Best External Hard Drives 2TB / 3to 2020 | Reviews and Guide

Use an external hard drive has become nowadays almost a necessity. Indeed, we store more files also becoming more voluminous, which is why external hard drives are now the ideal solution for every user.

A few years ago, the market was split into two distinct parts: external hard drives 2 “5 and 3” 5. These thumbs indicate the size of the products, while the 2 “5 can hold in your hand and connects with a USB port, 3” 5 is larger and requires a power supply.

Today, a new category has appeared on the market. The SSD external hard drive. This is a much faster machine, but also much more shock resistant. They are obviously a bit more expensive, but this type of external hard drive is a very good choice for users who need speed.

Our selection of 7 best external hard drive and 2to 3to

Most external hard drives 3to

1. Toshiba Canvio Basics 3to

The external hard drive is Toshiba 3to one of the best external hard drives on the market. Indeed, it has a USB 3.0 port to transfer data very quickly to broadband. Its storage capacity is also quite satisfactory as it is 3to. It can store many large files, but also videos and music. File transfers and their organizations are very fast.

What we liked is that the hard drive requires no software installation, because it has the plug and play simple. So you can use it simply by plugging it into your USB port and use is intuitive with a simple drag and drop from your computer hard drive. It can also be used on older devices, as it is compatible with USB 2.0 ports. It is compatible with Microsoft Windows as well as Mac. It can also be used on gaming consoles like the PS4 or Xbox One.

The design of the device is also interesting because it is a small box 2 “5, compact and convenient. It is black and has a matte finish. Therefore, it can store easily in a purse, backpack or even a purse computer. This will be the perfect companion for students or people moving a lot.

I ordered this for my hard drive PS4 to increase storage capacity and no longer remove games. It works wonderfully. The console immediately recognized and formatted. I then have moved the games and applications on this new storage space. So I recommend it for this purpose.

Your data is also securely stored with Toshiba technology that has 50 years of experience in data protection. The hard drive is very good and offers a secure and reliable location while traveling.

However, when we spent this review, we noticed some flaws. Indeed, the supplied cable is not the best and can easily disconnect if you move a little hard drive on the train for example. Also, very large files can not be transferred to Mac because of formatting the computer’s hard drive.

In short, it is a good hard drive that we recommend to everyone looking for a quick device with good storage capacity.

2. WD Elements

This device from Western Digital is one of external hard drives in vogue for the year 2019, that is why we have reviewed. The measure external hard drive 2 “5 and offers a storage capacity of 3 TB. It weighs about 200 grams, which is the perfect size for a student or a person always on the go. It features USB 3.0 connectivity, enabling it to achieve data transfer rates up to 625 MB / s. It can store a lot of fairly large files like games, but also movies and pictures. Also, the hard drive comes with a two year warranty from manufacturer, which is quite interesting.

The design of this device is simple since it is black is compact. It can be stored easily in any bag. The hard disk is compatible with USB 3.0 and 2.0. Regardless of what you have, you will benefit from optimal performance for your computer. The device therefore requires no power supply for use.

I backup disk used to my office without being nomadic. Performance is the appointment: 110 MB / s write large files. The micro USB cable is not great: you must have a USB 3 in front of the computer. See the reliability over time with WD that should do it.

The drive is compatible on Windows and Mac. It does not need to use special software, because it instantly connects to your computer. It is therefore the perfect hard drive if you are looking for a comfortable solution. It improves PC performance by freeing up disk space in no time.

When we passed this review, we noticed still some small problems. Indeed, the cable is not very efficient although it is a USB 3.0 cable. The cable is very short and is very fragile, it is a shame for an external hard drive. Moreover, as for the previous hard drive, use Mac is not entirely optimal because the original formatting the hard drive. It will therefore be careful and maybe select another if you want to use your hard drive for very large files.

So, this external hard drive is a very good product which is very promising for the year 2019. It will adapt to many more or less intensive use.

3. Seagate Expansion Desktop

This device from Seagate is an external hard drive that we could go through. Indeed, it is a hard drive 3 “5 black and classic design that is nice enough. He may agree with any type of decoration, because it must always be used on power sector. It has a capacity of 3 TB and has a connection to USB 3.0. It also comes with a two year manufacturer warranty.

The external hard drive will suit those wishing to use it near their computer or on their television, as it must always be plugged in to run. It has a connector USB 3.0 is also compatible with the 2.0. However, the 3.0 provides access to transfer data much faster because it can go to a transfer rate up to over 96 MB / s, but the connectors 2.0 still allows a transfer of up to 30 MB / s.

Very good product. Recognized as soon connected whether on PC or TV video connected to the drive. It complements the one bought it 3 years ago and that still works. I’ll buy a second one for backup. Little more, I appreciate its vertical position which reduces its bulk.

