Increase the capacity of your Mac with one of the best external hard drives for MacBook, Mac, and iMac.
Welcome to our selection of the best external hard drives for Apple computers. In this guide, we have focused on the best external hard drives, which offer simple and fast (as well as affordable) ways to increase the storage capacity of your Mac or MacBook.
Macs, iMacs, and especially MacBooks are famous for being particularly complicated when it comes to improving the internal hard drive, which means that if you run out of space on your hard drive, you must delete files or store them on an external hard drive. And in this list, we focused only on external hard drives designed specifically for Apple’s Macs and MacBooks.
This means that all the models listed here are compatible with Apple’s file system, and many of them take advantage of the high-speed ports available on Macs, such as Thunderbolt ports.
We chose these external hard drives for MacBook, Mac, and iMac for ease of use, price, and reliability. This last consideration and perhaps the most important of all, because if you have to put sensitive or important files in an external hard drive, you must be sure that it will not stop working and that it will not lose not your data.
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The best external hard drives for Mac with great deals at Amazon
The latest Macs do not allow any update with regard to internal storage, so the best solution to the problem is to expand the storage externally. That’s why we consider using the best external hard drives for MacBook, Mac and iMac.
These external devices are not only useful for expanding storage but also allow you to backup your Mac. The decision to choose the best external hard drive for Mac can be a complicated task, so we help you with a list updated of the best alternatives for external hard drives.
Most external hard drives are suitable for MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, and even the iPhone and iPad (the drives have wireless access) and also work under the Windows operating system.
Also, read our other guides on the best external SSD drives for MacBook, MacBook Air 13 cases, and the best alternatives to the Apple MacBook.
Apple AirPort Time Capsule
Best wireless external hard drive for Mac
The AirPort Time Capsule from Apple itself is a real luxury option to manage all your backups without having to lift a finger. Literally. You only have to set it once, when you take it out of the box, and … you will not have to do anything else anymore. He alone, wirelessly, will make backup copies automatically.
But not only that: the AirPort Time Capsule can also perform the functions of a Wi-Fi base station, reaching very high speeds of up to 1.3GB per second. Manage the Wi-Fi network of this device, likewise, is very simple, and can be done both from Mac and from your iPhone or iPad. But the best thing is that, through the aforementioned Wi-Fi network, you can have several Macs connected to it, all with their corresponding backup made frequently.
In summary, if what you are looking for is the simplest and easiest way to have your Mac data backed up, it is definitely about this one; and is especially recommended for those who have more than one computer at home, or for small offices with several Macs. You have it available in versions of 2 or 3 TB and, as you can imagine, it is somewhat more expensive than normal external hard drives: $300 for the 2TB version, and $ 400 for the 3TB, although we have found both in Amazon with a juicy discount.
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Toshiba Canvio Basics
Best cheap external HDD for Mac
If you are looking for external hard drives for Macbook, Mac, and iMac that are very cheap but, at the same time, reliable and fast, the Toshiba Canvio Basics can be the answer to your prayers. It is the most basic model of the reputed Japanese company, but it comes with what is necessary to satisfy a large part of users.
For starters, it has a USB 3.0 port, so with it, a
By cons, the Toshiba Canvio Basics lack data encryption software, so you cannot protect your files by password, and it comes preformatted for Windows instead of Mac: that is, to save data on it from your Mac, you will first have to reformat it to the HFS + file system. A little discomfort, but it will be worth it to those who want to save a few euros and do not mind doing this operation (which, in reality, is extremely simple).
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Western Digital My Passport 4TB
An awesome external hard drive for Mac and PC
Western Digital’s My Passport comes with a huge 4TB storage capacity and is equipped with dizzying read and write speeds. It goes well for those who want fast storage speeds for their MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, as well as PCs.
Its large capacity allows you to store lots of data files. Therefore, it is ideal for backing up your Mac or PC. In addition, it will not take long to transfer data. Depending on your preferences, you can choose any capacity that ranges between 1TB and 4 TB. The device is also equipped with cloud storage features and comes with 256-bit AES encryption.
My Passport also has the backup software of Western Digital, but some of you may not find it very useful because it is too basic. It is one of the best external hard drives for Mac, as well as PC because it has excellent data transfer speeds, better than a number of its competitors.
It will not beat many flash drives that are available on the market, but when it comes to hard drives, My Passport is one of the best external hard drives for MacBook, Mac, and iMac in the market.
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iStorage diskAshur PRO2
An excellent external hard drive for security
It is one of the best external hard drives in terms of security. The iStorage diskAshur offers a storage capacity of 2 TB and is equipped with USB 3.0. The unit provides physical security thanks to a robust design. The disadvantage is its high price, especially if its capacity and characteristics are compared with other market options.
