The best portable hard drives are the ideal way to store, back up and archive your images and videos to keep them safe and accessible. If you're constantly on the move and need a storage solution that can move with you, then we'd definitely recommend picking up one of these portable hard drives.
Ultimately, your computer's storage is only going to take you so far. Images and videos take up a lot of digital space, and if you shoot even a reasonable amount, you'll find pretty quickly that you need somewhere to keep all this data. Even if you already use cloud storage, portable hard drives can be an excellent choice. They offer an extra layer of backup without needing to access the internet.
There are two types of drive to consider: a conventional portable hard disk drive (HDD) is a good economical choice, packing plenty of space for a low price. However, a portable solid-state drive (SSD) will offer much faster transfer speeds, while also being lighter and slimmer than conventional hard drives.
Portable SSDs used to be way more expensive than portable hard disk drives, but prices have now come down significantly. Considering how much extra speed a portable SSD delivers over a hard disk drive, we think it's worth spending a little extra to get a huge performance boost.
We're listing the best portable SSDs just below, followed by the best portable hard disk drives. If you need even more storage space, you'll want to look into the best cloud storage services or the best desktop hard drives.
Ben is the Imaging Labs manager, responsible for all the testing on Digital Camera World and across the entire photography portfolio at Future. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or checking the performance of portable storage, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight. He's a human encyclopedia of benchmarks when it comes to recommending the best buys.
The Quick List
This portable SSD is fast enough for most people, while also being compact and very well priced: a great all-rounder.
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With a maximum read speed of up to 3000MB/s and a write speed approaching 2500MB/s, there's nothing this portable SSD cant cope with.
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A portable SSD that manages to equal the speed of many competitors while undercutting them on price.
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With its simple matte aluminium casing, the T7 SSD oozes understated quality, plus it's available in three color options.
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This portable SSD is available in capacities up to a gargantuan 8 terabytes! it's quick, too, with a read speed of 1050MB/s.
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Can't stretch to a portable SSD? This traditional portable hard disk drive is light, portable and accessibly priced.
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Best portable SSDs
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Best overall
✅ You want a speed at a fair price: This is one rapid portable SSD, yet it undercuts many rivals on price.
❌ Style matters: The rubberised outer casing may help with shock resistance, but it's a magnet for dust and lint.
With maximum advertised read and write speeds of 2000MB/s and 1800MB, respectively, this is one of the faster portable SSDs you can buy. Despite this, it's still easily portable, measuring just 9.73 x 6 x 1.24cm (3.83 x 2.36 x 0.49 inches). The RP60 is also built to be rugged: the shock-resistant rubberized casing helps the drive survive drops from up to 3 meters, while an IP65 ingress protection rating means water and dust shouldn't get inside.
Sometimes manufacturer speed claims can be overly optimistic, but we were pleasantly surprised when we tested the RP60. We recorded a maximum read speed of 2013MB/s, and a 1782MB/s write speed - almost exactly the same as PNY's advertised numbers. Real-world transfer speeds were inevitably lower, though they were still some of the fastest we've recorded from a portable SSD.
Considering the RP60 can often be found for a lower price per gigabyte than rival SSDs from SanDisk and Samsung, we think it's a real bargain.
See our full PNY RP60 portable SSD review
Lab results | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Read speed | 2013MB/s | ★★★★★ |
Write speed | 1782MB/s | ★★★★★ |
Best for extreme speed
✅ You have a need for speed: This drive will shift gigabytes of video in seconds, speeding up your workflow considerably.
❌ You only have a USB computer: you'll need a Thunderbolt 3+ computer to make the most of this SSD. You'll get less than half its speed potential via USB.
If you frequently need to shift huge 4K video files, or large numbers of high-res raw stills, the SanDisk Professional Pro-G40 SSD is the portable SSD for you. Capable of transfer speeds up to 3000MB/s, it's one of the fastest portable SSDs on the market, yet it's no bigger than most of its rivals.
The Pro-G40 is also built to last. It'll survive drops from heights of up to 3m and resist crushing forces of up to 400 lbs. Furthermore, it has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, enabling it to withstand submersion at depths of 1.5m for up to 30 minutes.
When we tested the Pro-G40 we got impressively close to SanDisk's speed claims, recording a max read speed of 2800MB/s, and a 2604MB/s peak write rate. You will however need a computer equipped with a Thunderbolt 3, 4 or 5 connection to get these speeds. USB 3.2 Gen 2 can also be used, but transfers will be limited to below 1000MB/s.
Read our full SanDisk Professional Pro-G40 SSD review
Lab results | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Read speed | 2800MB/s | ★★★★★ |
Write speed | 2604MB/s | ★★★★★ |
Best value
✅ You want performance AND value: This SSD is quick enough for most scenarios, yet it's very well priced.
