Best External Hard Drives for Mac

What is one of the most common uses for an external hard drive? For many people, the main purpose of having one is to backup all of the important data on their computer. Backups have been a requirement for computers ever since the earliest days of them, as data loss has always proven to be a big problem for a lot of people. Just about anyone that has ever used a computer before has had to deal with lost data, which can be a frustrating and even a catastrophic occurrence. Therefore, it is in everyone's best interest to have an easy backup solution. The only problem is, backups tend to be a lot more trouble than many people realize.

The LaCie Portable External Hard Drive is one model that does its best to make backups as easy as possible. The easy-to-use LaCie Toolkit software that is included with this external hard drive is designed for one-click backups, automatic backups according to your schedule, and even mirroring folders, which ensures uninterrupted file storage. This gives you full coverage of all of the different backup options which will help you keep your data protected from any kind of loss due to hardware failure or even accidental deletion, which in turn should give you peace of mind about your computer.

Ask most Mac users what brand of external hard drive is their favorite, and many of them will tell you that they swear by LaCie drives. That's because LaCie has gained themselves quite a reputation among Mac users, making rugged external hard drives that are not only durable, but also very stylish. Their external hard drive enclosures don't sacrifice form over function, and in fact, they most often excel at both. This has made them a favorite among many users who often need an external hard drive that is able to withstand the rigors of regular travel and use.

The LaCie Rugged USB-C External Hard Drive exemplifies the reputation that LaCie has earned over the years. The enclosure of this drive has a beautiful, stylish design that not only looks good but also keeps the drive inside of it well protected. The rubberized shock-resistant housing of the drive is resistant to moisture and is supplemented with a dirt-repellent coating, so there is no doubt about its safety in any unforeseen situation, making it perfect to use whenever you need to use your computer doing some type of field work. In fact, the drive is most likely going to be much more resistant to external factors than the computer it is attached to.

One of the biggest concerns for anyone in regards to data storage is in how secure that storage will be. Whether you are talking about local, external, or even cloud storage, having a highly secure storage option is of the upmost importance for all users, regardless of what their specific needs are. With the rash of data theft that occurs nowadays, no one can be too concerned about the security of their data and of their personal information, as the threat is very real. This even extends to the security of an external hard drive, as simply misplacing it or leaving it out of your sight for any length of time can result in others getting access to your data if it isn't secured.

The WD WDBA2D0020BBL My Passport was made with security in mind, as it contains a number of security features included. For example, password protection with WD Security, as well as built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption, help keep your content safe and secure from prying eyes. This built-in security lets you use the drive as you normally would while keeping yourself as the only person with access to whatever data is stored on the drive, with the encryption being secure enough to prevent it from being easily cracked by anyone.

Although hard drive prices have dropped to all time lows, getting a drive with a large amount of storage capacity can still end up being pricey, with even 1 TB hard drives often running more than what many people would like to pay. This is especially true of external hard drives, as they tend to be a bit more expensive than internal drives due to the extra electronics required for them to work, such as the external enclosure and data cable. With many external drives being quite pricey, there is definitely a market for an affordable external drive for those who need to shop for one on a budget.

The Seagate Portable External Hard Drive is a great external hard drive for Mac that is also very affordable, making this a primary choice for those who need a lower cost drive. Not only is this hard drive affordable, but it is also very simple to use. It connects to a computer (both Mac and Windows) within a second via USB 3.0 at the maximal speed of 120 Mb/s, requiring no additional setup. Just plug in the drive, and your computer should automatically recognize it and have it ready to go in no more than a few seconds, letting you use it immediately. This is especially handy for those who are not very computer savvy and just want things to work without needing configuration.

Long gone are the days where computers came in boring beige boxes. In fact, it has probably been years since a beige computer has been made, and this is especially true of Macs, which long ago drove the market to create unique and appealing cases. All Macs that have been made within the last 10 years come in metallic enclosures that appear stylish, and as such, they need any external peripherals to match that appearance. One that can definitely match the stylish appearance of any Mac is the WD My Passport Ultra USB-C Portable External Hard Drive. This external hard drive comes in a unique, stylish case that will look great sitting on any desk, giving your computer the perfect peripheral to match its sleek, stylish appearance.

Of course, this hard drive isn't all about style. The drive needs to be functional, first and foremost, and able to meet the data storage needs of the user, and this drive provides exactly that. Coming in drive capacities ranging from 1 to 5 TB, most users should find with this model in the capacity that meets or exceeds their needs, letting them store any and all files that they need to keep safe and secure. Although these drive capacities don't match some of the larger ones in other external hard drives, we believe the ranges offered by this drive are more than enough for most people. And with that, the price of this drive is certainly affordable, so you won't have to spend an arm and a leg to upgrade your storage.