10 Best External Hard Drives in the Philippines 2022 | Seagate, Transcend, and More

The products we introduce below were carefully curated by the mybest team, from the best-sellers of E-commerce sites like Lazada, and using the points mentioned in our detailed and thoroughly researched buying guide.

**Prices may vary depending on the website and their campaign period**

To give you a rundown, here are our top 3 picks for the best external hard drives you can buy online:

1. Western Digital My Book
2. Sea Gate Backup Plus Hub
3. Transcend Store Jet 25M3

Check out the table below to further compare the characteristics of these three external hard drives as well as the other seven that made it to our list.

Here are some key points to consider:

1. Choose a hard drive with ample storage for your needs.
2. Check the OS compatibility to ensure seamless operation.
3. Go for an HDD with NAS to access files from different devices.
4. Select the transfer speed according to your preference.
5. Consider wireless external HDDs for a portable option.
6. Look for additional features that offer more value and security.

For more information, read through our buying guide below.

If you want to access your data across multiple devices in your home, choose an external hard disk with Network Attached Storage or NAS. This feature lets you access different files and media from your computer, smartphones, and other connected and compatible devices.

This feature is handy for large, technophile families who love to share media among themselves. It's also useful for people who work from home, as they can access their files without being stuck in their home office. This feature is incredibly handy but may come at a high cost, so think carefully before deciding to buy a hard drive with it.

Transfer speed refers to how much data will travel from one device to another in a specific period of time. It's important to check this before buying a hard drive, especially if you need to move large amounts of data at faster speeds. 

For example, if you regularly work with large files such as high-definition videos throughout your workday, higher speeds up to 5 GBps might be better for you. However, if you are a casual user and only need to occasionally transfer or backup a few files at home, hard drives with average speeds of around 100 MBps will work just fine.

Some of the more expensive external hard drives have features that can be convenient and of great value for users. There are some hard drives that can serve as a Wi-Fi hotspot, useful for those who may need to share their internet access with others, and it can serve as backup internet access for individuals with slow or unreliable internet connections. 

There are also external hard drives that can be used as a power bankーconvenient for people who heavily use their phones or other devices and need to charge them often. Furthermore, there are hard drives that offer password encryption for additional security. Lastly, if you're always on the go, some hard drives come in shockproof cases that ensure their physical safety.

1. Use folders and name them appropriately to pool together important files and access them with convenience.
2. Be consistent with your file naming and make sure to keep track of revisions by using naming conventions like "Version 2", etc.
3. Separate ongoing and completed work to make sure you can continue working efficiently.
4. Back up your data into your hard drive regularly and keep a backup schedule to ensure all of your files are safe.
5. Always review all your data, clear all the files you will no longer need, and keep track of the most important ones.

Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.

Technically, yes. However, some external hard drive manufacturers have locking mechanisms in place in order to prevent consumers from repurposing their products. If you do have an external hard drive that can be disassembled, you can try to convert your external drive into an internal one.

You should check your device's health first, then proceed to dismantle the drive in order to place it inside your laptop or desktop computer. Take note that this will lead to the invalidation of your external hard drive's warranty, so it's best to think twice before dismantling.

Just like any other electronic device, external hard drives don't have the longest lifespan. HDDs usually last for 3 up to 5 years on average, as long as they're taken care of. Luckily, this can always be lengthened through several ways, which will be discussed below.

The first tip is to, of course, handle your hard drive carefully. Larger ones most likely do not have shock resistance, and even if your hard drive has one, it's not worth the risk to drop your device and possibly lose your files. Thus, it's important to handle your hard drive with care if you want it to last longer. 

Secondly, make sure to turn it on only when you need to use it and turn it off when you're finished using it. Additionally, remember to eject your hard drive before disconnecting it from your device. Other ways to lengthen the lifespan of your hard drive are to avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures and also to take care of its cables or wires.

A hard drive isn't the only portable device that can make your life easier. An affordable laptop and a portable printer are great gadgets that allow you to work anywhere. Power banks are handy devices that keep your phone alive throughout the day. Here are our picks for the best laptops under PHP 30,000, the best portable printers, and the best 20,000 mAh power banks on the market:

Always consider your needs and budget before buying an external HDD. When you do, you’ll get a storage device that will serve you for days, weeks, and even several years to come. We hope that our buying guide and top ten helped you decide on which hard drive is best for you.

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Re-editor: Beatrice Fajardo