❌ You want bleeding-edge speed: we couldn't hit the claimed 2000MB/s read speed. You might be more lucky though.
Lexar is a brand usually associated with top-notch memory cards and card readers, but it also offers several portable SSDs. The SL500 is its latest offering and measures an easily portable 85 x 54 x 7.8mm. Build quality feels reassuringly solid, and the matte black finish looks classy.
Lexar advertises rapid maximum read/write speeds of 2000/1800MB/s. When we tested the SL500, we clocked the drive at a maximum 1067/1058MB/s using storage speed benchmarking software.
When reading/writing a single large video file – a best-case real-world speed scenario - the SL500 managed 861MB/s read and 634MB/s write. These are impressively fast speeds, but it's a pity we couldn't get closer to Lexar's advertised speeds. Your experience may be different though.
The Lexar SL500 can be had in popular 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacity options, and connects via a Type-C port.
This runs at USB 3.2 Gen2x2 speed, so you'll need a computer that supports this or the faster USB4 standard to extract the drive's full performance. You can connect to older USB 3.1, 3.0 or 2.0 computers (a USB Type C to A adapter is included), but transfer speeds will become bottlenecked.
Read our full Lexar SL500 portable SSD review
Lab results | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Read speed | 1067MB/s | ★★★★ |
Write speed | 1058MB/s | ★★★★ |
Best for style
✅ You want a sleek and ultra-portable drive: the svelte, matte metal exterior of the T7 gives it a genuine feel of quality.
❌ You need very high capacity: Like many portable SSDs, the T7 tops out at 'only' 2 terabytes.
Samsung's entry is as sleek as portable SSDs come, with a simple matte aluminium casing that oozes understated quality. Measuring only 85 x 57 x 8mm, it easily slips into a shirt pocket, and there are even three color finishes: gray, blue, and metallic red.
You might not guess it from the stylish exterior, but the SSD T7 is also rated to survive a 2-metre drop, and your data can be protected by 256-bit hardware encryption. 500GB, 1TB and 2TB capacity options are available, with each boasting hugely fast transfer speeds of up to 1050MB/s read and 1,000MB/s write.
Read our full Samsung T7 SSD review
Best for high capacities
✅ You work with huge files: this portable SSD is very unusual as it has an 8-terabyte capacity option, albeit at a very high price.
❌ Speed is a priority: This isn't SanDisk's fastest portable SSD as it tops out at 1050MB/s. That's far from sluggish though.
Note: SanDisk used to call this the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD V2, which is the name of the SSD we reviewed. The 'V2' suffix has now been dropped, but the actual product remains the same.
This is not SanDisk's top-of-the-range portable SSD - that honour currently goes to the Extreme Pro Portable SSD - but this cheaper non-Pro version still offers excellent performance, and more capacity options.
SanDisk quotes a peak read speed of 1050MB/s for the Extreme Portable SSD. Despite testing with a blazing-fast laptop, we could ‘only’ manage a peak 780MB/s when reading a large video file (a best-case scenario) and 564MB/s when writing it to the drive. Still, that’s hugely fast, and image transfer speeds of 693/496MB/s read/write are equally incredible. It should also be noted that a portable SSD will rarely - if ever - perform as fast in actual file transfers as in a software benchmark.
Capacities start at 500GB and then double until you reach the top 8TB model. This is uusally spacious for a portable SSD, though it'll cost you nearly $1000! The 1TB and 2TB options offer the best value.
Read our full SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD review
Lab results | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Read speed | 780MB/s | ★★★★ |
Write speed | 564MB/s | ★★★ |
✅ You want ultimate portability: the curved plastic shell of the My Passport SSD makes it one of the most portable drives on this list.
❌ Ruggedness is important: Though WD claims this drive can survive drops from up to 2m, it still feels flimsy.
This is WD's latest version of its long-running My Passport SSD. The new version has a smoother, more rounded design, and is slightly smaller than many of its competitors, so it'll easily slip into a tight jeans pocket.
This My Passport SSD is built around NVMe SSD technology, with advertised max read/write speeds of 1050MB/s and 1000MB/s, respectively. Refreshingly, we found WD's claims to be bang-on, as in our testing we measured 1041MB/s and 1002MB/s read/write rates in benchmarking software - very impressive.
Switching to real-world testing inevitably brings a performance hit, but the My Passport SSD still performed well. We achieved an average 651MB/s and 569MB/s read/write speed with video files, and 538/364MB/s with multiple image files.
Capacity options include 500GB, 1TB, 2TB and 4TB, with connectivity being via USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2. A USB-C to USB-A adapter is included in the box.
