Best SSD for MacBook Pro Reviewed. Upgrading any MacBook Pro is a challenge because they’re generally difficult laptops to open and repair. However, if you know what you’re doing and want to. Samsung Portable SSD T5. Starting off Samsung Portable SSD T5 which is an outstanding storage. The best external hard drive and SSD in 2020 for Mac, PC, PS4 and Xbox. Need a backup option - or just more space? Here are our top picks for external storage options.
- Best Ssd Disk For Macbook Pro 1tb
- Best Ssd For Macbook
- Best Ssd Disk For Macbook Pro 15
- Best Ssd For Macbook Pro
For those who chose a MacBook over an ordinary laptop must be short for some storage space, right? Well, upgrading storage space through apple is as costly as purchasing a new laptop. In this case, an external hard drive is less expensive and beneficial for storage requirements.
You can switch your external hard drive from a Mac to a pc which makes data transfer for two different OS easier. Furthermore, external hard disks are less likely to get corrupted and are portable in nature. Ishowu instant 1 2 8.
Macbooks generally have SSDs which are capable of loading a program quickly but more likely to low on storage.
Furthermore, SSDs are quite costly and upgrading an SSD on a Macbook is definitely costlier than you could even imagine. An external hard drive is best for storing data such as photos, videos, movies, rendered projects and more.
Contents
- 1 10 Best External Hard Drives for MacBook in 2020
- 1.3 3. Seagate Backup Plus Slim (2 TB)
- 1.4 4. Western Digital My Book (8 TB)
- 1.5 5. Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt
- 1.6 6. G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB)
- 1.7 7. Adata SD700 External SSD
- 1.8 8. LaCie Rugged USB-C
- 1.9 9. Samsung X5 (1TB)
- 1.10 10. Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC external hard drive
- 2 What things to consider while buying External Hard Drive For Mac?
- 3 External Hard Drive Vs SSD: Which one is good for MacBook Pro?
10 Best External Hard Drives for MacBook in 2020
Although choosing an external hard drive is a complicated process but we have made a list of 10 best external hard drives for Mac that you should consider before your final decision.
1. Samsung Portable SSD T5
Starting off Samsung Portable SSD T5 which is an outstanding storage device, it can reach up to a speed of 550 MB per second for data transfer which is amazing. You can directly plug it into a USB-C port or USB-A port.
It contains no moving parts therefore chances of getting damaged due to mishandling are less. Even though SSD is costlier than a hard drive, the speed it offers is commendable. You will notice a significant boost in the overall performance while doing stuff that requires you to load large files and programs.
Overall, the SSD is fantastic but only if you can spare a few more bucks than your actual budget. You can get the SSD ranging from 250 GB to 2 TB from Amazon with some additional discounts.
2. Western Digital My Passport 4TB external hard drive
Western Digital My Passport 4TB external hard drive is the newest generation of external hard disks and is available in capacities from 1 TB to up to 4 TB. It offers cloud storage and 256-AES encryption alongside WD’s software for backups.
The data transfer speeds won’t disappoint you and the drive offers speed similar to what an SSD provides. If you are looking for a drive with good data transfer rate and maximum storage, consider Western Digital My Passport 4TB as a choice.
3. Seagate Backup Plus Slim (2 TB)
If you are looking for a reliable, portable, and affordable hard disk, Seagate backup plus slim is the thing you should have a look at. It supports Windows and Mac both and perfect for storing your essential data right away.
With the Seagate dashboard backup system, you can schedule backups and never lose your important files anymore. Backup automation can be set for daily, monthly, weekly or your desired time-frequency.
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Alongside, Seagate also provides a two-month membership for adobe creative cloud photography plan and a one-year subscription to Mylio create to manage your photo library.
![Best Best](https://images.techhive.com/images/article/2013/12/2nd-drive-unimbp-mcebracket-100221314-orig.jpg)
- Affordable price
- Metal body
- Supports USB 3.0
- Comes with an automation backup software
- Doesn’t support USB 3.0 cables
4. Western Digital My Book (8 TB)
This Hard disk is probably for creators and organizations that require a lot of storage for various purposes. Faster data transmission rate will let you transfer data in the meantime, all thanks to USB 3.0 support.
