Despite the convenience of cloud storage, I still find myself reaching for my portable external hard drives to back up my files, whether they’re documents, photos, videos, and even games. As a worrywart and someone who has previously lost thousands of photos due to a malfunctioning hard drive, I like to have multiple backups–I store precious files on my computer, portable storage, and the Cloud.
If you’re on the lookout for portable storage like me, you’ll find that there are so many options out there that it’s hard to find which one is right for your needs. Thankfully, you can take advantage of your lightning-fast Internet connection and shop for a portable external storage drive using this helpful guide!
If you’re looking for bang for your buck, try Seagate One Touch HDD
From Seagate Flagship Store
USB-C has made file transfers even quicker, so if you’re looking for a portable hard drive that won’t break the bank, then try the Seagate One Touch HDD. It offers password protection using the Seagate Secure 256-bit encryption and you can seamlessly use it on Windows and Mac computers without the need to format. Best of all, it comes with an assortment of applications, including a four-month subscription to an Adobe Creative Cloud photography plan and the Rescue data recovery service, where data recovery is done by Seagate. According to the brand, their service has an industry-leading success rate of 95%! Price starts at P2,500 on Lazmall.
If you’re looking for a Portable SSD, try the WD My Passport SSD
From Western Digital Official Website
Western Digital has built a solid reputation for its storage drives and this one does not disappoint. This portable SSD is super compact and light, but it can reach transfer speeds of up to 1050MB/s. It also features password protection with hardware encryption to keep your data safe. It’s super stylish and comes in a beautiful range of colors, while still being shock- and vibration-resistant. Choose from different storage capacities from 500GB to 2TB. Price starts at P4,125 on Shopee.
If you’re always on the go, try the LaCie Rugged Mini
From Seagate Official Shopee Store
This rugged drive is perfect for people who travel or need portable storage while in the field, like photographers, videographers, and content creators. If you need to transfer files on the go and speed is important, then opt for the SSD variant, while the traditional spinning drive version is cheaper and best for scheduled backups. LaCie is designed to survive that an ordinary hard drive won’t be able to–it’s rain-, crush- and shock-resistant. Plus, it comes with password protection, making it an all-around foolproof backup option. The LaCie Rugged Mini retails for P5,999 at Lazada.
If you’re a gamer, try the WD_Black P40
From WD_Black Store on Amazon
This external SSD certainly impresses with its sleek black exterior, but it’s also a treat for gamers looking for more storage and the ability to play on the go. This game drive is compatible with the Playstation 4 & 5, Xbox, PC, and Mac, and is capable of speeds up to 2,000MB/s. It’s rated to survive drops of up to 2 meters and is certainly eye-catching with cool RGB lights on the bottom part of the drive. The WD_Black P40 is currently available on Amazon for $116.99.
If you’re looking for small and lightweight storage, try Crucial X6
From Crucial Official Store
This portable SSD literally fits the palm of your hand, but it's packed with so much power. Its transfer speeds can reach 540MB/s and it works with most devices including PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, Android devices, and more. It uses USB-C and can be used straight out of the box. But a caveat: It’s made of plastic and while it’s designed to withstand a 6.5-foot drop, and is shock, vibration, and extreme temperature resistant, it’s still best to handle it with care. The Crucial X6 is available for P3,570 on Lazada.
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