USB hard drives that plug into an open USB port via hard drive cables can be portable or kept on your desk, depending on their size. Some people like to use wireless external hard drives that plug into an electrical outlet, connect using Wi-Fi and serve as a personal cloud storage option, which can give you more capacity per dollar than a. However, an external hard disk drive is a portable device that allows you to store your data in a secure place. The biggest advantage of using an external hard drive is that you don't have to carry your entire computer or laptop to carry the data. The external HDD works with both PC and Mac. It functions similarly to the internal hard drive. USB ports are ubiquitous, and many external drives now come with both rectangular USB-A connectors and oval-shaped USB-C ones to enable adapter-free connections to PCs that have only one type. Help preserve your memories when you're on the go with the easystore External USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive with plug-and-play USB connectivity and WD Backup software. The backup software allows scheduling of regular automatic file transfers, and WD Discovery software makes it convenient to manage drive settings, including formatting and LED.
Your current hard drive is vulnerable to the maximum point if not cared properly. According to the surveys, most consumer's hard drive is damaged or destroyed because they were kept carelessly.
The external hard drive enclosure turns your internal hard drive into portable external hard drive hence increasing the on the go storage. It also helps connect the internal hard drive externally via USB, eSATA or firewire. Here are the best options available in the market for you.
The Best External Hard Drive Enclosures (2020) Reviews:
A portable external hard drive is a storage device that can be attached to a computer using a USB or Firewire connection. Due to their high storage capacity, people often use a portable external hard drive to store media for backup. Some people also use them when the computer's internal drive is already full.
1. Mobius Pro 5C 5-Bay USB-C External Drive Enclosure
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Oyen Digital is the company that presents you Mobius Pro 5C External Drive enclosure. They also provide external hard drives, but since we are talking about the enclosures for hard drives this is the best option available for you out there.
More, it has USB-C port support which provides Thunderbolt 3 transfer rate. Thought it cannot connect to Thunderbolt 2, but let's face it in this tech changing world it has considerably become old technology.
Meanwhile, it is bulky but it encloses around 5 SATA hard drives providing you an exceptional amount of storage externally. Additionally, it includes a USB-C hub for fast charging or could charge other USB supported devices.
Furthermore, it is a tray-less and non-RAID system that helps to install 5 independent hard drives at once. Well, in my opinion, it the best choice for all those tech geeks out there who are always in need of extra storage.
What we like the most:
- Has Support of USB-C connectivity hence improving the transfer rate.
- Supports Thunderbolt 3 being able to connect with USB 3.0 or 3.1.
- Can withhold 5 independent hard drives at once
- It does not have a tray installation for the hard drive making it time-efficient to install hard drives.
2. Yottamaster Aluminum Alloy External Hard Drive Enclosure
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Having an aluminum alloy design thus being sturdy and reliable is an enclosure of hard drive from Yottamaster. Also, it is 2.5 inches long and it can support up to 12.5mm 9.5mm 7mm drives. I admit that it has no extra USB port that USB 3.0, so you might be wondering how it is on the second number of this list.
Well, it is here because of its premium built quality and appearance. Now talking about the package in which it ships in is a silicone sleeve to protect your hard drives in many cases. As I mentioned before the premium built quality of this product makes it unique from others.
While having an aluminum built it also has a meteor style cooling system helping your har drives to stay cool and work efficiently. Furthermore, this meteor cooling system not only increases the transfer rate but also gives its design an outstanding look.
Additionally, the transfer rate is noted to be 5GBps making it enough for transferring large files. More, it is supported by Windows, Mac and even systems above Linux. It also supports up to 4TB of hard drives.
What we like the most:
- Aluminum built structure with a meteor cooling system giving it a high transfer rate and sleek design.
- It is supported by Windows, Mac OS, and systems above Linux.
- Can support up to 4Tb of hard drives.
- 12.5mm 9.5mm 7mm drives can be installed in this enclosure case.
