The Best Mac External Hard Drive and SSD Deals This Week. WD Elements 8TB Desktop External USB 3.0 Hard Drive — $144.99 (List Price $179.99) WD Elements 4TB USB 3.0 Portable Drive — $89.99 (List. Xbox One X users, as well, would be wise to invest in an external drive as a way of augmenting the console's measly 1TB hard drive (the external drive needs to be USB 3.0-compatible and will be. After a new round of testing hard drives in 2020, we found that the 2 TB Seagate Backup Plus Slim is still the best portable hard drive for most people. The Best External Optical Drives for DVDs. WD My Passport For Mac (Best Overall) The Western Digital 2TB My Passport For Mac is the perfect. In the case of an external hard drive, the drive itself is stored inside an enclosure that includes the proper ports for connecting it to your Mac. Most external hard drives connect to a Mac either through the USB port, or through the Mac's Thunderbolt port, and thus will likely come with the appropriate cable.
Last Updated on November 2, 2020 by
If you are fond of taking lots of videos or photos with your mobile or tablet device, then you need a high quality external hard drive data storage to backup & protect your data. This is necessary if you don't want to lose your media from the device stolen, broken, or dipped in the sea.
Rather than wired external hard drives that you always require to plug into a PC to access files, the best wireless storage drives to store your data in a far more convenient way. As you don't require to keep plugging and unplugging the hard drive from your PC.
You can use a cordless hard drive with other devices that don't traditionally connect to an external drive such as smartphones and tablets. If you require large data storage, It seems a very good idea to buy a wireless and portable Bluetooth external drive.
These wireless hard drives are accompanied by dedicated applications for linking it over Wi-Fi smart devices & you can have full access through all your beloved media files without wasting much of your time.
You also get the ease of linking these gadgets to your desktop of computers and then enjoy the users just like the common external hard drives used with wired connections. If there is an issue with the connectivity over the Wi-Fi and the alternate option is also available for using a USB cable for the connection.
Finding a suitable wireless hard drive on the market can be a difficult task. So, we've created this guide for you to help you pick the best Bluetooth external hard drive for you.
10 Best Wireless External Hard Drive With Bluetooth in 2020
Wireless connections aren't as fast as a wired connection, especially if you use a USB Type-C connection, however, the best wireless drives have fast data transfer speeds that mean you shouldn't have to wait too long to transfer big media files.
Before buying these Bluetooth storage drives you should be well aware of the features of wireless hard drives and what to look at when doing comparisons between different hard drives. You can use these tips to evaluate any wireless hard drive you find out there, even if it isn't already on our list.
Jump to What to Look at When Buying a Wireless Hard Drive
1. Apple Time Capsule
Apple Time Capsule is one of the best ways to back up your precious files. Setting up this wireless hard drive is done very easily for a Mac computer as the unit is designed to work seamlessly with Time Machine in OS X Leopard. Initially, after setting it up, you can save every photo, song, or any other kind of file with the right setting and you will never again have to worry about losing precious stuff.
This drive works quickly and efficiently with a time machine in OSX, so you can wirelessly back up your important media to a very large 2TB or 3TB drive. Helpfully, you also get more channel bandwidth for better data flow. Due to the fact that it's able to transmit at two frequencies at the same time (2.4 GHz and 5GHz), it will have the best device available which means that you'll always enjoy the benefits from the best performance.
Moreover, the antenna array of this wireless hard drive has an intelligent beamforming system that sets itself apart from competitors. It specifically targets the signal to it to make sure that you get a stronger and clearer Wi-Fi signal. The Apple Time Capsule may be a perfect choice for users who want a premium wireless hard drive. It offers a high level of quality you're used to with Apple products and also an amazing level of performance.
Pros:
- Super compact
- Small footprint
- Aesthetically attractive
- Supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi
- Fast performance
- Excellent backup file server
Cons:
- Not a perfect home network if you need added features
- Does not allow you to do media streaming
2. Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB Portable External Hard Drive
The Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB Portable External Hard Drive is one of the powerful devices that comes with 1TB capacity and allows you to access your favorite content wirelessly. This external drive can act as a great method for all of your storing needs without constantly having to rely on cables. It allows you to manage your files, share them with others and make quick back-ups. This wireless hard drive can act as a central storage unit for all of your mobile devices.
You can use the ability of this device to wirelessly cast files like pictures and movies to an HDTV by using the Cast Ready app from Google. When you're at home, just sit back and control everything more comfortably by using the smartphone or a tablet. Another important feature is the Internet Pass-Through Mode which lets you simultaneously gain access to the drive and the Internet which is very convenient.
The Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB Portable External Hard Drive is a satisfactory wireless hard drive for quite fair money. It performs nicely with lots of iOS and Android devices as well as the more recent versions of Windows and Mac OS. It has some solid features overall so it can be an ideal solution for many users despite the Wi-Fi performance issues.
