External hard drives that are best for PS4 or Xbox One will make it easier to manage your games library. 500GB might have seemed like a large storage space when these consoles were first released. Over the years, games and their DLC have evolved. It is not unusual for games to exceed 50 GB or 100 GB.
Although you can uninstall and redownload games as needed, it’s not as easy as buying an external hard drive.
External hard drives are supported by both the Xbox One and PS4. There is no special technique for installing them. You just need to format them in a specific way and then plug them in via USB cable. You can also add a lot of storage. Storage has become much more affordable over the years. For less than two controllers, you could double or quadruple your console’s storage.
However, there is an upper limit. External hard drive support is limited to 8 TB by Sony for the PlayStation 4, while Xbox One supports 16 TB via two separate drives.
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Which external hard drives are best for Xbox One and PS4?
You don’t have to use a specific external hard drive for your Xbox One or PS4; almost any external hard drive will work. The best external hard drives are the same thing you would look for in a hard disk. In case of an emergency, you want the right amount of storage, a quick read speed, and a trusted brand name.
Our top choice is the Western Digital Elements Portable External Drive 4 TB. If you are familiar with WD you will know that they have been around for a while and make durable, high-quality storage products that perform exactly as intended. You can store many games with 4 TB storage. It measures less than 5 inches in width so it will not take up much space in your entertainment centre.
The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is a stylish alternative to the standard hard drive. The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is a standout among the rest. It comes in a white chassis and features an Xbox logo. The Seagate Game Drive For Xbox’s quick read speed and white chassis make it a great choice for placing next to your Xbox One console.
Note: These external drives may not be the best options for the Xbox Series X and HTML5 . Although external drives can still be connected to new consoles, next-gen games will require special SSDs that are generally more expensive. These hard drives may still be useful if you have many Xbox One or PS4 games. Otherwise, you can save your money and buy next-gen gear.
These are the best external hard drives you can get for Xbox One and PS4 today
1. Western Digital Elements 4TB Portable External Hard Drive
The master of all trades
Specifications
Capacity: 4TB
Dimensions: 4.4×3.2×0.8 inches
Speed: 102 MB/s
There are many reasons to buy
+High capacity means you won’t have to delete any games or modify storage devices.
Avoidable reasons
-“Safe” design lacks personality
The Elements Portable Hard Drive from WD is the best-selling external drive on Amazon. It balances performance and price. This drive is what I use and would recommend to anyone who wants to increase the storage on their console. With an average game size 50GB, you can store up to 80 games simultaneously. It would be nice to have the drive in different designs than the ones on the list.
Western Digital has been making storage products since the early 1980s. You can store a lot of games and keep them safe for a long period of time. This could come in handy if you have old favorites that you wish to revisit.
2. Seagate Game Drive for Xbox
This is the most versatile drive on our list
Specifications
Capacity: 2TB
Dimensions: 4.6×3.1×0.6 inches
Speed: 140 MB/s
There are many reasons to buy
+Xbox optimized+Standout design
Avoidable reasons
Policy of warranty for -Finicky
This Seagate drive is perfect for power users of Xbox. The drive is available in a variety of Microsoft franchise designs and is extremely compact. It only requires a USB connection to connect with your console. These branded drives can be a little more expensive but they are worth it. They offer Xbox users a customized, no-fuss experience. You can immediately put your new storage to work with the included one-month subscription to Microsoft’s Game Pass service.
It is worth noting that the device closely mirrors the Xbox One S in terms of physical appearance. The Seagate Game Drive For Xbox is a perfect match for Microsoft’s Xbox One S, despite the fact that many external hard drives can be ugly.
3. WD Gaming Works with PlayStation
Playstation: The Best
Specifications
Dimensions: 4.33×0.5×4.33 inches
Speed: 139 MB/s
There are many reasons to buy
+Optimized PlayStation
Avoidable reasons
-Short cable
The compact design and blue highlights of the WD PS4 hard drive blend seamlessly with your PS4. The drive is easy to set up and you can start downloading content within minutes. The drive is fast and small, but users may find it difficult to store away from their consoles.
Simplety is the best feature of WD Gaming Works. The WD Gaming Works is compatible with PS4, right down to the “black boxes with blue highlights” design. This means you won’t have to worry about compatibility or aesthetics. You can download hundreds of high-end games and still have enough space to store as many TV shows and movies as you want.
4. Silicon Power Shockproof External Hard Drive 2TB
For those who are on the road, this is the best hard drive
Specifications
Capacity: 2TB
Dimensions: 5.5×0.9×3.4 inches
Speed: 103 MB/s
There are many reasons to buy
+Military-grade shockproofing, water resistance, and wrap design ensures that you don’t lose your USB cable
Avoidable reasons
-Some durability issues
Silicon Power shockproof drives are great for children, pets, and anyone with clumsy motor skills. It has received solid reviews from console owners and can be used for travel on the go. The drive is durable enough to withstand a lot of abuse, including spills, over the years, but it also has a three-year warranty.
The Silicon Power Shockproof external hard drive for Xbox One and PS4 has 2 TB storage and fast read speeds. This is especially useful if you have to move it around a lot. Although it is a bit larger than its competition, the brand recognition is not as strong as that of a Western Digital or Seagate. It’s durable and should last for a long time.
5. Seagate Game Drive Hub
The hard drive with the greatest space and functionality
Specifications
Capacity: 8 TB
Dimensions: 4.65×1.61×7.8 inches
Speed: 220 MB/s
There are many reasons to buy
+Large capacity + Added functionality of the hub base with two USB 3.0 port ports
Avoidable reasons
Outlet space taken up by expensive-A/C plug
Do you have an enormous digital library you wish to keep up-to-date? This will require a lot storage. This hard drive is 8 TB in storage and doubles up as a USB hub with two USB 3.0 ports. This hub is an excellent buy for its functionality and affordability. This hub allows you to access your Xbox Game Pass backlog and the best split screen PS4 games at your own pace!
Be aware that the PS4 limits external storage space to 8 TB. This means that if you connect this hard disk, you will only get the maximum space. If you download a game with a size of 50GB, then 8 TB should suffice for 160 games.
How to select the best external hard drive for Xbox One and PS4
Storage space is the most important thing when buying an external hard drive for Xbox One or PS4. A 2 TB hard drive, or less, will suffice if you are running low on space and don’t purchase games very often. If you have a lot of games, an 8 TB hard drive will suffice.
Brand name is also important. Hard drives, as computer parts, are quite prone to failing — sorry to be the bearer, but it is true. It’s better to have a reliable manufacturer backing your product than to rely on a random company that will disappear as soon as it malfunctions. Reliable hard drive manufacturers make it less likely that your device will fail. This is important considering you are entrusting your hard drive with your data and games.