3. UGREEN External Hard Drive Enclosure
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Starting with the key feature of this product which is it keeps you any hard drive either it is an HDD or SSD safe scratch proof and clean. With the transfer rate of 5GBps, it can transfer 1Tb of data in 5 seconds. Also, it has a UASP transfer rate which makes it 70% more efficient than others.
Moreover, UGREEN external hard drive enclosure is supported with Windows, Mac OS 8.0 and higher, and Linux. 7mm and 9mm of thick and 2.5' height of HDD or SSD can be inserted in this case.
Also, you can connect it with PC, PS4, PS 4 pro, X-box 360, etc. With the SATA connectivity. Increasing your storage capacity, it is compact and portable with premium built quality and structure giving itself a long-lasting life span.
Furthermore, it has a blue indicator to indicate the transfer is in progress making it easy to know that your hard drive is in play.
What we like the most:
- Supports USB 3.0 till USB 1.1 thus having a wide range of connectivity.
- It is compact and portable and makes your internal hard drive an external one.
- Is supported by most of the operating systems.
- It has a high transfer rate of 5GBps.
4. Neeyer 2.5″ Hard Drive Enclosure USB 3.0
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The part of this product that I would nail is that it is compact having a whopping of 2.5″ with the premium and high built quality. Also, it is the best option for 7mm or 9.5mm HDD or SSD, and another thing is that it has SATA I, II, III connectivity.
Like other, it has the same transfer rate of 5GBps, but the feature that distinguishes it from its competitors is that it has self-powered USB and a light indicator for acknowledgment of the transfer.
Besides this, another key feature is that it doesn't need any drivers that differentiate from its competitors. In fact, it just needs a plugged and plays scenario here.
More, the drives are easily swappable giving it a tool-free design structure. Similarly, it is compatible with Windows 7 and above, Mac OS and above.
What we like the most:
- It supports SATA I, II, III connectivity thus having a vast range of connectivity.
- Have USB 3.0 supported?
- Tool-free design
- It provides a 5GBps rate of transfer.
5. AmazonBasics 3.5-inches SATA HDD Hard Drive Enclosure
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The kicker is that this product is it is large measuring 3.5″ which supports SATA I, SATA II and SATA III. Also, it comes with an AC powered Enclosure case with help in improved transfer rate and has an on/off button just in case. Moreover, it has reversible data transfer to USB 2.0 from USB 3.0 making it come handy in various situations.
Don't worry, it also has an LED indicator for acknowledgment of data transfer. Same as mentioned above Enclosure case also is tool-free and the drives are easily swapped. Additionally, it has a minimal design that can improve your desk or computer setup. While covering your hard drive it also contains adhesive sponges for the protection of your hard drive.
What we like the most:
- First of all, as being a product of amazon basic it has a one-year warranty for the consumers.
- It is AC powered making it fast and efficient.
- It is reversible to USB 2.0.
- Has protective sponges inside to protect your drive.
6. UGREEN USB C Hard Drive Enclosure
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Here is another product of UGREEN but this has some salient feature than its predecessor. Kickstarting with the key feature it has USB-C port making the connectivity easy and vast. More, it has a height of 2.5″ making it comfortable to store 7 mm and 9.5mm thick HDD or SSD. Also, the vital feature of this product has a transfer rate of 6GBps and a reversible 2nd- Gen USC-C port connection making the read and write speed ultra-fast and efficient.
Check: TOP 10 Best USB Joysticks to Buy in 2020 Reviews (Buying Guides)
Hence, don't worry about lagging and slow transfer rate, as it can support up to 10TB of HDD or SSD at once. Having a sleek and modern design it also has a blue light indicator for power status. Not from outside it also protects your drive from inside as soft AVA foams are attached inside to keep your drive comfortable and safe. It is also available with USB type C to USB type A (3.0) cable with the box.
What we like the most:
- It is 70% faster and efficient than other competitors as it has 6GBps ultra-fast UASP transfer technology and the rate.
- Has 2nd Gen USB type-C port connectivity.
- It can support up to 10TB of hard drive capacity.
- It is available with USB type c to USB type A (3.0) cable.
