Feb 6, 2019 - Our external drive reviews. Samsung T3 USB 3.1 SSD (500GB) Read PCWorld's review. Samsung T5 SSD. Read PCWorld's review. SanDisk Extreme 900. Read PCWorld's review. G-Technology G-Drive Slim SSD USB 3.1. Read PCWorld's review. LaCie Porsche Design Type-C Mobile hard drive 2TB. Seagate Backup Plus Portable. Why Most People Choose Toshiba Canvio External Hard Drive – Inclusive Review And Comparison 2016. If you are looking for great, basic and cheap way to preserve your most precious digital files and memories then Toshiba Canvio Basics 3.0 is best option.
Portable storage reviews include HDDs and SSDs designed to be easily carried around as well as reviews of high performance USB flash drives. Portable drive reviews are generally about storage products that connect over USB or Thunderbolt, while providing client users with either high capacity or high speed portable storage options.
September 4th, 2019 by Adam Armstrong
Today Western Digital released the latest version of its popular My Passport portable HDD device. The new My Passport is redesigned with a slimmer build and higher capacity, up to 5TB. According to the company, this would make the My Passport the slimmest portable 5TB Hard Drive in its portfolio. Western Digital has released two versions one for Windows 10 with USB 3.0 and one for Mac (macOS Mojave) that leverages USB-C.
Read moreAugust 12th, 2019 by Alex Schuchter
The Lacie Rugged Raid Shuttle is a portable RAID that is the first of its kind, utilizing Seagate Secure encryption for a consumer RAID product. Whether looking for data redundancy, performance improvement, or both the Lacie Rugged Raid Shuttle is a tough, easy to use, secure, and easily carried gadget for creative professionals. Wherever your next project takes you this drive is ready to be packed into your gear bag or a shipping envelope and go.
Read moreJuly 24th, 2019 by Alex Schuchter
The Aegis Fortress L3 is a portable SSD that offers external storage for organizations and companies that require the highest level of protection for their data. The drive is a compact sleek black vault for your data that utilizes a built in PIN authentication pad to unlock allowing you to take large amounts of sensitive data wherever you go.
Read moreJuly 13th, 2019 by Lyle Smith
The SecureData SecureDrive BT is a hardware-encrypted portable SSD designed for professionals and consumers who need that extra mile to protect their data. Losing a portable drive can be disastrous if security measures weren’t taken, which often is the case. The BT, however, has you covered. It is one of the more unique portable drives we’ve reviewed, as it has been built from the ground up with security as its primary goal so users can have a peace of mind their sensitive or classified data is safe.
Read moreJuly 10th, 2019 by Adam Armstrong
Some information is so critical that it needs a high level of protection when it is transferred to a portable device and on the move. SecureData has rolled out its SecureUSD BT that leverages Mobile phones or Apple Watches to help secure the device. This wireless authentication also makes the device remote management ready.
Read moreJuly 2nd, 2019 by Adam Armstrong
While there is still a limitation on NVMe portable devices available, there are, however, more and more enclosures for placing NVMe SSDs into. ORICO has released its line of clear NVMe M.2 SSD enclosures. While mostly clear, there is a polychrome aluminum alloy heat sink that comes in four different colors: red, blue, black, and sliver. The enclosure is highly compatible with many makes of PC and several mobile devices.
Read moreApril 19th, 2019 by Lyle Smith
The PNY Elite-X USB 3.1 Gen 1 is the company’s newest portable flash line that is available in a wide range of capacities. As its name indicates, it uses a USB 3.1 interface, supports both Windows and OSX and is backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 connections.
Read moreApril 16th, 2019 by Lyle Smith
Seagate has released another update to their Backup Plus Slim portable hard drives. We first reviewed the Slim way back in 2014 and found it to be an excellent portable solution with great management software and a very affordable price. Seagate unfortunately did not include any new capacity models this time around, which is a bit disappointing, as we haven't seen an increase since it was first released. Nonetheless, the new Backup Plus Slim is built with a new modern design, supports the both USB 3.0/2.0 connections and works right out of the box with Windows and Mac systems.
Read moreApril 16th, 2019 by Marshall Gunnell
Seagate recently launched its latest edition to its portable drive family, the Backup Plus Portable. Offered in a 4 and 5TB capacity, this drive is an ideal solution for those looking to backup large digital media libraries. It features USB 3.0 (also compatible with USB 2.0) connectivity and can be used with both Mac and Windows. Additionally, the drive provides automatic file synchronization, allowing you to effortlessly backup your files.
Read moreApril 12th, 2019 by Marshall Gunnell
PNY’s 1TB PRO Elite USB 3.0, which was announced in mid-March, is a large capacity, high-performance USB flash drive. The PRO Elite USB 3.0 is an optimal solution for transferring, sharing, and storing large files, all the while sporting a nice design. Not only is it designed to be aesthetically pleasing – it was designed to be functional. The PNY PRO Elite USB 3.0 utilizes the cap-less, metal sliding collar design. This successfully removes the chances of losing that annoying cap while still providing protection for the USB head.
Read moreWe like to complain about how much space photos take up on a phone, but as a photographer, they’re going to take up even more storage on your computer.
From RAW files to edits and uncompressed high definition shots, images are almost certainly taking a chunk out of your machine’s capacity. This is undesirable for more than a few reasons.
All the photos will force your computer to run slower, make it harder to install the programs you need and be stuck in one place.
Alternatively, you can move your photos to an external drive. This drive is just like the one in your computer, except that it’s portable and expands your available storage.
