We've put 3 of the best budget portable hard drives to the
test
The
world is a crowded place these days - finding any kind of space is a real
luxury, and the same is true in the digital world. Given the amount of files and
data for work, or music, photos and videos for entertainment that we all carry
around with us, creating space for them all is hard work.
A
reliable portable hard drive can be a lifesaver on occasion, and the devices
shown here all have the potential to be just that. All are compact enough to
carry with you, and powerful enough to handle your biggest files.
How
we did the test
Each
of the hard drives in question had a range of files uploaded to it, ranging
from images, videos and text documents to bulky DMG files. The upload time was
noted, as was the time it took to set up each drive - some required some sort
of formatting, while the wireless offerings had to be synced. The same files
were used for each HDD to ensure the test was completely fair on all devices
included.
Toshiba
Store Slim for Mac $99.99
Design
A
brushed metal shell brings a bit of style to the understated world of hard
drive cases. Just a single USB 3.0 port for the Store, complete with white
activity light to alert you of the connection.
Size
& weight
Slim
and very light, the Toshiba is easy to store in your bag or even your pocket.
Given that there's a terabyte of storage space inside, it's all the more
satisfying to transport around.
Connection
Using
high-speed USB 3.0, the Toshiba handles file transfers very quickly. The connection
can move at up to 5GB p/s, and everything we tried lived up to that speed.
Storage
space
A
whole terabyte of storage space is fantastic for the price, and more than most
of the drives on show here. It also comes with 10GB of free cloud storage and
is Time Machine compatible.
An
impressive package that is kept small for very easy transportation and gives
you plenty of storage space to work with - the Toshiba ticks every box in this
test
Western
Digital My Passport Ultra $79.99
Design
Shorter
than a smartphone, if slightly wider, this HDD is very compact and easy to
carry around. The shiny pattern finish brings a little bit of flair to the dark
plastic casing too.
Size
& weight
Still
very thin compared to the others here, the My Passport Ultra is slightly
weightier than it looks, but still comes in at only 0.3lbs. At only four inches
in length it is also compact.
Connection
Another
that uses USB 3.0, the My Passport also supports USB 2.0 connections. Mac users
will, however, have to go through a reformatting process in order to start
using the device.
Storage
space
The
unit we tested was 500GB, but it is possible to double that to 1TB and stay
under the £100 budget. This unit also comes with Time Machine compatibility and
cloud support.
An
eye-catching HDD thanks to its patterned casing, the formatting process is an
awkward extra to deal with that stains an otherwise flawless entry from Western
Digital
LaCie
Porsche Design $199.99
Design
Looking
as though it was cut from a single piece of brushed metal, the LaCie comes with
rugged, sharp corners and a thin LED light that really help it to stand out
from a design perspective.
Size
& weight
To
go with the sharp corners, this device feels bulky. It's not cumbersome by any
means; weighing around 250g means it's still very mobile and easy to transport
around.
Connection
USB
3.0 and can be formatted to work exclusively with your Mac, the LaCie also
comes with a setup process that lets you edit the format depending on which OS
you use.
Storage
space
One
terabyte of space to work with as well as Time Machine compatibility means this
single piece of aluminium has all the space you need within it, though it's
more expensive.
Really
stands out from a design point of view, and comes with the joint-highest amount
of storage here, though for a higher price. Customisable space is a bonus
feature too
