Finest external hard drives and SSDs for Chromebooks in 2023

The becoming external hard drives and SSDs for Chromebooks can provide a workaround for restricted or unhurried native space for storing to your laptop. Here’s extraordinarily crucial when even one of the considerable crucial supreme Chromebooks nonetheless use eMMC drives with a heavy reliance on cloud storage. You do not constantly must offload your knowledge to the cloud, especially if it be sensitive or in particular crucial.

Out of the ordinary-divulge drives (SSD) beget mostly taken over hard disk drives (HDD) due to their compact size, superior sturdiness, and contemporary performance, so we have got mostly incorporated these faster choices. However, HDDs are nonetheless standard relating to bulk storage on a funds, and we have got incorporated a couple of choices on this list. Listed below are the supreme external hard drives and SSDs to your Chromebook.

Our popular external hard drives and SSDs for Chromebooks

Source: Samsung

Samsung T7 Moveable SSD

Finest overall

With rugged and fingerprint devices also available in the market

$85 $90 Set
$5

Samsung’s T7, also available in the market in T7 Contact and T7 Defend variants, is our prime opt for an external SSD. It is competitively priced, legit, and can maximize performance on USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2).

Experts

• Competitive pricing
• 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities available in the market
• As much as 1,050MB/s be taught speeds with USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2)

Cons

• Rugged and exact devices should always not as life like

Samsung’s T7 lineup of external SSDs is difficult to beat, which is why it be on the stop of our list. The not unusual T7 comes in three different colors and three capacities (500GB, 1TB, and 2TB), built from a exact chunk of aluminum for many sturdiness. It is limited ample that it is likely you’ll perchance bolt it into a pocket whenever you would very well be on the switch, and it weighs in at about two oz.

The T7 connects to your Chromebook with USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), providing be taught accelerates to 1,050MB/s and write accelerates to 1,000MB/s. It’s good to perchance, of route, use the SSD with slower interfaces (love USB-A), though performance will likely be capped relying on the style of connection. All drives beget 256-bit AES encryption to guard your knowledge.

The not unusual T7 will inch well with most folk, but Samsung also makes T7 Contact and T7 Defend (released most recently last year) devices. The conventional adds a fingerprint reader for hastily and simple derive admission to to knowledge saved securely on the drive, whereas the latter adds IP65 water and dirt resistance in the create of a rubberized shell. We nonetheless just like the same outdated T7 is the supreme drive for most folk, but it undoubtedly’s nice to beget choices can beget to nonetheless you need more security or sturdiness. All drives are priced competitively and beget a reputation for being extraordinarily legit.

Source: Western Digital

WD My Passport HDD

Finest mark

Cheap and conveyable HDD

It is a ways no longer as rapid as an SSD, but WD’s My Passport external HDD is a mountainous formulation to derive low-cost, transportable storage to your Chromebook.

Experts

• As much as 5TB of storage for approximately $110
• 256-bit AES encryption
• Moveable originate

Cons

• Now not as rapid as an SSD
• Now not as legit as an SSD
• Now not as compact as an SSD

While we have got targeted totally on SSDs on this guide, there are nonetheless some external HDDs available in the market price a seek. Within the occasion you are going to love to exhaust as cramped as doable and nonetheless beget a portable drive, the WD My Passport can elevate. It measures roughly four inches by three inches, it be lightweight, and it has a removable host cable. Here’s a mountainous opt whenever you occur to could perchance very well be having a seek to pair a funds drive with a mountainous funds Chromebook

It is supposed to work with the USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1) not unusual, which translates to be taught tempo as much as about 130MB/s when combined with the hard disk’s ability. It is a ways no longer nearly as rapid as an SSD, but it is likely you’ll perchance derive 1TB of storage for approximately $54. It also comes in 2TB, 4TB, and 5TB capacities, topping out at upright $109 for an crucial possibility. To boot, drives reach with 256-bit AES encryption and a 3-year warranty.

Source: OWC

OWC Envoy Pro FX

Top class opt

Hastens to 2,800MB/s with Thunderbolt

OWC’s Envoy Pro FX is a sturdy aluminum SSD that can rob profit of Thunderbolt to elevate switch accelerates to 2,800MB/s. It’s good to perchance opt it up in capacities ranging from 2560GB to 4TB.

