25 Best External Hard Drives That Would Make Perfect Gifts

A high-capacity desktop drive that features four interfaces, Lacie D2 Quadra V3 works best in digital content creation and other demanding professional tasks. It can provide users with up to 3TB capacity in a highly compact device and is well equipped with universal connectivity for both PC and Mac. It is quiet to use and never heats up because 60% of its surface area is solely intended for heat dissipation.

Known as the smallest USB 3.0 external hard drive today, LaCie Minimus is an ultra-compact, high-speed hard drive that provides USB 3.0 performance that makes it easier for users to transfer HD movies, photos and sound files. It also has a durable aluminium housing and is the best choice for users who want to make the most of their desk space because of its small size. It comes with the LaCie software suite to guarantee users with seamless backup both for their Mac and PC.

An external hard drive that features high-speed USB 3.0 and FireWire interfaces, G-Drive is a high performance storage device that works best in storage-intensive applications such as music libraries, video editing and fast data backup. It is housed in a solid aluminium case and has a heat sync that allows it to operate silently and remain cool even hours after it has been powered on. It is also Time Machine-ready and can be readily used with Mac OSX.

Buffalo Ministation Stealth 1 TB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive is a super slim, lightweight external drive that can transfer files two times faster than other USB 2.0 portable hard drive devices. It is preformatted to work with both Mac and Windows and does not need external power when used with laptops or notebooks. This external hard drive occupies minimal space and is powered by USB so cables are not necessary for it to operate.

LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt Series 1TB has a universal connectivity with Thunderbolt and USB 3.0. It can transfer data by as fast as 110mb/s and can work well both with Mac and Windows computers. Since its USB 3.0 is backwards compatible, users can use and connect it with whatever computer type. This accident-resistant and bus powered external hard drive is also best when it comes to mobility.

With its super speed of USB 3.0, Seagate Backup Plus 3TB USB 3.0 has the capacity to transfer data 30% faster than any other external hard drive. Like many other portable drives, this external hard drive has a Time Machine backup software that allows users to maintain their data and share their files online. Users of this drive can use it interchangeably with Mac or Windows computers without the need to reformat.

Introduced as the newer version of WB MY Book Studio 3 TB FireWire 800 External Hard Drive, this hard drive has the capacity to store and access files in USB 3.0 speed. It is ideal for storing large files such as videos, music and photos and back up files using the Apple Time Machine. Though it is most compatible with the Mac OS 10.5, this external hard drive can be reformatted to fit the Windows operating system.

This external hard drive has a 1TB storage capacity with 5400 data transfer speed. It is known for providing universal connectivity to users with its superior speed of USB 3.0 and Firewire 800. With that speed, users of this external drive can transfer a 700 MB video file in less than 7 seconds, faster than most external hard drives. It also boasts of its four levels of rugged protection which conform to the military standard 810-F.

Patriot Gauntlet 320 GB Portable Wireless External Drive is a 320GB wireless storage that has the capacity to carry media and files and stream videos and music with up to five devices, may it be notebooks, tablets or mobile phones. The best thing about this device is that it can connect up to eight devices and stream up to five devices all at the same time. It can work wirelessly and is compatible with internet pass-through from a Wi-Fi network.

A member of the WD console, the WD My Book AV DVR Expander External Hard Drive is a high-capacity DVR expander that serves as a convenient storage for camcorders. To store video and photo files, users simply have to connect this AV-optimized drive to a game console or Blu-Ray disc player or media player and retrieve the files they wish to store. It has both USB 2.0 and eSATA interfaces so it is compatible with most DVRs and AV devices.

Seagate Backup Plus 1 TB comes with a premium backup software that allows users to keep copies of their valuable digital files especially in times of disaster. This external drive is also powerfully flexible as it features an adapter system that makes it easier for users to change or upgrade the interface of their drives. It is compatible with operating systems such as Windows 7, Vista, XP, and even MAC OS. With this external hard drive, users can also save their files direct from their social media sites and even share multiple files online.

Known for its simplicity and affordability, the WD Elements 3 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive is a reliable add-on storage that is compatible with USB ports, MAC OS, X Tiger, Leopard, Windows and XP. It is also packaged in a very minimized way and is easy to reformat compared with other external drives. Users just have to connect the power of WD Elements and plug it into a USB port to use.

Best known for transferring large media files at fast speeds, Toshiba Canvio 1.0 TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive provides full system backup and recovery through its preinstalled backup software. It also secures backup files with a password through its data encryption feature that can reach up to 256-bit. It also has an internal shock sensor and ramp loading technology that protects computer drives from shocks and other external forces that may cause harm in computer systems.