The device is compatible on Windows and Mac. There is no need to install first software to use, it simply connects to your computer. It is perfect for regular and sustainable use and will suit all users. It also improves the performance of your computer by freeing many files, but also to organize your files if you ever use it to your TV.

However, this hard drive has some flaws that we seemed important to mention here. It is very heavy, because it is almost 1 kg which makes it very difficult to transport and even at home. It is also very impressive and it is difficult to place, it makes it a place of record on your desk or in the living room. It is also quite noisy and although it is advertised to 3TB he did in that 2.72 TB. Also, the cable is not very good, which is a shame for a product of this price -the.

Thus, this device will satisfy users who want a hard storage disk to use at home.

4. WD My Passport

This hard drive from WD is a very good external hard drive for Mac. Indeed, thanks to its simple design, small and classic, it allows to store easily in a computer bag, backpack, or purse. It is also very light and it is very important especially in view of its storage capacity. It is specially designed to fit in your hand and offers the ability to store large volumes of photos, videos, or any other type of document. Unlike other drives we’ve reviewed, it can really store large files, since it is already formatted with the correct format for Apple products. It can also be used with Time Machine to secure your data.

Its capacity is 3TB, which leaves you much room to store your files. Moreover, it has the plug and play technology that allows it to operate directly by plugging in your computer. It also features compatibility with the USB C and A USB so that you can use with legacy products or new generation. USB C is the newest port, it is not available on the machines of the previous generation. The data transfer will be a bit longer with a different type of port. Your data is protected by encryption as well as a password, so this ensures the privacy and security of all your documents. The hard drive is not very noisy when in use or when copying files.

I purchased this external hard drive for my PS4, it makes his job perfectly and with a capacity of 4TB, it supports very well transfer games and SHIFT.

The price is also very accessible because it can be found for less than 200 euros, which is good news for Apple users who are generally found in procuring expensive products.

However, we noticed a small problem with the copying of documents. Indeed, if you have very large files to copy that weigh about 500 GB, hard drive may not be the best choice for you because it becomes very slow during long copies.

This hard drive can therefore satisfy every Apple product user.

Most external hard drives 2to

5. Maxtor STSHX-M201TCBM

This device is the Maxtor external hard drive of 2TB the least expensive of those we have reviewed. The product design is simple, classic and small. Through this, he can take it anywhere and slip into any type of bag because it is very light and only 2 “5. This is the device that offers the easiest solution if you want to increase the storage capacity of your computer or just to take your documents even on the move. You can store all your documents like your music, movies and photos safely with its data encryption system.

The hard drive has a storage capacity of 2 TB, which is quite acceptable for the price. It also allows use USB 3.0 to obtain a transfer capacity much faster. It reaches up to 115 MB / s with USB 3.0 and remains fairly constant throughout the transfer. Obviously, it is compatible with USB 2.0 and Mac, but as always using Mac brings some problems with large files. It features plug and play technology so you do not need to install additional software or drivers, it plugs and can be used directly after. You can also use it as external hard drive for game consoles (PS4, Xbox One) on your TV and also on your box. This is an external hard drive which is proving to be very promising for this year 2019, because it is multi-purpose and has a very good value.

I have this drive in recent years to present.J’en am very satisfied: the transfer speed is excellent, keeping in time too, no suspicious noise regrettable that far, and I use it to store all my duplicate data from my computer (videos, photos, files and pro). A great product, which I’m totally satisfied.

However, when we spent this review, we have noticed a problem with USB 2.0. Indeed, the data transfer is not at all constant and takes much more time than it would normally.

So this will be a very good choice for a user who can connect hard drive with USB 3.0.

6. Toshiba Canvio Basics 2to

This 2TB external hard drive from Toshiba is a great product inexpensive. It presents one of the best quality / price ratio of this selection. The design of the device is black, simple and compact. It is also small (2 “5) and light, allowing it to carry easily in any type of bag. It can then be used even while traveling because it has an internal shock sensor and ramp load technology, which allows it to continue the transfer even if there is a movement or shock. It is possible to store all types of files like music, important documents, movies and photos. It can also withstand very large files easily and safely especially with its data encryption.

This product has a storage capacity of 2 TB (available in version 3.0, see review above). It can be used either USB 3.0 or USB 2.0. It will obviously be faster when used with a USB 3.0 port. This device has the technology plug and play. Thus, there is no need to install software or perform an installation to use it. It is compatible with Windows and Mac, however, format it with another format if you want to use it with a Mac and you can not transfer large files. It feeds on itself, which means that just plug in USB for use, not industry. It is also possible to use it for your gaming consoles like the PS4 or Xbox One but on your TV or box.

