Best external hard drive UK

Which is the best external hard drive 2023?

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The 10 best external hard drives to buy in the UK

The top 10 list of the best external hard drives lists various brands and prices

Review10Best compares the best external hard drives in the UK and selects the one by Toshiba as the best external hard drive. In a external hard drive buying guide, you can read more about the features of the different external hard drives and see a recommendation on which external hard drive to buy in the UK in 2023. By considering the top list of external hard drives, you can find the best external hard drives and save time shopping online.


Table of contents
  1. Read the ultimate external hard drive buying guide
  2. View the external hard drive picks and see how they rank in the top list

VIEW THE TOP 10 LIST →


Best external hard drives: A complete buying guide

All you need to know before buying a great external hard drive

Picture of a external hard drive

Looking for a great external hard drive to store all of your media content? Then it shouldn’t be too hard as there are many fantastic options available that make finding the best external hard drive possible quite easy.

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What are external hard drives?

An external hard drive is a device used to store data on a computer like a standard internal hard drive, with the main difference being it is connected externally using a USB connection. This allows you to store more data should your laptop or computer be running out of hard drive space, while also being able to transport the media and easily connect it to other devices.

Why should you buy a good external hard drive?

The best external hard drives offer many benefits, including impressive storage space and easy portability. So, when combined, it means you have access to a storage device whenever you might need it while being able to carry large quantities of files on the move, such as pictures, music and videos. External hard drives are great for backing up important files and data from your computer, while also making it very easy to transfer data from different devices. Plus, they are a quick and easy way to increase the storage of your computer or laptop.

How to choose the right external hard drive?

Another picture of a external hard drive

To ensure you find the best external hard drive for your needs, there are a few important factors to consider. Knowing these should make finding that perfect hard drive that bit easier!

  • Capacity: One of the most important things to look at when choosing an external hard drive, the capacity will determine how much data you can store. Smaller external hard drives have capacities ranging from 250 – 500GB of storage, while will be fine for most people only need it for smaller files like music and photographs. Larger external hard drives tend to range from 500GB to 1TB, while the most powerful can offer several TB of storage space.
  • Uses: While you will obviously be storing data on an external hard drive, you should consider the type of data you are storing as it should make it easier to choose the capacity you need. For instance, if you only need to store small files like text documents and images, then a smaller capacity is fine. However, those that need to backup lots of data or who are looking to store larger files such as videos, then more storage space will be needed.
  • Portability: For people that a storage device to use on the go, then lightweight and compact designs will be the better option for an external hard drive, and a hard casing is also advisable to ensure it remains intact and undamaged. For those that only need an external hard drive for additional disk space on their computer, then a larger, less slimline design should be fine.

What is the best kind of external hard drive in the UK?

There two main types of external hard drive to choose from. Each of these can come with various designs that may be useful, so be careful before choosing the best external hard drive:

  • Hard Disk Drive (HDD): The most common type of external hard drive and the best-priced, hard disk drives feature moving parts inside to operate the hard drive. Older in design, the main benefit of this external hard drive is that it can store large quantities of data at a very reasonable price.
  • Solid State Drive (SSD): A newer innovation, a solid state drive (SSD) is the best type of external hard drive in terms of performance. Its incredibly fast so can transfer data much quicker than a hard disk drive, and because there are no moving parts inside (SSDs use microchips similar to a USB stick) they are much more durable. However, SSD external hard drives are much more expensive when compared to hard disk drive types.
…are you ready for the best picks of 2023?

Top 10 list of external hard drives in the UK (June 2023)

The bestseller list compares brands and their external hard drives. Which external hard drive is the best?
Best choice TOP 1
Image of Toshiba 4041K11 external hard drive
Toshiba 1TB Canvio Basics Portable External Hard Drive,USB 3.0 Gen…
  • System Requirements - Formatted NTFS for Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows…
  • USB-powered / Compatible with Xbox One and PS4
  • SuperSpeed USB 3.0
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TOP 2
Image of Seagate STGX2000400 external hard drive
Seagate Portable Drive, 2TB, External Hard Drive, Dark Grey, for PC…
  • For MAC user- Go to Finder and then check Preferences | General tab , Show these…
  • This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0…
  • To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition…
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TOP 3
Image of Meyritech  external hard drive
Meyritech 1TB USB 3.0 Hard Drive for Portable External Data Storage,…
  • Package Contents 1 x USB 3.0 Micro B Cable (30cm long) + 1 x 1TB Hard Drive
  • Drive Dimensions123mm × 78mm × 17mm
  • Convenience For added portability, the USB hard drive requires no external power.…
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Offer TOP 4
Image of UnionSine HD-006 external hard drive
UnionSine External Hard Drive 500GB Ultra Slim Portable Hard Drive…
  • Complete Package - Comes with everything you need, including a portable hard drive,…
  • Easy to Use - Simply plug and play with no software installation required. Plus,…
  • Lightning-Fast Transfers - Boasts ultra-fast transfer speeds of up to 120MB/s read…
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TOP 5
Image of Maxone 8541608722 external hard drive
Maxone Portable External Hard Drive 500GB 2.5" HDD - USB 3.0…
  • Package Includes1 x Portable Hard Drive, 1 x USB 3.0 cable, 1 x user manual, 3-Year…
  • ExteriorMerely 0.4 inch, ultra Slim All-Aluminum Design. All-Aluminum anti-scratch…
  • Plug-And-PlayPortable external hard drive 500GB data storage extension. Ready to…
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TOP 6
Image of Seagate STKM2000400 external hard drive
Seagate Expansion Portable, 2TB, External Hard Drive, 2.5 Inch, USB…
  • Enjoy peace of mind with the included limited warranty and Rescue Data Recovery…
  • Automatic recognition of Windows and Mac computers for simple setup (reformatting…
  • USB 3.0 powered
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TOP 7
Image of Western Digital WDBU6Y0040BBK-WESN external hard drive
WD 4 TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive - USB 3.0, Black
  • Compatibility : Formatted NTFS for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7. Reformatting…
  • Fast data transfer with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0
  • Free trial version of the WD SmartWare Pro software for automatic and cloud data…
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TOP 8
Image of Toshiba HDTB510EK3AB external hard drive
Toshiba Canvio Partner 1TB Portable 2.5" External HDD, USB 3.2…
  • Reliable Performance: This external hard drive is built with Toshiba's quality…
  • Portable Design: The Canvio Partner is small, lightweight, and compact, making it…
  • Easy to Use: Simply plug this external hard drive into your computer's USB port…
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TOP 9
Image of Storite  external hard drive
Storite F32 2.5” Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive USB…
  • Elegant Slim Design: Storite external storage pocket-friendly design with cool shiny…
  • Sturdy and Durable: To reduce electromagnetic field interference and achieve convection…
  • Plug and Play: Easy to use, just Plug and Play features enable hard drive simple…
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TOP 10
Image of TEYADI  external hard drive
TEYADI 500GB External Portable Hard Drive USB 3.0 HDD Storage Compatible…
  • Robust design and system compatibility: ABS plastic case improves durability and…
  • External hard drive: The portable hard drive allows you to enjoy movies, music and…
  • Quiet and stylish: the external hard drive with a sturdy casing can be used immediately.…
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Affiliate Disclosure

We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For the list of the best external hard drives, we consider only products that are available on Amazon while the ranking is based on factors such as customer reviews, number of sales and keyword. It is not a external hard drive test. Last Update: 2023/06/08.