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The Xbox One is one of the most incredible entertainment consoles available today. With capabilities beyond any other gaming system available before, this console is state-of-the-art in more ways than one. Being able to stream every kind of media and play the newest games as well as boasting a 4k Blu-Ray player are only a few of the long list of options with this system. It’s necessary that you have the best external hard drive for Xbox One.
The further you get into technology, the further you go into gaming. That’s the general rule. –Nick Johnson
While the console is one of the best in the industry, there are many complaints about the limited amount of storage. If you’re a dedicated gamer or love binging and downloading your favorite shows, you will need some extra storage. No one likes the feeling of downloading a game or movie only to find out you’ve run out of storage halfway through the download.
Navigating the market for the best external hard drive for Xbox One can be quite the challenge. Unless you’re super tech savvy, it’s tough trying to find the hard drive that will work best for you. We have taken the time to test and review some of the top hard drives available to help you narrow down your choices.
Product FAQ
There are many things to consider when shopping for a new external hard drive. Let’s look at some frequently asked questions that many people face as they navigate the market.
1. What Is an External Hard Drive?
Computers and gaming consoles come equipped with internal hard drives that have limited memory space. These drives are crucial to saving documents, programs, and media onto your preferred computer system. When you’ve had your console or computer for a long period of time, the hard drive may become full. This is where an external hard drive comes into play.
2. How Does an External Hard Drive Work?
Complex science aside, an external hard drive is relatively simple to use. You can simply plug in the hard drive to your computer or gaming console and the extra space on the external hard drive will be available for your computer to use. It is essentially a small device, often the size of a large phone, that is only capable of providing storage. It has no other capabilities but extra storage.
3. How Do I Choose the Best External Hard Drive for Xbox One?
There are many aspects to consider when choosing which external hard drive is best for your needs. What is your price range? How much extra storage will you need? Are you using it for mostly gaming? Or for other media files or personal documents? Consider your options and use our guide below to help make an informed choice about the best external hard drive for Xbox One.
How We Reviewed
We reviewed ten external hard drives that are good choices for Xbox One. We tested these products on price, warranty, storage space and overall quality. We also took the time to list some pros and cons of these hard drives to help you make a choice that fits your personal needs.
We designed the following list to have a wide variety of hard drives to choose from. We searched for the best external hard drive for Xbox One available today. These products will meet or exceed industry standards, often having distinct qualities that are unique to their respective brand. Some of the drives are specifically designed for Xbox One, while they make others to be used universally for other computers. Let’s get started.
Overall Price Range
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In the not-so-distant-past an external hard drive would have cost well over $100 or $200. The technology has advanced since then and today many of these devices are readily available for $60 to $100. For our guide here, we have included a variety of hard drives that encompass the entire price range. These prices vary depending on the amount of storage available, the speed that the drive can operate, the power the drive needs to operate, and overall performance of the hard drive?
What We Reviewed
- Seagate Game Drive for Xbox 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD
- SanDisk Extreme 500 Portable 480GB SSD
- U32 Shadow 1TB USB-C External Hard Drive for Xbox One
- PNY Elite 480GB USB 3.0 Portable Solid State Drive
- WD 10TB Elements Desktop Hard Drive
- Western Digital 4TB My Book Desktop External Hard Drive
- Shadow Mini 250GB USB 3.1 External Solid State Drive
- Seagate Expansion Desktop 8TB External Hard Drive
- Western Digital 4TB Black My Passport Portable External Hard Drive
- Seagate Backup Plus Hub 4TB External Hard Drive Desktop
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD
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Features
Seagate is a well-known brand in the external hard drive industry. This drive is specifically designed to be used with the Xbox One. 3.0 USB connectivity ensures there is no lag when gaming from the hard drive and 2TB of storage will allow you to store over 100 games onto the hard drive.
This drive is made specifically for gaming, with a quick setup process so you will be gaming in no time. This is a portable drive, so it does not need a power cable to operate. Just plug and play or take it on the go to a fellow gamer’s house. It also comes in a distinct lime green casing to match your Xbox beautifully.
PROS
- 3.0 USB Connectivity
- Xbox Lime Green Color
- Available in 2TB or 4TB
CONS
- Noise level is louder than other drives
- Where to Buy
- Warranty
This drive comes with a 1-year limited warranty covering manufacture defects.
SanDisk Extreme 500 Portable 480GB SSD
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Features
SanDisk is a leader in storage for electronic devices. The Extreme 500 portable hard drive is a unique drive designed for portability. This solid state drive has 480GB of memory and is dust and water proof making it great for traveling.
The 3.0 USB connectivity is great for quick access to all your media; just plug in and follow the easy setup process and you’re good to go. You also can password protect this drive for added privacy and protection of your files.
PROS
- 3.0 USB Connectivity
- 480 GB of Storage
CONS
- Fragile Port Connection
- Where to Buy
- Warranty
The warranty covers manufacturer defects.
U32 Shadow 1TB USB-C External Hard Drive for Xbox One
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Features
The U32 Shadow External hard drive is designed specifically for Xbox One. This 1TB hard drive has a USB-C interface. With an aluminum casing that is very durable, this hard drive doesn’t require a power adapter to be plugged into the wall.
