11 best external hard drives for photo storages
External hard drives for photo storage are popular and convenient solutions for individuals and professionals who need to back up, store, and manage their digital photo collections. Here's what you need to know about them:
Storage Capacity: External hard drives come in various storage capacities, ranging from a few hundred gigabytes (GB) to multiple terabytes (TB). The choice of capacity depends on the volume of photos you want to store. High-resolution photos and videos require more storage space.
Portability: Many external hard drives are designed to be portable. They are compact and lightweight, making them easy to carry in a bag or pocket. Portable drives are suitable for photographers who need to access their photos on the go.
Connectivity: External hard drives typically connect to your computer via USB, USB-C, Thunderbolt, or eSATA ports. Ensure that the drive you choose is compatible with the ports available on your computer.
Speed: The speed of data transfer is an essential factor. If you work with large photo files or need to transfer photos quickly, consider drives with faster data transfer interfaces like USB 3.0, USB 3.1, or Thunderbolt.
Reliability: Choose a reputable brand known for reliability. Reliability is crucial to prevent data loss or corruption. Look for drives with good reviews and warranty options.
Backup and Sync Software: Some external hard drives come with built-in backup and sync software. This software can automate the process of backing up your photos, making it more convenient to keep your collection up to date.
Compatibility: Ensure that the external hard drive is compatible with your operating system, whether you're using Windows, macOS, or Linux. Some drives are formatted for specific operating systems out of the box, so you may need to reformat them if necessary.
File System: The file system used on the drive can affect its compatibility and performance. For cross-platform compatibility, consider using the exFAT file system.
Security Features: Some external hard drives offer built-in encryption and password protection to keep your photos secure.This is particularly important if your photos contain sensitive or confidential information.
Price: External hard drives vary in price based on capacity, brand, and features. Compare prices and consider your budget when selecting a drive.
Long-Term Archiving: If you plan to use the drive for long-term photo archiving, look for models with features like data integrity checks and long-term reliability.
Redundancy: Consider having multiple copies of your photo collection stored on different drives or in different locations for added redundancy and data security.
In summary, external hard drives for photo storage offer a versatile and accessible way to back up and manage your digital photo collection. When choosing an external hard drive, consider factors such as storage capacity, portability, speed, reliability, and security features to ensure it meets your specific needs.
Below you can find our editor's choice of the best external hard drives for photo storages on the market- 【Private Local Storage】Whether your smartphone is running out of storage, switching new phone, wanting to backup and storage your baby videos and family photos, ORICO Backuper is a good solution to help you free up your phone space, data will not be compressed via Local storage, no delay. Data security, integrity and privacy could be better protected than cloud service. (No cloud storage)
- 【One-touch Backup and Deletion 】One-touch backup your iphone via app when the external hard drive is connected (Search" iStore Pro" in the APP Store, No monthly fees). transfer all your videos/photos/files/music/contact from your iPhone to HDD/SSD, Featured with incremental recognition,thus improve backup efficiency, or you can One-touch delete all files.
- 【6Gbps High speed 】This External Hard Drive Smartphone Photos/Videos Manager support 2.5" SATA3.0 hard disks (HDD/SSD), 6Gbps high-speed transmission, with NS1068X SATA3.0 Master Chip, support the UASP acceleration protocol and TRIM, with an USB 3.0 to Type-C cable, backward compatible with USB 2.0. plug and play.
- 【2TB Capacity 】Up to 2TB capacity for 2.5 inch (7mm to 9.5mm) SATA hard drives (HDD/SSD), The Backuper designed for smartphone devices, can be used in multi-scenarion, provides you with real-time backup during travel, parties and work, thus releasing a large amount of space (2000GB) in your smartphone/iPad devices. light and compact, which can perfectly fit your SSD, so that your SSD is no longer just serving the PC, also help to backup your phone. (NOT Included SSD)
- 【Wide Compatibility 】ORICO Backuper applicable to mainstream iOS / Android smartphone system, compatible with Window / Mac / Linux. with iStore Pro App, it can help you one-touch back up video/audio/picture/document on your phones ( IOS only supports the backup of videos and pictures ).
