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“Your disk is almost full – Save space by optimising storage”. If you’ve ever received this notification on your laptop, chances are you have a lot of important documents and data that you need at hand. However, given the mere storage size of your laptop, it just doesn’t have the capacity to store them all. That’s where external hard drives come in handy, as they are able to store as much as 10TB of data! Read on to check out our recommendations of the best external hard drives in Singapore.
An external hard drive is a storage device that is able to store large amounts of data from multiple devices. Unlike an internal hard drive which is nestled firmly inside a computer, you have to plug an external hard drive into a computer port to use. More often than not, it exceeds a computer’s storage capacity, providing you with more storage space to keep your data.
Assuming that there are no major physical damages, the average lifespan of an external hard drive is around three to five years. This depends on the make, model and conditions it is stored in. As such, it is recommended to replace your external hard drive once every few years to ensure your data is always kept safe.
While they might be a rather straightforward device, there are some things to consider when choosing the best external hard drives. Here are some of them:
The most important specification to focus on is the storage space. After all, an external hard drive is supposed to store your data. If you’re looking to expand your storage space on a low-end laptop or tablet, then a 500GB hard drive would work. But, if you want to store larger files for the long term, then you would need at least 1TB of storage.
The faster your hard drive operates, the quicker it transfers your data. Therefore, you should seek to get one with a fast transfer speed. This is usually based on the USB connectivity of the external hard drive. It is also recommended to get a drive with at least 4MB buffer size.
| USB Type | Transfer Speed |
| USB 3.0 | Up to 5 Gbit/s |
| USB 3.1 Gen 1 | Up to 5 Gbit/s |
| USB 3.1 Gen 2 | Up to 10 Gbit/s |
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 | Up to 20 Gbit/s |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 | Up to 20 Gbit/s |
If you’re dealing with confidential or sensitive data, then you should get an external hard drive with security features. This includes drives with biometric fingerprint encryptions and password or pin-code buttons.
Given its large storage capacities, external hard drives are usually used to store copies of important data and work documents. This way, you’ll always have a backup of your work in the unfortunate event of your laptop dying or being stolen.
As a globally renowned American data storage company since 1978, Seagate has decades worth of experience producing the best external hard drives in Singapore. In particular, we are marvelling over the Seagate One Touch External Hard Drive (available on Seagate Singapore Official Store) which is available in six different colours. With a storage space up to 5TB, you can now store and access all your photos and files with just a single click! It helps that this Seagate hard drive has a quick plug-and-play USB 3.0 connectivity which is compatible with both Windows laptops and Apple’s Mac!
The Transcend StoreJet External Hard Drive (available on Transcend Official Store) has literally transcended our understanding of whatever we know about how the best portable hard drives should look like. That’s because this Transcend hard drive is modelled to look like a gadget of the past with its simplistic black design. At the same time, it retains modern aspects such as its funky blue coating. It is rather simple to use too. Just plug it into your computer and the data will automatically be backed up at the touch of a button! Priced affordably below $100, we dare say that this is one of the best portable external hard drives for both Mac and Windows users which is value-for-money!
Another frontrunner on our list of best external hard drives in Singapore has got to be this HP P500 Series External Hard Drive (available on HP SSD Official Store). Weighing less than 60g, it is one of the best portable hard drives that is light and compact! This means you can slip it easily into your backpack to have your data at hand even when you’re in school or at the office. Furthermore, this HP hard drive has a shock-proof metal shell which can withstand hard knocks and bumps. More importantly, it is compatible with most devices – making it one of the best external hard drives for Mac and Windows users alike!
One look at this Orico FEN300 External Hard Drive (available on Orico Official Mall (China)) and you can tell that it stands out from the sea of hard drives. That’s because it has a striped aluminium alloy body with a slide function just like olden day slider phones. But what steals the show is how this Orico hard drive has a fingerprint encryption feature where you can be accurately identified in half a second. Using biometric technology, it essentially works like how you would unlock a smartphone and serves as an extra layer of security for your precious data. Additionally, it supports up to 10 different fingerprints, offering flexibility to your storage rights. No wonder this is one of the best external hard drives in Singapore!
| External Hard Drive | Connectivity | Transfer Speed | Max Storage | Price | Why we love it |
| Seagate One Touch External Hard Drive | USB 3.0 | Up to 5 Gbit/s | 5TB | $75 – $499 | Comes in a variety of colours |
| Transcend StoreJet External Hard Drive | USB 3.1 Gen 1 | Up to 5 Gbit/s | 1TB | $79 | Affordable option |
| HP P500 Series External Hard Drive | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | Up to 20 Gbit/s | 1TB | $149 | Light and compact |
| Orico FEN300 External Hard Drive | USB 3.1 | Up to 5 Gbit/s | 1TB | $150 – $246 | Fingerprint encryption ability |
External hard drives can also be used to store multimedia which takes up more storage space. This includes backing up your entire mobile phone’s photo and video gallery and downloading your favourite movies to watch!
Whether you’re storing yearly tax documents or your ever-growing collection of high-resolution photos, the Toshiba Canvio Ready External Hard Drive (available on Toshiba Storage Official Store) will be your new best friend. As one of the best external hard drives with up to 4TB of storage, this Toshiba hard drive has incredibly high transfer speeds of up to 20 Gbit/s. This means that you can also download and save all your favourite Chinese dramas and Korean dramas at your fingertips! And if you’re worried about stress overload from the data transfer, rest assured that it is designed with a shock sensor that will cut the power to protect your data in such an unlikely event.