Experts

• IP67 water and dirt resistance
• MIL-STD 810G tumble certification
• As much as 2,800MB/s switch speeds with Thunderbolt

Cons

• Dear
• Overkill whenever you occur to haven’t got a laptop with Thunderbolt

The different of external SSDs love minded with Thunderbolt is limited; most rely on not unusual USB-C to elevate accelerates to about 1,050MB/s. That is mountainous for most folk, but energy users could perchance must rob profit of their Chromebook’s port ability. Within the occasion you sort beget a laptop with Thunderbolt, the OWC Envoy Pro FX can beget to nonetheless be thought to be.

It could perchance perchance well hit be taught accelerates to 2,800MB/s, it be built into a sturdy aluminum shell with ribbing for additonal warmth dissipation, and it comes in five different capacities ranging from 240GB to 4TB. It is rather compact, it is going to withstand drops with MIL-STD 810G certification, it has an IP67 score for dust and water resistance, and it even has a limited LED to will allow you to perceive when it be working.

Source: Well-known

Well-known X6 Moveable SSD

Finest for lumber

Slim and life like

$55 $60 Set
$5

The Well-known X6 is no longer the fastest SSD around, but it undoubtedly is one among the supreme for touring. Its slim originate and rounded edges sort it easy to spin into a pocket, and it will elevate as much as 800MB/s switch speeds with capacities as much as 4TB.

Experts

• Two-meter tumble safety
• Slim and conveyable originate with rounded edges
• Somewhat life like

Cons

• No IP score for dust and water
• Now not as rapid as one more SSDs

The Well-known X6 transportable SSD could perchance very well be the supreme opt whenever you occur to could perchance very well be constantly on the freeway. It is one among the most compact drives available in the market, measuring 2.7 inches by 2.5 inches and weighing about 1.4 oz. Its sq. originate with rounded edges makes it easy to retain in a pants pocket, and it has a removable host cable. It even boasts tumble safety as much as two meters.

This SSD is supposed to work with USB-C 3.2 but could perchance also work with USB-A, and speeds will vary relying on the skill you derive. The 500GB devices prime out at be taught speeds of about 540MB/s, whereas the 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB devices climb as much as 800MB/s. It is a cramped bit slower than other prime SSD devices, but it undoubtedly’s nonetheless formulation faster than an HDD. These drives are rather life like, with the 1TB mannequin costing supreme about $60.

Source: LaCie

LaCie Rugged SSD Pro

Most rugged

Thunderbolt tempo and hundreds safety

$250 $210 Set
$-40

LaCie’s Rugged SSD Pro is a first-rate possibility for any individual who needs maximum safety for his or her knowledge. Finest section? It could perchance perchance well hit be taught accelerates to 2,800MB/s when linked with Thunderbolt.

Experts

• Extraordinarily rugged originate
• Switch accelerates to 2,800MB/s
• Capacities as much as 4TB available in the market

Cons

• Very dear
• Now not price it for Chromebooks without Thunderbolt

LaCie’s Rugged SSD Pro combines rapid Thunderbolt performance with excellent sturdiness and safety. It is one among the supreme all-around drives available in the market, but it undoubtedly would not reach low-cost. Within the occasion you would very well be willing to shell out, you are going to derive switch accelerates to 2,800MB/s when linked to Thunderbolt, IP67 water and dirt resistance, tumble safety as much as a couple of meters, and even crush resistance rated at as much as two tons.

The SSD stays limited ample to without difficulty slot in the palm of your hand, and it comes in capacities ranging from 1TB as much as 4TB. Be particular that that your Chromebook is equipped with Thunderbolt ahead of procuring for in converse to derive the most out of this drive.

Source: Western Digital

WD My Book Exterior Out of the ordinary Force

Finest for mass storage

HDD with as much as a 22TB skill

Need quite so much of storage on a funds? Don’t thoughts slower be taught and write speeds? Don’t in particular care about mobility? The WD My Book external HDD is available in the market in capacities ranging from 4TB the total formulation to 22TB.