A 3.0-powered portable add-on storage, Toshiba Canvio 1.0 TB USB 3.0 is an easy to use external hard drive that needs no software to install. It protects computer drives with its internal shock sensor and ramp loading technology and incorporates the latest user interface while ensuring its workmanship. Its 1 TB drive has the capacity to store up to 285,000 digital photos and download up to 820 high definition movies. Its compact design also makes it the best travel companion.

WD My Passport for Mac External Hard Drive features high-speed transfer rates with USB 3.0 interface. It is also rated HFS+ so it is perfectly compatible with Mac computers, but more that, it can also be reformatted to work with Windows. It is also attuned to the Apple Time Backup Software and boasts of its password protection and hardware encryption features. It has a sleek and compact design that allows its users to bring it wherever they go.

The Buffalo Ministration Thunderbolt External Hard Drive is bus-powered and very economical. This external hard drive provides fast performance either by Thunderbolt or USB and involves both a USB and a Thunderbolt cable in its package. Aside from the fact that it is good-looking, this external hard drive is also the first Buffalo hard drive that offers USB 3.0 connectivity and uses platter-based drive. It offers up to 10gbps bandwidth in terms of data transfer.

Because Touro External Hard Drive is compatible with the latest USB 3.0 specification, there is no doubt about its flexibility and fast data transfer. Its high-speed data transfer can reach up to 5 gigabits per second and it is also compatible with USB 2.0 ports. This easy-to-install external drive provides complimentary storage for large files such as high definition movies, videos and photos. It also boasts of its sleek design characterized by its lightness and smoothness.

Introduced as the newer version of the old Hewlett Packard HP Portable 500 GB USB 3.0/2.0 External Hard Drive, the HP Simple Save External Hard Drive is a compact hard drive that involves a classy design that can fit neatly inside a pocket or purse. Its NTFS file system is well-optimized for personal computer use, and it has an automatic backup software that prevents users from losing data. Above all, it is known for its premium HP quality.

Physical-wise, the main feature of the Sabrent Ultra Slim External Hard Drive is its aluminium casing which helps in cooling down the hard drive. It complies with ATA/ATAPI-6 specifications and is also “hot-swappable,” which means that users can plug and play their computers without the need to reboot every once in a while. Its USB 2.0 connection also provides a data transfer rate that can reach up to 480mbps, which is also compatible with USB 1.1 specifications.

With Xbox 360 External Hard Drive, users can download and store up to hundreds of high-definition movies and videos as well as games and other downloadable stuff from the Xbox Live Marketplace. This hard drive is particularly best at saving LIVE gamer profile, soundtracks and game demonstrations. Computer users can use this high-capacity Xbox in saving photos, movies and games by Microsoft, especially with its 250 GB version, which is the largest in its console.

A portable hard drive that combines all the best features of other external hard drive brands, Transcend Store Jet 25H3P involves the superior performance of USB 3.0 and a vast storage space. Its military-grade shock protection system also meets U.S. military drop-test standards. This hard drive is known for its classy enclosure and its quick reconnect button, which re-enables USB hard drive without the need to unplug or reinsert.

Manufactured by Seagate, the Expansion Hard Drive is widely touted as an easy-to-use solution for users who want to instantly store data into their computers. By just plugging in two cords, this hard drive can already be installed and start saving digital files. Unlike other hard drives, it also has the capacity to free up storage space in the computer’s hard drive to prevent possible decline in its performance. Its fast data transfer of USB 3.0 connectivity is also one of its best features.

The 2.5 or 3.5 IDE or SATA Hard Drive can be used as a complimentary external hard drive once connected to a personal computer through USB. Conforming to USB 1.1 and 2.0 standards, this external hard drive also boasts of its high speed data transfer that can reach up to 480 mbps. One of the best features of SATA is that it can support several types of hard drives, such as 2.5 laptop hard drives, 3.5 desktop hard drives, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM and many other devices.

The military-grade shock resistance feature of Transcend Information 1 TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive is especially designed to keep up with military drop standards in the United States. Its three-stage shock protection system fuses its silicon outer shell, hard casing as well as its internal hard drive suspension damper. Its bandwidth can also reach up to 5 gb/s in its 3.0 version and 480 mb/s in its 2.0 version.

One of the best things about WD My Passport is its automatic backup feature. It involves a continuous backup software that helps users in protecting their data using very minimal PC resources. When a user adds or changes a file, WD My Passport automatically backs it up. It also boasts of its high capacity and small design and its password protection feature that automatically sets password protection as well as hardware encryption to protect files from being accessed by unauthorized users.