Best internal and external HDD deals – 11 picks I’d be happy to use in my own PC

Amazon’s selling these HDDs at unbeatable prices ahead of Black Friday, but they won’t be there long.

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HDDs have long been the backbone of data storage, whether you’re after something to upgrade your existing PC, an addition to your build-your-own, or even an external drive to create backups. They’re even commonly used across the cloud storage sector, with Backblaze running around 76 times more HDDs than SSDs as of the halfway point of 2023.

We’re currently tracking the bestBlack Friday SSD and hard drives dealsyou can buy right now. Here’s a list of some of my favorite HDDs, both internal and external, at great prices ready for the shopping season.

In my experience, Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping season is the best periods to buy any of thebest hard drives. And there’s plenty of choice. HDDs are available in massive capacities, all the way up to double-figure terabytes, and have a proven track record of being reliable and durable. So, when shopping for HDD deals, remember to consider your own needs before delving into the tech specs, where you can find yourself buried in transfer speeds, interface type, and more.

For more savings, check out our hub for all the bestBlack Friday deals 2023.

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My top Black Friday HDD deals

Avolusion PRO-5X Series 2TB External HDD:was $130Now $120 at AmazonSave $10Designed to accompany your gaming setup, the PRO-5X Series’s looks are inspired by the PS5, which is no coincidence. You can play PS5 games directly from the hard drive via the USB 3.0 connection, allowing you to game more without having to worry about your console’s limited internal storage. You’ll also get a two-year warranty with the product for some extra peace of mind if the 4.3-star rating isn’t enough to satisfy you.

Seagate Exos X16 16TB (ST16000NM001G) HDD - 2 pack:was $470Now $434 at AmazonSave $36This enterprise-grade Exos X16 HDD’s enhanced caching will see it complete cloud data centers, and Seagate’s PowerBalance feature ensures the 7200rpm unit delivers maximum watts-per-TB efficiency. It has a 0.35% annualized failure rating based on 24/7 operation, and a five-year limited warranty to back that up. Data security doesn’t go amiss, either, with hardware-based Seagate Secure disk encryption.

WD Elements Desktop 22TB (WDBWLG0220HBK-NESN) External HDD:was $550Now $410 at AmazonSave $140With its USB 3.0 connector, this external HDD is designed to be a plug-and-play solution for computer users after a quick boost in storage, optimized specifically for Windows with NTFS pre-formatting but with support for other OSs too. You shouldn’t need to be a pro to use this mains-powered 22TB unit, which is best suited for at-home high-capacity storage.

Seagate Expansion 5TB (STKM5000400) Portable External HDD:was $150Now $120 at AmazonWith nearly 12,000 reviews on Amazon, all you’ll need to connect this tried-and-tested favorite to your machine is its USB 3.0 cable. The small form factor makes it ideal for carrying in your laptop bag, and it’s just as capable backing up your device as it is holding large files as an off-device solution. The affordable price also buys you Seagate’s Rescue Data Recovery Services, including access to a lab-based data recovery attempt if things go wrong.

Seagate BarraCuda 5TB (ST5000LM000) HDD:was $220Now $139 at AmazonAnother firm favorite from the popular American brand, this 2.5” internal HDD is good for build-your-own PCs and DIY upgrades. The 5TB model is the highest-capacity BarraCuda model and builds on more than 20 years of BarraCuda history. Despite its affordable price tag, the 15mm drive features a capable 6Gbps SATA connection, the company’s Multi-Tier Caching (MTC) technology for improved read/write performance, and access to its Rescue Data Recovery Services.

Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB (HDTB520XK3AA) Portable External HDD:Now $62 at AmazonToshiba’s wallet-sized portable hard drive is one of Amazon’s most favored models, with well over 72,000 reviews and an average of 4.7 stars. It’s a highly affordable, great-looking model, that’s also available in 500GB, 1TB, and 4TB flavors. The USB 3.0 Type-A connector ensures maximal connectivity, but Toshiba will also sell you a USB-C version if you need it.

WD Red Plus 10TB (WD101EFBX) HDD:was $285Now $190 at AmazonWestern Digital’s Red-branded internal hard drives are built specifically for 24/7 applications, making them ideal for your at-home or SMB NAS device. The 7200rpm 3.5” Red Plus model supports NAS devices with up to eight bays and is available in sizes up to 14TB, where they’re built to withstand high heat, vibration, and activity levels.

LaCie Rugged USB-C 5TB (STFR5000800) Portable External HDD:was $175Now $163 at AmazonThis go-anywhere hard drive promises protection against 4ft drops, 1-tonne crushes, and rain, even boasting an IP67 rating, making it a perfect choice for creatives and travelling workers. It even comes with a one-month trial of the Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps Plan. If the reversible USB-C cable doesn’t work for you, you can take advantage of the included USB 3.0 adapter to maximize compatibility.

WD Blue 1TB (WD10EZEX) HDD:Now $44 at AmazonThe Californian manufacturer’s Blue HDDs are a step above the entry-level Green models, but this 1TB model offers excellent value for money. The Blue HDD has sophisticated power consumption technology and is designed to minimize wear on the disk. It’s also highly versatile, available in 2.5” and 3.5” form factors and in capacities up to 8TB. If you’re upgrading from an old hard drive, you can make full use of the included free cloning software.

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Désiré has been musing and writing about technology during a career spanning four decades. He dabbled inwebsite buildersandweb hostingwhen DHTML and frames were in vogue and started narrating about the impact of technology on society just before the start of the Y2K hysteria at the turn of the last millennium.

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