. The ones on our list earn high marks for processing power and useful features, so finding the one that’s right for you will probably come down to price and available space.
Read on to learn more about the best external hard drives:
CalDigit Tuff
Shop NowBest Mac Compatible External Hard Dri…
Western Digital My Book
Looking for something with a ton of space for all your files and data? The Western Digital My Book is pretty huge -- boasting anywhere from 3TB to 10TB of storage, which should be more than enough for the vast majority of users. The hard drive is a little bulky, but that's not a bad thing -- after all, this drive is built specifically for desktop use, not necessarily taking on the go with you.
When it comes to specs under the hood, the drive offers a USB 3.0 port, and it's compatible with USB 2.0 too. It also comes with a 3-year manufacturer's warranty, so in the event that you get the drive and it doesn't work as advertised, you should be able to get a new one.
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Samsung Portable SSD T5
This is a top of the line external hard drive for any power user looking to upgrade their device. Samsung’s Portable T5 is designed with an SSD drive, which means it has no moving parts inside. SSDs are therefore less likely to become damaged when thrown in a bag or moved from office to office, making them a great option for commuters and freelancers.
This drive comes with up to 2TB of storage and has a USB-C port for easy connections with phones and small devices. It’s also smaller than the average business card, measuring less than half an inch thick and weighing just 51 grams. But don’t let its diminutive size fool you — the drive is packed with processing power and can transfer files at up to 540 MB/sec.
The drive claims to be “future-proof,” and it should be because the company only offers a three-year warranty on the T5. Get it on sale at Amazon for $428, which is $52 off the original price.
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SanDisk Extreme 900 Portable SSD
If you’re more interested in speed and storage space than taking your external hard drive on the road, the SanDisk Extreme 900 Portable SSD is one to watch. Significantly faster than its cousin, the Extreme 500, this drive is designed with USB 3.1 Gen 2 technology. The Gen 2’s data rate allows the SanDisk to transfer files up to a staggering 850 MB/s -- faster than any other product on our list.
The one downfall of the product is that it isn’t dust- or water-resistant so it may not be the best travel buddy for your extreme backpacking adventures. It’s still probably worth it for the lightning-fast transfer speed, however. You can own the SanDisk Extreme 900 Portable SSD for $100 off the original price of $800.
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Western Digital My Passport SSD
You’ve probably seen this device on a coworker’s desk before. WD’s My Passport is a classic for a reason, with a simple, elegant design, up to 2TB of space and read speeds up to 540 MB/s. It also comes with encryption and password protection firmware built-in, as well as WD Discovery software that includes WD Backup, WD Security, Social Media and Cloud Storage import, and more. Some users have noted that the device tends to heat up under heavy use, so you’ll want to keep that in mind if you plan to purchase an enclosure for it.
Apple Solid State Hard Drive
As an all-in-one device at a reasonable price point, it’s tough to say no to the WD My Passport series. Find it now for almost 50 percent off the original price.
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