The Best Hard Drives For Laptops In 2024

Tim Powers By, Tim Powers
Updated
Best Hard Drives For Laptops
Best Hard Drives For Laptops

The Rundown

1. Best Of The Best: UnionSine 320GB Hard Drives

The UnionSine drive is the perfect solution for high-speed data transfer. It has an ultra-fast data transfer rate of 300 MB/s to read. It can handle write speeds as high as 103 MB/s. With its slim design, the UnionSine is perfect for online or offline data stores. Read Review

2. Best Bang For The Buck: WD_BLACK 5TB Hard Drive

Upgrade your gaming experience with the WD Black 5TB Hard Drive. Available in capacities up to 5TB, this HDD is compatible with Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 consoles. Total accessible capacity varies by operating environment. Read Review

3. Best Performance: Western Digital WD80EFZZ Hard Drive

Western digital WD80EKFZ hard drive is a high-capacity drive that supports workload rates up to 180 TB/year. It's also excellent for storing and sharing, and rebuilding RAID arrays on systems using ZFS and other file systems. Read Review

4. Best Economical: Maxone Hard Drive

Maxone Hard Drive is the perfect solution for high-speed data storage and easy backup so you can go. Super fast transfer speed, ready to back up data every second, Ready to go without external power and software installation, Compact size design, Mini portable hard drive protected by box Strong and durable. Read Review

5. Best Reliable: Seagate BarraCuda Hard Drives

Experience faster PC game and music, video, and photo editing performance with the Seagate BarraCuda SATA hard drive. Featuring optimized read/write caching technology, this mechanical drive offers 7200 RPM and high-speed transfer rates to give you a superior experience. Read Review

Laptop users have a difficult time -- and we mean that in the nicest way possible -- dealing with storage limitations. As much as you might want to keep everything with you, most of us can’t. So, when it comes to your laptop, storing only what you need is an absolute must. And this is where hard drives come in. 

The good news is that there are many great options for laptops these days, which means finding one that fits your needs perfectly shouldn’t be too much of an ordeal either. Check out our guide below for more information on what makes a hard drive perfect for your laptop and some recommendations on which hard drive is best for you if you want an affordable yet dependable option.

After 17 hours of research on customer feedback & product specifications, We've come up that the best hard drives for laptops is UnionSine 320GB Hard Drives. The UnionSine drive is perfect for data-hungry businesses. With a read speed of 125MB/s-137MB/s and a write speed as high as 103MB/s.  If you desire extra features not included in this model, you might look into another one: WD_BLACK 5TB Hard Drive. It could better suit your needs.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 UnionSine 320GB Hard Drives
Our Score:
9.7
UnionSine

【Ultra-Fast Data Transfers 】- The external hard drive works with the USB 3.0 thickened copper core cable to provide super fast transfer speed. The theoretical read speed is as high as 125MB/s-137MB/s, and the write speed is as high as 103MB/s.

【Double anti-interference】-The external hard drive chip adds a signal shielding layer, the transmission speed of the hard disk will be faster than other hard disks, stable and undisturbed

【Plug and Play】 - With no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use.The hard disk chip is wrapped with an aluminum anti-interference layer to increase heat dissipation and protect data

TOP Choice #2 WD_BLACK 5TB  Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.6
WD_BLACK

Premium HDD with 3-year limited warranty, purpose-built for gamers based on WD_BLACK quality and reliability

Portable form factor with sleek metal top covering that provides fast access to your growing game library

Compatible with Xbox Series X/S (play and store Xbox One games, archive Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S games) and PlayStation 5 (play and store PS4 games, archive PS5 games) consoles

Comes with an 18-inch (457mm) USB Type-A to Micro-B cable with SuperSpeed interface up to 5Gbps (Cable length may vary.)

Available in capacities up to 5TB that can hold up to 125 games, so that you can save old favorites and still have room for new titles (As used for storage capacity, one terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes. Total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment. Number of games based on a 36GB average per game. The number of games will vary based on file size, formatting, other programs, and factors.)

TOP Choice #3 Western Digital WD80EFZZ Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.5
Western Digital

3-year limited warranty | See official Western Digital website for regional specific warranty details.

Supports up to 180 TB/yr workload rate | Workload Rate is defined as the amount of user data transferred to or from the hard drive. Workload Rate is annualized (TB transferred ✕ (8760 / recorded power-on hours)). Workload Rate will vary depending on your hardware and software components and configurations.

NASware firmware for compatibility

4 Maxone Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.4
Maxone

✔System Compatibility: Microsoft Windows 10/ Windows 8.1/ Windows 8/ Windows 7/ Mac OS (10.6.5 and above)/ Xbox/ PS4/ smart TV

✔Plug-and-Play: Ready to go without external power supply and  software installation needed

✔Slim Style Pocket Sized Design: Mini portable hard drive protected by sturdy and durable case, comfortably fits your palm

5 Seagate BarraCuda Hard Drives
Our Score:
9.3
Seagate

Tackle large projects or build a gaming computer with 500GB of capacity

Jump into PC gaming or edit music, video, and photos effortlessly with 7200 RPM speeds and optimized read/write caching technology

Confidently rely on internal hard drive technology backed by 20 years of innovation

Enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included five-year limited warranty and two-year Rescue Data Recovery Services

Store more, compute faster, and do it confidently with the proven reliability of BarraCuda Pro internal hard drives

6 SanDisk Professional Hard Drives
Our Score:
9.1
SanDisk Professional

Built tough with an easy-grip bumper for pro-grade durabilty you can trust

USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt 3 compatible

3-Year limited warranty

7 Seagate ST500LM021 Hard Drive
Our Score:
9.0
Seagate

used-like new Slim and lightweight style with laptop encryption as option

7200 RPM options available

2 year warranty

Compatible with SATA 6Gb/s and 3Gb/s designs

Up to 500GB capacity;7200 RPM options available

Up to 500GB capacity

Compatible with SATA 6Gb/s and 3Gb/s designs

Unformated

2 year warranty

Slim and lightweight style with laptop encryption as option

8 Acasis HDD Hard Drives
Our Score:
8.9
ACASIS

✔Improve PC Performance: Powered by USB 3.0 technology, this USB hard drive is much faster than - but still compatible with - USB 2.0 backup drive, allowing for super fast transfer speed at up to 5 Gbit/s

✔System Compatibility:Windows/2000/7/8/10,Vista,Linux,Mac,Android,TV.Ps4

✔Plug and Play:With no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use.

