In today's digital era, having reliable storage solutions is essential to accommodate our growing data needs. External hard disks have become a popular choice for many due to their portability and ease of use. There are numerous brands on the market, each offering unique features and advantages tailored to different requirements. To help you make an informed decision, we've curated a list of the best brands for external hard disks below.
Illustration of external hard disk
Best brands of external hard disk in 2025
Seagate
Seagate is a leading producer of external hard disks, known for its high-capacity and reliable storage solutions. In 2024, Seagate forecasted revenues of $1.55 billion and shipped 89.6 exabytes of disk capacity, despite a 24% decrease from the previous year. The company has introduced innovative technologies such as Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) and Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR), as seen in the 30 TB Exos Mozaic 3+ HDD series launched in January 2024. Seagate's drives, like the FireCuda and IronWolf Pro, are highly regarded for their performance and data recovery services. With a gross margin of 32.9% in the first fiscal 2025 quarter, Seagate is experiencing a significant profitability expansion. For a detailed comparison, refer to the best hard drives guide.
Western Digital
Western Digital is a highly trustworthy brand for external hard drives, known for its robust performance and reliability. In the latest quarter, WD's disk drive revenues surged 85% year-over-year, driven by strong demand from hyperscalers, and the company achieved record HDD gross margin and datacenter HDD sales. Western Digital has a long history, founded in 1970, and employs over 40,000 people globally. The company has recently launched high-capacity hard disk drives with up to 20TB storage and is set to introduce Energy-Assisted Magnetic Recording (EAMR) technology-based HDDs in Q3 2024. With a wide range of storage solutions, including cloud, on-premises, and hybrid storage, Western Digital is a leading choice for users needing reliable and scalable storage.
Toshiba
Toshiba is a leading producer of external hard disks, renowned for its reliability and performance, holding a 10.5% market share in the global storage device market. In 2023, Toshiba's storage devices segment generated $4.5 billion in revenue, accounting for 13.2% of the company's total revenue. The company's N300 NAS Hard Drive series is particularly notable for its high endurance and real-time performance, suitable for NAS, desktop RAID, and server storage. Toshiba's hard drives are optimized for 24/7 operation and offer capacities up to 22 TB. The company's commitment to innovation and quality has made it a trusted name in the storage solutions industry.
Samsung
Samsung is a leading producer of external hard disks, known for its innovative technology and high-quality products. Following the strategic alignment with Seagate, Samsung's hard disk drive division was acquired, giving Seagate 40% of the world's market share for hard disk drives and making Samsung a 9.6% owner of Seagate. The global external hard disk market, driven by growing demand for data storage, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.80% between 2024 and 2032, with Samsung's contributions being significant in this growth. Samsung's expertise in NAND technology and its integration into Seagate's SSDs and hybrid hard drives further solidify its position in the market. The company's continuous innovation in storage solutions ensures it remains a top choice for consumers and enterprises alike.
LaCie
LaCie is renowned as one of the top producers of external hard drives, known for its high-quality and robust storage solutions. The brand, which is a premium segment of Seagate Technology Holdings plc, has been a significant player in the global external hard drive market, which was valued at USD 33.48 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 80.63 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 11.6%. LaCie's products, such as the LaCie Rugged RAID, feature advanced technologies like Thunderbolt and USB 3.0, offering superior data transfer rates and durability. The company's focus on innovation and customer needs has helped it maintain a strong market presence, particularly in the laptop and desktop PC segments.
SanDisk
SanDisk, under the Western Digital umbrella, is a leading brand in the external hard disk market, renowned for its high-quality storage solutions. SanDisk offers an extensive range of products, including mobile storage, cards, readers, USB flash drives, and SSDs, catering to both consumers and enterprise users. The brand is especially popular for its innovative products like the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive and the SanDisk Ultra microSDXC UHS-I card. Despite a relatively small market share of 0.10% in the enterprise data storage sector, SanDisk's products are trusted globally, establishing a significant presence in regions like the United States, India, and the UK. SanDisk's acquisition by Western Digital in 2016 has further enhanced its product portfolio and technological advancements.
G-Technology
G-Technology, a renowned brand under Western Digital, is a leading producer of external hard disks, known for its high-performance and reliable storage solutions. The brand caters to the needs of personal computer users, especially those involved in data-intensive tasks like digital editing and gaming. With products like the G-Technology ArmorATD, users benefit from robust storage capacities, such as 1 TB and 2 TB, and enhanced durability against water, dust, and shock. The external hard disk market, which includes G-Technology, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.93% from 2024 to 2028, driven by the increasing demand for local storage solutions. G-Technology's products are essential for fieldwork and data-intensive industries, offering a cost-effective and portable solution.
Transcend
Transcend is a notable player in the external hard disk market, anticipated to contribute to the sector's growth, which is expected to increase by USD 3.34 billion from 2024-2028, with a CAGR of 5.93%. The market is driven by the multiple advantages of external hard disks, including the growing popularity of wireless external hard disks and innovations in high-storage portable devices. Transcend, along with other key players like Western Digital and Seagate, is expected to benefit from these trends. Despite the emergence of cloud storage, the demand for external hard disks remains strong due to their storage capacity and security features. The market analysis highlights the importance of vendors like Transcend in meeting the increasing demand for reliable and high-capacity storage solutions.
ADATA
ADATA Technology Co. Ltd. is a leading producer of external hard disks, known for its high-quality storage solutions. The company offers external hard disks with up to 4TB of additional storage, catering to diverse user needs. ADATA's products are driven by the growing demand in the APAC region, which is expected to account for 41% of the external hard disk market growth between 2022 and 2027. With a forecasted market growth of USD 3,236.56 million at a CAGR of 6.04% during this period, ADATA continues to innovate and meet the increasing storage requirements. The reduction in ASP of NAND flash memory and the growing popularity of external SSDs also contribute to ADATA's market success. For more details on their external hard drives, visit their official website.
Buffalo
Buffalo is renowned as one of the top producers of external hard disks, offering reliable and secure storage solutions. Their MiniStation™ HD-PGF series, for instance, features shock-resistant designs, USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 connections, and advanced security features like the Lock and Go function. These drives are available in capacities ranging from 1 TB to 5 TB, ensuring versatile storage options. With a focus on durability and data protection, Buffalo's products are highly regarded in the market, which is expected to grow significantly, with the global external hard disk market projected to reach USD 80.63 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 11.6% from 2023 to 2030.
Leave a Reply
Your email address will not be published.