Read our full WD My Passport SSD review
Best portable hard disk drives
Best portable hard disk drive
✅ Price matters more than performance: this portable hard disk drive costs way less per gigabyte than an SSD.
❌ You regularly move large files: a 120MB/s read speed isn't great, especially if you'll use the drive regularly.
Seagate's Ultra Touch portable hard drive immediately stands out from the pack by containing at least 30% recycled materials to improve sustainability, and this helps make the drive lighter. While it doesn't do anything for the storage capability, it's a nice touch. Fortunately, the drive has it where it counts on the inside too, with snappy transfer speeds of up to 120MB/s and sophisticated 256-bit AES hardware encryption to protect your data.
It's also easy to password-protect the drive for an added bit of security. Capacities range from 2TB up to 5TB, so there should be an option to suit your budget versus storage requirements. The drive is also compatible with PCs, Macs and Chromebooks right out of the box.
✅ You're going to extreme environments: hard disk drives aren't usually associated with toughness, but this drive has extra protection.
❌ You're in a hurry: as with any portable hard disk drive, transfer speeds (140MB/s) are a weakness.
With its silicone rubber bumper and internal anti-shock mounts, this portable drive is built for life off the beaten track. It can withstand a drop from up to 1.2m, it's crushproof to 1000lb of force, and it's resistant to rain and sand. A single USB 3.1 Gen 1 connection connects the drive to a Windows PC or Mac via a USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 socket, and a USB-C-to-USB-A adaptor is included for older computers. G-Technology claims a maximum transfer speed of 140MB, though we topped out at 128MB/s when reading a single large video file from the drive - a best-case scenario for transfer speed.
This is still a very respectable performance for a drive that's based around a conventional mechanical hard disk drive. The only downsides with all this ruggedness is the ArmorATD is noticeably - although not significantly - larger than a non-toughened drive like a WD MyPassport, and you'll need to part with almost twice as much cash for an equivalent capacity.
✅ You'll be storing sensitive data: Few portable drives will protect your files as securely as the diskAshur 2.
❌ You're expecting short wait times: the usual drawback with portable hard disks - transfer speeds won't exceed 171MB/s. An SSD version is available though.
Need to protect your shots from the elements, as well as from falling into the wrong hands? The diskAshur 2 has both bases well covered. With its 100% hardware data encryption, your data is secured by the drive itself - no extra software or computer link needed. When you need access, just enter your personal seven-digit pin number via the physical keypad on the front panel. Once unlocked, the drive functions exactly like any other portable hard drive, albeit one with IP56 water and dust resistance. There's even a Kensington lock slot on the side enabling you to tie the drive to an immovable object should you need to.
The only downside is, being a conventional hard drive at heart, transfer speeds fall some way short of SSD performance. An SSD-based diskAshur 2 is also available, and is actually pretty good value for capacities up to 2TB, though prices increase rapidly for larger capacities.
✅ You want max capacity for minimal money: My Passport drives have long been front-runners for offering the best price per gigabyte of storage space.
❌ You have a USB-C computer: the My Passport still uses an out-dated USB Micro-B socket - an adaptor will be required to convert to USB-C.
WD’s My Passport range of portable hard drives has long been a popular choice for those after spacious mobile storage at a bargain price. This latest My Passport design is unashamedly plastic but comes in black, red and blue color options. It’s about as light and compact as a conventional portable hard drive gets, though the 4TB and 5TB versions are around 7mm thicker than the lower-capacity models, and the 6TB version is 1.4mm thicker again.
Even factoring their noticeably thicker profile, we still think these are the capacities to go for, as they offer a much better price per gigabyte than the lower capacity options, and for not a lot more cash. WD’s included backup software and encryption software sweeten the deal even more.
Downsides? The USB port is a dated SuperSpeed Micro-B socket - its USB 3.0 interface is more than fast enough, but you'll need to keep the included cable handy, as your regular USB-C cables won't fit this drive.
Speed comparison
How to choose a portable hard drive
1. Hard drive or SSD?
Portable hard disk drives are relatively slow and use sensitive moving parts, making them vulnerable to drops. Portable SSDs are much faster and have no moving parts, so are also more resilient.
2. Formatting: Mac or Windows?
Some drives are pre-configured for either Mac or Windows. This can almost always be changed to enable cross-platform compatibility, though you may need additional software.
3. Transfer speed
Don’t expect a portable hard drive to always perform at its best. Transferring a large batch of image files will usually take longer than shifting a single video file of the same size.
4. Well connected
All these drives are powered by their USB or Thunderbolt connection, and so they don’t require a separate power supply. Many also include cables or an adaptor to convert between USB-C and USB-A port designs.
5. Little extras
Portable hard drives aren’t just about size and speed. Many manufacturers also bundle extras like backup software, data encryption, or even complimentary cloud storage.
