In the age of today, there are many ways people communicate with each other. One of the biggest ways is through social media. That social media has a lot of different domains. One of those domains is the sharing of online videos. There are millions of videos being uploaded from every corner of the globe to the World Wide Web. The sharing of videos has been a vital element in the entertainment and knowledge awareness phenomenon.
The videos don’t need to be uploaded only online, but most videos are almost always uploaded for the whole world to see. Before sharing their masterpieces with the world, people like to snip, add, and edit their videos. For that reason, various softwares are available in the market. Simply install them on your device, and edit away. But it is not that simple. If it were, every single person would be doing it. You need a special type of software on a device that has enough capacity to store and analyze your data. Video files are very large and take up a lot of space on computers’ hard drives. When the hard drive of a computer is overloaded, the processing speed of the computer slows down.
To prevent their computers from dying, editors like to purchase external hard drives. This is a guide, which will help you find the best hard drive for video editing for yourself.
Why Need an External Hard Drive?
You need an external hard drive if you are or are planning to become a video editor. The number one reason being that you can take your data everywhere with you, with a portable external hard drive. You can view your files anywhere, even if you are far from your personal computer. The security and privacy of your data are also increased when you keep the drive in your pocket at all times. Apart from security, there are many other reasons you should get your hands on the best hard drive for video editing.
An external hard drive will provide you with expanded storage for your files. That way, you will not be bound to lower the quality of your project to fit in your usual hard drive. The speed of your computer will not be affected if all the large files are stored externally. With good data processing and transfer speeds, you can finish your work in the ETA that you have imagined. If a computer lags too much, the whole system might also crash, leading to a loss of significant data.
From the above statements, it can easily be said that external hard drives are mandatory to be purchased for video editing. This article will take you through different types of hard drives.
Best Hard Drive for Video Editing:
- Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC
- Western Digital My Passport Ultra 4TB
- Samsung T5 SSD
- Adata SD700
- WD My Book 4TB
- Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt
- Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive 5TB
- Western Digital My Passport Wireless Pro
- LaCie Mobile Drive 4TB External Hard Drive
- iStorage diskAshur 2TB
Best External Hard Drive For Video Editing – Reviews
1. Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC – Reviews:
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About the Product:
This external hard drive by the manufacturer Buffalo is a best-selling product. It has been rated 3.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon, by 43 customers. It can be called the best hard drive for video editing because of its memory capacity. The Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC USB portable hard drive retails for $96.72.
Features and Specifications:
This product comes in two versions. One of them is a 1 TB drive, while the other is a 2 TB drive. The 1 TB drive will be discussed in this section. The drive has a rugged exterior, making it very easy and comfortable to hold. The product comes in color black.
There is a USB cable that comes from the inside of the drive, which is a USB 3.0 version. Due to the USB connection cable, the unit is a plug and play device. It is compatible with all known PC and laptop devices. For security purposes, the external hard drive is encrypted through the hardware. The body of the device is resistant to shock, water as well as dust.
The drive has the feature of automatic PC backup, with the manufacturer’s own technology. The backup software is called Buffalo Backup Utility. The encrypted external hard drive has a three-year manufacturer warranty, including returns, exchange, and repairs. The high-tech security system of the hard drive is based on NFC, meaning that the user does not have to remember any kind of password during use. This drive has a mechanical hard disk installed inside of it.
The dimensions of the unit are 5.55 x 3.54 x 0.83 inches. It weighs 7.2 ounces, which is very light. The capacity of memory storage is 1 GB, which means that it is ideal for video editing. The internal system of the drive is NTFS. The rotational speed of the hard drive is 5400 RPM, making it very fast to read and write files.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Lightweight.
Decent design.
Dust, shock, and water-resistant exterior.
Compatible with all PC models.
The product has a three-year warranty.[/i2pros][i2cons]1 TB memory is not enough for many video editors.[/i2cons][/i2pc]
Best Portable Hard Drive For Video Editing
2. Western Digital My Passport Ultra 4TB – Reviews:
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About the Product:
This is a product by the manufacturer Western Digital. WD is especially famous for the external hard drives and memory devices it produces. This best hard drive for video editing is rated 4.4 out of 5 stars by 486 customers on Amazon. It is an impressive device. The drive retails for $119.99.
Features and Specifications:
This is an external hard drive by Western Digital. It is called “Passport” because it is designed to look like a passport, in its shape and size. The device comes in elegant silver color and has several variations in memory. Apart from the 4 TB drive being discussed in this review, the WD Passport portable external hard drive also comes in 1 TB, 2 TB, as well as 5 TB versions. They are also well known in their own domains.
