The best external hard drives of 2026: Expert tested

Cloud storage is popular, but external hard drives still matter for freeing up local space and storing important files without a subscription. After hands-on testing and scouring online reviews, the Lexar SL500 emerges as the top pick: about the size of a credit card, it delivers read speeds around 2,000 MB/s and write speeds near 1,800 MB/s, and its aluminum unibody helps it survive bumps and drops.

To reach those fastest speeds your computer needs a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 port; without it transfers will be slower. Other solid choices focus on different priorities. Western Digital’s My Passport Ultra pairs an anodized-aluminum shell with 256-bit AES encryption for straightforward, durable Windows-friendly backups, though it isn’t particularly fast.

Samsung’s T9 Portable SSD suits travel and on-location work, with a rubberized exterior that survives three-meter drops, Dynamic Thermal Guard for extreme temperatures, Magician software, hardware encryption and transfer rates up to 2,000 MB/s, but it attracts dust and carries a higher price.

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