Laptop and phone photo-library owners
If your laptop is filling with photos and videos, a portable or desktop drive can provide another local destination. Choose where the backup copy will live separately from the files you use day to day.
Who needs which kind of storage?
Mobile photo and video creators
If you regularly transfer footage away from home, consider the space you need to carry and the ports and cables on your devices. A faster drive is useful only when the connection can support the workflow.
Households combining media from several devices
A network-attached storage device, or NAS, can provide a shared location for computer backups and phone uploads. Synology describes these functions for its DS223; the enclosure also needs compatible disks and a separate backup destination.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with the size of the library and how you move files, then decide how you will keep a separate copy. A drive with enough space is not, by itself, a complete backup routine.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Separate copies | Decide which files are originals and where an additional copy will stay. Check that recent files can be restored; disconnect removable backup media when it is idle, as advised by the National Cyber Security Centre. | I do not want moving my photos onto a drive to leave that drive holding the only copy. |
| Capacity | Compare the current library with the drive’s stated capacity, allowing for new photos, video projects and any backup versions you intend to retain. Check the capacity of the exact variant. | My collection keeps growing, so I need space for what I have now and what I expect to keep. |
| Transfer workflow | Check the drive interface, computer port and cable together. Samsung says the stated maximum speeds for its T7 Shield require a USB 3.2 Gen 2-capable host and cable; performance varies with the host configuration. | When I regularly move large video files, transfer time matters more to me than it would for an occasional archive copy. |
| Device compatibility | Check the required connector, operating systems and file format before transferring files. Apple documents ExFAT for disks over 32 GB intended for both Mac and Windows use; erasing a disk to change its format deletes its contents. | I use more than one computer and need to know whether each can access the drive without risking files already on it. |
| Location and power | Decide whether the storage must travel or can remain at a desk. For a desktop drive, check its power supply and the space available at the workstation. | Some files need to come with me; the rest can stay at my usual desk. |
| Shared access | For a NAS, check compatible disks, phone-upload and computer-backup features, account access and a further backup destination. Synology describes scheduled computer-folder backups for its DS223. | Several people or devices need a common place for media, and I can manage a network device rather than connect a drive each time. |
What can go wrong with a storage plan?
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Moving files instead of backing them up
If the originals are deleted after transfer, the external drive may become the only place those files exist. The National Cyber Security Centre defines a backup as a copy stored in a separate safe location.
Keep another copy elsewhere, check that recent files can be restored and disconnect removable backup media when it is not being used.
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Buying for an SSD’s headline speed alone
A quoted maximum does not describe every computer-and-cable combination. Samsung says the T7 Shield’s stated maximum transfer speeds depend on a compatible host and cable.
Check your computer port, the cable and the requirements of the exact SSD before deciding whether its speed suits your work.
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Reformatting before protecting existing files
Erasing a drive to change its format deletes its contents, according to Apple Support.
Copy files you need to another location and check that the copy opens before reformatting. For a disk over 32 GB shared between Mac and Windows, Apple documents ExFAT as an option.
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Assuming a NAS is the whole backup
A NAS can receive files from several devices, but files held only on that NAS still depend on one system.
Plan a separate destination for NAS data and check that you can restore from it.
A NAS enclosure also needs compatible storage disks, as well as time to set up and maintain access to the device.
Brand and product-line references
These examples illustrate different storage routes; a feature described for one model should not be assumed to apply to every product from the same brand.
Samsung
The portable T7 Shield SSD line is relevant when compact storage and frequent media transfers matter.
- Samsung states maximum sequential read and write speeds of 1,050 MB/s and 1,000 MB/s for its UK T7 Shield 2TB listing.
- Samsung says reaching the stated maximum requires a compatible USB 3.2 Gen 2 host and cable. Its resistance claims are based on its own testing, not a reason to rely on the drive as the only copy.
Seagate
The Expansion Desktop range is a desk-based local-storage route rather than a drive intended for regular travel.
- Seagate’s EMEA documentation lists 4TB, 6TB and 8TB versions and describes an included power supply and USB cable.
- It needs mains power. Check the exact listing before relying on any bundled software or recovery service for your setup.
Synology
The two-bay DS223 is a NAS option for bringing household media and computer backups into one location.
- Synology describes scheduled or real-time computer-folder backups and mobile media uploads for the DS223.
- The enclosure needs compatible disks, configuration and a separate destination for backing up data held on the NAS.
Western Digital
Western Digital has portable and desktop hard-drive lines relevant to local media storage.
- PCMag UK included the WD My Book as its desktop hard-drive selection in its September 2026 roundup; that editorial choice concerns the named model, not every Western Digital drive.
- Check the capacity, connection and software for the exact variant rather than transferring one model’s features to another.
Joybuy storage options
These options cover portable hard drives, portable SSDs and a desktop hard drive for keeping a local photo and video library. Choose a separate backup destination as part of the same plan.
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Western Digital My Passport Ultra 4TB portable hard drive, silver
Consider this 4TB portable drive for a library you need to carry between locations. Compare its capacity with your files and check the connection and file-system setup against your computer; keep another copy of important media separately.
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Samsung MU-PE1T0S 1TB USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (3.1 Gen 2) SSD, black
This 1TB portable SSD is an option for carrying media and making frequent transfers. Check whether 1TB holds the files you intend to keep and whether your device and cable support the stated connection; do not use it as the only copy.
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SanDisk Portable SSD 2TB
The 2TB capacity may suit a portable working collection if it covers your current files and expected growth. Confirm the connector and operating-system compatibility for your devices before choosing it, and arrange a separate backup copy.
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Western Digital Elements Desktop 10TB external hard drive
This 10TB desktop drive is a local-storage option for a library kept mainly at one workstation. Check its power, connection and file-system requirements for your setup, and keep an additional copy outside the drive.
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Western Digital Elements Port. 4TB USB 3.0, black
This 4TB portable hard drive is an option when the local library needs to travel. Check your computer’s USB connection and file-system requirements before moving files, and retain a backup elsewhere.
Common questions
Is one external drive enough to back up family photos and videos?
No. The National Cyber Security Centre defines a backup as a copy stored in a separate safe location. Keep an additional copy away from the original files, check that recent files can be restored and disconnect removable backup media when it is not in use.
Can the same external drive work with a Mac and a Windows PC?
Yes, if its connection and file format suit both computers. Apple documents ExFAT for disks over 32 GB intended for Mac and Windows use. Changing a drive’s format erases it, so safeguard existing files first.
How can I automate local backups on Windows?
Microsoft says File History can make regular backups to an external drive or network location. Check that it includes the folders holding your photos and videos, and add media folders outside the standard libraries if needed.
Will a portable SSD reach its advertised speed on any laptop?
No. For the T7 Shield, Samsung says the stated maximum speeds require a compatible USB 3.2 Gen 2 host and cable, and performance varies with the host configuration. Check the requirements of the exact drive against your laptop and cable.