For a local copy of photos and laptop files that you update at a desk, a portable HDD is a sensible starting point; choose an SSD if you regularly move large files or carry the drive. Which? describes HDDs as suited to long-term file backup and SSDs as generally faster, while noting that HDDs are more vulnerable to knocks. A USB flash drive can carry selected files, and cloud storage offers another place for a copy, but neither moving files off the laptop nor keeping them in a single location is the same as maintaining a separate, recoverable backup, as the National Cyber Security Centre advises.
If photos or documents matter beyond the life of the laptop, decide which files must be copied and how you would restore them after loss, damage or deletion. The National Cyber Security Centre defines a backup as a copy kept in a separate safe location.
Frequent photo or video transfers make connection speed and handling more important than they are for a drive left at a desk. Which? notes that SSDs are generally faster than HDDs, while the speed of a particular SSD still depends on its connection.
A drive intended for a laptop and a tablet needs more than the right-looking plug. Check the connector, power requirements and file format for each device; Apple specifies format and partition conditions for iPad external storage.
Decide whether you need a recoverable backup, portable working space or a way to transfer files; then check capacity and compatibility for that job.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Recoverable backup | Keep a copy separate from the original files and decide how you will restore it. For regular Windows folder backups, Microsoft says File History can make copies to an external drive or network location. | I need my photos and documents to remain recoverable if the laptop or a removable drive is lost or damaged. Moving the only copy off my laptop will not do that. |
| Capacity | Work out whether you are copying selected folders or using a whole-computer backup tool. For Time Machine, Apple recommends a disk with at least twice the Mac’s storage capacity. | My photo library is growing, so I need room for the files I plan to keep and for the backups my chosen tool will retain. |
| HDD or SSD | Compare transfer frequency and how often the drive will travel. Which? describes HDDs as suited to long-term file backup and SSDs as generally faster; HDD moving parts are more susceptible to knocks. | I can use a drive kept mainly at a desk for scheduled copies. If I often take large working folders elsewhere, transfer time and portable handling matter more to me. |
| Connections and format | Check the port, supplied cable, any adapter and the file format each device accepts. Apple says iPad external storage needs one data partition and a supported format; some hard drives also need external power. | One drive has to connect to the devices I actually use. I will check tablet compatibility separately rather than assuming that laptop compatibility covers it. |
| USB or cloud | For a USB flash drive, check capacity and device compatibility for the files being carried. For cloud storage, check space, account access and the internet connection needed for your intended use. | I may only need to take selected files to another computer, or I may want a copy away from my laptop and local drive. In either case, I need to know which copy I could recover. |
If the removable drive then holds the only copy, losing that drive could also mean losing the files. The National Cyber Security Centre’s backup guidance calls for a copy in a separate safe location.
Decide which files need protecting, make another copy and check that you can retrieve files from it before deleting originals.
A drive may not reach its stated maximum through a slower port, cable or hub. Samsung says the maximum speeds quoted for its T7 require a compatible USB 3.2 Gen 2 host and cable, with UASP enabled.
Check the exact ports on your devices and every connection in between before using a speed figure to decide.
A format change can remove files already on the drive. Apple says Time Machine cannot back up to a Windows-formatted disk, while iPad storage has its own format and partition requirements.
Copy anything you need to another location before reformatting, then decide whether the drive will be dedicated to Mac backup or shared between devices.
Resistance claims depend on the exact model and stated test conditions. Samsung’s T7 Shield warranty information excludes damage caused by liquid and dust.
Read the model’s exposure conditions and warranty terms, and keep a separate copy of files stored on a drive you carry.
These brand examples point to different drive types and model-specific checks; they do not establish which products are currently available.
Seagate’s Backup Plus is an example of a portable HDD line for local file storage.
Samsung’s T7 and T7 Shield illustrate portable SSD options for moving files.
SanDisk has a portable SSD line relevant to local file storage and transfer.
These Joybuy options are portable SSDs for carrying or transferring files and one portable HDD for local storage. Choose a backup method and confirm that the particular drive works with it before relying on any of them for recovery.
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Consider this portable SSD if you move a substantial photo or working-file library between locations. The title specifies USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2; check the port and cable you will use, as well as your backup tool’s restore process if this will hold a backup.
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The stated 4 TB capacity may suit a large local photo or video library. Its title specifies USB Type-C and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2; check whether your computer offers the intended connection and whether your chosen backup method can restore from the drive.
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This portable SSD is listed for file use with computers, tablets and iPhone 15/16 series devices; confirm the connection and format required by each device you plan to use. Its title specifies USB 3.2 Gen 2 and quotes up to 1,050 MB/s read and 1,000 MB/s write, not guaranteed speeds for every setup.
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This 1 TB portable SSD is an option for files you take between locations. The title specifies USB 3.2 Gen 2; check your device connection, and read the exact model’s resistance conditions and warranty exclusions rather than treating a carried drive as your only backup.
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The stated 5 TB capacity makes this HDD worth considering for a large local file archive or a desk-based backup. Check its format and your backup software before use: Apple says Time Machine cannot back up to a Windows-formatted disk. Keep any existing files elsewhere before reformatting.
It is a backup when it holds a separate copy that you can recover. The National Cyber Security Centre says a backup is kept in a separate safe location; moving the only copy from a full laptop to a drive merely changes where that copy lives.
Choose based on what you would need to restore. Microsoft says Windows File History regularly backs up files and folders to an external drive or network location; check the scope of your chosen tool if you also need applications or system settings restored.
Apple recommends a Time Machine disk with at least twice the Mac’s storage capacity. Check the Mac’s capacity rather than sizing the disk only against today’s photo folder, and decide whether the disk will be dedicated to backups.
It can work across devices if its connections, power supply and format meet each device’s requirements. Apple says iPad external storage needs one data partition and a supported format; it also says Time Machine cannot back up to a Windows-formatted disk. Check those requirements before formatting a shared drive.