These USB-C hard drives can back up or beef up your Mac’s storage
- sep
- 18
The new MacBook Pro is here and it only has Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports. But that's OK, because USB-C is fast, future-proof, and will eventually (probably) replace standard USB, HDMI, DisplayPort, power, and more. A USB-C hard drive is the perfect way to locally back up all of your most important files, including photos, documents, music, movies, and anything else that's important to you. Save your Mac's hard drive and pick up a USB-C hard drive.
Fan favorite
G-Technology G-Drive 1TB
The G-Drive by G-Technology is a great USB-C hard drive for most people. It has 1TB of storage and you can find it for around $70. It features a quick drive speed of 7200RPM, with transfer rates of up to 136MB/s, thanks to USB 3.1. Comes in silver, as well as Apple-exclusive colors: gold, rose gold, and space gray.
Best for speed
Samsung T5 SSD 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
Samsung's T5 SSD is a solid state drive that provides way faster transfer rates than physical hard drives. Solid state drives don't have moving parts, so if you happen to drop this one, there's less to break! SSDs are more expensive, but with this one you get write speeds of up 540MB/s, which is over three times faster than many hard drives. If you like to store TV shows and movies on your hard drive, consider a solid state drive!
Rugged pick
Glyph Blackbox Plus 2TB
The Glyph Blackbox Plus is a rugged, portable hard drive that can keep up with you wherever you go. It's surrounded in rubber to protect from drops and has enough capacity for all your backups and then some. You get write speeds of up to 140MB/s from just 5400RPM, as well as a 3-year warranty in case anything goes wrong. It also features fan-free heat dissipation so it's nice and quiet.
Most stylish
LaCie Porsche Design 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
LaCie is widely recommended for Apple users (they even sell LaCie products on Apple's site!), and the Porsche Design external hard drive is a great looking solution to your USB-C needs. The mobile version comes in 2TB, while the desktop version is available with 4TB of storage. If you have older devices you'd like to use as well, this hard drive is also compatible with USB 3.0 ports.
Upgrade option
SanDisk Extreme 900 SSD 480GB, 960GB, 1.92TB
SanDisk's Extreme 900 SSD is a powerhouse solid state drive that offers up to nine times the transfer speeds of external hard drives. It's made of durable aluminum and rubber, and the solid state core is shock-proof, so this is far less likely to die on you should you drop it (compared to hard drives).
Best value
G-Technology G-Drive SSD R-Series
At roughly $350 for 1TB, G-Technology's G-Drive SSD is one of the more affordable solid state drives on the market, and it comes recommended by Apple itself. You'll get transfer rates of up to 560MBps, and it comes with both a USB-C to USB-C and a USB-C to USB-A cable.
Long-lasting
LaCie Rugged 2TB
The LaCie Rugged of yesteryear got me through my entire post secondary education, and now that there's a USB-C option, it'll help get you (and maybe even your children!) through school or work with reliability and that fast connection. The body is rubberized to help it stand up to daily wear and tear, and 2TB should be more than enough for all of your files, documents, Final Cut projects, and much more. There's a 2-year warranty on these, which includes data recovery services.
Durable and reliable
CalDigit Tuff 2TB
CalDigit's Tuff hard drives are rugged, colorful 2TB drives that offer USB-C connectivity and there's even a USB-C to USB-A cable for backward compatibility. With an IP57 rating, these drives are water-resistant in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes, and they're dust-resistant, so you can take yours with you anywhere knowing that your data is safe from the elements.
USB-C is certainly the port of the future, so grabbing a USB-C hard drive for your MacBook or MacBook Pro is the best way to take all of your files, music, photos, and more with you wherever you go without clogging up your Mac's own hard drive. The G-Drive is your best option because it's affordable and reliable.