From traditional HDDs (hard disk drives) to modern SSDs (solid-state drives), a little storage to a lot, there’s definitely something to meet your needs.
In this article, we’ll list the best external drives for photos to save you time exploring. Keep reading for more!
Quick Summary
Hard Drive: Western Digital 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive
- Ideal for: If you need a considerable amount of space without high costs, and don’t mind using the classic HDD.
- Not for: If you intend to use your drive on multiple system types or expose it to potential damage (i.e. in the field).
SSD: Samsung T5 Portable SSD
- Ideal for: Cross-platform work (including Android tablets/phones, extremely fast speeds, and a sturdy metal exterior to protect from drops.
- Not for: If you need a lot of storage space.
SSD: VectoTech Rapid External SSD
- Ideal for: If you need a lot of storage space and you need to be able to access all stored files quickly, potentially across multiple systems.
- Not for: Those who would be uncomfortable formatting a drive themselves.
Who Should Get This?
If you are a photographer who takes a lot of pictures (or videos), you’re eventually going to run out of options for storing them. You could burn them to CDs, and keep the discs in a massive binder. You could buy an entirely new computer to store them on. You could attempt to upload them to a cloud site and end up with compressed files.
Or, you could start with an external drive that will keep them safe in one place, make them easily portable, and easy to organize. An external drive is an absolute necessity for a serious photographer.
If you don’t take many pictures or aren’t too concerned with your computer’s storage, you could always try a cloud backup system or a flash drive, but be aware your space will be limited with either option.
External Drive for Photos: What to Consider?
HDD vs. SSD
When you think of a hard drive, you probably picture the physical spinning disk that has traditionally been used and is common in many computers. This is called an HDD, but there is another type of drive, the SSD, that is available. SSDs use flash storage (like on small jump drives) and have no moving parts, making them more reliable. However, they tend to be more expensive.
Formatting
If you purchase an HDD, it will be formatted for either macOS or PC use (a few drives are formatted to work on both, but this is uncommon). You can always reformat the drive, but this will erase all of its content, so if you go this route please make sure you plan on using the drive on only one type of operating system. An SSD is usually cross-compatible, so this is the better choice if you plan to access your photos from a variety of places.
See also: How to format a flash drive for Mac and PC compatibility
Storage Capacity
Your number one concern should be how much space your drive of choice offers. Too little space and you’ll be forced to go through lengthy upgrades/files transfers or to buy new drives. Too much space (for example, if you intend to use separate drives each year) and you’re paying unnecessarily for storage you won’t use. 1GB of space is roughly 500 images at a standard resolution taken with a phone camera — but this number goes down when you use multiple file versions per image, higher resolutions, and better cameras. You’ll want at least 500 GB of space, if not more.
Best External Drive for Photographers in 2019: Our Picks
1. Western Digital 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive
Available from 1TB to 4TB in size, this drive comes preformatted for Windows and has plug-n-play functionality (you won’t have to install any software to use it). It uses USB 3.0 to connect to your computer and spins at 5400 RPM.
Pros:
- Fast read/write speeds reduce file loading and access time.
- Very portable 3″ x 4″ design, great for taking from home to work or into the field.
- Available in large sizes so you’ll have plenty of storage space.
Cons:
- Must be reformatted to work on macOS.
2. Samsung T5 Portable SSD
The T5 is an SSD drive that knows how to score all the points. It features the rising USB-C port as well as a USB-C to USB-A (classic) cable in case your computer doesn’t feature this new port. Reads and writes at about 540 MB/s.
Pros:
- USB-C is compatible not only with laptops such as the new MacBook Pro or HP Envy but also many Android phones and tablets, so you can see your files anywhere.
- The casing is a tough metal that will limit damage from drops and bumps.
- Formatted as exFAT.
Cons:
- Not available in sizes greater than 2TB.
3. VectoTech Rapid External SSD
If you want fast speeds and plenty of space, VectoTech’s drive is the best choice. It offers up to 4TB of SSD storage (or as little as 250GB, if you’re on the opposite end of the spectrum). The read/write speeds are more than satisfactory at 450 MB/s.
Pros:
- Plug and play if you’re on PC, and an extremely light drive at only 4 ounces.
- Compatible with Time Machine if you reformat to Mac only.
- Runs in absolute silence and has very fast read/write speeds.
Cons:
- No built-in password protection, and if you want cross-system compatibility you’ll need to reformat it yourself to exFAT (or to Mac, as it comes formatted for PC).
Additional Tips & Tricks
If you’re having a hard time deciding between HDD & SSD drives, here are a few pointers:
HDD:
- Lower cost per GB
- Very common and have been used for many years
- Formatted for a single system
- More susceptible to damage
SSD:
- Higher cost per GBIncreasing popularity
- Formatted for all systems
- More reliable due to lack of moving parts
- Higher max read/write speeds
You can also check out PCWorld’s guide on the matter if you’re still unsure.
Conclusion
An external drive is absolutely necessary for a photographer. Your images take up space — perhaps not physically as a roll of film would, but certainly digitally in the form of originally shoots, edits, and more.
No one wants to delete old photos unnecessarily, and the solution is simple. Whether you choose HDD or SSD, 500GB or 3TB, you’ll be set up for a compact and effective storage system that will keep your images safe for years to come.
Of course, keeping them all organized is a different matter, but if you have a method for doing so or a drive recommendation, drop us a comment below!
Chris is a computer geek for a decade. He loved talking to computers via codes, and now he finds it more interesting communicating with the real people. He now writes everything related to computer issues and loves helping people solve problems.