Product features
ORICO Backuper, 2TB External Hard Drive Auto Backup and Storage for Smartphones
Material: PC Transparent
Color: Transparent
Compatible: 2.5" SATA HDD/SSD
Iutput Interface: SATA3.0
Output : To phones: USB2.0 Type-A; To PCs: USB3.0 Type-C
Transfer Rate: 6Gbps
Power Supply: 5V Type-C
Capacity: 2TB Max (Height under 9.5mm)
Installation: Tool-free Sliding cover
Certification: CE FCC RoHS
One-touch Backup
Open "iStore Pro",One-touch automatically backup contacts, pictures, videos, music and documents.( iOS systemnot support document and audio frequency backup)
One-touch Delete
Support One-touch Delete, instantly releasing capacityspace and making sorting more convenient.
Incremental Recognition
Featured with Incremental Recognition,which can automatically select unbacked files, thus improve backup efficiency.
Auto-Sleep Function
Automatic enter sleep mode after 10 minutes without operation, which can provides better energy-saving and prolong service life of hard disk.
LED Indicator
White light on: power supply connected
White light blink: transferring data
Power Supply:5V Type-C port
Tool-Free
Sliding cover design makes it easy to install
1.Sliding off upper cover
2.Close upper cover after insert in the hard disk.
Product description
WD Elements portable hard drives offer reliable, high-capacity storage, fast data transfer rates and universal connectivity with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 devices to back up your photos, videos and files on the go.
- USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 Compatibility
- Fast data transfers
- Improve PC Performance
- High Capacity; Compatibility Formatted NTFS for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7; Reformatting may be required for other operating systems; Compatibility may vary depending on user’s hardware configuration and operating system
- 2 year manufacturer's limited warranty
Product features
Level Up to NVMe SSD Performance
The WD_Black SN750 NVMe SSD delivers top-tier performance for gaming and hardware enthusiasts who are looking to build or upgrade their PC.
Compact SSD, shaped by performance
The WD_Black P50 Game Drive SSD has a portable form factor that can withstand battlefields due to its durable and shock-resistant design.
Portable storage for your coveted game collection
The WD_Black P10 Game Drive comes in capacities up to 5TB, so you don't have to compromise which games to delete on your console or PC in order to make room for new ones.
Massive storage with active cooling
With the WD_Black D10 Game Drive added storage, there's no need to waste time clearing room on your console or PC for new games—now you can keep your old favorites intact as you grow your library.
- √【2TB HDD Hard Drive+Unique Design】Being elegant and smart designed specially for iPhone devices, easily to be carried and lets you stress-free transfers contents between your iPhone, iPad, PC and Mac computer.Instantly extend 2000GB of external iPhone storage space/ memory expansion to your iPhone/ iPad - take more photos, enjoy longer videos.
- √【One Key Backup Photos or Videos】One key to backup all your videos/photos from your iPhone/iPad without any effort via "Photo Bank"App(Available in the APP Store) ,avoid storage-consuming duplications,pefectly save your space only newly added files,keep original photo date.Also you can use app camera to take photos/videos,which will be automatically saved into iPhone hard drive,freeing up space on your iPhone/iPad devices.
- √【MFi Certified & Wide Compatibility】With authentic MFi certication to ensure stability and safety,USB+TYPE- C+Micro USB (USB-C) gurantee it will compatible with all recently new iPhones&iPads base on lightning connector( iPhone11 Pro/XS Max/X/8/7/6/5/New iPad Pro,iPad series) Mac and nomral computer.iPhone memory expansion for all devices.
- √【Superspeed 4GB file copy & One-click formatting】Authorized exFAT enables transfer individual files which is large than 4GB in one time to iPhone Hard disk drive, Format-friendly streaming app "Photo Bank" supports most formats: AVI、M4V、MKV、MOV、MP4、MPG、RM、RMVB、TS、WMV、FLV、3GP、AUDIOS:FLAC、APE、AAC、AIF 、M4A、MP3、WAV .Picture :BMP,JPG,PNG,TIF,GIF.Save your time,Save your space.
- √【 What you get】 1 x 2 TB iPhone External Hard Drive, 1 x MFi Charging Cable,1 x TYPE-C Cable,1 x User Manual. 18 Months Worry-free Warranty & Replacement Warranty and Dedicated Email Customer Support.
Product features
ONE KEY TO BACKUP PHOTOS/VIDEOS/FILES
Using "Photo Bank"App (Available in the APP Store) to avoid storage-consuming duplications,pefectly save your space only newly added files,keep original photo date.Also you can use app camera to take photos/videos,which will be automatically saved into iPhone hard drive,freeing up space on your iPhone/iPad devices.
