The PS5 can store and play PS4 games from an external drive, but not PS5 games the Xbox Series X can store Series X games, but you'll have to transfer them to the main SSD to actually play them. One important note for console gamers is that the newer PS5 and Xbox Series X (and Series S) consoles are much more restrictive about using external drives. Ideally, you'll want redundant backups either off-site or using cloud storage for key data and large files (such as family photos) in case of theft or fire. But if they don't happen to be included, you can easily buy dongles for about $12.Īnd remember: A single backup doesn't cut it. Many of them include cables or adapters to accommodate USB-C and USB-A ports. Unless otherwise indicated, all the PC drives mentioned here are compatible with Windows but can be formatted for a Mac. But a lot of the time they'll be designated as working with a specific platform out of the box and sometimes come with backup software that's platform-specific. Most of the options on this list of the best external hard drive models will work across platforms - whether you have a Windows PC, Mac computer, PlayStation or Xbox - so long as the drives are correctly formatted for the right platform. A solid-state drive doesn't have moving parts and the external SSD drive has up to four times faster read and write speed, but it costs a lot more per gigabyte. Prices have dropped significantly in the last few years, with even the high-capacity, state of the art, all-around best external hard drive models tipping the scales at 5TB but costing just over $100. There are a huge number of high-quality hard drives and SSDS, too, making it easy to find the right one for your needs and budget.Ī traditional hard drive or mechanical drive that uses 'old' hard drive technology, with mechanical platters and a moving read-write head to access data, is adequate for most people, thanks to speedier USB-C and USB 3.0 (as well as 3.1/3.2) interfaces. And then if you need to transfer it back to your gaming console, an external SSD will make quick work of that. If you need to free up some quick space, just transfer it to your external storage and you're good to go. Thankfully, external hard drives and SSDs make playing and storing your games much easier. Managing storage space on a PS5, Xbox Series X, or PC can be a pain. Games are larger than ever and only growing, making expandable storage almost a necessity.

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