Bought it a little over a year, hard drive, a small footprint and extremely quiet is truly an essential accessory when you want to carry large files (movies, music, videos or photographs, for example) without having to lug his computer. Quick access, transfer rate more than respectable, it really is a very well finished product, the slips in a pocket and presto, voila. It carries with it almost 2 TB of data.

However, we found some weaknesses to this product. Indeed, the cable is not very good quality and can ensure that the hard drive is disconnected with a simple flick. Also, USB 2.0, it is quite slow and makes you waste time during use.

So, this external hard drive 2 to be a good choice for Microsoft users with a USB 3.0 port.

7. LaCie Rugged Mini

The device LaCie is the latest product that we have reviewed. Unlike all other hard disks of this selection, the design is much more interesting and daring because it is orange. However, it remains compact, small and light, which does not prevent it easy to carry while traveling. In addition, it is resistant to shocks and to falls. It can also withstand rain and pressure. This product allows you to store all the files you want them to be bulky or not. It can support easily transfer quite heavy documents. In short, this is probably the most reliable disk hard this selection.

This external hard drive has a storage capacity of 2 TB and it is possible to use either USB 3.0 or USB 2.0. Yes, USB 3.0 is much faster because it can transfer a 700MB video in less than 7 seconds, while with USB 2.0, the same video would take 25 seconds. It can be plugged into Thunderbolt, which is good news for Apple users. It also has the plug and play technology allowing you to use it without installing any additional software or drivers. It also protects data with encryption of your information and also through a password. The hard drive can be used on Microsoft or Mac. The hard drive is also very quiet and it’s a good feature to consider.

We still found some weaknesses when we reviewed. Indeed, the USB cable is not of excellent quality and can be disconnected easily at the slightest movement, it is very annoying for a hard drive that is all terrain.

Thus, this product will suit all users with a PC or Mac wishing to receive a data transfer fast enough.

Buying Guide for external hard drives in 2019

Choose external hard drive is not an easy decision, because the products on the market are numerous and the manufacturers and retailers use a vocabulary that is not necessarily accessible to everyone. Also, users often look for a hard drive simply to improve their computer storage and their first hard drive is internal, so this choice is not trivial and can raise many questions.

The external hard drive size

The format of the external hard drive is one of the first criteria to be taken into account. As mentioned in the introduction, there are two main types of external hard drives: 2 “5 and 3” 5. There is also the SSD external hard drives that they are part of a separate category.

External hard drives 2 “5

These are the smaller products, simply because they can hold in one hand and they are easily transportable. They are generally used by students or people traveling a lot. They are not very heavy (200 grams) and does not need to be connected to a power supply, a single USB port is enough. Their storage capacity is generally up to 2 TB.

External hard drives 3 “5

These are larger devices, but they offer significant storage capacity. They are not as easily transported as they require a constant power supply. Users of these products are often people working at home or people storing many movies and videos to watch on their television. It is not surprising that these devices weigh up to 1 kilogram, but the ability is much more interesting because it can reach 6 TB.

External hard drives SSD

These drives are the fastest devices, but also the most expensive. The transfer speed is improved and the hard disk is smaller and much lighter. They are also more durable and make no noise. Generally, users of these products are professionals working a lot of students who need a quick transfer capacity or gamers.

The interface for the external hard drive

The interface of the device is an important element to consider. Indeed, it determines the compatibility with your computer, but also the data transfer speed. Here are some criteria to consider when you read external hard drives views:

USB 2.0 is compatible with almost all computers and up to 60 MB / s. However, USB 2.0 is becoming a little outdated because USB 3.0 is available since 2010 and provides a speed writing much faster which can be up to 500 MB / s. It is still important to note that USB 3.0 supports all ports with an earlier version.

FireWire is an interface that is more typically used on Mac. FireWire is distinguished in two categories: the 400 and 800. The 400 is slower than USB 2.0 (about 50 MB / s) and 800, however, is faster and can reach 100 MB / s.

The eSATA interface is very interesting because it is very efficient. It can reach 600 MB / s (which is closest to the internal hard drives).

The Thunderbolt is the fastest and up to 1 GB / s. It is not very common, because it is a very expensive technology.

The speed of rotation

All hard drives are dependent on speed. It is expressed in revolutions per minute. It can vary between 4200, 5400, 7200, 10000 and 15000. The lower the number, the higher the writing is fast. However, the hard disk is also likely to be noisy and consume a lot of electricity.

The capacity of the external hard drive

The capacity is the storage capacity. It varies from one hard drive to another. You are the only person who can choose the capacity you need. The 2 “5 typically offer between 40GB and 2TB, 3” 5 offer between 250GB and 3TB and some can go up to more than 3 TB.