PROS
- Durable Aluminum Casing
- 3-Year Warranty
- Where to Buy
- Warranty
This hard drive is backed by a 3-year warranty through the U32 company.
PNY Elite 480GB USB 3.0 Portable Solid State Drive
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Features
This external hard drive is designed to have lightning-fast transfer speeds and powerful USB 3.1 connectivity, while also being compact and quiet. This solid state drive does not require an external power source and is small enough to fit into your pocket.
PROS
- Compact
- Super Fast Transfer Speeds
CONS
- May not be as durable as other drives.
- Where to Buy
- Warranty
This drive comes with a 1-year limited warranty through the manufacturer.
Western Digital 10TB Elements Desktop Hard Drive
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Features
Western Digital’s Elements hard drive is a powerhouse of a hard drive. This drive has huge storage space with 10TB, more than enough for any of your gaming or other media needs. This is no small portable drive; it needs to be plugged into a wall to be powered.
This drive is designed for desktop computers, but it can be used as a great external hard drive for Xbox One as well by plugging directly into the USB port. And with 10 TB, you will never have to worry about storage space again.
PROS
- Huge Storage Space
- Super Fast Transfer Speeds
CONS
- Not portable
- Where to Buy
- Warranty
This hard drive comes with a 2-year manufacturer’s limited warranty.
Western Digital 4TB My Book Desktop External Hard Drive
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Features
Here we have another Western Digital hard drive to add to our list. This drive is designed for desktop use with a massive 4TB storage space. It includes automatic backup features, WD software, and Time Machine capabilities. USB 3.0 ensures fast and reliable connectivity.
This hard drive requires a wall charger to be powered and has a distinct, sleek appearance that is a welcome addition to any desktop or entertainment center. Plug it directly into the Xbox One USB port and you’re on your way!
PROS
- Large Storage Space
- Sleek Appearance
- Password Encryption
CONS
- Bulky
- Where to Buy
- Warranty
This drive comes with a 3-year manufacturer’s limited warranty.
Shadow Mini 250GB USB 3.1 External Solid State Drive
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Features
The Shadow Mine external hard drive may be the best external hard drive for Xbox One in its price range. This drive is super small for easy portability but still boasts USB 3.1 capability for efficient connectivity.
This hard drive is housed in an aluminum casing that is durable and resilient to any impact. There are no moving parts on this drive which further ensures its durability and reliability. This drive is perfect for sharing at a friend’s house.
PROS
- Compact
- Durable aluminum casing
- USB 3.1
CONS
- Slow Transfer Speeds
- Where to Buy
- Warranty
This drive comes with a 3-year limited factory warranty.
Seagate Expansion Desktop 8TB External Hard Drive
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Features
The Seagate Expansion Desktop External Hard Drive is an excellent hard drive for a laptop, desktop, or your Xbox One. This drive has USB 3.0 connectivity and 8 TB of storage space. This hard drive was designed specifically to be used with Windows products, so setup is easy with Windows programs, or reformat for Mac.
PROS
- Distinct Design
- USB 3.0
CONS
- Not portable
- Requires reformatting unless used with Windows
- Where to Buy
- Warranty
This drive comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
Western Digital 4TB Black My Passport Portable External Hard Drive
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Features
Western Digital is found once again on our list with their My Passport external hard drive. This drive is compact enough for easy portability and boasts a 4 TB storage capacity. Password protection and automatic backup features ensure you will not lose any important files.
This USB 3.0-capable drive transfers files quickly and also comes with a 3-year limited warranty. You can also choose from a variety of colors, matching your aesthetic at home or on the go.
PROS
- Compact
- Choose from a variety of colors
- USB 3.0
CONS
- Standard enclosure easily damaged
- Where to Buy
- Warranty
This drive carries a 3-year limited warranty.
Seagate Backup Plus Hub 4TB External Hard Drive Desktop
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Features
The Seagate brand finds itself on our list again with the Backup Plus Hub external hard drive. This drive is designed for desktop use, so it is not very portable. One key feature of this drive is the double USB ports; this added functionality makes this drive very efficient if you are transferring files from multiple devices.
PROS
- Double USB Ports
- USB 3.0
- Sleek Design
CONS
- Not Portable
- Where to Buy
- Warranty
This drive comes with a 2-year limited warranty.
The Verdict
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When searching for the best external hard drive for Xbox One to suit your needs, there is a lot to consider. Determining what you use your Xbox for the most will play a huge role in which hard drive you choose. In general, you will want to be sure you will not run out of space and that the drive works efficiently.
For our guide, we want to choose a versatile and affordable external hard drive, so we have chosen the Western Digital My Passport portable hard drive. This drive is small enough for travel and easy to use for pairing with different devices. Western Digital’s backup software seals the deal by ensuring you do not lose any files.
The added style of the Western Digital My Passport is icing on the cake, allowing you to choose from over five different colors. This is our preferred choice for external hard drives, but make an informed decision based on your specific needs.
We hope that our guide has narrowed your choices for the best external hard drive for Xbox One, and that you found it helpful. Thank you for reading and happy shopping!
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