2TB HDD HUGE STORAGE
Helps to free up space for your decvices, which can store about 500,000 photos or 2,000 HD movies or 250,000 songs.
MFI CERTIFIED & WIDE COMPATIBILITY
MFi certificate ensures to be compatible with all recently new iPhones&iPads ( iPhone11 Pro/XS Max/X/8/7/6/5/New iPad Pro,iPad series) Mac and Windows PC,laptops
CONVENIENT APP MANAGEMENT
Special APP is available on APP stores, and which will allow to manage all photos/videos/documents to keep original information (data/formats), it is easy to opearte on devices.
UNIQUE DESIGN WITH MINI SIZE
Elegant and smart designed specially for iPhone devices, easily to be carried and lets you stress-free transfers contents between your iPhone, iPad, PC and Mac computer
WHAT YOU GET
1×2TB Hard Drive
1×Adapter
1× USB+Lightning Cable
(Mfi Certified)
1×Type C+USB Cable
1×Type C+Type C Cable
1×Micro USB +USB Cable
1*User manual
- ✔ Ultra Slim and Sturdy Metal Design: Merely 0.4 inch thick. All-Aluminum anti-scratch model delivers remarkable strength and durability, keeping this portable hard drive running cool and quiet
- ✔ Compatible With: Microsoft Windows 10/ Windows 8.1/ Windows 8/ Windows 7, Mac OS (★10.6.5 and above)/ Linux
- ✔ Improve PC Performance: Powered by USB 3.0 technology, this USB hard drive is much faster than - but still compatible with - USB 2.0 backup drive, allowing for super fast transfer speed at up to 5 Gbit/s
- ✔ Plug and Play: The external drive is ready to use without external power supply or software installation needed. Ideal extra storage for your PC and Laptop
- ✔ What's Included: Portable external hard drive, 19-inch(48.26cm) USB 3.0 hard drive cable, user's manual, 3-Year manufacturer warranty with free technical support service
User questions & answers
Question: | Does this gove 1tb of extra storage on my xbox or only 330gb |
Answer: | Yes. It come with a USB 3.0 Cable. Thanks. |
Question: | What is the read write speed?p |
Answer: | Yes, these balls are USBC approved |
Question: | Is this hard drive able to be used for storing basic files and documents or is it meant only for gaming data |
Answer: | No core, it is a solid spare ball. because it’s designed to go straight and not hook , there is no core. |
Question: | Does it come with the cable to hook to a computer |
Answer: | Doesn't matter unless where u drill it |
Question: | Is this usbc approved |
Answer: | 14lb box |
Product features
Introducing Maxone Ultra Slim Portable Hard Drive
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 reformat.
No reformat required for Windows and Mac, just plug it in and play. Y cable will be needed for Wii U.
To maximize performance, please connect your hard drive to a USB 3.0 port, also compatible with USB 2.0.
Easy to Use
Maxone Ultra Slim external hard drive is ready to use without external power supply or software installation needed. Simply drag and drop files you want to save.
Improve PC Performance
Offering high storage capacity up to 2TB, this drive is made to free up more space and effectively improve the performance of your PC and laptop.
Ultra Compact and Light Weight
All-Aluminum anti-scratch model offers stronger exterior protection, delivering remarkable strength and durability. Yet this drive is also compact and light weight. Easy to carry around wherever you go.
Product description
Store and access 2TB 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 2TB 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: | Will this work as local storage for an Arlo Pro 3 video system |
Answer: | I've had 2 of these and both came with 1 USB cord that has 3 connectors. 1 goes to the hard drive box and the other 2 plug into the computer |
Question: | Can you delete backup software and use as aux drive |
Answer: | RAID 1 is MIRROR mode, writes same data to both drives for backup so it is normal to get half capacity. Simply follow LaCie directions to switch back to RAID 0 mode, but this will ERASE ALL DATA so if you have anything on the drive, back it up to another drive before switching RAID modes and reformatting. |
Question: | Is it compatible with a Samsung S5e tablet |
Answer: | Not sure. However, here is the link ti LaCie America. They should be able to aid you. https://www.lacie.com/products/rugged/ |
Question: | Can it be partitioned for 2 separate backups |
Answer: | The computer you attatch it to |
Product description
Store and access 2TB of photos and files on the go, with Seagate Backup Plus Slim. The perfect complement 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 2TB 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 1 year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create and a 2 month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan
- Enjoy long term peace of mind with the included 2 year limited
Product features
A Little Fits a Lot
Small enough for a loaded laptop bag, spacious enough for loads of content—Backup Plus Slim is the perfect marriage of easy portability and truly useful file storage. Easily plug into Windows and Mac computers via USB 3.0 and enjoy helpful tools like customizable backup and folder mirroring.
