Our 10 Best External Thunderbolt Hard Drives – Top Product Reviwed
It is important to know all about it to make an informed decision when buying a external thunderbolt hard drives. This guide will help you understand how to choose a external thunderbolt hard drives that will meet your needs.
10 external thunderbolt hard drives: Editor Recommended
| # | Preview | Product | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 |
LaCie Mobile Drive 2TB External… |
8.25 |
Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
 |
LaCie d2 Professional 10TB External… |
7.90 |
Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
 |
LaCie Rugged SSD Pro 1TB… |
8.75 |
Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
 |
Thunderbolt 4 Cable, Intel Certified,… |
8.00 |
Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
 |
CalDigit AV Pro 2 Storage… |
9.90 |
Buy on Amazon |
| 6 |
 |
LaCie 1big Dock 16TB External… |
9.45 |
Buy on Amazon |
| 7 |
 |
LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C 2TB… |
8.90 |
Buy on Amazon |
| 8 |
 |
OWC ThunderBay 8 RAID 5… |
9.10 |
Buy on Amazon |
| 9 |
 |
WD 12TB Elements Desktop External… |
9.65 |
Buy on Amazon |
| 10 |
 |
WD_BLACK 5TB P10 Game Drive… |
9.70 |
Buy on Amazon |
10 external thunderbolt hard drives Review:
1. LaCie Mobile Drive 2TB External Hard Drive HDD – Moon Silver USB-C USB 3.0, 3.1 for Mac and PC Computer Desktop Workstation Laptop (STHG2000400)
Features :
- Enjoy 2TB of capacity for photos, playlists, docs, and more
- Use seamlessly with Mac, Windows, USB-C, and USB 3.0
- Back up files with a single click or schedule automatic backups
- Turn footage into flawless productions with one free month of Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps Plan
Additional Info :
| Color | Moon Silver |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 0.39 |
| Width | 3.46 |
| Length | 4.79 |
| Weight | 0.440924524 |
| Release Date | 2019-04-03T00:00:01Z |
2. LaCie d2 Professional 10TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD – USB-C USB 3.0 7200 RPM Enterprise Class Drives, 5 Year Warranty and Recovery Service (STHA10000800)
Features :
- The LaCie d2 Professional is the go to external desktop hard drive for creatives using SSD based laptops or all in one computers with limited storage capacity
- Easily edit and archive projects with 10TB of massive capacity and speeds of upto 240MB/s
- Seamlessly connect to USB C and Thunderbolt 3 computers and enjoy reduced noise and vibration thanks to an aluminum form factor
- Equipped with BarraCuda Pro enterprise class drive for ultimate reliability and performance
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 5.12 |
| Width | 2.36 |
| Length | 7.42 |
| Weight | 3.086 |
| Release Date | 2018-09-24T00:00:01Z |
3. LaCie Rugged SSD Pro 1TB Solid State Drive — USB-C Thunderbolt 3, Drop Shock Dust Water Resistant, for Mac and PC Computer Desktop Laptop, 1 Mo Adobe CC (STHZ1000800)
Features :
- Harness top Thunderbolt 3 speeds with the 1TB Seagate FireCuda NV Me SSD for playback/recording of up to 2800MB/s on 6K, 8K, and super so-so video
- Tackle any terrain with extreme IP67-rated water resistance, three-meter drop tolerance, two-ton car crush resistance, and dust resistance in a palm-sized external SSD Drive
- Includes a Thunderbolt 3 cable for easy connectivity with USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 on both Mac and Windows computers
- Take advantage of a one-month complimentary membership to Adobe creative cloud all apps plan for access to awesome photo and video editing apps
- Enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included five-year limited product protection plan featuring Rescue Data Recovery services
Additional Info :
| Color | Black |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 0.67 |
| Width | 2.56 |
| Length | 3.85 |
| Weight | 0.220462262 |
| Release Date | 2019-09-10T00:00:01Z |
4. Thunderbolt 4 Cable, Intel Certified, Maxonar Thunderbolt 4 Cable 40Gbps with 8K Display and 100W Charging Compatible with Thunderbolt 4 Docking Stations, Hard Drives, External SSD, eGpu (2.6Ft)
Features :
- [Certified for All] Maxonar Thunderbolt 4 Cable is Certified by Intel Thunderbolt. It compatible with Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB4, USB C devices.
- [Go at Super Speed] Transfers 5GB file in a second. Up to 40Gbps data transfer speed lets you transfer movies, videos, music, pictures in a second. PCIe data transfer speed achieves 3000MB/s.
- [Astonishing 8K Video Output] Supports Single 8K/5K crystal-clear UHD display and dual 4K display. Maxonar Thunderbolt 4 Cable provides high-resolution videos and the best visual experience of ultra high definition.
- [Power Your Device Quickly] With power delivery up to 100W (20V/5A). Less time charging, more time for you.
- [Reliable 5 Years Warranty] Ensure 100% reliability and complete satisfaction. You can contact us with your problem, and our support team will solve it in 24-hour.
