The Playstation 4 has managed to not only cover nearly a decade of lifespan, but it is also still getting a lot of attention since the new generation of consoles is not accessible to everyone. In case you also recently bought a console and looking to extend its storage capacity, you should invest in a decent external hard drive that has the following features:
Storage Capacity: The only job of an external hard drive is to store data. Thus, the storage capacity of a drive is its most important parameter. A larger external hard drive might come at an expensive price tag, but it will allow you to install more games at once.
Transfer Speeds: The transfer speed of an external hard drive affects both, the data transfer rate as well as the gaming performance of the drive. If the transfer speed is slow, the game files will take longer to appear on the screen which will introduce a lot of lag and stutters in your gaming performance. USB Interface: Unlike desktop computers or laptops, the games installed on an external hard drive are accessed through the USB interface. Thus, a faster USB interface is crucial to minimize the loading times of the game. It will also help you reduce the general lag and stutters in the game as well.
External hard drives are probably the most common USB storage peripheral in the industry after flash drives. Thus, there are hundreds of different options available that are designed and developed by numerous brands. You will also find a lot of decent options coming from a brand that you might not have heard of before. Therefore, you may miss out on a great deal. To avoid that, we are bringing you the best PS4 external hard drives right here with all the information you need before selecting one. There is also a “Buying Guide” available later in the article to help you with your selection.
Best PS4 External Hard Drive 2023
Best PS4 External Hard Drive Reviews
1. Western Digital PS4 External Hard Drive
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Now that we have concluded the unfamiliar and fresh brands in the market, let’s talk about the most popular name on the globe when it comes to storage drives. Western Digital is one of the few drives that you will find almost everywhere with large positive feedback from its users. The WD Elements Portable External Hard Drive HDD is one of their top models for external hard drives that features 2 TB of storage space that should be completely future proof for almost everyone. It can be accessed via both USB 2.0 as well as USB 3.0 connections. The drive allows a high-speed data transfer for PC thanks to its NTFS file system. But, you might have to reconfigure the device one before setting it up with your PS4. After that, you can expect up to 1 Gbps transfer speed from this drive that will eliminate lag and stutter in your games. The WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive HDD is backed by 2 years of warranty from WD which is sufficient for its price point. Best Features:
2 TB storage capacity USB 3.0 connectivity 5 inches form factor Compatible with PC & MAC out of the box Popular brand name Positive user feedback 3 years warranty period
Pros:
A trusted brand for thousands of users Compatible with old and new hardware Up to 1 Gbps transfer speed
Cons:
Might need to reformat the drive
2. Seagate PS4 External Hard Drive
Coming in the last place is the most premium choice from our picks which is coming from yet another popular brand, Seagate. The Seagate Game Drive is the only choice for you if you are one of the hardcore gamers and have a large game library of 25 to 30 PS4 games. Even if you are willing to expand your game library in the future, this 4 TB drive is the best option for you. Even with such a high capacity, Seagate promises almost zero performance issues while gaming directly from the installed games on the drive. The drive directly operates from the provided USB 3.0 connection so you will not be needing a power cable of any sort to power the external hard drive. One of the great features of this device is its astounding looks that go well with that of the PS4. Thus, it will be a great addition to your collection of devices. Unfortunately, Seagate only provides a year of warranty on this drive even with such a premium price tag. Best Features:
4 TB storage capacity USB 3.0 connectivity Familiar brand name Best storage capacity in this class Suitable design aspect for PS4 1 year warranty period
Pros:
Perfect choice for hardcore gaming fans Can store more than 20 games at once zero performance issues while gaming
Cons:
The warranty period is very short
3. Maxone PS4 External Hard Drive
Coming to the premium lineup of best external hard drives for PS4, we have one of the most attractive external hard drives that will serve well as extended storage for your PS4. The Maxone Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive surely stands up to its ultra-slim tag with a thickness of only 0.39 inches. This will allow you to put the drive even in your pocket while you are out. In such a compact form factor, it brings 2 TB of storage capacity which is ideal for PS4. Even though the drive is slim, you should not doubt its build quality as it has a strong aluminum body that provides scratch resistance on the surface as well as avoids impact damages. This can be a reliable drive for all your gaming needs whether you are using an Xbox One, PS4, PS4 Pro, or all of them. It is also compatible with Windows and Mac OS devices with v10.6.5 and above that adds up to its versatility. The Maxone 2TB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive is one of the most reliable options on our list as it has a long 3 year warranty period. Best Features:
2 TB storage capacity USB 3.0 connectivity 5 inches form factor Premium external hard drive 39 inches thickness Strong Aluminum body 3 years warranty period
Pros:
Build quality is very strong Storage capacity is suitable for future use One of the slimmest external drives