This device is best for staff working in multinational and government corporations because these devices are equipped with very strong security features.
The best feature it has to offer is that it can be configured to self-destruct if someone tries to manipulate it. Storage data is encrypted with 256-bit AES protocol encryption with other multiple security features due to which it has a higher price.
However, with only 2TB of storage capacity, you may well consider other options unless security is the highest priority for you.
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LaCie 1TB USB 3.0 Porsche Design Mobile Hard Drive
External hard drive for Mac with better design
If the
It also comes with a USB 3.0 connection, which guarantees good data transmission speeds, and is preformatted directly in HFS + so you can use it with your Mac without doing anything else than take it out of the box and plug it into your computer. As for data encryption, the hard drive does not come with the corresponding pre-installed software, but it is possible to download it free from the official LaCie website (the application is called LaCie Private-Public and you can find it at this link).
The LaCie Porsche Design is available in 5 different storage capacities: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 5TB.
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External Hard Drives for MacBook: LaCie Thunderbolt
Best Ultra-Rugged External Hard Drive for Mac
The LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt is the ideal choice for those who seek, mainly, two things: speed and endurance.
The speed is provided by the connection Thunderbolt, a connection included for some time in the different models of Mac and that is twice as fast as USB 3.0. This hard drive, in fact, not only has a port of this type included, but comes with a Thunderbolt cable directly integrated into its own design, so you will not need anything else: plug it, in and run (and never rather!).
And the resistance is provided by the hard construction of the hard disk: it is made of high-quality metallic materials and also comes wrapped in a silicone cover that further increases the level of protection. To give you an idea, the LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt comes prepared to easily withstand falls of up to 2 meters in height and is IP54 certified, which ensures the survival of the device against dust and water splashes. Not in vain, “rugged” is the English word for “resistant”.
But it is also that this model has other virtues: it allows you to encrypt data by password so that your files are safe, and comes prepared to work directly with Mac, as well as to manage your backups easily through Time Machine. An external hard drive, without a doubt, is the most complete.
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Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC USB 3.0
Top-quality HDD for Apple computers with wireless security
This is another of the best external hard drives for MacBook, Mac, and iMac. The Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC offers wireless security and has a capacity of 2 TB. The device comes with a USB 3.0 interface. It is ideal for users who prefer to store a wireless device; The device is not very fast when it comes to the read and write operation.
But it is the best option for those who do not want to break their wallet. The device is compatible with MacBook Pro, MacBook Air,
The MiniStation Extreme is equipped with a 256-bit AES security function, as well as Near Field Communication. The device allows you to unlock and quickly access your files with the help of the NFC card that comes with it. The device also comes with a three-year manufacturer’s warranty.
The only disadvantage of this device is that for many users it may not be the fastest available option in the market. For those who want more storage, 2TB could run out quickly.
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WD 4TB My Passport Wireless Pro
It is the wireless version of Western Digital’s My Passport and comes in storage capacities ranging from 1 TB to 4 TB. The device supports a USB 3.0 interface, as well as Wi-Fi. Despite having a Wi-Fi interface, it offers a great battery life. However, it does not have a USB Type C port, and it is also expensive due to the Wi-Fi features.
The device is the updated version of My Passport Wireless from 2015, and the company has come a long way since then. The device is equipped with an integrated SD card slot, as well as an SD transfer button.
The storage device is ideal for photographers since the device comes with an excellent application. Because it is equipped with Wi-Fi features, it also has a 6400 mAh battery.
However, when the device is connected to cables, transfer speeds of the cutting edge are reduced because the device uses USB Type A and Type B. The device is expensive but justifies the expense with a lot of features offered to its users.
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External Hard Drives for MacBook: Seagate
Top HDD that combines capacity and portability
This is another of the best external hard drives for MacBook, Mac,and iMac. The Innov8 8TB from Seagate joins portability with capacity. The device comes with USB 3.0 as well as USB Type C interfaces, however, Type-C is still in its early stages. The device offers a high storage capacity and does not require power through USB.
However, the gadget is relatively expensive. It is an ideal device for
For regular users of hard drives, this may not be the ideal option simply because it is an expensive device. Innov8 8TB works exceptionally well when it comes to data transfer, and also provides a good amount of storage capacity.
However, there are other options available in the market that are not only cheaper but also at the same level as the Innov8 8TB from Seagate.
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Final words
These are some of the best external hard drives for MacBook, Mac, and iMac. We know that each product comes with its own characteristics, which make them excel in certain categories over others. A hard disk could provide higher speed, higher security, etc. While another may come with additional features such as a USB-C port.
The important thing is that all the external hard drives here detailed are very good, there are obviously some that are the best, but also price is higher. The important thing is that whatever external hard drive for Mac you choose, complies with the specific requirements that you need for your particular storage and security needs.