It also offers 256 AES encryption for securing your data and makes sure your personal data is secured in the storage device. Even though it meets the requirements of a regular user, the only thing where Western Digital My Book (8 TB) lacks is portability.
Therefore, if you are looking for a hard disk for work purposes and if portability is not an issue, Western Digital My Book (8 TB) is definitely the right choice.
- High storage
- Data encryption
- Compatible with the time machine
- Requires power source to work
- Not portable
5. Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt
Buffalo MiniStation thunderbolt offers data transmission at a speed of twice of what USB 3.0 offers. You can enjoy this feature if your device has a thunderbolt port. Another good thing about Buffalo MiniStation thunderbolt is its price. It is affordable and portable.
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However, it is a hard drive, not a solid-state, therefore, the data transmission will definitely be high but the overall performance of your pc will remain unchanged. Lastly, if you don’t have a thunderbolt port in your pc, you can use the traditional USB 3.0 port.
- USB 3.0 port
- Affordable
- Formatted for Mac
- Not a Solid State drive
6. G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB)
With the new products, Apple is on its way to completely shift to USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports but there are still some people who are using old hardware and for them, G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB) is going to work like a charm.
The body of the HDD is made up of metal which makes it durable and strong against accidents such as dropping off the drive on the floor or whatnot. It runs at a speed of 7200 RPM and can transfer data at a rate of 195 MB/s which is efficient for transferring music, videos and software.
- Metallic body for durability
- High data transmission rate
- USB 3.0
- Should be reformatted for Windows OS
7. Adata SD700 External SSD
Best Ssd Disk For Macbook Pro 1tb
Adata SD700 is an affordable External SSD which is IP68 rated which certainly makes it a water-resistant storage device. The overall performance of this SSD is commendable and as per our research, Adata SD700 External SSD is the only SSD with an IP68 rating.
You can expect faster transfer rates and better booting speed if you are planning to install an OS on the SSD. Don’t worry about the storage space as it is available in 1 TB capacity also. The maximum read and write speed is up to 440 MB/S, all thanks to the USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface.
- Lightweight and portable
- Shock resistant
- Supports Android, Mac, and Windows
- 3 years of Warranty
- Mac users must format it to FAT32 to use this product
8. LaCie Rugged USB-C
Lacie rugged USB-C hard disk can be distinguished easily because of its unique rubber casing that makes sure your hard drive doesn’t get damaged when it drops from up to 1.3 m height. It can withstand rain, dust and can even survive 1-ton pressure. This is certainly the best choice for content creators.
Alongside hard disk, you will also get access to a one-month subscription to Adobe creative cloud all apps plan. The company also provides 3 years of warranty for the device and will also help you to restore the data if lost.
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In terms of speed, Lacie rugged USB-C hard disk is not very fast as it provides only 120 MB/s which is comparatively lesser than the HDDs mentioned in this listicle. However, there are various variants available for this hard disk on Amazon.
- Durability
- Affordable
- Resistant to water
- Lesser data transmission speed
9. Samsung X5 (1TB)
Samsung never disappoints with its amazing hardware capabilities. With Samsung X5, you can transfer data at a rate of 2,300 MB/s which is the fastest speed an SSD can provide you. The build quality is super amazing as it is made up of metal, making it stronger than storage disks that are made up of plastic bodies.
The shock-resistant capability can save up your drive from a fall of 2 meters. Alongside this, it comes with Thunderbolt 3 technology that is ideal for faster data transfer of up to 40 GB per second which is unbelievable. You can take full advantage of this SSD on your MacBook or Macbook pro without having to format anything.
- High data transmission rate
- Supports thunderbolt 3
- Shock-resistant up to 2 meters
- Heats up really quick
- Comparatively expensive than the other disks
10. Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC external hard drive
In terms of flexibility, Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC external hard drive is really good as it supports both Mac and windows out of the box. The disk doesn’t get damaged due to dust and water which is again a positive point.
It encrypts the user data at 256 bit AES security which additionally makes everything on the drive, secure. Overall, it is a great drive for Mac owners as well as windows owners too.
- Secure for handling user data
- Protects from water and dust
- Low-speed data transfer
What things to consider while buying External Hard Drive For Mac?