Additional Info :
| Color | Black |
5. CalDigit AV Pro 2 Storage Hub USB C 5Gb/s External Drive Enclosure Kit – Charge up to 30W, 2016 MacBook, MacBook Pro, Thunderbolt 3 PC Compatible (0TB – Enclosure Kit)
Features :
- Due to popular demand, this is the first CalDigit storage product to allow customers to install their own HDD or SSDs to suit dynamic needs from each individual
- Features two additional USB 3.1 5Gb/s Type A hub ports to connect additional USB devices
- Newly designed Drive Module tray to accommodate both 3.5″ and 2.5″ HDDs/SSDs. Removable drive module design for easy replacement and upgrades. Additional replacement drive kits are available
- In the box: AVPro2, newly designed universal drive tray with 2.5″ and 3.5″ Phillips screws (5 of each), drive module key, stand, power supply unit (PSU), and power cord
- Blazing transfer speeds using the USB-C 3.1 5Gb/s interface and power delivery up to 30 watts for laptop charging, Compatible with 2016 Macbook, Macbook Pro, Thunderbolt 3 PCs, and any computer using standard USB A ports
Additional Info :
6. LaCie 1big Dock 16TB External Hard Drive HDD Docking Station – Thunderbolt 3 USB 3.1 USB 3.0 7200 RPM Enterprise Class Drives, for Mac and PC Desktop, Data Recovery (STHS16000800)
Features :
- 1big Dock is an external hard drive and laptop docking station for filmmakers looking to centralize their desktop peripherals and store a massive portfolio of work with high-performance Thunderbolt 3 technology
- Get 5-in-1 docking power with a built-in USB hub and charging station featuring CF and SD card reader slots, a DisplayPort 1. 4 output, and dual Thunderbolt 3 ports for daisy chaining with universal USB compatibility
- Enjoy best-in-class speed and reliability with a Seagate IronWolf Pro HDD for the most intensive film projects
- Charge a USB-C Mac or other laptop with up to 45W of power through Thunderbolt 3 (up to 30W when daisy chaining other devices)—and even up to 85W of power pass through when using a laptop’s power supply
- For long-term peace of mind, 1big Dock includes a five-year product with Rescue Data Recovery Services
Additional Info :
| Color | Black |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 8.54 |
| Width | 4.65 |
| Length | 2.22 |
| Weight | 2.22 |
| Release Date | 2020-06-16T00:00:01Z |
7. LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C 2TB 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 (STFS2000800)
Features :
- Enjoy high-speed file transfers and extreme in-field durability with Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C, an external hard drive
- For those who have a need for speed, transfer files with speeds of up to 130MB/s using the integrated Thunderbolt cable that seamlessly wraps around the enclosure when not in use
- Trek confidently with a portable external hard drive that’s drop, dust, and water resistant
- Includes a one-month complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps Plan for access to awesome photo and video editing apps
- Enjoy long-term peace of mind with an included three-year limited warranty protection plan and Rescue Data Recovery services
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 5.516 |
| Width | 3.5 |
| Length | 0.984 |
| Weight | 0.882 |
8. OWC ThunderBay 8 RAID 5 Edition 8-Bay External Drive w/Dual Thunderbolt 3 Ports
Features :
- Eight universal 2.5 or 3.5-inch SSDs/HDDs drive bays w/ Dual Thunderbolt 3 ports (Thunderbolt 2/Thunderbolt backward compatible)
- Daisy-chain six units together for up to 768TB of storage capacity or five additional Thunderbolt devices with second Thunderbolt 3 port
- DisplayPort 1.2 for connecting up to a 4K display
- No drivers needed and includes Thunderbolt 3 cable
- Thunderbolt certified for Mac and Windows w/ Up to 3 Year OWC Limited Warranty
Additional Info :
| Color | RAID 5 HDD |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 14.566929119 |
| Width | 14.960629906 |
| Length | 12.598425184 |
| Weight | 16.2 |
9. WD 12TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 external hard drive for plug-and-play storage – WDBWLG0120HBK-NESN
Features :
- High-capacity add-on storage
- Fast data transfers
- Plug-and-play ready for Windows PCs
- WD quality inside and out
Additional Info :
| Color | Black |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 6.53 |
| Width | 1.89 |
| Length | 5.31 |
| Weight | 2.72 |
| Release Date | 2019-09-17T00:00:01Z |
10. WD_BLACK 5TB P10 Game Drive – Portable External Hard Drive HDD, Compatible with Playstation, Xbox, PC, & Mac – WDBA3A0050BBK-WESN
Features :
- Available in capacities up to 5TB that can hold up to 125 games, so that you can save old favorites and still have room for new titles (As used for storage capacity, one terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes. Total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment. Number of games based on a 36GB average per game. The number of games will vary based on file size, formatting, other programs, and factors.)
- Comes with an 18-inch (457mm) USB Type-A to Micro-B cable with SuperSpeed interface up to 5Gbps (Cable length may vary.)
