Best-Selling External Hard Drives of 2016

Portable and desktop drives that plug in over USB — the ones people buy for backups, extra console storage and carrying files between machines.

Internal Hard Drives All Hard Drives

By year: All time 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

#1 — Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB Portable External Hard Drive 2.5 In...

Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB Portable External Hard Drive 2.5 In...

Toshiba

#2 — Seagate Expansion 2TB USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 inch External Hard...

Seagate Expansion 2TB USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 inch External Hard...

Seagate

#3 — Transcend 1TB 2.5 inch USB 3.0 Military-Grade Shock Resistanc...

Transcend 1TB 2.5 inch USB 3.0 Military-Grade Shock Resistanc...

Transcend

#4 — Samsung M3 1TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive - Black - HX-M101T...

Samsung M3 1TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive - Black - HX-M101T...

Samsung

4 · 29,729 reviews

#5 — Seagate Expansion Portable 1 TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB...

Seagate Expansion Portable 1 TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB...

Seagate

#6 — Seagate 2 TB Backup Plus Slim USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 Inch Exter...

Seagate 2 TB Backup Plus Slim USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 Inch Exter...

Seagate

4 · 13,740 reviews

#7 — TOSHIBA (Old Model) Canvio Basics 1TB Portable Hard Drive (HD...

TOSHIBA (Old Model) Canvio Basics 1TB Portable Hard Drive (HD...

Toshiba

#8 — Toshiba HDTB320EK3AA 2 TB Canvio Basics USB 3.0 Portable Exte...

Toshiba HDTB320EK3AA 2 TB Canvio Basics USB 3.0 Portable Exte...

Toshiba

#9 — Transcend 2TB 2.5" USB 3.0 Military-Grade Shock Resistance Po...

Transcend 2TB 2.5" USB 3.0 Military-Grade Shock Resistance Po...

Transcend

4 · 2,065 reviews

#10 — Seagate Expansion 4 TB USB 3.0 Desktop 3.5 inch External Hard...

Seagate Expansion 4 TB USB 3.0 Desktop 3.5 inch External Hard...

Seagate

4 · 16,686 reviews

#11 — LaCie LAC301558 1 TB Dust and Water Resistant Mini External H...

LaCie LAC301558 1 TB Dust and Water Resistant Mini External H...

LaCie

#12 — WD 4TB Elements External Hard Drive, Desktop HDD storage, USB...

WD 4TB Elements External Hard Drive, Desktop HDD storage, USB...

Western Digital

#13 — LaCie 2TB Rugged Mini Portable Hard Drive | USB 3.0 (LAC9000298)

LaCie 2TB Rugged Mini Portable Hard Drive | USB 3.0 (LAC9000298)

LaCie

#14 — Maxtor 4TB USB 3.0 portable hard drive

Maxtor 4TB USB 3.0 portable hard drive

Seagate

4 · 7,783 reviews

#15 — LaCie 4TB Rugged Mini Portable Hard Drive | USB 3.0 (LAC9000633)

LaCie 4TB Rugged Mini Portable Hard Drive | USB 3.0 (LAC9000633)

LaCie

#16 — Transcend 2TB StoreJet 300 Thunderbolt USB 3.0 Portable Hard ...

Transcend 2TB StoreJet 300 Thunderbolt USB 3.0 Portable Hard ...

Transcend

3 · 352 reviews

#17 — Silicon Power 1TB External Portable Hard Drive Rugged Armor A...

Silicon Power 1TB External Portable Hard Drive Rugged Armor A...

SP Silicon Power

4 · 286 reviews

#18 — Seagate Backup Plus 4 TB USB 3.0 Desktop 3.5 inch External Ha...

Seagate Backup Plus 4 TB USB 3.0 Desktop 3.5 inch External Ha...

Seagate

4 · 262 reviews

#19 — WD 8TB My Book external hard drive, Desktop HDD with Password...

WD 8TB My Book external hard drive, Desktop HDD with Password...

Western Digital

#20 — Seagate Expansion 500GB USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 inch External Ha...

Seagate Expansion 500GB USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 inch External Ha...

Seagate

#21 — Freecom 56057 1TB Tough Drive USB 3.0 2.5 inch External Hard ...

Freecom 56057 1TB Tough Drive USB 3.0 2.5 inch External Hard ...

Freecom

4 · 410 reviews

#22 — Seagate Expansion 4 TB USB 3.0 Desktop 3.5 inch External Hard...

Seagate Expansion 4 TB USB 3.0 Desktop 3.5 inch External Hard...

Seagate

4 · 755 reviews

#23 — WD My Passport 1 TB Portable Hard Drive and Auto Backup Softw...

WD My Passport 1 TB Portable Hard Drive and Auto Backup Softw...

