Choose an external hard disk drive (HDD) if you mainly need capacity for a growing home archive, or a portable solid-state drive (SSD) if you regularly transfer large files, work from the drive or carry it between locations. A USB flash drive suits occasional file transfers rather than a sizeable backup; cloud storage is worth considering as another backup location. Whichever route you choose, keep a copy separate from the laptop and check that your devices can use it.
If photos, videos and documents are filling a laptop, the priority is enough room for a repeatable backup. The National Cyber Security Centre advises keeping important data in a separate safe location, rather than simply moving the only copy onto a drive.
People who repeatedly move large files or carry a drive between locations need to weigh transfer speed against capacity. Quoted SSD speeds also depend on the computer port and cable; Samsung states those conditions for its T7 Shield.
Anyone sharing files between Windows, Mac and an iPad needs to check the file system, connector and power requirements before choosing a drive. Apple's guidance distinguishes ordinary cross-platform file exchange from a dedicated Time Machine backup.
Choose when: A growing home archive needs ample capacity and frequent large transfers are not the priority.
Allow for: Slower transfers than an SSD and more careful handling of a mechanical drive, particularly if you plan to carry it.
Choose when: You often move large photo or video files, work from external storage or take it between locations.
Allow for: The host port and cable can limit speed, while physical protection claims do not create another backup copy.
Choose when: You need a compact device for occasional transfers or a limited additional copy.
Allow for: A small removable device is easy to misplace and should not be the only protection for an important photo library.
Choose when: You want to keep a backup in another location or access files across devices.
Allow for: Check the available capacity, upload time and how you would regain access to the full library when needed.
For an ongoing photo backup, decide how much must be stored and where a separate copy will live. Then check transfer needs and compatibility with every device that must use it.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Archive capacity | Compare the size of your current files with usable drive capacity and leave room for future backups. | If my laptop is filling up, I need a separate copy that will still have room as the family archive grows. Around 31% of consumers put archive capacity and a separate copy first. |
| Transfer speed and portability | Check the computer port, cable and whether a quoted SSD speed is a conditional maximum. | Moving large photo or video projects repeatedly makes transfer time and carrying the drive more important to me. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this workflow. |
| Device compatibility | Check each device's connector, supported file system and power needs before formatting the drive. | I need to open files on more than one type of device without discovering that the drive needs a different setup. For around 19% of consumers, cross-device access is the primary concern. |
| Keeping a usable copy | Plan a separate safe location for important files and periodically restore a sample. | A knock-resistant drive would not help if it held my only accessible copy and then went missing. Avoiding that single-copy risk comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
The drive can be lost, damaged or unavailable alongside the laptop. The National Cyber Security Centre describes a backup as a copy kept in a separate safe location.
Keep another copy of important files in a separate location and try restoring a few photos or documents before relying on the setup.
Changing a file system for Windows and Mac exchange or a Time Machine backup can erase what is already on the disk.
Copy existing files elsewhere before formatting. Apple identifies exFAT for ordinary Windows-and-Mac file exchange on disks over 32GB, while APFS or APFS Encrypted is preferred for a Time Machine backup disk.
A maximum sequential speed is not the speed every laptop and cable will deliver. Samsung says the T7 Shield's quoted speeds require a compatible USB 3.2 Gen 2 host and cable, with UASP enabled.
Check the exact port and cable you intend to use before making transfer speed the deciding factor.
Physical-protection claims apply under stated test conditions and do not address deletion or a missing drive. Samsung says liquid, dust and drop damage are not covered under the cited T7 Shield warranty.
Consider protection features for how you carry the drive, but maintain a separate backup and check the exact model's warranty terms.
Its WD Elements portable HDD range is relevant to capacity-led photo and document storage.
The cited T7 Shield portable SSD is relevant to frequent large-file transfers and carrying storage between locations.
The cited SANDISK Extreme Portable SSD line is positioned for carrying and backing up large projects.
These HDD and portable SSD options cover capacity-led home archives, fixed-desk storage and drives to carry for regular file transfers. Match capacity and connections to your own files and devices; whichever drive you choose, plan a separate backup location.
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Consider this portable SSD if your photo and video archive fits within 4TB and you also move large files regularly.
Check that your computer connection can use its USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 interface and that the drive's file system suits your backup setup.
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This portable SSD is worth considering for regular transfers when your files fit within 1TB and you carry the drive.
Samsung quotes maximum sequential speeds of 1,050MB/s read and 1,000MB/s write for this model with a compatible USB 3.2 Gen 2 host and cable and UASP enabled. Its IP65 and drop claims have test conditions; Samsung says liquid, dust and drop damage are not covered under warranty. Check the file system for your intended backup setup.
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Consider this portable HDD when a photo and document archive fits within 5TB and capacity matters more to you than frequent fast transfers.
Check its connection and file system against the computers you use. If reformatting is needed for a Mac backup, copy any existing files elsewhere first.
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This portable SSD is a choice to assess if you carry a photo or video collection that fits within 2TB.
Confirm the connector, file system and compatibility with each device you intend to use before choosing it for backup.
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Consider this desktop HDD for an archive that fits within 10TB and will normally stay in one place, rather than travel with you.
Check desk space, power and the file-system requirements of the computer used for backup. Copy existing files elsewhere before any reformatting.
One external drive gives you a separate copy if the original files remain elsewhere, but it does not protect against every way that copy could become unavailable. The National Cyber Security Centre advises keeping important data in a separate safe location; retain another copy for irreplaceable files and test that you can restore them.
Choose an HDD if fitting a growing archive is the main concern and slower transfers are acceptable; choose an SSD if you often move large files, carry the drive or work from it. Which? distinguishes HDDs for long-term computer-file backup from faster SSD options. Check the capacity you need and whether your computer connection supports the SSD's quoted speed.
For ordinary file exchange on a disk over 32GB, Apple identifies exFAT as a Windows-and-Mac format. A dedicated Time Machine disk is different: Apple prefers APFS or APFS Encrypted. Copy existing files elsewhere before reformatting a disk.
Yes, if the drive, connector, format and available power suit the iPad. Apple says external storage for iPad must have one data partition and notes that external hard drives often need external power or a powered hub. Check the requirements for your particular iPad and drive.