When it comes to the best portable external hard drives for Mac and Windows users in Singapore, it’s hard not to include the LaCie Mobile Drive Moon Silver External Hard Drive (available on Seagate Singapore Official Store). That’s because it is equipped with a LaCie Toolkit software that allows you to schedule automatic backups. What’s more, you can also mirror files across multiple devices such as your laptop and iPad. With a 5TB storage, this LaCie hard drive is great for selfie kings and queens to backup their selfies too. In fact, it can store up to 500,000 high-resolution photos and 165 hours worth of video footage. Colour us impressed!
Don’t be fooled by the mere size of this VAVA VA-UM003 Mini External Hard Drive (available on ONE2WORLD Official Store). It may be of a small rectangle shape, but it sure is mighty! In fact, it is the perfect size to connect to your mobile phone via both USB Type C-C and Type C-A cables. As one of the best portable external hard drives in Singapore for both Mac and Android users, you get to enjoy unmatched speed and performance when transferring your photos. Moreover, this VAVA hard drive is crafted with a zinc-aluminium alloy casing that provides a higher resistance to shock while preventing it from overheating.
| External Hard Drive | Connectivity | Transfer Speed | Max Storage | Price | Why we love it |
| Toshiba Canvio Ready External Hard Drive | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | Up to 20 Gbit/s | 4TB | $59 – $129 | Has a shock sensor to protect data |
| LaCie Mobile Drive Moon Silver External Hard Drive | USB 3.0 | Up to 5 Gbit/s | 5TB | $179 | Can schedule automatic backups |
| VAVA VA-UM003 Mini External Hard Drive | USB 3.1 Gen 2 | Up to 10 Gbit/s | 1TB | $161 – $260 | Unique rectangle shape |
Portable external hard drives are a hot favourite among gamers as they can use it to boost their storage capacity by installing games directly into the drive. It’s perfect for those using a gaming laptop that has a lower-capacity internal solid-state drive in its operating system.
The best external hard drives in Singapore that can store games are those that blend well with your gaming setup. Case in point: the ASUS FX External Hard Drive (available on ASUS Official Store) that comes with neon-coloured streaks which match most of the best gaming mice. Beyond its aesthetics, this ASUS external hard drive is widely reviewed for its high-speed data transmission. This ensures that all your games can be backed up in a jiffy. Even better, it has a 24/7 stress test feature which will automatically shut down in the unlikely event of a data overload.
As your game library grows, you’ll need space to save new treasured titles, along with extra room for old favourites. That’s where the WD Black P10 Game Hard Drive (available on Western Digital Official Store) comes in handy! With up to 5TB of storage space, it is built specifically for gamers looking to save their game library on-the-go. In fact, this WD external hard drive can save up to 125 games so you don’t have to compromise which games to delete on your video game console or PC. And as one of the best portable external hard drives, it offers optimised speed boosts of up to 140MB/s. This means you can spend less time worrying about the hardware, and more time winning your games!
If you’re looking for a device to store your game library, then the Orico Chroma External Hard Drive (available on Orico Official Mall (China)) will be right up your alley. After all, as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of USB data and technology products, you can count on Orico to produce nothing but the best portable external hard drives. Made of ABS plastic, it is known for its dimensional stability and performance when connected to the best gaming laptops. The best part of all? It is available in four funky and colourful designs that resemble the best Rubik’s cubes – definitely a hit among students!
As one of the best external hard drives in Singapore, the Seagate FireCuda Gaming External Hard Drive (available on Seagate Singapore Official Store) sure knows a thing or two about aesthetics. With a bold and refined design, it is crafted to compliment the best gaming desks and best gaming monitors with its customisable RGB LED lightings. By that, we mean that you get to have full control over the colour and pattern designs! Aesthetics aside, it has a 5TB capacity so you can build your ultimate gaming library without sacrificing titles. Better still, it is simple and lightweight which makes it easy for you to take the whole library for travels – talk about portability!
| External Hard Drive | Connectivity | Transfer Speed | Max Storage | Price | Why we love it |
| ASUS FX External Hard Drive | USB 3.1 Gen 1 | Up to 5 Gbit/s | 1TB | $109 – $149 | Has a 24/7 stress test feature |
| WD Black P10 Game Hard Drive | USB 3.1 Gen 1 | Up to 5 Gbit/s | 5TB | $109 – $209 | Can store 125 games |
| Orico Chroma External Hard Drive | USB 3.1 Gen 2 | Up to 10 Gbit/s | 1TB | $94 – $239 | Funky and colourful design |
| Seagate FireCuda Gaming External Hard Drive | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | Up to 20 Gbit/s | 5TB | $79 – $219 | Customisable RGB LED lighting |
Now that you’re armed with the best external storage hard drives in Singapore, you’ll never have to worry about losing your important documents and precious photos ever again. So go on and work in peace, knowing your data will be kept safe! For other home workstation recommendations, check out the best desktop work monitors and best standing desks at our 9.9 Super Shopping Day Sale which will surely boost your productivity. And if you’re still studying, these best budget laptops for students will be more suited for your wallet.
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