Western Digital

4 · 209 reviews

#24 — WD 2 TB My Passport Wireless Pro, Black

WD 2 TB My Passport Wireless Pro, Black

Western Digital

3 · 1,056 reviews

#25 — WD Elements 2TB USB 2.0 External Desktop Hard Drive - Black

WD Elements 2TB USB 2.0 External Desktop Hard Drive - Black

Western Digital

4 · 1,039 reviews

#26 — Transcend 2TB StoreJet 25H3 Rugged Portable HDD, One Touch Ba...

Transcend 2TB StoreJet 25H3 Rugged Portable HDD, One Touch Ba...

Transcend

#27 — Intenso 6002560 1TB Memory Station USB 2.0 5400rpm 2.5 Inch E...

Intenso 6002560 1TB Memory Station USB 2.0 5400rpm 2.5 Inch E...

Intenso

#28 — WD 3 TB Elements Portable Hard Drive

WD 3 TB Elements Portable Hard Drive

Western Digital

#29 — Seagate STEH1000200 1 TB Backup Plus Ultra Slim USB 3.0 Porta...

Seagate STEH1000200 1 TB Backup Plus Ultra Slim USB 3.0 Porta...

Seagate

4 · 668 reviews

#30 — Verbatim 53023 HARD DRIVE 1TB 2.5IN USB 3.0 BLACK SORECOP INC...

Verbatim 53023 HARD DRIVE 1TB 2.5IN USB 3.0 BLACK SORECOP INC...

Verbatim

#31 — WD 6TB My Book external hard drive, Desktop HDD with Password...

WD 6TB My Book external hard drive, Desktop HDD with Password...

Western Digital

#32 — WD Elements 1.5TB USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive

WD Elements 1.5TB USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive

Western Digital

#33 — Seagate 500GB Expansion Portable USB 2.0 Hard Drive

Seagate 500GB Expansion Portable USB 2.0 Hard Drive

Seagate

4 · 1,416 reviews

#34 — WD 3TB My Book Desktop HDD USB 3.0 with software for device m...

WD 3TB My Book Desktop HDD USB 3.0 with software for device m...

Western Digital

4 · 4,123 reviews

#35 — Transcend 4TB StoreJet 25H3 Rugged Portable HDD, One Touch Ba...

Transcend 4TB StoreJet 25H3 Rugged Portable HDD, One Touch Ba...

Transcend

#36 — Silicon Power 2 TB External Portable Hard Drive Rugged Armor ...

Silicon Power 2 TB External Portable Hard Drive Rugged Armor ...

SP Silicon Power

#37 — Silicon Power SP010TBPHDA30S3W 1 TB Rugged Armor A30 Shockpro...

Silicon Power SP010TBPHDA30S3W 1 TB Rugged Armor A30 Shockpro...

SP Silicon Power

#38 — LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB 3.0 1 TB External Hard Drive Por...

LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB 3.0 1 TB External Hard Drive Por...

LaCie

#39 — Bipra 2.5" External SATA Hard Drive - Storage Device (320GB

Bipra 2.5" External SATA Hard Drive - Storage Device (320GB

Bipra

4 · 35 reviews

#40 — Verbatim 53177 2TB Store 'n' Go USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive -...

Verbatim 53177 2TB Store 'n' Go USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive -...

Verbatim

#41 — Bipra S2 2.5 inch USB 2.0 NTFS Portable External Hard Drive -...

Bipra S2 2.5 inch USB 2.0 NTFS Portable External Hard Drive -...

Bipra

4 · 581 reviews

#42 — WD MyBook 6 TB USB 3.0 Hard Drive with Backup

WD MyBook 6 TB USB 3.0 Hard Drive with Backup

Western Digital

#43 — Bipra 1TB 2.5 inch USB 2.0 FAT32 Pocket Size Slim External Ha...

Bipra 1TB 2.5 inch USB 2.0 FAT32 Pocket Size Slim External Ha...

Bipra

4 · 72 reviews

#44 — ADATA HD650 1TB USB3.0 High Speed Triple-Layer Anti-Shock Out...

ADATA HD650 1TB USB3.0 High Speed Triple-Layer Anti-Shock Out...

ADATA

#45 — Silicon Power 1 TB External Portable Hard Drive Rugged Armor ...

Silicon Power 1 TB External Portable Hard Drive Rugged Armor ...

SP Silicon Power

4 · 44 reviews

#46 — Bipra 2.5" External SATA Hard Drive - Storage Device (250GB)

Bipra 2.5" External SATA Hard Drive - Storage Device (250GB)

Bipra

4 · 92 reviews

#47 — Bipra 500GB 2.5 inch USB 2.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Dri...

Bipra 500GB 2.5 inch USB 2.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Dri...

Bipra

3 · 71 reviews

#48 — Bipra 250GB 2.5 inch USB 2.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Dri...