So those were some of the best external hard disk drive solutions for Mac. However, you must be confused about which external HDD to choose. But not to worry, let me just point some of the key factors that you need to consider while buying an external hard drive:
1. Storage
Best Ssd For Macbook
One of the first and the most important thing that you need to consider is the storage space of your external HDD. As you already know that Macbook does not come with a huge space. Hence, you better choose something which offers you enough space to store all your files.
For many users, 1 TB of space should be good enough. But if you need to store a huge number of files and save them for a longer period of time, then getting 2TB of HDD would be an ideal choice.
Apart from 1TB and 2TB of storage options, you can also consider getting huge storage options like 4TB. But for a day to day work, 4TB of HDD does not help much. Also, they are quite expensive.
2. Transfer speed
After the storing capacity, transfer speed is the second most important thing that you have to consider. You don’t want to get an external hard disk drive for Mac, which takes too long to copy files. Instead, you need something that can get the job done as quickly as possible.
So the first thing that you must do is avoid USB 2.0 powered external HDD. As they are outdated and not fast enough. Instead, you should get an external HDD with USB 3.0, 3.1 Gen 1 or USB 3.2 Gen 1. All of these are capable of offering an exceptional transfer speed. On the other hand, I would like to recoomend you to buy the best external SSD for Mac that offers good transfer speed.
3. Compatibility
The next thing you need to check its compatibility. External HDD formatted for Windows 10 may have connectivity issues with Mac OS and vise versa. So since you are using a Mac powered machine, I would recommend you to get an external HDD with Mac OS compatibility.
Although there is no need to focus on the compatibility part way too much. Since you can always format your external HDD using a Windows Computer with exFat Format. So you can easily use the HDD with your Macbook. But yes, if you get a pre compatible external hard disk drive then it saves you from extra work and headaches that you have to face.
4. Security
If you are someone who takes security really seriously, then you must look for security features. Most of the manufacturers do ship security software and backup software. So you can easily encrypt your drive or take a backup of it. Even, if you don’t consider encryption feature, backup feature is something that you must and should consider.
Even to make sure your HDD stays safe, they use strong casing from physical damage. So you can consider getting such external hard disk drives that save you from every side.
External Hard Drive Vs SSD: Which one is good for MacBook Pro?
Whenever it comes to a primary storage solution for computers, HDD and SSD’s are the only solutions we have. However, in the last couple of years, the usage of HDD has dropped drastically, and people are not moving to SSD’s for better performance.
![Disk Disk](https://www.iphonetopics.com/media/Chameleon-SSD-Optimizer.jpg)
But there are quite a lot of users who are still unaware of the difference between a hard disk drive and a solid state drive or SSD.
However, not to worry, let me just draw a quick difference between both and help you to understand better.
1. Storage Capacity
HDD’s are a great option if you want something for storage. HDD’s are available in a wide range of storage capacities like from 500GB to 12 TB. Even, for enterprise uses, you will find a large capacity of HDDs.
SSDs are also available with large capacities. However, when it comes to the costing of an SSD and an HDD, SSDs are quite expensive. Hence, if your main goal is to store huge amount of data, HDD is an ideal choice.
Best Ssd Disk For Macbook Pro 15
2. Speed
Whenever it comes to speed, SSDs are a better option. Since a hard disk drive uses a round plate with a layer of magnetic material. And the data is stored on this magnetic layer only. So the disk spins and the magnetic head is used for reading and writing data.
Also, the speed that the disk spins is measured in RPM. And on an average, an HDD has about 5,400 RPM, and it will have a read/write speeds of around 100 MB/s.
However, when it comes to SSD’s, there are no moving parts. As a result, it offers you a much faster data transfer rate. On average, it offers you around 550 MB/s and 520 MB/s of data transfer rate.
3. Reliability & Durability
There are quite a lot of factors that determine the lifespan of drivers. However, you should know that an SSD can sustain a limited number of write cycles compared to HDD which has no read/write limits.
Nice clipboard 1 3 5. But you should know that SSD has a write cycle limit between 3000 and 10,000 which is a high number. So it would not be a problem for you.
Also, SSD’s are lesser affected by any sort of damages compared to HDD. Since there are no moving parts in SSD, they tend to survive more. While HDD’s might stop working if it encounters any physical damage.
