TL;DR
The best external hard drives for backup in 2026 offer high reliability, good speed, durable build, and affordable price. Top picks include WD My Passport, ADATA HD710M Pro, SanDisk G‑Drive ArmorATD, Seagate One Touch, Lexar SL500 (SSD), SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD, and Seagate Expansion — covering rugged, portable, and high‑speed needs.
(Selections supported by expert-tested rankings and reviews.)
Whether you’re storing work files, photos, videos, or backups from your laptop, having a reliable external hard drive is essential. In 2026, both HDDs (for affordability & capacity) and portable SSDs (for speed & durability) offer excellent choices in the 1TB–2TB range.
This guide lists the 7 best external drives that balance performance, price, and reliability.
🏆 Top 7 External Hard Drives for Backup (1TB & 2TB)
1. WD My Passport (HDD) — Best All‑Round Backup Drive
Available in: 1TB, 2TB
Why it’s great:
- Reliable, proven drive
- Good speeds for an HDD
- Compact & portable
- Ideal for long‑term backups
Recognized as a top portable hard drive for most users.
2. ADATA HD710M Pro — Best Rugged Hard Drive
Available in: 1TB, 2TB
Why it’s great:
- Military‑grade durability
- Waterproof, shockproof
- Perfect for travelers & outdoor users
Rated highly for durability and competitive performance.
3. SanDisk Professional G‑Drive ArmorATD — Best for Mac & Creatives
Available in: 1TB, 2TB
Why it’s great:
- Rugged design
- Excellent for macOS backup & Time Machine
- Fast and reliable
Top rugged pick for Mac users.
4. Seagate One Touch (HDD) — Best Lightweight Backup Option
Available in: 1TB, 2TB
Why it’s great:
- Very compact & portable
- Reliable for everyday backups
- Easy scheduled backup software
Backed by expert testing for reliability.
5. Lexar SL500 (SSD) — Best External SSD for Speed
Available in: 1TB, 2TB
Why it’s great:
- Super thin & lightweight
- Extremely fast (up to 2000MB/s read)
- Ideal for quick backups & frequent file transfers
Rated best external hard drive overall for 2026 due to speed + portability.
6. SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD (Gen 2) — Best Rugged SSD
Available in: 1TB, 2TB
Why it’s great:
- Rugged IP65 design
- Fast transfer speeds
- Ideal for photographers & videographers
Listed as top everyday portable SSD for 2026.
7. Seagate Expansion (HDD) — Best Simple Plug‑and‑Play Drive
Available in: 1TB, 2TB
Why it’s great:
- No setup required
- Excellent for PC backups
- Good for storing large media archives
Highlighted for large‑capacity and budget-friendly storage.
🧠 How to Choose the Right Drive for Backup
Choose HDD if you want:
- Best price per GB
- Reliable long‑term cold storage
- Basic backups & media storage
Choose SSD if you want:
- Very fast speeds
- Shockproof durability
- Frequent transfers and daily use
Recommended Sizes:
- 1TB: Students, light backup
- 2TB: Professionals, photographers, creators
📦 Quick Comparison
| Model | Type | Best For | Rugged | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WD My Passport | HDD | Everyday backup | No | Moderate |
| ADATA HD710M Pro | HDD | Rugged outdoor use | Yes | Moderate |
| G‑Drive ArmorATD | HDD | Mac users, creatives | Yes | Moderate |
| Seagate One Touch | HDD | Lightweight usage | No | Moderate |
| Lexar SL500 | SSD | High-speed backup | Some | Very Fast |
| SanDisk Extreme Portable | SSD | Rugged high-speed use | Yes | Very Fast |
| Seagate Expansion | HDD | Simple plug‑and‑play | No | Moderate |
🏁 Final Verdict
If you want best value HDD, go for WD My Passport.
If you want top ruggedness, choose ADATA HD710M Pro or SanDisk ArmorATD.
If you prioritize speed, pick Lexar SL500 or SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD.
For simple backup, Seagate Expansion works perfectly.
🚀 Need Help Picking the Right External Drive?
Tell me your budget, storage need, and whether you prefer HDD or SSD, and I’ll recommend the perfect drive for you!