Bipra 250GB 2.5 inch USB 2.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Dri...

Bipra

4 · 600 reviews

#49 — Seagate Backup Plus Hub, 6TB, External Hard Drive Desktop, US...

Seagate Backup Plus Hub, 6TB, External Hard Drive Desktop, US...

Seagate

4 · 4,525 reviews

#50 — LaCie Rugged Triple 1 TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – U...

LaCie Rugged Triple 1 TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – U...

LaCie

4 · 101 reviews

#51 — Sonnics 1TB Red External Portable Hard drive USB 3.0 super fa...

Sonnics 1TB Red External Portable Hard drive USB 3.0 super fa...

Sonnics

4 · 192 reviews

#52 — Verbatim 53120 320GB USB 3.0 2.5 Inch External Hard Drive - B...

Verbatim 53120 320GB USB 3.0 2.5 Inch External Hard Drive - B...

Verbatim

4 · 1,006 reviews

#53 — WD 4TB My Book external hard drive, Desktop HDD with Password...

WD 4TB My Book external hard drive, Desktop HDD with Password...

Western Digital

#54 — Seagate STAX500202 500GB Expansion USB 3.0 2.5 Inch External ...

Seagate STAX500202 500GB Expansion USB 3.0 2.5 Inch External ...

Seagate

4 · 66 reviews

#55 — Intenso Memory Case 2 TB Portable Hard Drive, Black

Intenso Memory Case 2 TB Portable Hard Drive, Black

Intenso

#56 — Toshiba Canvio Ready 500GB Portable External Hard Drive 2.5 I...

Toshiba Canvio Ready 500GB Portable External Hard Drive 2.5 I...

Toshiba

4 · 1,550 reviews

#57 — Bipra S3 2.5 inch USB 3.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Drive ...

Bipra S3 2.5 inch USB 3.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Drive ...

Bipra

3 · 19 reviews

#58 — Freecom 56387 4 TB mHDD Desktop 3.5-Inch USB 3.0 Hard Drive -...

Freecom 56387 4 TB mHDD Desktop 3.5-Inch USB 3.0 Hard Drive -...

Freecom

#59 — HP Q2044A 1TB 5400rpm 2.5-inch Removable Disk Cartridge, Black

HP Q2044A 1TB 5400rpm 2.5-inch Removable Disk Cartridge, Black

HP

4 · 23 reviews

#60 — Transcend StoreJet 25A3 1TB Portable Hard Drive, USB 3.1 Gen ...

Transcend StoreJet 25A3 1TB Portable Hard Drive, USB 3.1 Gen ...

Transcend

#61 — Bipra 250GB 2.5 inch USB 2.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Dri...

Bipra 250GB 2.5 inch USB 2.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Dri...

Bipra

4 · 496 reviews

#62 — Freecom 56367 1 TB mHDD 2.5-Inch USB 3.0 Mobile Hard Drive - ...

Freecom 56367 1 TB mHDD 2.5-Inch USB 3.0 Mobile Hard Drive - ...

Freecom

#63 — Bipra S3 2.5 inch USB 3.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Drive ...

Bipra S3 2.5 inch USB 3.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Drive ...

Bipra

#64 — Verbatim 47670 1TB Store n Save USB 3.0 3.5 Inch External Har...

Verbatim 47670 1TB Store n Save USB 3.0 3.5 Inch External Har...

Verbatim

4 · 349 reviews

#65 — Verbatim 53196 500GB Portable USB 3.0 Hard Drive - Silver

Verbatim 53196 500GB Portable USB 3.0 Hard Drive - Silver

Verbatim

4 · 162 reviews

#66 — Bipra S2 2.5 inch USB 2.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Drive ...

Bipra S2 2.5 inch USB 2.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Drive ...

Bipra

4 · 362 reviews

#67 — Transcend 8TB Desktop Storage Solution StoreJet 35T3 USB 3.1 ...

Transcend 8TB Desktop Storage Solution StoreJet 35T3 USB 3.1 ...

Transcend

#68 — Asus Travelair N 1 TB Wireless Hard Drive with NFC Connection

Asus Travelair N 1 TB Wireless Hard Drive with NFC Connection

Intel

3 · 37 reviews

#69 — Bipra U3 2.5 inch USB 3.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Drive ...

Bipra U3 2.5 inch USB 3.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Drive ...

Bipra

4 · 450 reviews

#70 — Bipra S3 2.5 inch USB 3.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Drive ...

Bipra S3 2.5 inch USB 3.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Drive ...

Bipra

4 · 11 reviews

#71 — ADATA HD710M 2 TB Camo Hard Disk Drive

ADATA HD710M 2 TB Camo Hard Disk Drive

ADATA

4 · 230 reviews

#72 — Lenovo 0A65619 ThinkPad Secure 500 GB External

Lenovo 0A65619 ThinkPad Secure 500 GB External

Lenovo

4 · 11 reviews

#73 — LaCie 5big Thunderbolt 9000378EK External Hard Drive 8.9 cm (...