What's Included
Seagate Backup Plus Slim drive | 18-inch (45.72cm) USB 3.0 cable | Quick start guide | Downloadable Seagate Toolkit backup software | One-year Mylio Create plan | Two-month membership Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan
- ✔【 1TB HDD Hard Drive】- The iDiskk iPhone Hard Drive lets you easily transfer content between your iPhone, iPad, PC and Mac computer and instantly expands your storage by up to 1TB, freeing up your space to lets you enjoy vide/photo anytime anywhere.
- ✔【One Key Backup Photos or Videos 】-One key backup your iphone/ipad camera roll via app anytime the external hard drive is connected.Future backups only save newly added files,to avoid storage-consuming duplications.Also you can use in-app camera to take photos/videos,which will be automatically stored into the drive.
- ✔【MFi Certified & Widely Compatibility】- MFi Certified chip and connector guarantee stable and safe data transfer; USB+Type C+Micro USB (USB-C) ports guarantee it compatible with most devices (iPhone 5/6/7/8/X/XR/XS MAX,iPad series,Macbook and PC)
- ✔【Plug & Play】- iDiskk Portable Hard Drive offer simple plug and play operation,just plug it into your iphone/ipad and watch the movies directly from the hard drive during your trip or on travel.No software instalation required and intuitively drag and drop files to and from your PC or Macbook.
- ✔【What you get 】- You will get 1 x 1TB iPhone External Hard Drive, 1 x MFi Charging Cable,1 x Type-C Cable,1 x User Manual. 18 Months Worry-free Warranty & Replacement Warranty and Dedicated Email Customer Support
Product features
Versatile Compatability
Support iPhone iPad Devices (iPhone XS MAX,XS,X/8/7/6,iPad series,Macbooks and PCs)
Files:doc, ppt, xls, xlsx, pdf, html, txt
Photos:gif, jpg, png,jpeg
Videos:avi, flv, m4v, mkv, mov, mp4, rmvb
Music:m4a, aiff, caf, mp3, wav
Data Backup/transfer & Recharge iPhone&iPad
iDiskk 1TB External Hard Drive is the first one which has received MFi certification,it is specially designed for expanding storage space of your iPhone,iPad,Macbook, but also can be used as a power bank to recharge for iPhone,iPad
What you get
1×1TB Hard Drive
1× USB+Lightning Cable
(Mfi Certified)
1×Type C+USB Cable
1×Type C+Type C Cable
1×Micro USB +USB Cable
1*User manual
Product description
Expand the storage on your Windows system and back up photos, video, music, and documents using the silver 4TB My Passport Ultra USB 3.0 Type-C External Hard Drive from WD. This drive is equipped with 4TB of storage and a USB 3.0 Type-C interface. If your computer doesn't have a USB Type-C port, an included USB Type-C to Type-A adapter helps ensure compatibility with older systems. This drive is also bus-powered, meaning that all its power is provided by the USB cable and no external power cables or adapters are required.
- EXCLUSIVE BUNDLE: This unique bundle is just what you need to keep your data safe and secure at all times. Its durability, and slim form makes it perfect no matter where you are.
- AMPLE STORAGE: With the high capacity of 4TB, you can store and back up all of your files. This on-the-go storage solution is perfect for traveling with a peace of mind!
- HARD DRIVE FEATURES: 4TB Storage Capacity - USB 3.0 Type-C Interface (USB 3.1 Gen 1) - Bus-Powered, No External Power Required - 256-Bit AES Hardware Encryption
- BUNDLE INCLUDES: WD 4TB My Passport Ultra USB 3.0 Type-C External Hard Drive (Silver) + Case Logic Portable Hard Drive Case (Black)
- SHOP WITH CONFIDENCE: Photo4less is a WESTERN DIGITAL AUTHORIZED DEALER. Rest assured knowing that your purchase is fully backed by Western Digital with Photo4less exceptional Customer Service.