Cons:
Expensive external hard drive
4. Sonnics PS4 External Hard Drive
If you want an affordable choice for a PS4 external hard drive, then Sonnics is bringing you the cheapest option from our picks. Within a very cheap price tag, you can get your hands on the Sonnics Grey External Pocket Hard Drive that has a 320 GB storage capacity. While it may be affordable, it has blazing-fast data transfer speed up to 5 Gbps thanks to the USB 3.0 interface. On top of that, it is a very slim, lightweight, and portable hard drive. It is also backward compatible with the USB 2.0 interface. Thus, allowing direct storage compatibility with older generations of consoles and desktops. And with the FAT32 storage format, it is detected by all popular operating systems such as Windows, Mac, and Linux. The best part about this drive is that you will be getting a 1 year warranty period from Sonnics which should be praised at such a low price tag. Best Features:
320 GB storage capacity USB 3.0 connectivity 5 inches form factor Up to 5 Gbps transfer speed Most affordable choice Backward compatible with USB 2.0 1 year warranty period
Pros:
A great choice for casual gamers Transfer speed is very high Suitable for new as well as old-gen consoles
Cons:
The warranty period is short
5. MegaZ PS4 External Hard Drive
Our 1st pick for today’s article is coming from quite a familiar brand name. The MegaZ Backup Slim Portable HDD comes in the standard 2.5 inches form factor and features a large 1 TB storage capacity. This hard drive is compatible with many other systems apart from PS4 such as desktop computers, laptops, MAC, and even Xbox consoles. It is equipped with the universal USB 3.0 connectivity so that it makes it possible to download and install games at a blazing speed. You will not be needing any external software for this to work as it is a simple plug and play type of hard drive. Also, it is quite slim in design with a thickness of just 1 cm. Although, there is a sturdy and compact case that prevents the drive from accidental damage while providing you a comfortable grip on the drive. The default cable for this drive is 19 inches long and the product has a long 3 years of warranty period which is the best you can find in external hard drives. Best Features:
1 TB storage capacity USB 3.0 connectivity 5 inches form factor Compatible with PC, MAC, Xbox, PS4 out of the box 1 cm thickness 19 inches cable length 3 years warranty period
Pros:
Decent storage capacity Fast transfer speeds Long warranty period
Cons:
Build quality could be better
6. Suhsai PS4 External Hard Drive
1 TB of storage capacity seems to be enough for a lot of casual console owners that simply want to keep 5 to 10 games on their consoles at a time. Sushi is bringing a decent solution for the community with their 1 TB Suhsai External Hard Drive. With the first look, you can conclude that this drive is not simply designed for gaming. Instead, it has an attractive yet subtle design that makes it perfect for portable use. The 2 cm thickness adds up to the portability of this device. The Suhsai External Hard Drive comes with a USB 3.0 interface to make the data transfer speed faster and more reliable. It makes it perfectly compatible with all your devices whether it is a PS4, PC, laptop, Mac, or smart TV. All you have to do is unbox the drive and plug it into your console and you are good to go. If you are a student, you can have multiple applications for this drive as you can also use it to backup all your important data. Best Features:
1 TB storage capacity USB 3.0 connectivity 5 inches form factor Attractive design 2 cm drive thickness Plug and play external drive
Pros:
Storage capacity is sufficient for most users No primary setup required Versatile in application
Cons:
The warranty period is not specifies
7. NRICO PS4 External Hard Drive
Newer brands in the market are not a bad choice if you want to get a reliable option under an affordable price range. Nrico is one such name when it comes to external hard drives for PS4 and other similar consoles. NRICO Portable External Hard Drive features a 500 GB capacity which is great to have without spending a lot like most other options on the market. Also, it features a long 3 year warranty period as seen in our previous pick, which is quite great. Although, Nrico has shielded this external drive with a complete metal outer body that eliminates the possibility of external damage by any means. Also, it provides the driver a shiny finish on the outer surface that goes well with the 2.5 inches compact form factor. By default, the drive has an exFAT file system that is supported by Windows and Mac devices. But, you can reformat the drive before installing your games to make it compatible with your preferred hardware. You will find a detailed user manual in the package along with the hard drive and assurance for at least 3 years after the purchase. Best Features:
500 GB storage capacity USB 3.0 connectivity 5 inches form factor Compatible with PC & MAC out of the box Metal outer body Shiny finish on the drive 3 years warranty period
Pros:
Great external drive for outdoor usage Suitable option for entry-level gamers The warranty period is very long
Cons:
Primary setup is required
Buying Guide For The Best PS4 External Hard Drive
Unlike the newer generation of consoles, the PS4 requires external hard drives in case you want to extend the storage capacity of your console. This extended capacity will allow you to install more games on your console at once and play the selection as you desire. It makes more sense than ever for the current generation of games that usually arrive in large-sized packages and take nearly 100 GB of space at once. If you want to get the perfect external drive for your PS$, take a look at our buying guide for the best external hard drives provided here. Here, we will talk about some things to keep in mind while buying an external hard drive for PS4.