LaCie 5big Thunderbolt 9000378EK External Hard Drive 8.9 cm (...

LaCie

3 · 6 reviews

#74 — Freecom 56345 256 GB Tough Drive Mini USB Solid State Drive

Freecom 56345 256 GB Tough Drive Mini USB Solid State Drive

Freecom

4 · 10 reviews

#75 — Bipra S2 2.5 inch USB 2.0 Mac Edition Portable External Hard ...

Bipra S2 2.5 inch USB 2.0 Mac Edition Portable External Hard ...

Bipra

3 · 40 reviews

#76 — IBM 46C2084

IBM 46C2084

IBM

#77 — LaCie Porsche Design 2 TB USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 inch External ...

LaCie Porsche Design 2 TB USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 inch External ...

LaCie

4 · 176 reviews

#78 — Bipra S3 2.5 inch USB 3.0 NTFS Portable External Hard Drive -...

Bipra S3 2.5 inch USB 3.0 NTFS Portable External Hard Drive -...

Bipra

4 · 64 reviews

#79 — Bipra S3 2.5 inch USB 3.0 NTFS Portable External Hard Drive -...

Bipra S3 2.5 inch USB 3.0 NTFS Portable External Hard Drive -...

Bipra

3 · 40 reviews

#80 — Silicon Power 4 TB External Portable Hard Drive Rugged Armor ...

Silicon Power 4 TB External Portable Hard Drive Rugged Armor ...

SP Silicon Power

#81 — WD My Passport for Mac 1TB Portable External Hard Drive Stora...

WD My Passport for Mac 1TB Portable External Hard Drive Stora...

Western Digital

4 · 1,192 reviews

#82 — Transcend StoreJet 25H3P - hard drive - 1 TB - USB 3.0

Transcend StoreJet 25H3P - hard drive - 1 TB - USB 3.0

Transcend

#83 — Silicon Power SP010TBPHDS03S3W Stream S03 External

Silicon Power SP010TBPHDS03S3W Stream S03 External

SP Silicon Power

4 · 81 reviews

#84 — Western Digital 500GB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive - Black

Western Digital 500GB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive - Black

Western Digital

5 · 1 reviews

#85 — Apricorn Aegis Padlock 6TB Desktop 256-Bit Hardware Encrypted...

Apricorn Aegis Padlock 6TB Desktop 256-Bit Hardware Encrypted...

Apricorn

#86 — Apricorn Aegis Padlock 1TB USB 3.0 256-bit AES XTS Hardware E...

Apricorn Aegis Padlock 1TB USB 3.0 256-bit AES XTS Hardware E...

Apricorn

#87 — Apricorn Aegis Padlock 4TB Desktop 256-Bit Hardware Encrypted...

Apricorn Aegis Padlock 4TB Desktop 256-Bit Hardware Encrypted...

Apricorn

#88 — Bipra Ultra Slim USB 3.0 FAT32 Portable Hard Drive - Black (5...

Bipra Ultra Slim USB 3.0 FAT32 Portable Hard Drive - Black (5...

Bipra

#89 — Western Digital My Passport Ultra 2TB external hard drive 200...

Western Digital My Passport Ultra 2TB external hard drive 200...

Western Digital

#90 — Bipra U3 2.5 inch USB 3.0 NTFS Portable External Hard Drive -...

Bipra U3 2.5 inch USB 3.0 NTFS Portable External Hard Drive -...

Bipra

#91 — Bipra U3 2.5 inch USB 3.0 NTFS Portable External Hard Drive -...

Bipra U3 2.5 inch USB 3.0 NTFS Portable External Hard Drive -...

Bipra

3 · 119 reviews

#92 — Western Digital WDBACG0020HCH MY BOOK LIVE

Western Digital WDBACG0020HCH MY BOOK LIVE

Western Digital

#93 — Intenso 6021430 Memory Play 2.5 inch 500GB USB 3.0 External H...

Intenso 6021430 Memory Play 2.5 inch 500GB USB 3.0 External H...

Intenso

4 · 2,278 reviews

#94 — Bipra S2 2.5 inch USB 2.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Drive ...

Bipra S2 2.5 inch USB 2.0 FAT32 Portable External Hard Drive ...

Bipra

4 · 361 reviews

The top 94 external hard drives on Amazon UK in 2016, ranked by average sales rank across the year — so a drive that sold steadily beats one that spiked for a week. See the all-time external hard drives chart, the other side of the split at internal drives in 2016, or every hard drive of 2016.

Internal and external are Amazon’s own classification, not our guess — every drive is filed under one or the other.