The connectivity type of this external hard drive is through USB type C. the USB system’s version is the latest 3.0, which enables a seamless flow of data. The cover is said to be made of refined metal, with a shining and lustrous finish. The system is encrypted with 256-bit AES encryption, which is used to protect the hardware. The product comes pre-formatted to run and be compatible with Windows 10. The product comes with a three-year manufacturer’s warranty.
The device can be password protected by the user, according to their desire. The hard drive also comes with automatic backup software, which makes it very easy for the user to keep their data safe and sound, without the effort. The device is called portable because it can be carried anywhere by the user, and is hardly the size of a smartphone. The WD external hard drive is equipped with a software called “WD Discovery.” WD Discovery connects to the online social media and data storage websites of the user, and automatically retrieves data, with the user’s permission.
The product is unique in a way that it is also compatible with Apple Time Machine, which most drivers are not. The device needs to be reformatted to become compatible with each type of device. The actual unit weighs a mere 0.51 pounds. The dimensions are 4.33 x 3.21 x 0.83 inches.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Huge capacity.
Stylish design.
Lightweight.
Compatible with all devices.
Has WD Discovery software.[/i2pros][i2cons]The product is very fragile and may get permanently damaged due to small falls.[/i2cons][/i2pc]
3. Samsung T5 SSD – Reviews:
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About the Product:
The T5 Portable SSD is an external hard drive by the well-known company Samsung. This product is the number 1 best seller in the category of External Solid State Drives. According to many users, it is the best hard drive for video editing. It has been rated an amazing 4.7 out of 5 stars by 4,303 customers on Amazon. This drive retails for $249.99/.
Features and Specifications:
This Samsung external hard drive is a simple 1 TB portable hard drive. The device is an SSD. It`s a small-sized device, with a complete metal body. It comes in stunning black color. It is one of the latest products, as it comes equipped with a USB 3.1 connectivity option.
The device comes in various other forms. Apart from this one, it comes in blue, gold, and red colors. It even comes in 500 GB, as well as 2 TB capacities. The reading and writing speed of the drive can go up to 540 MB per second, letting the user easily transfer their data across devices. The drive is protected by AES 256-bit hardware encryption password protection.
There are two main connectivity options available in the device. First one is a USB type C to USB type C connection cable. There is also a USB type C to USB type A connection cable. The device is compatible with all the latest versions of different operating systems, including Android and iOS. The drive comes preset to be compatible with Windows 10, Mac OS X 10.9, and Android 4.4.
A password can protect the drive. The device needs a Lithium-ion battery to run. The drive weighs 1.76 ounces. The dimensions of the Samsung external hard drive are 0.41 x 2.91 x 2.26 inches. There is a three years manufacturer’s warranty for this product.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Elegant design.
Small in size.
Fast data transfer speed.
Multiple connectivity options.
Password protected.[/i2pros][i2cons]The product is comparatively expensive.[/i2cons][/i2pc]
4. Adata SD700 – Reviews:
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About the Product:
The ADATA SD700 is an external SSD 1 TB portable hard drive. It is almost always in demand by the customers. Thus it often gets out of stock on Amazon. The drive retails for $117.80, which is a reasonable price for this fantastic product.
Features and Specifications:
In this external hard drive, special emphasis has been put on the external cover of the device. It has a military-grade outer covering, which protects the internal device from almost all kinds of damages. The product comes with a three-year manufacturer’s warranty. The device is made with the latest 3D NANO/TLC Flash technology. The technology gives the user an uninterrupted and quick experience in transferring files.
Due to the military-grade covering, the product is dust, shock, and waterproof. It also has low chances of being damaged upon unintended or accidental falls. The speed at which the drive reads and writes data is faster than most other external hard drives. It transfers data at a speed of 440 MBs per second. The USB connectivity runs on the latest USB 3.1, generation 1.
The device is very versatile. It is compatible with Android, Windows, and Mac operating systems, without the need for formatting. This item only weighs 4.8 ounces or 75 grams. The dimensions of the 1 TB drive are 6.4 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches. The product comes in all black color.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Very strong exterior.
Runs on 3D NANO/TLC Flash technology.
It has USB 3.1 connectivity.
Shock, water, and dust resistant.
The product is very lightweight and easily disguisable.[/i2pros][i2cons]The design is not very attractive.[/i2cons][/i2pc]
5. WD My Book 4TB – Reviews:
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About the Product:
This is the 5th product in this list to guide you to purchase the best hard drive for video editing. It is another external hard drive by the manufacturer Western Digital. It comes in various versions. This version has been rated 4.3 out of 5 stars by 32 customers on Amazon. It retails for $89.80.
Features and Specifications:
This is a stylish desktop external hard drive. It comes in 2 TB, 4 TB, and 6 TB versions. This one has a capacity of 4 TB. The connectivity option available in this device is through USB 3.0. The name for this device has been selected by the manufacturer as “My Book.”