User questions & answers
Question: | Does it have password protection |
Answer: | Yes. You can store files like photo, video documents, music. |
Product description
Store and access 2TB of photos and files on the go with Backup Plus Slim, a great external hard drive for Mac and Windows computers. The perfect compliment to personal aesthetic, this portable external hard drive features a minimalist 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—take advantage of a complimentary two month membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan for access to awesome photo and video editing apps!
- Store and access 2TB of photos and files on the go with Backup Plus Slim, a portable external hard drive
- This portable hard drive features a minimalist metal enclosure, and is a stylish USB drive
- Simply plug this portable hard drive into a Windows or Mac computer via the included USB 3.0 cable to back up files with a single click or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups
- Take advantage of a complimentary two month membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan for access to awesome photo and video editing apps
- Enjoy long term peace of mind with the included two year limited warranty
Product features
Backup That’s Good to Go
With it’s on-the-go design, seamless compatibility, customizable backup, and spacious capacity, Backup Plus Slim makes it crazy easy to access last weekend’s photos and tomorrow’s favorite playlist. The only question is—black, silver, red, or blue?
What's Included
Backup Plus Slim, 18-inch (45.72cm) USB 3.0 cable, Quick start guide, Seagate backup software, Mac driver
Product description
System_requirement:Windows 8, Windows 7 operating system. SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port (required for USB 3.0 transfer speeds or backwards compatible with USB 2.0 ports at USB 2.0 transfer speeds).
- Easy and simple to use - plug it in and go
- Fast file transfers with SuperSpeed USB 3.0
- Max compatible dimensions: 5.39" x 3.54" x 0.59"
- Compact case to store or transport medium and larger portable hard drives
User questions & answers
Question: | I have a massive music collection. Can I play right off this external hard drive and fast with no hassles |
Answer: | I use the Seagate Expansion 2TB Portable External Hard Drive to backup my Mac laptop. It comes with a cable that connects to the drive. The other end connects to USB 3.0 on my Mac. Not sure if the only port on drive is SATA. |
Question: | Is this compatible with 1080i Vizio tv? & does it come with the cords |
Answer: | Yes, it has good password protection. |
Question: | Will this work with USB |
Answer: | It should show 931 gb. |
Question: | Is there a s-ata port on the drive? so that i can connect it to my desktop in case of emergency |
Answer: | Hello, Normally the read and write speed is 90MB to 150MB or more. To maximize performance, please connect your hard drive to a USB 3.0 port. |
Product features
The More Space. The Merrier.
Windows computers tend to perform better when their internal drives aren’t filled to the brim. That’s why Expansion Portable is here to help. Transfer, backup, and give that desktop or laptop the space it needs. Fast USB connectivity and drag-and-drop style make the whole process a no brainer.
What's Included
Expansion Portable, 18-inch (45.72cm) USB 3.0 cable, Quick start guide
Product description
Get solid USB storage and 4TB capacity in an external desktop hard drive for Mac and Windows. Featuring dual front-facing, high-speed USB 3.0 ports, Backup Plus Hub makes it easy to charge mobile devices and transfer files from cameras, USB keys, and more. Even charge USB game controllers Enjoy simple, one-click backups, or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backup by downloading Seagate Toolkit software. Plus, take advantage of a complimentary two-month membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan for access to awesome photo and video editing apps.
- Store and access content for years with up to 14TB in a USB drive
- A great external hard drive for Mac and Windows, this hub can charge mobile devices and transfer files from USB cameras and USB thumb drives via its two USB 3.0 ports
- Use seamlessly between windows and Mac by installing the provided NTFS driver for Mac
- Complimentary four-month membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan’s photo and video editing apps (Must be redeemed within 1 year of drive registration. Not available in all countries)
- Enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included two-year limited warranty External desktop hard drive offers two front-facing, high-speed USB 3.0 ports for connecting to and recharging other USB devices like phones, cameras, and tablets
Product features
Backup and Recharge in One Place
Thousands of photos, hundreds of songs, loads of movies and docs—sound familiar? Backup Plus Hub helps protect all of it with proven reliability, seamless backup, Mac and Windows usability, plus two front-facing USB 3.0 ports for charging and managing devices like phones, tablets, and cameras.
Desk, Office, and Dorm Life—Made Easier
Backup Plus Hub helps protect important files and can’t-live-without memories with a single click. To schedule automatic backups, simply use the included Seagate software.
What's Included
Backup Plus Hub, 18-inch (45.72cm) USB 3.0 cable, 18W power adapter, Quick start guide, Seagate backup software, Mac driver
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