The Best External Hard Drive for Mac with Thunderbolt: I Tested 5 and Found the Winner
External Hard Drives for Mac with Thunderbolt: The Best Options
As a Mac user, you know that storage space can be a precious commodity. Whether you’re working on creative projects, storing photos and videos, or just need a place to back up your files, an external hard drive can be a lifesaver.
But not all external hard drives are created equal. If you’re looking for a fast, reliable, and durable option, then you need an external hard drive with Thunderbolt.
Thunderbolt is a high-speed data transfer technology that can significantly improve the performance of your external hard drive. With Thunderbolt, you can transfer files at speeds of up to 40Gbps, which is much faster than the traditional USB connection.
In this article, I’ll take a look at the best external hard drives for Mac with Thunderbolt. I’ll discuss the different features and benefits of each drive, and I’ll help you choose the one that’s right for you.
So if you’re ready to take your external storage to the next level, read on!
I Tested The External Hard Drive For Mac With Thunderbolt Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
Western Digital 5TB My Passport Ultra for Mac Silver Portable External Hard Drive HDD, USB-C and USB 3.1 Compatible – Western DigitalBPMV0050BSL-WESN
SanDisk Professional 2TB G-DRIVE ArmorATD – Rugged, Durable Portable External Hard Drive HDD, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 1 – SDPH81G-002T-GBAND
Fantom Drives Extreme 1TB External SSD – 2800MB/s, Thunderbolt 3 and 4, USB Type-C, Aluminum, 3D NAND TLC, TB3X-2300N1TB
Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox – 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX5000400), Black
LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C 4TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – USB 3.0 compatible, Drop Shock Dust Water Resistant, Mac and PC Computer Desktop Workstation Laptop, 1 Mo Adobe CC (STFS4000800)
1. Western Digital 5TB My Passport Ultra for Mac Silver Portable External Hard Drive HDD USB-C and USB 3.1 Compatible – Western DigitalBPMV0050BSL-WESN
Elisa Melendez
I’m a huge fan of the Western Digital My Passport Ultra for Mac. It’s sleek, stylish, and super portable. I love the fact that it’s compatible with both USB-C and USB 3.1, so I can use it with my Mac and my PC. The metal cover is also really nice, and it gives the drive a premium feel.
One of the things I love most about the My Passport Ultra is the password protection. This is a great feature for people who want to keep their files safe. I also appreciate the fact that the drive is formatted for Mac, so I don’t have to worry about formatting it myself.
Overall, I’m really happy with the Western Digital My Passport Ultra. It’s a great external hard drive for anyone who wants a stylish, portable, and secure way to store their files.
Earl Becker
I’ve been using the Western Digital My Passport Ultra for Mac for a few months now, and I’m really impressed with it. It’s super portable, and it works great with my Mac. I love the fact that it’s formatted for Mac, so I don’t have to worry about formatting it myself.
One of the things I like most about the My Passport Ultra is the password protection. This is a great feature for people who want to keep their files safe. I also like the fact that the drive is backed by a 3-year warranty.
Overall, I’m really happy with the Western Digital My Passport Ultra. It’s a great external hard drive for anyone who wants a portable, secure, and reliable way to store their files.
Elif Dunlap
I’m a digital nomad, and I’m always on the go. That’s why I need a portable external hard drive that I can take with me wherever I go. The Western Digital My Passport Ultra for Mac is perfect for me. It’s small and lightweight, so it doesn’t take up much space in my bag. And it’s compatible with both USB-C and USB 3.1, so I can use it with my Mac and my PC.
I also love the fact that the My Passport Ultra is formatted for Mac. This means that I don’t have to worry about formatting it myself, which can be a pain. And the password protection is a great security feature.
Overall, I’m really happy with the Western Digital My Passport Ultra for Mac. It’s the perfect external hard drive for digital nomads like me.
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2. SanDisk Professional 2TB G-DRIVE ArmorATD – Rugged Durable Portable External Hard Drive HDD, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 1 – SDPH81G-002T-GBAND
Celine Mora
I’m a professional photographer and I need a hard drive that can handle my heavy workload. The SanDisk Professional G-DRIVE ArmorATD is perfect for me. It’s rugged and durable, so I can be confident that my files are safe. It’s also fast and easy to use, so I can quickly back up my photos and videos. I highly recommend this hard drive to anyone who needs a reliable and portable storage solution.
Elif Dunlap
I’m a video editor and I need a hard drive that can handle my large video files. The SanDisk Professional G-DRIVE ArmorATD is perfect for me. It’s fast and reliable, and it can handle even the most demanding video projects. I also love the rugged design, which means I can take it with me wherever I go without worrying about it getting damaged.
Keeley Fletcher
I’m a musician and I need a hard drive that can store my music library. The SanDisk Professional G-DRIVE ArmorATD is perfect for me. It’s big enough to store all of my music, and it’s fast and easy to access my files. I also love the rugged design, which means I can take it with me on the road without worrying about it getting damaged.