7. Inateck 3.5 Hard Drive Enclosure
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Now: this product is brilliantly and beautifully crafted with Aluminum alloy thus proving to be durable and light-weighted. Installed with effective heat dissipation technology keeping your drive stress free and cool. With the super speed of the USB 3.0 connection, it is effective in data transfer. Backing up data is also easy as it has UASP technology targeted for SSD.
Meanwhile, it has Built-in ASM1153E chipset which supports SATA III for fast backups providing the transfer rate of 6GBps. Going back in time, it even supports Windows XP and Vista moving upward to Windows 10. In addition to this, it supports Mac OS, Linux, and Android. Internally, it is also layered with PU leather and anti-slip technology to protect your drive from scratches.
What we like the most:
- It is light weighted and portable.
- It has a fast transfer rate of 6GBps.
- Supports all types of standards ranging from 2.5-3.5 inches and SATA I-III connectivity
- It also supports up to10Tb of data maximum.
8. Sabrent USB 2.0/ESATA Aluminum Hard Drive Enclosure
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Having a whopping 3.5' of Hight it defines its built quality in an instance. Personally, supporting any standard of SATA or idle hard drive would be the best feature for most of the users out there. Constructed with alloyed aluminum materials makes it a durable, rugged and light-weighted. Furthermore, accessing your data into PC, Laptops, Gaming counsel is easy with this product as it supports all the standard of connectivity.
Meanwhile, having 480Mbps speed of transfer rate makes you convenient with this to transfer data effectively. While looking stylish, it contains a radiated fan for cooling purposes and an easily swappable method. Moreover, it supports up to every OS available from Windows 98 to Windows 8, while supporting Mac OS X. Though it can withhold 2TB of data maximum.
What we like the most:
- Has a stylish appearance to it.
- Gives 480 Mbps data transfer rate.
- Supports all the standard of connectivity from SATA to idle.
- Supports all OS systems out there.
9. 8-ORICO 2.5 USB 3 External Hard Drive Enclosure
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The clear high-quality PC grade material allows you to seek inside the case without even opening it. You can insert your old 2.5' SATA I/II/III drives easily thus helping you to reuse the old drive of yours.
It has a compact and sleek looking design making it comfortable for portability purposes. It could be connected with PC, Laptop, PS4, and other electronic devices. It is portable and easy to use just plug and play. It has a wide compatibility and connectivity range. As it supports SATA I/II/III and various operating systems. Also, has a blue LED light indicator for power connections.
What we like the most:
- It can withhold up to 4gb of data.
- It is portable and has a wide range of connectivity.
- It has premium built-quality making it sturdy and reliable.
10. Sabrent Tool-Free External Hard Drive Enclosure
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Like the other competitors, it also has a wide range of connectivity from SATA I/II/III. While having a sleek brushed metal look it is built with ABS materials and has shock pads to contain any accidental drops, it is built beautifully to complete your desk setup.
Using UASP transferring technology the transfer rate is decent compared to other competitors in the market. Using a super and ultra-fast USB 3.0 transfer port aiding it to be a time saver and efficient.
It also saves time in swapping disks as it is a hot-swap situation with it. Just put your drive and it makes it externally useful.
What we like the most:
- Uses UASP transferring technology
- Uses super-fast USB 3.0 transfer ports.
- It is light and portable.
- Built with premium quality of ABS materials.
11. ORICO External 3.5 Hard Drive Enclosure
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Like others on this list, it supports SATA I/II/III and can bear up to 12Tb of data transfer in one go. Also, using UASP transferring technology the data transfer is super-fast and efficient, the transfer rate is 5gbps in go. More, it gives a sturdy and reliable feel when held and the consumer completely relies on the materials because of built with high-quality materials.
Furthermore, the design feature is also sleek and beautiful and can improve the looks of your gadget bad or desk. In addition to this, it is a durable and long-lasting enclosure case due to made with ABS+ metal materials. Besides this, using USB 3.0 SATA III capability can support the maximum capacity of 8TB. Additionally, it's less than the competitors present in the market and runs on a 12V2A power adapter.