Experts

• Big capacities available in the market
• Very just pricing
• 256-bit AES encryption

Cons

• Now not transportable
• Unhurried be taught and write speeds when put next to SSD

WD’s My Book is a variation of the My Passport drive, designed to behave as desktop external storage (with an AC energy requirement) to your Chromebook. It’s good to perchance use it with a mountainous Chromebook docking put or plugged without delay into your laptop with USB-A, where you are going to gaze be taught and write accelerates to about 180MB/s. No, the HDD acquired’t match the tempo of an SSD, however the point here is skill and price.

The WD My Book starts at a 4TB skill for approximately $95 and climbs the total formulation to a whopping 22TB of storage for approximately $583. There are 6TB, 8TB, 12TB, 14TB, 16TB, and 18TB capacities alongside the formulation, providing you with tons of choices. All drives reach with 256-bit AES encryption to guard your knowledge.

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Kingston XS2000

Most compact

A pocketable external drive that is blazing rapid, too

$80 $115 Set
$35

Within the occasion you stay on the switch and wish something that doesn’t possess quite so much of space to your backpack, the Kingston XS2000 is made for you. It’s a cramped drive but doesn’t sever support corners on the performance entrance. In actual fact, its supported switch speeds are double that of most rival SSDs.

Experts

• Compact and conveyable size
• On hand in as much as 4TB skill
• Drop safety with incorporated sleeve

While external SSDs are noticeably smaller than primitive spinning HDDs, the Kingston XS2000 is even smaller — it be supreme a tad bigger than a thumb drive. This skill carrying it around to your limited purse or even a respectable jeans pocket wouldn’t be a scenario whenever you would very well be engaged on the inch. The drive is rated IP55 for dust and water resistance with the incorporated rubber sleeve, which also protects it from shocks and drops.

Its size could perchance also be deceiving, though, as its performance is considerably better than many of its peers. Now not like other transportable SSDs on this mark vary, this Kingston mannequin makes use of USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 over its USB-C port. That complicated string of numbers and letters on the total skill that the XS2000 can switch your knowledge at accelerates to 2000MB/s, which is double that of alternative SSDs. You upright beget to make particular your laptop’s Kind-C port supports this USB specification.

It’s good to perchance opt the Kingston XS2000 in sizes ranging from 500GB to 4TB, which is highly ample to elongate your Chromebook’s inner storage or switch around mountainous files, love 4K video recordings. Kingston affords a respectable 5-year warranty on the drive along with. The becoming thing we need used to be different is its lack of any longer or less knowledge encryption.

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Synology BeeDrive

Perfect transportable storage

Wirelessly backs up photos out of your phone

The Synology BeeDrive is a special transportable SSD that will get you a ton of natty parts, akin to wi-fi backup out of your phone over Wi-Fi. There are also built-in tools that can defend your files and folders synced between the drive and your laptop. But whenever you occur to don’t need these extra parts, the BeeDrive works excellently as a conventional, non-natty external drive.

Experts

• Slim, pocketable originate
• Unbelievable software program
• Rapid switch speeds

Cons

• No encryption
• Ineffective tumble safety
• Dear

You’re going to on the total associate Synology with its ideal NAS enclosures, but it undoubtedly recently launched its first transportable SSD, which stands out in some key ways. While it is likely you’ll perchance use the Synology BeeDrive as a conventional external drive with easy lunge-and-play operation, it comes with a accomplice app for Windows (Mac pork up coming soon) that enables all its natty parts — and there are rather a couple of of them.

The drive makes use of your laptop’s Wi-Fi to join to your phone, which enables wi-fi photograph backups the utilization of the BeeDrive app for Android and iPhone. As to your laptop itself, there are a couple of sync tools that defend a backup of your selected folders, which works without a hiccup, or defend folders in sync on two laptop programs. The latter will likely be precious whilst you commonly swap between two laptops, love one for work and one more for home.

Synology’s rich software program works seamlessly, and we stumbled on the switch speeds to be shut to the claimed figures in particular situations. However, the BeeDrive glaringly lacks any longer or less file encryption. It is a ways IP55 rated, though it cannot withstand shocks from drops, so sort particular to retain it someplace protected. While 1TB and 2TB storage choices can beget to nonetheless meet most folk’s needs, you would very well be out of fine fortune in converse for you a elevated storage variant of the BeeDrive.

