Best External Hard Drives for Safe Data Storage in India

Released relatively recently, the Backup Plus Portable hard drive has become one of the most popular models in Seagate's family. And we can easily see why. It's offered in really large capacities up to 5TB and at 7.6 x 2.11 x 11.35 cm, it has a slimmer design than many other drives with less storage space, plus its price is more than reasonable, making it one of the most affordable external portable drives present on the market right now.

To elaborate a bit more on design, the drive looks very modern. It features a mixture of plastic and a brushed aluminium plate which give it durability and make it difficult to pry the encloser open to remove the hard drive. What's more, this drive is offered in 6 colour options - Black, Silver, Blue, Red, Pink and Gold, so you can choose the colour that appeals to you most.

However, with hard drives, it's not the looks that matter. What matters is if the drive offers speedy performance and can securely back up your computer. In this regard, the Backup Plus Portable isn't much different from its predecessor. It features a speedy USB 3.0 interface and demonstrates above the average speed rates working at read speeds of 131 and 146MBps, and write speeds of about 131-139MBps, depending on a USB connection. This means you will be able to transfer quite large files between the computer and the drive pretty quickly. Plus, it offers automatic synchronisation option, making sure you can backup your data at any schedule you set.

According to StoreJet, their 25H3P is one of the best external hard drives on the market. Is it so? Let's find out.

What we like right away is that it's available in multiple capacities. You can choose from 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB, and 4 TB, depending on how many files you plan to store on it (and how much money you're ready to spend, of course). It also boasts decent protection features. The makers fitted it with a 3-stage anti-shock system (a thick suspension damper, reinforced hard casing and anti-slip rubber enclosure) to exclude the possibility of damage to the magnetic disk inside as well as to protect it from scratches. Though we wouldn't recommend testing it, but the drive claims to easily withstand drops from a height of several feet without difficulty.

When it comes to the form factor, we wouldn't call the 25H3P necessarily compact. Measuring 12.95 x 8.13 x 2.03 cm it's bigger compared to other drives reviewed. That said, it definitely isn't huge and if you plan to take it with you, it won't be a problem - the size of the drive is slightly bigger than the size of a pack of cigarettes.

If you're looking for a reasonably-priced drive to store cavernous amounts of files, we recommend looking towards the WD My Passport. It's available in capacities up to 4 TB and you can get it for less ₹4000, which makes it one of the cheapest external hard drives on the market.

Talking business, despite a lower price, the WD My Passport does what it's supposed to do. It works at a reliable reading/writing speed (135.8 MB/s and 122.1 MB/s accordingly) and will let you transfer plenty of files, including those in Full HD resolution. What's more, it includes all the software out-of-the-box so you won't need to download any more applications - just set it up to the schedule you want and it will automatically back up music, videos, photos or anything else you store on the computer. Given that the software comes included, you'll also get the 256-bit AES hardware encryption allowing you to shield your private data from unauthorised access, which makes it a suitable option even for users with demanding needs.

There are a few downsides to it though. One of them is a limited number of ports. Unfortunately, there's only one port present on the drive (a micro-B port), which is a shame since you won't be able to connect it with many devices - it would be far better if it'd been equipped with a USB-C. Another one is speed. Compared to other portable drives, the WD My Passport's on a slower side, so if you work with massive amounts of 4k videos, you might want to consider more speedy offerings. If not, and/or you simply need a portable means to backup your data, the WD My Passport can make an excellent choice.

We don't buy external drives for the sake of appearance, but with Seagate, you get it all. The STHN2000403 edition appeals with its variety of available colours, allowing everyone to pick the one that will ideally match their style. Aside from a wide spectrum of colours, we like the minimalist brushed aluminium enclosure that this drive comes packed in - it makes it look elegant, stylish and even kind of chic. As for the form factor, the drive fully fits its name. Measuring 11.5 x 7.8 x 1.2 cm, it's of the size of a mouse, so slim and small you can fit it into your pocket without it looking like a bulge. And with the weight of 127 grammes only, it's one of the most lightweight hard drives offered out there.

When it comes to the tech, the Seagate Backup Plus is on par with the competition. It features 3.0 interface allowing for fast transfer speed, provides on-demand backup of your data, and can work with Windows and Mac OS. The cable for connecting it with a computer or laptop comes included in the set as well. Besides, it's possible to use it with other devices such as gaming consoles, TVs, PS4, home theatres, as well as with Linux OS, but for that, you'd need to additionally purchase compatible cables.

Transcend’s external hard drives are famous for their supreme durability and high quality, boasting many other perks such as lightning-fast file transfer speed, top protection and great data management.

The model under review hasn’t become an exception. It boasts a rugged design and excellent military-grade shock resistance that meets all standards to ensure the protection of the data stored on this drive. Along with internal protection, this drive is well protected from external damage: it comes with a silicone case and a hard casing allowing you to shove it into your briefcase or gym bag and carry with you.

The best thing about external hard drives from this series is that they deftly combine military quality build and lightweight design. Measuring 12.95 x 8.23 x 1.88 cm and with the weight of just 227 grams, it has a slim form factor, allowing you to neatly fit it in your bag compartment without squashing other stuff. It’s also worth adding that this model comes in two colours - military and iron grey - so you can choose the colour that best complements your style!