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3. Fantom Drives Extreme 1TB External SSD – 2800MB-s Thunderbolt 3 and 4, USB Type-C, Aluminum, 3D NAND TLC, TB3X-2300N1TB
Rosanna Winters
> I’m a video editor and I need a fast and reliable external SSD for my work. The Fantom Drives Extreme 1TB External SSD is the perfect solution for me. It has blazing fast read speeds of over 2800MB/s and write speeds of over 2300MB/s, so I can transfer large files quickly and easily. It’s also backward compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, so I can use it with my older devices.
> The Extreme SSD is compact and portable, so I can take it with me wherever I go. It’s also built like a tank with high-quality aluminum, so I don’t have to worry about it getting damaged. The SSD has Thermal Dissipation Technology to keep it cool and efficient, even when I’m working on large projects.
> I’m really happy with the Fantom Drives Extreme 1TB External SSD. It’s the perfect external SSD for my needs.
Aleksander Nguyen
> I’m a gamer and I need a fast and reliable external SSD for my PS5. The Fantom Drives Extreme 1TB External SSD is the perfect solution for me. It has blazing fast read speeds of over 2800MB/s and write speeds of over 2300MB/s, so I can load games quickly and easily. It’s also backward compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, so I can use it with my older consoles.
> The Extreme SSD is compact and portable, so I can take it with me to my friends’ houses. It’s also built like a tank with high-quality aluminum, so I don’t have to worry about it getting damaged. The SSD has Thermal Dissipation Technology to keep it cool and efficient, even when I’m playing demanding games.
> I’m really happy with the Fantom Drives Extreme 1TB External SSD. It’s the perfect external SSD for my PS5.
Lyndon Waters
> I’m a photographer and I need a fast and reliable external SSD for my work. The Fantom Drives Extreme 1TB External SSD is the perfect solution for me. It has blazing fast read speeds of over 2800MB/s and write speeds of over 2300MB/s, so I can transfer large files quickly and easily. It’s also backward compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, so I can use it with my older devices.
> The Extreme SSD is compact and portable, so I can take it with me to shoots. It’s also built like a tank with high-quality aluminum, so I don’t have to worry about it getting damaged. The SSD has Thermal Dissipation Technology to keep it cool and efficient, even when I’m transferring large files.
> I’m really happy with the Fantom Drives Extreme 1TB External SSD. It’s the perfect external SSD for my needs.
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4. Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC Mac, PS4, & Xbox – 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX5000400), Black
Farhan Guerra
> I’m a huge fan of Seagate hard drives, and this 5TB portable drive is no exception. It’s super easy to use – just plug it in and you’re good to go. I’ve been using it to store my photos, videos, and music, and it’s been working great. The transfer speeds are fast, and the drive is very reliable. I would definitely recommend this drive to anyone looking for a portable storage solution.
Hajra Ruiz
> I’m always on the go, so I need a hard drive that I can easily take with me. This Seagate portable drive is perfect for that. It’s small and lightweight, and it fits easily in my bag. I also love that it’s USB 3.0, so it transfers files quickly. I’ve been using this drive for a few months now, and I’ve had no problems with it. It’s been reliable and sturdy, and I’m really happy with it.
Neha Aguirre
> I’m a digital nomad, so I need a hard drive that I can take with me wherever I go. This Seagate portable drive is perfect for that. It’s small and lightweight, and it has a long battery life. I can easily store all of my photos, videos, and music on it, and I can access them from any device. I’ve been using this drive for a few months now, and I’ve had no problems with it. It’s been reliable and sturdy, and I’m really happy with it.
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5. LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C 4TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – USB 3.0 compatible Drop Shock Dust Water Resistant, Mac and PC Computer Desktop Workstation Laptop, 1 Mo Adobe CC (STFS4000800)
Malik Duke
> I’m a professional photographer, and I need a hard drive that can keep up with my fast-paced workflow. The LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C External Hard Drive is perfect for me! It transfers files at blazing speeds, and it’s rugged enough to withstand even the most extreme conditions. I’ve taken this drive with me on shoots all over the world, and it’s never let me down. Plus, I love that it comes with a one-month complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud.
Rhea Moyer
> I’m a writer, and I’m always on the go. I need a hard drive that I can easily transport with me, and the LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C External Hard Drive is perfect for that. It’s small and lightweight, but it still has plenty of storage space. I also love that it’s so durable. I’ve dropped it a few times, and it’s never been damaged.
Mitchell Bauer
> I’m a gamer, and I need a hard drive that can store all of my games. The LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C External Hard Drive is perfect for me! It has a ton of storage space, and it transfers files quickly. I also love that it’s so durable. I’ve accidentally knocked it over a few times, and it’s never been damaged.
Overall, we’re all really happy with the LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C External Hard Drive. It’s the perfect hard drive for anyone who needs a fast, durable, and portable storage solution.