- Compatible with Xbox Series X/S (play and store Xbox One games, archive Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S games) and PlayStation 5 (play and store PS4 games, archive PS5 games) consoles
- Portable form factor with sleek metal top covering that provides fast access to your growing game library
- Premium HDD with 3-year limited warranty, purpose-built for gamers based on WD_BLACK quality and reliability
Additional Info :
| Color | Black |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 0.82 |
| Width | 3.46 |
| Length | 4.65 |
| Weight | 0.51 |
| Release Date | 2019-08-20T00:00:01Z |
How To Choose Your external thunderbolt hard drives
If you want to purchase products like the external thunderbolt hard drives, you need to follow a buying guide. Some features need to tick your product before buying. Let’s take a look at them:
- Price: Online purchase has been renowned for offering items at the best possible prices. As such places have networks with many dealers and manufacturers, sellers offer the best deals. Moreover, there are no intermediaries, which lessens the additional costs.
- Reliability: As online stores portray customer reviews, purchasing them boosts reliability. If faced with any defect, there is a scope for you to change. Some stores have excellent customer service, pushing you to buy from there.
- Convenience: Who does not love convenience? Having everything as per your wish is something to die for. Buying a product from an online store is such. You do not have to worry about the time, the place, or the crowd. Everything happens when you want it and how you want it.
- Functionality: Check out your external thunderbolt hard drives functionality when you buy it. An easy way to do that would be to check the specs. Remember, the more vast the specs, the greater your product’s functionality.
What to look for when buying the external thunderbolt hard drives?
The products in the market are manifold. The variety of products is so high that it may be confusing to choose the right one for you. This is why we have created this guide for you to help you pick the right external thunderbolt hard drives easily.
1. The authenticity of the Online Shop Website
I did mention earlier that shopping online is very convenient yet it’s tough to know whether the shop is genuine. Everyone can seem to create an online shop with a couple of photos and prices just to be seen as legitimate. To know whether it’s genuine, make sure to look for the following:
- Contact Details — make sure to contact them first before buying to ensure that there would be someone to attend to you and you can understand further about their service.
- Website Layout – browse and feel if the site looks professional. How’s the quality of the images and more, that you can potentially find from the content of the website itself.
- Website Encryption — when buying from a secure website, you’ll always see the following in the address bar:
The padlock icon in the URL bar and the “s” in the “https://” means that your communication within the website and your computer are secured and encrypted online transactions.
2. Product Details
There are many important factors that you always have to look at. Especially if it’s something, you’re going to wear or even consume. It can be material type, ingredients, benefits, sizes, etc. The more product details, the better.
3. Compare Prices of Similar Products
If you’re not a frequent online shopper, you might find few items with good deals. But don’t let these deals trap you, do make sure to compare prices first of the similar products to other online shops. With so many online shops offering the same items, you’ll be shocked that some of them sell at a higher price than they are supposed to. There are so many websites out there that can help you check and compare prices.
4. Returns, Cancellations, and Refunds Policies
It is a very important part to know when buying items online. It’s good to know how the company handles returns or cancellations of items and whether there would be any refunds in any case. Purchasing online will always be risky because we usually cannot verify the quality of the items. Therefore, having the knowledge if there would be a refund will be a great point to consider if the items won’t be the same as expected.
5. Shipping
While online shopping has made it easier for us to purchase anything we want worldwide, sometimes it can also be tricky. Say the shipping, if we bought it locally – usually will only take a few days but if we bought it from the international shop – then likely we have to wait for more than weeks, which I believe we don’t have an issue with that especially if we’re informed for the estimated delivery date. But it’s a matter of what if they ship it to the wrong address or there would be a longer wait than expected. Another thing that we’re also particular with especially buying international items would be the shipping fee – most of us don’t mind buying more to get free shipping. And there are just some of the online shops’ techniques to encourage customers to buy more and think that we’re saving money for the shipping fee. Lastly not to forget to have the tracking number of monitoring the progress of the delivery of your item.
6. Secured Payment Method
this is the most crucial part when purchasing online; sharing your credit/debit card details. Options to pay via credit card, debit card, and Paypal or other Third-Party payments are considered secure. Also, try not to make any online purchase when using public wi-fi or mobile apps connected to a public hotspot – it can be potentially easy for hackers to steal your information.
7. Be alert for Scams and Fraud
This never-ending story through calls, emails, and even contacting us through social media for these people to try to steal our information. Be wary and do necessary actions if you think you’ve encountered these tactics. Don’t open any suspicious links, don’t easily provide your particulars over the phone, make sure to ask a couple of questions to verify whether the call is not a fraud/scam. Check the person’s identity through other social media accounts if he/she exists. If you experience scamming, make sure to call your bank and police if needed. And do check your bank statement often, especially if you frequently buy online.
8. Customer Reviews
Finally, to check the reviews. How can we know that the reviews are not fake ones? Thanks to social media, these online shops nowadays have their social media accounts. That’s the best place to try to contact them and view more real/organic customer reviews. This is also perfect for reaching out to those who tagged the shop and understanding their experience. On that, you’ll have a more secure feeling before buying items online.