3. Cost
Finally, let’s talk about pricing. Well, if you look at the cost of both HDD and SSD, you would happily pick up an HDD. Why? Because SSD’s are expensive. When you choose an HDD, you will get a large amount of capacity for a lesser price. But on the other hand, if you choose an SSD, it would cost you 3-5x of an HDD price.
In the end, the conclusion is HDD’s are a better option when it comes to storing data. Of course, SSD’s are faster and more reliable. But they do come with a high price. But on the other hand, if you take care of your HDD in a good manner, it will offer you great performance for years.
Wrapping it up:
So, these were the 10 best external hard drives for Macbook Air and Pro. Every disk mentioned in this article has its own pros and cons, we have tried our best to list out the good and bad in every product. For Mac users, external SSD can be really helpful for storing content and transferring it to a different place.
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Looking to upgrade your current storage of your MacBook Pro 2012? Then the first thing you need is a compatible SSD storage drive for your MacBook which is a tricky task itself. That is why we have compiled some of the best SSD drives for MacBook Pro 2012 and for older versions below in this publication so you can easily choose the better option for your upgrade.
Best Ssd For Macbook Pro
The thing with MacBooks is that they are very difficult to upgrade if you look at the versions from the last 3 or 4 years and the versions of MacBook from 2012 and back are easily upgradeable. So if you are looking to upgrade your MacBook from the last 3 or 4 years then you should probably look into it first if it is possible or not.
Finding a good SSD drive for your MacBook is a difficult task due to multiple factors in play. The first thing that makes it a little tricky is that the most of the SSD drives are designed to operate on PCs by default and they support Windows OS. For a MacBook you need a certain kind of SSD drive that is either designed for use with MacBooks or is compatible with both Windows OS and Mac OS and that consumes a lot of time.
Since there are so many options available on the market when it comes to SSD drives that finding a good SSD drive for your MacBook can be a difficult task. The wide range of options has it’s benefits but when it comes to an SSD drive for a specific purpose, it is not helping at all because you need a specific type of SSD drive to fulfil your requirement and to look for that specific type of SSD drive within that wide range of options is a difficult and time consuming task. That is why we have shortlisted some options below in this publication that we recommend you have a look at.
If you decide to look for a SSD drive for MacBook Pro on your own then there are few things that you should keep in mind to make a smart decision. Let’s get into that first.
Manufacturer
Since you are looking for a SSD drive for a specific purpose you will come across very few options that will meet the criteria for this specific use. So within those few options there will be SSD drives manufactured by reputable names and some manufacturer will be unheard of. We recommend you go for the reputable manufacturer regardless of the price tag.
Warranty
The next thing that you should look for in a SSD drive for your MacBook Pro is the warranty provided by the manufacture. This is necessary because you will be upgrading your MacBook by yourself or by a professional either way you will be installing something new to the MacBook and you don’t know if all the lights will go green or not. So you need a warranty just in case to back up your purchase so you can have a peace of mind and kind of an insurance that if something goes wrong you can get it fixed or replaced depending on the policy of the manufacturer.
Now let’s start with the SSD drives we have on here for MacBook Pro 2012 and older.
Best SSD Drives For Macbook Pro 2012 & Older (Comparison)
SSD Drive | Weight |
---|---|
Crucial MX500 SSD Drive | 100g |
Samsung 860 EVO SSD Drive | 86.1g |
OWC MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD | 77g |
Crucial MX500 SSD Drive
The first SSD drive we have on here is the MX500 SSD drive produced by Crucial. Crucial is a reliable name when it comes to production of high quality SSD drives. The SSD drive we have in question here is suitable for MacBooks from 2012 and older. This SSD drive is better suited for light work load. The ratings of this SSD drive are high. So how it fared in our review? Let’s find out.
Starting with the design of the MX500 SSD drive and it has a high build quality and it is shock resistant as well so you don’t have to worry about this storage drive getting damaged if it falls. Due to no moving parts like the old HDD the durability of this storage drive has increased. The MX500 SSD drive features SATA III interface. The read speed of the MX500 SSD drive is up to 560MB/s and the write speed of the MX500 SSD drive is up to 510MB/s. the MX500 SSD drive features 3D NAND flash memory technology which allows for this SSD drive to operate efficiently, faster and quieter. The MX500 SSD drive features integrated power loss immunity allowing you to be worry free of your data when the power is cut as it will be there when you power it back up. When it comes to security the MX500 SSD drive features AES 256-bit encryption and it comes with a 5 year limited warranty from the manufacturer.