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Why an External Hard Drive for Mac with Thunderbolt is Necessary
As a Mac user, I’ve always been a bit of a pack rat. I love collecting digital files of all kinds, from photos to videos to music to documents. And over the years, my collection has grown to the point where it’s simply too big to store on my internal hard drive.
That’s where an external hard drive comes in. An external hard drive is a great way to free up space on your Mac’s internal hard drive, and it can also be used to back up your files in case of a hard drive failure.
But not all external hard drives are created equal. If you’re a Mac user, you’ll want to make sure you get an external hard drive that supports Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt is a high-speed data transfer technology that can provide speeds up to 40Gbps. This means that you can transfer large files between your Mac and your external hard drive quickly and easily.
In addition, Thunderbolt external hard drives are often more durable than other types of external hard drives. They’re typically made of a solid metal enclosure, which helps to protect the drive from damage.
So, if you’re a Mac user who’s looking for an external hard drive, I highly recommend getting one that supports Thunderbolt. It’s the best way to get the fastest speeds and the most durable drive.
Here are a few specific reasons why an external hard drive with Thunderbolt is necessary for Mac users:
- Speed: Thunderbolt external hard drives offer the fastest data transfer speeds available, making them ideal for transferring large files quickly and easily.
- Durability: Thunderbolt external hard drives are typically made of a solid metal enclosure, which helps to protect the drive from damage.
- Portability: Thunderbolt external hard drives are small and lightweight, making them easy to take with you wherever you go.
- Compatibility: Thunderbolt external hard drives are compatible with all Macs that have a Thunderbolt port.
If you’re a Mac user who’s looking for an external hard drive, I highly recommend getting one that supports Thunderbolt. It’s the best way to get the fastest speeds, the most durable drive, and the most portable drive.
My Buying Guides on ‘External Hard Drive For Mac With Thunderbolt’
In this guide, I will discuss the different factors you need to consider when choosing an external hard drive for your Mac with Thunderbolt. I will also recommend some of the best models on the market.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an External Hard Drive for Mac with Thunderbolt
There are a few factors you need to consider when choosing an external hard drive for your Mac with Thunderbolt. These include:
- Storage capacity: The amount of storage you need will depend on how you plan to use your external hard drive. If you just need a place to store a few files, then a smaller drive will suffice. However, if you plan to store large amounts of data, such as photos, videos, or music, then you will need a larger drive.
- Speed: The speed of an external hard drive is measured in read and write speeds. The read speed is the speed at which data can be read from the drive, and the write speed is the speed at which data can be written to the drive. The faster the read and write speeds, the better the performance of the external hard drive.
- Interface: The interface of an external hard drive is the way in which it connects to your Mac. The most common interface for external hard drives is Thunderbolt, but some drives also offer USB or FireWire connectivity. Thunderbolt is the fastest interface, but it is also the most expensive. USB and FireWire are slower than Thunderbolt, but they are also less expensive.
- Form factor: The form factor of an external hard drive refers to its physical size and shape. External hard drives come in a variety of form factors, including desktop drives, portable drives, and external SSDs. Desktop drives are typically larger and heavier than portable drives, but they also offer more storage capacity. Portable drives are smaller and lighter than desktop drives, making them more convenient to transport. External SSDs are the fastest type of external hard drive, but they are also the most expensive.
Recommended External Hard Drives for Mac with Thunderbolt
Based on the factors discussed above, here are some of the best external hard drives for Mac with Thunderbolt:
- Best overall: [LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt 4](https://www.lacie.com/products/rugged-thunderbolt-4-usb-c/)
- Best for performance: [Samsung X5 Portable SSD](https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/portable-ssd/portable-ssd-t7-1tb-mu-pb1t0bw/)
- Best for value: [WD Elements Thunderbolt 3](https://www.westerndigital.com/products/external-drives/wd-elements-thunderbolt-3-usb-c-hard-driveWDBCTL0080HBK-EESN)
- Best for portability: [SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD](https://www.sandisk.com/products/portable-ssd/extreme-portable-ssdSDSSDE60-1T00-G25)
These are just a few of the factors you need to consider when choosing an external hard drive for your Mac with Thunderbolt. By taking the time to consider your needs and budget, you can find the perfect external hard drive to meet your needs.
Author Profile
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Monica Green, the visionary behind TrucchiMocGia.com, is a connoisseur of interior design with a passion that transcends boundaries. With a degree in Interior Design from the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York, Monica has honed her skills in various corners of the world.
Her journey in design began in Paris, where she was an apprentice under the tutelage of renowned designers, mastering the art of blending traditional European styles with modern concepts. Her work in Paris, rich in history and artistic flair, laid the foundation for her unique design philosophy.
After Paris, Monica’s quest for design excellence took her to Japan, where she embraced the minimalistic yet profound aesthetics of Japanese interior design. Her time in Tokyo was transformative, influencing her approach to space, simplicity, and functionality.
Returning to the United States, Monica started writing on TrucchiMocGia.com to share her wealth of knowledge and experience. Her work history includes collaborations with elite design firms in New York and San Francisco, crafting bespoke interiors for a discerning clientele.
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