The device comes with a preinstalled WD Backup Software, which automatically backs up the user’s data without going through any complicated steps. There is an option of downloadable AcronisTrue Image WD Edition software. By installing that software, the whole computer system can easily be backed up. This system of backup is compatible with the registry found in Windows 8 and Windows 10. The drive can also be password protected if the user wants it to be.
The connectivity option in this device is through USB 3.0, resulting in the fast transfer of data across devices. The device weighs 4 pounds, as it is a desktop external hard drive. The dimensions of this product are 5.5 x 1.9 x 6.7 inches. It comes with a shiny black exterior.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Wide capacity.
It has backup software.
Can back up the computer’s registry.
Compatible with Windows 8 as well as Windows 10.
Elegant design.[/i2pros][i2cons]The device is heavy and not portable.[/i2cons][/i2pc]
6. Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt – Reviews:
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About the Product:
This product is by the manufacturer Buffalo. It is a portable USB external hard drive. This product is Amazon’s Choice item. It has been rated 4.4 out of 5 stars by 302 customers on Amazon. It retails for $127.50.
Features and Specifications:
The device comes in different variations. It has a 500 GB, 1TB, as well as a 2 TB version. The product being discussed is the 1 TB item. The connectivity option in this device is USB 3.0. The interface of the external hard drive is based on Thunderbolt 2.
The data transfer speed can go up to 10 GB, which makes it very convenient for instantaneous data transfer. The cable for Thunderbolt connectivity is also included in the package. This drive is compatible with most common devices, along with Time Machine. There is no need to format the device in order to gain compatibility for different operating systems. According to the manufacturer, there are two interface options in the external hard drive.
No drivers are required to be installed upon the plugging in of this hard drive to a computer. It works exactly like a plug and plays a USB drive. There is a feature of scheduled backups in the product, which are automatic. The Buffalo Thunderbolt comes in lustrous silver color. There is a three years manufacturer’s warranty for the device.
The product weighs 9.3 ounces. The dimensions of the drive are 0.91 x 3.17 x 5.12 inches. The unparalleled speed that comes with Thunderbolt 2 is unmistakable. It makes video editing extremely fast and easy for the user.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Thunderbolt 2 interface.
Extremely fast data transfer.
Stylish design.
Compatible with many devices.
Dual interface options.[/i2pros][i2cons]The Thunderbolt cable is not compatible with the latest devices.[/i2cons][/i2pc]
7. Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive 5TB – Reviews:
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About the Product:
The Seagate portable external hard drive is an Amazon’s Choice product. It is the best hard drive for video editing, as stated by many users. It is one of the few HDDs that are recognized and appreciated for their functionality. Has been rated 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon, by 2,132 customers. The product retails for $129.99.
Features and Specifications:
The Seagate Backup Plus Desktop drive is a 5 TB external hard drive. It comes in elegant black color. Internally, it is an HDD. It has been specially manufactured for the storage of photography and videography data. The product comes in different variations. All of those are equally valued by the customers like this one.
The Seagate external hard drive has a 1 TB, 2 TB, and a 4 TB version as well. The device also comes in red, silver, and light blue colors too. All of the versions’ exterior is brushed metal and feels soft to the touch. This device is compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems. The connectivity option of this hard drive is through USB 3.0, which is a very fast system of data transfer.
Upon the purchase of this device, the memberships of two software become complimentary. A 1-year subscription of Mylio Create and a two-month membership of Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan is gifted to the purchaser. This special offer has made it one of the favorite eternal hard drives among video editors. The product itself comes with a two-year warranty by the manufacturer. There is an automatic backup system in the device; you only have to select the time frames.
As it is a traditional hard drive, an HDD, its disk has a rotational speed. That rotational speed defines how fast the data can be read or written. The rotational speed of this specific device is 1 RPM, which is very fast. The product weighs 4.3 ounces. The dimensions of the product are 4.54 x 3.15 x 0.82 inches.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Fast reading and writing speed.
Compatible with multiple devices.
It comes with complimentary memberships.
Fast data transfer speed.
No need for external software, as it has an automatic backup system.[/i2pros][i2cons]The writing speed might slow down with the increase in data on the device.[/i2cons][/i2pc]
8. Western Digital My Passport Wireless Pro – Reviews:
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About the Product:
This is a product by the manufacturer Western Digital. It is another one of the “my passport” series. It is a portable external hard drive, which uses WiFi for connectivity. This is Amazon’s Choice product. It has been rated 3.6 out of 5 stars, by 658 customers, and retails for $229.99 on Amazon.
Features and Specifications:
This is an innovative product in the category of portable external hard drives. It has various versions. Apart from this 2 TB drive, there are 1 TB, 3 TB, and 4 TB drives available too. The unit comes in complete black color. It has been specially made for multimedia purposes.