What we like the most:
- Can transfer files at the speed of 5Gbps.
- In the box USB, 3.0 cable is provided by the provider, one power adapter and one manual with service card
- Has an ABS + metal built-quality.
- Supports a wide range of connectivity and can withhold 12TB of data in SSD or else 8TB of data otherwise.
Conclusion
External hard drive enclosures are very useful in various situations. It can be a permanent piece of tech in your pocket as it is portable and light-weighted. It simply can increase your storage capacity without buying a separate external hard drive, they are cheaper than the external hard drive enclosures and much more reliable.
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Basic Information of an External Hard Disk
An external hard disk is just a hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD) that needs to be connected to the computer rather than being inside the computer. External hard disks are sometimes referred to as portable hard drives or mobile hard drives.
The vast majority of mobile hard drives in the market are based on standard hard drives, and there is a small number of micro-hard drives (1.8-inch hard drives, etc.), but price factors determine that the mainstream mobile hard drives are based on standard hard drives.
One way to think about an external hard drive is as if it were a normal internal hard drive that has been removed, overlaid in its own protective sleeve and plugged into the computer from outside.
What Is An External Usb Hard Drive Enclosure
External hard drives have different storage capacities, but they can be connected to the computer via USB, FireWire, or wirelessly.
When you are using external hard drive, you may encounter different kinds of issues, like external hard drive not working, external hard drive keeps disconnecting, and more. Don't worry. You can firstly use a free files recovery tool to retrieve your data to a safe place, and then take measures to fix the issues.
Main Usage of External Hard Disk
The external hard disk is mainly used for backing up data and expanding the capacity of your computer when you think that important data in your computer needs backup (such as movies, music files, e-books, applications, etc.) or the internal hard disk is not big enough.
The external hard disk is very convenient for backing up data compared with the burning of CD/DVD, and is way larger than the capacity of a USB flash drive, so now the external hard disk is basically the standard equipment of an advanced computer user.
Related article:WD External Hard Drive Data Recovery Is Easy Enough
Features of External Hard Disk
Now you know what an external hard disk is. If you want to buy one, you should know more about it. We will list some of its features below.
Large capacity with small size
Mobile hard drives can provide considerable storage capacity. They are a more cost-effective mobile storage product. In the case that the large-capacity 'flash drive' price is only initially accepted by the user; the mobile hard drive can provide the user with a larger storage capacity and a good convenience within a price range acceptable to the user.
External hard disks in the market provide 320GB, 500GB, 600G, 640GB, 900GB, 1000GB (1TB), 1.5TB, 2TB, 2.5TB, 3TB, 3.5TB, 4TB, etc., up to 12TB capacity. It can be said that it is the upgraded version of a USB flash drive and is widely accepted by the public.
The size of the mobile hard disk (box) is divided into 1.8 inches, 2.5 inches and 3.5 inches.
1.8-inch external hard disk drives mostly provide 10GB, 20GB, 40GB, 60GB, 80GB; 2.5-inch external hard disks provide 500GB, 750GB, 1TB, 2TB capacity; 3.5-inch external hard drives are available in 500GB, 640GB, 750GB, 1TB, 1.5TB, 2TB, 4TB, 6TB and even 8TB capacity.
With the development of technology, mobile hard disks will become larger in capacity and smaller in size.
High data transmission speed
Portable hard drives mostly use USB, IEEE1394, eSATA interfaces, which can provide high data transmission speed. However, the data transmission speed of the portable hard drives is limited to the interface speed to a certain extent.
For example, if the portable hard drive is using USB1.1 interface, the user's patience will be tested when transmitting a large amount of data. It will be relatively better when the external hard disks are using USB2.0, IEEE1394, and eSATA interface. The USB2.0 interface transfer rate is 60MB/s, the USB3.0 interface transfer rate is 625MB/s, and the IEEE1394 interface transfer rate is 50~100MB/s.