When it comes to performance the MX500 SSD drive will significantly improve the performance of your MacBook Pro as the older versions did not have SSD drives to begin with. The build quality of this SSD drive is good and it has all the features you can expect or require from a good SSD drive. It is better suited for lighter work load. There have been no reported issues regarding this SSD drive’s performance or build quality.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
SATA III Interface | None That We Could Find |
AES 256-bit Encryption | |
5 Years Limited Warranty |
Conclusion
If you are looking for a SSD drive suitable for MacBook Pro 2012 or older which can handle light work load then MX500 SSD drive by Crucial is a very good option for you.
Samsung 860 EVO SSD Drive
The next SSD drive we have on here is the 860 EVO SSD drive produced by Samsung. Samsung is a well renowned manufacturer of consumer electronics and in recent years they have started to manufacture very good quality storage drives as well. The SSD drive we have on here is compatible with MacBook Pro 2012 and older. This SSD drive is suited for lighter work load as well. The 860 EVO SSD drive has high ratings. How it fared in our review? Let’s find out.
Beginning with the design of the 860 EVO SSD drive and it has a slim design with a very good quality build. The 860 EVO SSD drive is designed to withstand shock as well making this SSD drive a durable one. The 860 EVO SSD drive has a SATA III interface which is compatible with 6Gb/s, 3Gb/s and 1.5Gb/s SATA interfaces as well. The 860 EVO SSD drive features a 1GB DDR4 SDRAM cache for faster processing. The flash memory on board the 860 EVO SSD drive is the Samsung’s own V-NAND 3-bit memory. The 860 EVO SSD drive is able to reach read speeds of up to 550MB/s and write speeds of up to 520MB/s. When it comes to security, the 860 EVO SSD drive features AES 256-bit encryption to protect your data. The 860 EVO SSD drive comes with a limited 5 year warranty as well.
When it comes to performance the 860 EVO SSD drive will certainly improve the data processing speed of your MacBook Pro and making your MacBook more efficient. The build quality of the 860 EVO SSD drive is very good and it is a lightweight SSD drive as well. The 860 EVO SSD drive is better suited to handle lighter work load. There have been no reported issues regarding the build quality or performance of this SSD drive.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Shock Resistant | None That We Could Find |
Slim Design | |
V-NAND 3-bit Flash Memory |
Conclusion
The 860 EVO SSD drive by Samsung provides another good option for a SSD drive compatible to use with MacBook Pro 2012 and older versions which have lighter work load.
OWC MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD
The last SSD drive we have on here is the MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD drive produced by OWC Digital. OWC Digital is not a widely known manufacturer but it is a reliable name when it comes to SSD drives. This particular SSD drive here is designed specifically for MacBooks and it is the best option in the market for heavy work load on your MacBook. The ratings of this SSD drive are high. So how it fared in our review? Let’s find out.
Let’s start with the design of the MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD drive and it is a lightweight SSD drive with a good build quality making it a reliable and durable SSD drive for MacBook Pro. The MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD drive features SATA interface. The read speed of this SSD drive is up to 535MB/s while the write speed of the MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD drive is up to 435MB/s. The MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD drive features Tier 1 3D NAND for efficient and high performance result. This SSD drive features 128-bit AES encryption along with block management and wear levelling which makes sure that the data is distributed across the SSD evenly for efficient use and to protect the SSD drive itself.
When it comes to performance the MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD drive will certainly improve the overall performance of your MacBook. This SSD drive is well suited to handle the heavy work load of tasks such as video editing or gaming. The build quality of this SSD drive is good and there have been no reported issues regarding it’s performance.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
For Heavy Work Load | None That We Could Find |
Efficient | |
Durable |
Conclusion
If you are looking for a SSD drive that is compatible with MacBook Pro 2012 or older and can handle the heavy work load then MERCURY EXTREME PRO 6G SSD Drive by OWC Digital is a very good option for you.
Conclusion
The SSD drives we have on here for MacBook Pro 2012 and older versions are some of the best on the market right now. If they have any reported issues regarding their performance or build quality they have been mentioned here in this publication. We hope you find this publication useful. Let us know what you think about these SSD drives in the comments below.
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