1. Storage Capacity
The storage capacity is probably the first thing you need to check before buying an external hard drive for your PS4. You can simply calculate the required storage capacity for your usage by checking out the number of games you own and the games you want in your console at once. Simply add the game sizes and select a drive that suits your requirement. Although, we will suggest you go at least 200 GB above your requirement to keep space for game updates.
2. Transfer Speeds
You might be thinking that the transfer speed of an external hard drive only affects the data transfer rate of the device. But, you should know that it also impacts your overall gaming performance as the game constantly reads data from the drive to render various textures and elements in the game. For optimal performance, you will require a higher count on random read/write speed of an external hard drive for PS4.
3. Durability
The storage drives are quite delicate in nature and their internal circuitry can be easily damaged upon impact. To avoid that you would need a tough shell on the outside of the drive so that the damage can be prevented. In regular use, you will often face minor incidents with the external hard drive, especially if you are planning to use it outdoors for various other applications. In such a case, a metal outer frame on the drive should be preferred as it can be a crucial factor as compared to regular plastic shell drives.
4. Portability
When it comes to an external drive, there will be a lot of applications that are suitable for such a device. You can either use the external hard drive as a standalone storage module in your local network. Or, you can use the drive in your setup and extend the usable storage capacity substantially. For both cases, a small and portable hard drive is always a better option as you can easily set it up on a small space over your desk. As for outdoor usage, portable drives are quite easier to carry and you can also fit the smaller drives in your backpack or pockets.
5. Security
The security of an external hard drive is a major concern for those who are going to store essential and personal data on an external drive. In case of games and other entertainment files, you can always get back on the internet and download another copy. But for personal data, the data loss can be crucial and might cause financial damage. To avoid that, you should take a look at encrypted hard drives that offer password protection to the data. While software-based protection can be added to any drive, hardware-based protection is quite rare and only available in special drives that are designed for official usage.
6. Compatibility
The compatibility of an external hard drive refers to its file system. Generally, there are common file systems that are supported by a majority of systems such as FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS. To change the file system on an external hard drive, you will have to format the drive completely. In most cases, the external hard drives have the compatible file system suitable for desktop computers and laptops. Therefore, you should check whether the hard drive is suitable for your console or not before transferring data to the drive. The best way is to plug the hard drive in your console before making any changes to ensure the compatibility.
7. Gaming
If you are looking for an external hard drive specifically for your console, then there is a high chance that you will be using it for gaming most of the time. For such an application, you will be needing a better hard drive than the average options available in the market. You will have to carefully sort through many different options and consider those that offer a better USB interface, high transfer speeds, and sufficient storage capacity for high-end AAA game titles. If you have an older gen console, you can prefer a USB 3.0 or USB 3.1 external hard drive for gaming. In case of the new-gen consoles, you must have a type C USB port which is considerably better for gaming and high-speed data transfer.
8. Extra Features
Now that we have covered the essential features of an external hard drive, let’s take a look at some additional features that are not entirely necessary in a drive but surely good to have for ease of usage. There are a few premium options for an external hard drive that supports wireless access through WiFi for ultimate ease of access. You can use such a drive to access it from all of your smart devices such as your smart TV, smartphone, and laptop without worrying about the connectivity problem. Other than that, the design aspect also matters as it designates the application of the external hard drive. You can choose specific models that go well with the design of your console and also suit its color combination.
9. Warranty
The warranty period of an external hard drive suggests its durability both externally as well as internally. Even if you prevent the outer damage to the drive by using it carefully, there is only as much you can do for the internal safety of the drive. Internally, the drive can get corrupted by several reasons. In such a case, it is better to have an assurance on the reliability of the drive as you can avail free repairs and replacement on the drive. If you are fortunate, you can also get the data back which will save you a lot of trouble later on.
Conclusion
The best PS4 external hard drives presented on our picks today will be long term compatible for your console and extend your games library easily. You can also stop worrying about playing a couple of games at a time as it will allow you to keep a large library of games installed on your console at once so that you can easily switch between games without worrying about storage space. In today’s article, we have gone through the best external hard drives that are available right now. But before you make a decision, we will suggest you go through our buying guide for the best PS4 external hard drives and study the important parameters carefully. Also, check out the best picks from our list today.
If you have already managed to collect a massive game library on your Playstation and simply need equivalent storage capacity for all, simply go with the Seagate PS4 External Hard Drive This external hard drive will extend your default storage capacity by 4TB which should be enough for at least 20 to 25 AAA game titles. It also comes with 2 years of the warranty period which is quite great. On the other hand, if you recently bought a console and are not sure about the required storage capacity for your use, you should go with the Sonnics PS4 External Hard Drive as it is available under a very cheap price tag. This 320 GB hard drive will make your console capable of laying 4 to 5 large-sized games without any problem. Also, it has a 1 year warranty period as well. Lastly, we will recommend the Maxone PS4 External Hard Drive for its compact design and large 2 TB storage capacity. This much storage capacity will surely get you through a couple of years of usage without needing to delete a game from your library. Also, the 2 years warranty period on this drive is surely decent for its price tag.
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