When you are using external hard drive, you may encounter different kinds of issues, like external hard drive not working, external hard drive keeps disconnecting, and more. Don't worry. You can firstly use a free files recovery tool to retrieve your data to a safe place, and then take measures to fix the issues.
Main Usage of External Hard Disk
The external hard disk is mainly used for backing up data and expanding the capacity of your computer when you think that important data in your computer needs backup (such as movies, music files, e-books, applications, etc.) or the internal hard disk is not big enough.
The external hard disk is very convenient for backing up data compared with the burning of CD/DVD, and is way larger than the capacity of a USB flash drive, so now the external hard disk is basically the standard equipment of an advanced computer user.
Related article:WD External Hard Drive Data Recovery Is Easy Enough
Features of External Hard Disk
Now you know what an external hard disk is. If you want to buy one, you should know more about it. We will list some of its features below.
Large capacity with small size
Mobile hard drives can provide considerable storage capacity. They are a more cost-effective mobile storage product. In the case that the large-capacity 'flash drive' price is only initially accepted by the user; the mobile hard drive can provide the user with a larger storage capacity and a good convenience within a price range acceptable to the user.
External hard disks in the market provide 320GB, 500GB, 600G, 640GB, 900GB, 1000GB (1TB), 1.5TB, 2TB, 2.5TB, 3TB, 3.5TB, 4TB, etc., up to 12TB capacity. It can be said that it is the upgraded version of a USB flash drive and is widely accepted by the public.
The size of the mobile hard disk (box) is divided into 1.8 inches, 2.5 inches and 3.5 inches.
1.8-inch external hard disk drives mostly provide 10GB, 20GB, 40GB, 60GB, 80GB; 2.5-inch external hard disks provide 500GB, 750GB, 1TB, 2TB capacity; 3.5-inch external hard drives are available in 500GB, 640GB, 750GB, 1TB, 1.5TB, 2TB, 4TB, 6TB and even 8TB capacity.
With the development of technology, mobile hard disks will become larger in capacity and smaller in size.
High data transmission speed
Portable hard drives mostly use USB, IEEE1394, eSATA interfaces, which can provide high data transmission speed. However, the data transmission speed of the portable hard drives is limited to the interface speed to a certain extent.
For example, if the portable hard drive is using USB1.1 interface, the user's patience will be tested when transmitting a large amount of data. It will be relatively better when the external hard disks are using USB2.0, IEEE1394, and eSATA interface. The USB2.0 interface transfer rate is 60MB/s, the USB3.0 interface transfer rate is 625MB/s, and the IEEE1394 interface transfer rate is 50~100MB/s.
When the external hard disk exchanges data with the computer, it takes only a few minutes to read a large file of GB level, which makes it especially suitable for the storage and exchange of video and audio data.
What Is An External Usb Hard Drive Adapter
Easy to use
The external hard disk with USB interface is the mainstream at present. The mainstream PCs are basically equipped with USB functions. The motherboard usually provides 2 to 8 USB ports. Some monitors also provide USB adapters. The USB interface has become a must-have interface in personal computers.
You do not need to install USB devices drivers in most versions of the Windows operating system (except Windows 98). It really has a 'plug-and-play' feature that is flexible and easy to use.
However, large-capacity external hard disks such as 160G or more have a speed of up to 7,200 rpm (5,400 rpm for notebooks), so the external power supply is required (USB power supply is insufficient). This limits the portability of the hard disk to some extent.
Reliability improvement
Data security has always been a major concern for mobile storage users, and an important criterion for measuring the performance of such products. External hard disks have won the favor of many users not only with the advantages of high speed, large capacity, lightweight and convenience, but also the security and reliability.
External hard disks are similar in structure to internal hard disks which are mostly made of silicon opaque discs. This is a more rugged disc material than aluminum and magnetic, with greater storage and better reliability for improved data integrity.
The use of silicon-based disk drives, featuring a smoother disk surface, effectively reduces the number of irregular disks that may affect data reliability and integrity. In addition, it also has the anti-shock function. When the violent vibration occurs, the disc automatically stops and the head is reset to the safe area, which can effectively prevent the disc from being damaged.