Pros:
- Low price point
- SD port
- USB 3.0 port
- Simple to use
Cons:
- Streaming content is quite slow to start
- Delays while going from one folder to another, or using certain functions
3. Western Digital My Passport
The Western Digital My Passport can be a good solution for backup though the performance is not amazing. The first thing that is noticeable about this model is that it has a built-in battery so it can work as a powerful power bank thanks to its 6400 mAh capacity. It lets you charge your smartphone or other USB devices using its external battery. The battery life is quite impressive considering that it offers you to use the drive continuously for about 10 hours.
This wireless drive comes with a lot of capacity options so you can go for 1, 2, 3, or 4 TB of storage space. Backing up your data can be done more conveniently on a wireless device, though the performance is affected somewhat. If you want to transfer very large media more easily, there's always a possibility to use a USB 3.0 port. It's SD 3.0 card reader offers you to transfer media directly from an SD card of a camera without the need for an intermediary like a computer.
If media streaming is an important reason then this external drive plays nice with a Plex Media Server so you can stream your favorite content wirelessly to any supported device such as a smart TV for example. While the Western Digital My Passport has some flaws, such as poor performance in certain cases and a few reliability issues, the drive can be an excellent travel companion due to its portability.
Pros:
- Good performance
- Striking looks
- Lots of bundled software
Cons:
- Sharp corners and edges
- Not significantly better than other lower-priced models
4. WD 4TB My Passport Wireless Pro Portable External Hard Drive
The WD 4TB My Passport Wireless Pro Portable External Hard Drive is another best device in the list of the best wireless hard drives and breaking free from wires can have a truly liberating effect. This drive is capable of creating a personal network where you can stream your media to your favorite devices. You can access all of your files without the need to search for Internet hotspots or having to rely on messy wires. You can connect up to seven Wi-Fi enabled devices such as smartphones and tablets and share a single connection. Also, you can easily access your cloud files from Dropbox and Google Drive.
This model of hard drive finds a good balance between portability and storage capacity. The best thing is its free Seagate Media app navigating through your media library which is available for both Android and iOS devices as well as for Kindle Fire and Windows 8.
However, the Seagate Wireless Plus is a solid device but sometimes App doesn't allow for the best streaming experience for Apple devices. This wireless device can be a good option but it depends on your particular needs.
Pros:
- USM connector
- Large capacity wireless storage for iOS devices, Kindle Fire, and Android
- Works with smart TVs and DLNA devices
Cons:
- Easily misplaced USM port cover
Best External Wireless Hard Drive
5. LaCie Fuel
LaCie is a company that has made LaCie Fuel that is the company's first attempt at a Wi-Fi drive. The Fuel hard drive acts like a bog standard portable hard drive when tethered to a laptop.
LaCie is popular for making good-looking devices, and the Fuel is certainly eye-catching, with a square design and modular design. It offers a decent 10-hour battery life, which is essential if you want to use it wirelessly. It uses Seagate's free media app that allows you to stream content on the drive to compatible devices, such as smartphones.
Pros:
- Multiple users can connect at once
- Dropbox integration
- Attractive, solid design
Cons:
- Apps need more modern UI
6. Asus Wireless DUO
Asus is the company that makes great laptops, monitors, gaming components and also got a fantastic wireless drive with the Asus Travelair N. It comes with 1TB of capacity and a built-in 3300 mAh battery that provides up to 8 hours of streaming time. The Asus Travelair offers water and dust-resistant design which keeps your data protected while you're out and about.
Moreover, you can connect up to 5 devices at once to access the data on the drive. With this drive, sharing is simple thanks to the proprietary AI Drive software, while NFC-capability makes for simple, one-touch connectivity and an SD card slot for quickly and easily backing up photos. Grab tool mac.
Pros:
- USB 3.0 and Wireless connectivity
- Built-in 3300 mAh battery
- Integrated SD card reader
- Splash and Spill-proof (IP43)
- One-touch NFC
- Android and iOS support
Cons:
- Performance dipped under the 100MB/s mark on several occasions
- SD slot cover can't be closed with an inserted card
7. Seagate GoFlex Satellite
The Seagate GoFlex Satellite is a quite trustworthy digital unit from a respected storage manufacturer. The whole family will be able to enjoy your media library on long plane or car trips. The drive creates its own local hotspot that you can connect with any device sporting a Web browser to view all type of media stored on the drive. Seagate also offers dedicated GoFlex Media clients for Android and iOS devices. The battery life of Satellite Mobile Wireless is about 7 hours, according to Seagate.
It's easy to load up thanks to the Satellite's powerful software that comes with it. The software is the aforementioned Web portal, plus a PC-based utility that allows you to register the drive across the Internet. Moreover providing access to music, video, photos, and documents, the Satellite also lets you define a password, reset the drive, and more. You can download Seagate's Media Sync application and can transfer files to the Satellite for you as well as optionally filter out those not playable on Apple products.
