The Best External Hard Drive

Whether you need to back up your computer or get more space for a growing media library, external hard drives are the easiest, most cost-effective option for more storage. Portable drives like the Toshiba Canvio Flex (4 TB) require only a single USB cable attached to your computer, so they’re convenient to use and carry with a laptop in more than one place. Desktop drives like the Seagate Backup Plus Hub (4 TB) require both a USB cable and a power outlet but are generally faster, so they’re better suited to everyday work with files on the drive, not just occasional access or backups.