9 Toshiba Hard Drive
Our Score:
8.5
Toshiba

Built in shock sensors and ramp loading technology

Toshiba cache technology for improved real time performance

Designed for laptop PC and gaming systems

Advanced Format technology helps deliver drive efficiency and reliability

Low power profile helps optimize device's battery life

10 WD Western Digital Hard Drive
Our Score:
8.4
Western Digial

Brand New WD factory sealed, 5400RPM, 2.5", 128MB Cache, SATA III

Free Acronis True Image WD Edition cloning software (downloadable)

WD F.I.T. Lab certified to work with a wide range of high-performance PC configurations

Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

What Should You Know Before Selecting best hard drives for laptops?

Our website is an online source that provides clients with a diverse selection of best hard drives for laptops. Many items on the site perfectly suit the demands of clients and serve their intended function.

So, how can you determine which of the best hard drives for laptops is the best fit for your needs? Don't be concerned! This article will walk you through all you need to know about the best hard drives for laptops before you buy it.

 

Rotation Speed

Did you know that hard drives store information on spinning magnetic plates? The faster these plates spin, the faster the load and access time. The rotation is measured in RPM (Rotations per Minute), and although we recommend hard disks with 7200RPM, 5400RPM is still a good option.

External Vs. Internal HDD

The main advantage of external hard disks is their portability. Which also makes them perfect backups in case your PC is compromised. Desktop PCs allow you room to add extra hard disks, but if you are using a laptop or other gaming device, you will have to replace your existing hard drive.

Cache Memory

This is a cache that functions much like Computer RAM Memory. It stores important files temporarily so that it takes less time to access them on the disk. The larger the cache size, the faster the hard disk will be. However, the difference is not major, and as such, this should not be the biggest determiner.

Reliability

All hard drives eventually die, and there’s no definitive answer on when that day will come. We recommend replacing your backup drives between the third and sixth years of use, if possible. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to get metrics on which hard drive models are more reliable over the long run, and even so, there will always be outliers and failures that occur sooner than expected.

Performance

Transfer speed is the feature that most people notice on a daily basis. We evaluated each drive with tests that replicated different real-world uses, and we focused on the drives that consistently outperformed the other contenders. Drives that did well on some tests but failed others were unreliable and not worth purchasing.

Speed

HDDs, or hard drives, contain spinning disks that read and write your data. The faster these disks spin—rated in rotations per minute (RPM)—the faster the drive can access data and transfer it to your computer.

Size Of The Disk

I understand that you are buying the hard disk in order to eliminate the need to delete some files when you install a new game or add modifications. Also, at a time when a single game can take up to 100GB, Call of Duty WWII is 90GB; it only makes sense that you select the hard disk that will allow you sufficient storage space.

 

FAQs

What is the difference between a laptop hard drive and a desktop hard drive?

The main difference between laptop and desktop hard drives is size. Laptop hard drives are typically smaller in physical size and capacity than desktop hard drives. Laptop hard drives are designed to fit into the more compact space of a laptop computer and are more energy efficient, allowing for longer battery life. Desktop hard drives, on the other hand, tend to have larger storage capacity and faster read/write speeds.

How do I know if I need a new laptop hard drive?

If you are experiencing sluggish performance, random errors, or frequent crashes with your laptop, then it may be time to look into replacing the hard drive. Additionally, if your hard drive is making a strange noise or if it has become physically damaged, then you should consider replacing it.

How do I buy a hard drive for my laptop?

When buying a hard drive for your laptop, you should consider the size, speed, capacity, and type of drive that will best fit your needs. You should also make sure that the drive is compatible with your laptop model. It is best to research the types of drives available and compare them to your laptop’s specifications before making a decision.

How do I install a hard drive in my laptop?

Installing a hard drive in your laptop is a fairly straightforward process. First, you will need to remove the existing drive from its bay. Then, you will need to connect the new drive to the laptop’s motherboard. Depending on the type of drive, you may need to install drivers or special software. Finally, you will need to format the drive and install your operating system.

What is the difference between a hard drive and an SSD?

A hard drive is a spinning storage device that stores data on rotating platters. An SSD (solid-state drive) is a newer type of storage device that uses flash memory to store data. SSDs are generally faster and more reliable than hard drives, but they are also more expensive.

Conclusion

In short, you have just been shown all the things related to best hard drives for laptops, including the top models, buyer’s guides, and the comparison between products as well. At this moment, it’s obvious that you acquire the mentioned information and are ready to pick one among the list of best hard drives for laptops above. In case there is no model that suits your needs, then Seagate Laptop HDD Hard Drives will be the best to pay attention to. Hopefully, our sharing today will help you choose the best item for your requirement. 


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About Tim Powers

Tim Powers

Tim Powers is an audio equipment & home theater gadget reviewer and the editor of TheAudioInsights.com. He has been involved in the home theater hobby since the late 1990s when he purchased his first AV receiver. Tim is also a writer, with articles appearing in various online and print publications.