Pros:
- 500GB capacity to hold very large media collections
- Fast USB 3.0 transfer speeds
- Multiple charging options included
- The battery gives up to five hours in use
Cons:
- Larger footprint than flash-based solutions
Wireless External Hard Drives
8. RAVPower FileHub Plus
RAVPower FileHub Plus comes with many connectivity options and solid battery life, all in a very compact package. Up to 5 mobile devices can all connect at the same time and you can stream media from USB or SD drives, or you can share files directly between two storage devices. This wireless hard drive is able to perform quickly in a situation where you want to share files more easily. Several files like videos and photos can be cordlessly streamed but there's also an option to share through a secure local Wi-Fi network.
This unit is also a Chromecast-friendly so you can easily play videos or music from a connected USB storage device to a bigger screen. It's compatible with USB hard drives of maximum 4TB of capacity and can play media from SD/SDHC/SDXC cards that don't have capacities larger than 256GB.
You also consider that you can use the RAVPower FileHub Plus as a power bank with a battery capacity of 6000 mAh, the price is also affordable for such a convenient device. There are many other features for the money that make this device a perfect pick for on-the-go file sharing, backup, and streaming.
Pros:
- File transfer works with all of the formats
- The built-in battery allows to backup an SD card as soon as
- Small and lightweight
- Cheap
- Additional functionalities like being a WiFi router
Cons:
- Streaming video from the SSD is quite slow with the built-in WiFi
- File transfer works with all of the formats
- The built-in battery allows to backup an SD card as soon as
- Small and lightweight
- Cheap
- Additional functionalities like being a WiFi router
Cons:
- Streaming video from the SSD is quite slow with the built-in WiFi
9. iRecadata Solid State
The iRecadata Solid State is among the most popular and reliable choices around. As a unique external SSD that's WiFi extender for wireless access of files through your phone, iRecadata SSD is a great choice for backing up your photos and videos, similar to the performance of an internal SSD. A slim designed with a 2250 mAh battery so it has its own power, similar to that of a power bank and its USB 3.1 compatibility offers you to utilize the high speed of NAND flash.
With a fast data transfer speed (read speed of 250 m/s and a write speed of 200 m/s), this wireless SSD device has up to 128 GB of space so you can store important media while acting as an emergency power bank and mini-server at home or at the campsite. Also, capable of air sharing OTG for media streaming to your TV. You can keep your documents and files and use the wireless sync storage through the iRecadata app. Moreover, this unit will also work as a WiFi repeater so you can use it for your smartphones and tablets.
Pros:
- Fast performance
- Excellent backup file server
Cons:
- A bit Expensive
10. Emtec P700
The rugged Emtec P700, part of Emtec's Connect series of wireless storage products. It makes wireless backup simple using with available capacity of 1TB or 2TB. This device comes with 3000mAh Lithium-ion battery and 802.11b/g/n antenna inside.
It has no problem connecting to multiple devices at once, the 100Mbit RJ45 and USB 3.0 ports are also included for connecting the drive to an existing Ethernet router, Mac, or PC. If you operate it with an active internet connection, it can serve as a private Wi-Fi router in any public place. It'll need a software like Paragon's NTFS for Mac OS X to write to the drive as well, but with an average of 134MB per second, transfer speeds were impressive.
Pros:
- USB 3.0 port
- 3000mAh Lithium-ion battery
- Works with smart TVs and DLNA devices
- Multi-user support
Cons:
- Expensive
- Requires custom app
Before you get impressed with these features of different hard drives and decide to get your hands on these phenomenal devices with wireless connectivity, there are quite a few tips to consider any wireless hard drive. They have been listed below for your convenience, let's check them out:
What to Look at When Buying a Wireless Hard Drive
Passthrough
Passthrough technology lets you stay connected to your Wi-Fi network while the pairing with the hard drive is done. It's primarily like being connected to two networks simultaneously. Your wireless hard drive can search the local Wi-Fi network and automatically connect to it. It will also act as a bridge so, for example, if you connect it to your smartphone and then have the hard drive connected to the router, your phone gets Internet access.
Battery
If you think about portability then battery life is definitely the main factor to consider for any wireless hard drives. A good place to look at and get an idea about the battery's capability is for how long it can continuously perform. This number is generally between four and five hours, so try to aim for that value. Also, many drives can serve as power banks, recharging your mobile gadgets of the drive battery.
Weigh the Raw Capacity
Any of these hard drives that utilize an internal platter mechanism will cost less per gigabyte than one based on flash memory. You'll need to do the math on the cost per gigabyte on any drive (total capacity in gigabytes, divided by the cost in dollars) that you are considering to assess the relative value.
Look at the Software Interface
The app aspect of the wireless drive will differ depending on the operating system (iOS versus Android), and some experiences are better than others. You'll need to look at the particulars, expect that many users when connecting one of these drives to a laptop or desktop, will use the wired connection and manage the media of the drive using Windows Explorer or the macOS file manager.
Know the Maximum Connectable Devices
Wireless hard drives vary in terms of how many tablets or other smartphone devices you can connect to, or stream from, them at any particular time. If you have intended to stream different media to a host of kid-controlled tablets in the family minivan, pay attention to this. Also, consider the type of media you are streaming can affect the smoothness of playback.
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