There are two connectivity options in the unit. The first one is through USB 3.0. The second one is through the 802.11 ac WiFi system. It provides the user with stream-free 4K video playback. The device is compatible with many operating systems, including Android.
The unit runs on battery. One full charge of the battery provides the user with a full 10-hour video streaming session over WiFi. There is a power bank preinstalled in the device, which enables the user to charge their phone or other portable devices. The power bank runs on 1.5 A. This hard drive comes with a two-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Due to the WiFi system, the data transfer from and to the hard drive is extremely fast. Apart from that, the small exterior of the device enables the user to take it along with them to travels. It is very convenient for photographers as well as videographers. It only weighs 1 pound. The dimensions of the product are 5 x 5 x 0.94 inches.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]WiFi video streaming.
Data transfer through WiFi is spontaneous.
Extremely small and lightweight.
Has a built-in power bank.
Huge capacity.[/i2pros][i2cons]The product is expensive.[/i2cons][/i2pc]
9. LaCie Mobile Drive 4TB External Hard Drive – Reviews:
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About the Product:
LaCie Mobile Drive is an Amazon’s Choice product. It is one of a kind portable hard drive. With its innovative and splendid features, it has been termed as the best hard drive for video editing by many users. It has been rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by 229 customers on Amazon. It retails for $129.99.
Features and Specifications:
This mobile external hard drive has a capacity of 4 TB. It can be used for many purposes. This drive can be used for personal computers, smartphones, cameras, and other devices that use external storage. It comes in a decent moon silver color. The hardware of this device is an HDD.
There are some other versions of this device. It comes in space grey as well. The capacities available are 1 TB, 2 TB, and 5 TB m apart from this 4 TB version. The connectivity option available in this hard drive is a USB type C cable. The version of USB is 3.0.
Upon the purchase of the product, a one-month Adobe CC membership is gifted to the purchaser for free. There is a 2-year warranty for the product by the manufacturer. There is also a feature of automatic backup; all the user has to do is choose the timings. The USB cable that comes with the device is USB-C Ready, meaning that USB 3.1 Generation 2, and Thunderbolt 3 computers can easily be connected. This results in fast data transfer.
The interface of this external hard drive is ATA-3. The platform on which the system is based is PC – MAC. The product weighs only 14.1 ounces. The dimensions of the item are 0.79 x 3.59 x 4.88 inches.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]High-speed data transfer.
Highly compatible with many devices.
It can be used for multiple purposes.
Lightweight.
Free 1 month Adobe CC membership.[/i2pros][i2cons]The hard drive might crash if it is not taken care of properly by preventing falls and external damages.[/i2cons][/i2pc]
10. iStorage diskAshur 2TB – Reviews:
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About the Product:
This is the most innovative and creative product in the category of external hard drives. Because of its simplicity and security, it the best hard drive for video editing. It is an expensive product, as there are no others like it available in the market. This one of a kind item has been rated 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon. It retails for a whole $326.00.
Features and Specifications:
The product comes in different variations. There are 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB, 4 TB, and 5 TB versions of this hard drive. It is extremely secure, as it comes with a physical keypad in front of the device. It allows the user to input a custom 7 – 15 digit pin code. The pin code has to be physically punched in to access the files stored on the device.
The connectivity option of this device is through USB 3.1. The hard drive’s hardware is basically encrypted, thus making it very secure for the user. It has a military level security system. The device’s system has been certified by NCSC CPA, FIPS, NLNCSA BSPA, along with NATO. The extreme security measures taken in the manufacture of this device has made it a favorite of those who value their privacy and security above all.
The hardware of this device is military-grade, which is AES-XTS-256-bit. The systems enter a deadlock mode, upon the entry of a wrong pin and/or multiple failed attempts. The compatibility of this device is very high, as it only has to be plugged into a system. The product weighs 8 ounces only. The dimensions of the product are 4.7 x 3.1 x 0.6 inches.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]The data is extremely secure.
Wide storage capacity.
It has a unique design.
Highly compatible with many systems.
The product is small and travel-friendly.[/i2pros][i2cons]It is a very expensive product.[/i2cons][/i2pc]
Final Verdict:
When you are a videographer, you cannot store all of your precious data on your personal computer’s hard drive. There are many risks and problem factors in that. The top two being the fact that your computer might crash any time, and you cannot travel with that hard drive. For that purpose, many video editors purchase a separate, external hard drive, which is portable. There are many types and versions of these external hard drives available in the market, with different features and different costs.
Before going ahead of buying the device that is just right for you, you need to learn the basics behind every hard drive that is advertised to you. And you have to list down the things and features that you have found best in certain products. After that, you can go ahead and match the features of demand with the available best choices. Only then can you make the right choice. This was the guide to help you find the best hard drive for video editing.
