Internal storage drives are getting bigger, cloud storage is getting cheaper, and USB drives are getting less common. What to Look For in an External Hard Driveĭigital storage is changing. After extensive trial and error, Andy realized a formatting issue prevented it from working on PC. The main advantages here are the broad compatibility (particularly with Apple devices) and the excellent durability, though setting up can be a bit of a bear. While the SSD version is rated at 510 MB/s, the HDD version was slower in our testing, delivering 130 Mb/s read/write speed in our benchmarks. However, you'll never worry about losing your connecting cable, as the LaCie (available in 2 to 8 TB capacities) has an attached USB cord in your favorite standard (USB-C, USB-C Thunderbolt, Thunderbolt, or USB 3.0). Our reviewer, Andy, calls out that some of the drive's durability relies on a detachable silicon seal over the Thunderbolt port, which is easy to forget when walking out the door. With its distinctive rubber bumpers and brushed aluminum chassis, LaCie's Rugged 2TB drive offers drop resistance up to 5 feet, crush resistance that can withstand up to a 1-ton car, and IP54 water and dust resistance. LaCie Rugged 2TB Thunderbolt USB-C Review There's a limited three-year warranty to back you up, but given the drive's resilience, you may never need it. In her testing, Yoona recorded read speeds as high as 421MB/s and write speeds of 429MB/s. No matter your use case, you'll have blazing speeds thanks to its solid-state nature. This makes it a more niche option for those working in the field or to protect themselves from clumsiness. The ADATA SD700's storage capacity options top out at 1TB, which may not be ideal for those looking to archive a rich assortment of multimedia. It looks a bit wild with the rubber bumper, especially on the yellow model, but that's critical to an engineering job that resulted in IP68 water and dust resistance, plus shock protection from bad drops. Yoona tested ADATA's claim that it could withstand 4-foot drops, dumping it onto hardwood and cement, and the drive showed no signs of scuffing or damage and no performance issues. This travel-ready external hard drive uses 3D NAND technology to pack tons of space into a small form factor, allowing easy pocket entry and removal. Most hard drives only claim reliability and durability for mechanical operation over time, but ADATA's SD700 SSD drive offers more substantial protection.

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