CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates external hard drives and solid-state drives to help consumers find reliable devices that offer great value for their money. When choosing a drive, factors to consider include budget, capacity, data transfer speed, compatibility, and security features. High-capacity SSDs are more expensive than mechanical drives but offer faster data transfer speeds. External drives start at 500GB and go up to 22TB, with 1TB or 2TB being the storage sweet spot for many consumers. External drives are compatible with various operating systems, including Mac, Windows, and gaming consoles. Security features, such as encryption, are important for those storing sensitive data.
The best external drives of 2025 according to CNET include options from Western Digital, SanDisk, Kingston, Seagate, and Other World Computing. There are both hard drives and SSDs listed that offer different storage capacities, data transfer speeds, and price points. For example, the WD My Passport SSD from SanDisk is ruggedized and offers speeds up to 1,050MB/s, while the WD Black P40 is an ultrafast SSD capable of speeds up to 2,000MB/s. For gaming consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X, specific storage options are needed to store and play games. The Seagate Expansion Card is compatible with the Xbox Series X/S, while the Seagate FireCuda 530 is an NVMe SSD option for the PS5.
It’s important to consider the design, performance, and value of external drives when making a purchase decision. While many drives are plug-and-play, some may require formatting for specific operating systems. Most drives come with USB-C interfaces and adapters for USB-A ports, with faster speeds achieved through USB-C connections. USB4 and Thunderbolt ports offer even faster data transfer rates. By understanding factors like data transfer speeds, connectivity options, and compatibility with different devices, consumers can choose the best external drive for their needs.
