Choose cloud storage if automatic updates and access across devices matter most, provided your internet connection, account security and subscription terms suit you. Choose an external drive for a local copy you can use without internet access, but disconnect removable storage between backup sessions. For irreplaceable photos and records, consider both routes and test that you can restore a recent file.
If family photos, videos or personal records would be difficult to replace, keeping both a cloud copy and a removable-media copy gives you separate ways to recover them. The National Cyber Security Centre advises considering both for irreplaceable files.
An external drive suits households that want to manage a local copy of a growing photo, video or computer-file collection. It needs a backup routine, and the drive should be disconnected when it is not in use.
Cloud storage can make supported files available across signed-in devices. Check which folders and photos are included, how much storage the account allows and what happens if the plan changes.
Decide which files need a separate recoverable copy, then check capacity, device compatibility and how each route will be kept up to date. Cloud access and a disconnected local drive solve different parts of that problem.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery and separation | Check that a separate copy exists, that a removable drive can be disconnected and that a recent file can be restored. | If my device is lost or affected by malware, I need my family photos and records to remain recoverable. Around 33% of consumers put this recovery need first. |
| Capacity and plan terms | Compare the size of the files to protect with drive capacity or the cloud allowance; check renewal and cancellation terms. | A growing photo and video library needs room without an unsuitable ongoing commitment. For around 27% of consumers, that capacity-and-terms concern comes first. |
| Portable transfers | Check the drive connector, cable and computer’s USB support before relying on a quoted transfer speed. | When I carry large files between locations, a manageable drive and compatible connection matter most; around 20% of consumers prioritise portable transfers. |
| Automatic access | Confirm which folders and photos update, which devices can access them and how to recover earlier files. | I want current files available across my devices without remembering to connect a drive. Around 20% of consumers place automatic access first. |
Malware, including ransomware, can affect attached removable storage as well as the computer. One connected drive cannot cover every loss scenario.
Plan backup sessions, disconnect the drive afterwards and consider another independent copy for irreplaceable files.
Available space will not help if important folders, photos or files on another device are outside the backup.
List what you need to protect, configure those locations and try restoring a recent, non-critical file.
Samsung says the T7 Shield’s maximum sequential speeds require a compatible USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection and UASP support.
Check the exact drive, computer port and cable together rather than treating the maximum figure as a guaranteed transfer speed.
Microsoft says cancelling Microsoft 365 Basic or Personal reduces its cloud allowance to 5GB. If the account exceeds that allowance, uploads, edits and syncing can stop.
Check the provider’s terms and verify an independent copy before reducing or ending a plan.
Its portable external HDD lines are relevant to households considering a local backup drive.
Its T7 Shield line is relevant when considering a portable SSD for moving files.
Mac households can compare a Time Machine backup to external storage with iCloud storage for supported data across signed-in devices.
Windows households can compare File History on an external drive or network location with OneDrive cloud storage.
These portable SSDs and external HDDs are options for keeping a local copy of household files and photos. A drive alone is not a separate cloud copy; choose a backup routine and check restoration before relying on it.
No image availableConsider this portable SSD for a local copy you can carry between locations.
The title specifies 2 TB and USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity. Check the intended computer and cable, along with your backup and restore routine; disconnect the drive when it is not in use.
No image availableConsider this drive when you need to carry a local copy of photos or other files.
The title specifies 1 TB and USB 3.2 Gen 2. Check the computer and cable before relying on maximum-speed claims, and check the exact model’s protection conditions; do not treat it as suitable for immersion.
No image availableConsider this external HDD for a household library that you can back up locally on a routine.
It is the 2 TB variant. Check that the backup software supports your computer and chosen folders, then test a restore. Handle the drive carefully and disconnect it between sessions.
No image availableConsider this local drive for a larger Mac household library, subject to compatibility with the intended computer.
It is the 5 TB for Mac variant. Confirm the connection, backup and restore steps, particularly if you also intend to use Windows. Check the applicable warranty duration before buying.
No image availableConsider this external HDD when a larger local copy is your priority and you can manage the backup routine.
It is the 4 TB variant with USB 3.0 stated in the title. Check the file-system setup for your devices, particularly a Mac, and confirm how you will protect and restore the files.
Not necessarily: check which folders, photos and device data are actually copied and whether you can restore a recent file. The National Cyber Security Centre advises considering both cloud and removable-media copies for irreplaceable files; Apple also distinguishes iCloud storage from a Mac Time Machine backup.
Start with the space used by the files and photo libraries you intend to protect, then allow for growth and any backup history you want to keep. Compare that requirement with the exact drive capacity or plan allowance rather than assuming every device and folder is included.
It can, if the drive, connection and backup setup suit the computer. Microsoft says File History uses an external drive or network location, while Apple says Time Machine can use suitable external storage; check the exact drive’s compatibility and test a restore.
Consider encryption or password protection if the drive holds sensitive personal records and could be lost or stolen. The Information Commissioner’s Office says encryption helps protect stored information from unauthorised access in that situation; keep the password or recovery method somewhere you can retrieve it.
Check the terms of your specific provider before cancelling. Microsoft says cancelling Microsoft 365 Basic or Personal reduces cloud storage to 5GB and that uploads, edits and syncing can stop when an account exceeds its allowance; verify an independent, restorable copy before changing plans.