Source: SanDisk

SanDisk Low Moveable SSD v2

SanDisk different

Rapid and rugged drive

$80 $250 Set
$170

The Low Moveable SSD from SanDisk delivers rapid switch charges, affords IP55 score and tumble safety, and a carabiner loop to without difficulty elevate the drive around. And the built-in 256-bit AES encryption locks your knowledge on the support of a password for better privateness.

Experts

• IP55 water and dirt resistance
• Two-meter tumble safety
• As much as 1,050MB/s be taught speeds

Cons

• Reliability concerns
• Reasonably dear when no longer on sale

SanDisk’s Low Moveable SSD V2 is one among the most practically designed external SSDs, full with a rubberized elevate out for better tumble safety and an IP55 score to sort it dust and water resistant. The drive is made with a built-in carabiner loop to without difficulty join it to your backpack or other tools.

And if privateness is a danger, the drive supports 256-bit AES encryption to retain your knowledge protected from prying eyes. Within the meantime, the switch tempo on the Low SSD can inch as much as 1050MB/s, which is upright in accordance with what you constantly derive with similar drives over a USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2) port.

However, a considerable danger with the SanDisk Low Moveable SSD (and its Pro sibling) has recently been relating to the drive randomly failing, jeopardizing mandatory and irreplaceable private and enterprise knowledge for quite so much of folk. While SanDisk has been replacing affected drives, the replacements nonetheless should always not proof against breaking. It’s good to perchance very well be deciding on up other transportable hard drives or SSDs on this list unless SanDisk’s parent firm, Western Digital, comes out with a exact repair.

Getting the upright external drive to your Chromebook

Exterior drives are a convenient formulation to add more storage, and they reach in tons of varied sizes with different parts to raised fit your needs. Within the occasion you would very well be buying a novel external drive, it be crucial to focal point on the skill, switch tempo, sturdiness, connection sort, and price.

You’re going to to find an crucial capacities stay in the realm of HDDs (on the least something that is remotely life like), though SSDs commonly reach with bigger than ample storage for the moderate shopper. Switch speeds will vary relying on the interface outmoded, along with the style of drive. HDDs with spinning platters are painfully unhurried now that SSDs beget hit the market, and that is the reason considerable more pronounced when the SSD makes use of Thunderbolt to hit switch speeds drawing shut 3,000MB/s.

Durability is one more astronomical part. HDDs should always not nearly as legit as SSDs (which don’t beget any moving facets), and you’re going to beget to nonetheless defend an glimpse on different certifications for things love tumble, water, and dirt safety. Within the occasion you commonly lumber, a rugged SSD is constantly a accurate belief. The connection sort is less crucial, as all these drives will work with USB-C or USB-A (albeit at a lesser performance degree in most situations). Correct ensure you would very well be no longer spending astronomical on a Thunderbolt SSD in case your Chromebook is no longer in fact equipped with a Thunderbolt port.

And indirectly, costs will play a astronomical role to your determination. HDDs are the most affordable choices, but they’re unhurried and no longer as legit. SSDs are more dear, but they’ll last more, they’re more transportable, and they’ll give considerable faster transfers.

Samsung’s T7 external SSD is the supreme possibility for most Chromebooks.

With these components in thoughts, the Samsung T7 lineup comes out on prime. Pricing is highly competitive, and it is likely you’ll perchance derive 500GB, 1TB, or 2TB capacities (an very supreme vary for most folk). It also has 256-bit AES encryption, and its USB-C connection can procedure up as much as 1,050MB/s be taught and 1,000MB/s write speeds. The SSDs reach in three different colors whereas remaining compact ample to lumber with you all around the put you inch.

Samsung has expanded the T7 to incorporate the T7 Contact and T7 Defend devices. They’re in fact the identical because the not unusual T7 relating to performance, though the Contact adds an external fingerprint reader for faster derive admission to, and the Defend adds a conserving coating with further sturdiness certifications. Be particular that to take a look at out more mountainous Chromebook tools to end your setup.

Source: Samsung

Samsung T7 Moveable SSD

Finest overall

$85 $90 Set
$5

Samsung’s T7 transportable SSD is our prime opt relating to external storage to your Chromebook. It is rapid, it be legit, and it be competitively priced. Test out the T7 Contact for additonal security or the T7 Defend for more ruggedness.