Sep 28, 2019 External hard drives are not only useful for storing data but are an excellent way to transport files from one location to another. When you take into account price, ease of use, and portability, the Seagate Backup Plus Slim is the most reliable hard.
BestExternal Hard Drives for MaciMore2019
When it comes to storing data, personal information, and essential documents, you can never save it in enough places. External hard drives are not only useful for storing data but are an excellent way to transport files from one location to another. When you take into account price, ease of use, and portability, the Seagate Backup Plus Slim is the most reliable hard drive you can carry around with you at all times.
Best Overall: Seagate Backup Plus Slim (2 TB)
If you want a reliable external hard drive that has a decent amount of storage, is super easy to carry around and has a very affordable price tag, the Seagate Backup Plus Slim is the best option for most people. Formatted for Windows and Mac right out of the box, it's easy to carry all your essential documents from desktop to laptop without missing a beat.
The Seagate Dashboard back up system is a fantastic simple tool that can let you schedule backups to ensure you never miss any critical files you need in case something terrible happens to your computer. You can set automatic backups daily, weekly, or monthly, and change the frequency whenever you want.
Seagate also throws in a one-year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create. This can help you wrangle your photo library if you don't already use some photo managing tool, and a two-month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan.
Pros:
Best OverallSeagate Backup Plus Slim (2 TB)
Reliable, portable, and affordable.
Don't worry about lengthy setups or formatting procedures. Plug in the Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB which is formatted for Mac right out of the packaging.
Best USB-C hard drive: Samsung T5 Portable SSD (1 TB)
This small compact SSD drive from Samsung comes with both a USB-C to USB-C cable and a USB-C to USB-A, meaning it's perfect to use with your MacBook or Mac.
Its fast 540 MB/s read and write speeds are more than enough to transfer any file. And should be able to store all your photo and video files with ease thanks to its straightforward software. Plus, if you're worried about encryption, the Samsung T5 Portable SSD has you covered with an optional password to launch the drive, and AES 256-bit hardware encryption on all your files.
Pros:
Best USB-CSamsung T5 Portable SSD (1 TB)
Fast and encrypted
With 540 MB/s read and write speeds the Samsung T5 Portable SSD is fast enough for photographers and videographers to transport all their work.
Compatible with Time Machine right out of the box, the 8 TB storage capacity on the Western Digital My Book is perfect for people looking for a lot of stage at a reasonable price. It's USB 3.0 meaning it's easy to take advantage of its storage speed with fast transfer speeds.
While portability is not the Western Digital My Book's strong suit and it needs a separate power source, it does offer 256-AES encryption when you download its easy-to-use security software. It ensures all your important files and documents stay private.
If you're looking for a drive that has lots of space, os you don't have to have multiple as your storage needs grow, look no further.
Pros:
Best CapacityWestern Digital My Book (8TB)
Lots of storage for those who need it
Western Digital offers 256-AES encryption when you download its security software, meaning you can rest easy knowing your private information and personal data is safe.
Best Thunderbolt 3 Drive: LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt
LaCie hard drives have always been good for people on the go because of the rugged design. The LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt can withstand some dust, dirt, and even a tiny bit of water being splashed on it.
It's 7200 RPM Hard drive keeps things running smoothly. And the included USB-C cable — which supports Thunderbolt 3 — makes it perfect for MacBook and Mac users alike!
Cons:
Best Thunderbolt 3 DriveLaCie Rugged Thunderbolt
Rugged design with Thunderbolt 3
The LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt 3 is a favorite because it can withstand drops, dust, and even the occasional splash of water, making it easy to carry around!
Best for Legacy Hardware : G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB)
While Apple has been going the way of USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 for a while now, some of us still use older hardware and thus don't need hard drives that have USB-C connections. If you're still rocking USB-A or even a Thunderbolt 2 connection from your Mac, the G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB) is a perfect companion.
Its all-metal design is not only more durable than plastic hard drives, but it also looks stylish! Plus, it's 7200 RPM speed allows the G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 to achieve 195 MB/s read and write speeds. This makes it fast enough to transfer large video files quickly and efficiently.
Cons:
Best for legacy hardwareG-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB)
Stylish and fast even on older computers
With 7200 RPM, this hard drive works hard and fast to get your files transferred quickly. Plus, it uses USB 3.0, and it even has a Thunderbolt 2 port.
The CalDigit Tuff does the best it can to live up to its name, giving you a hard drive that isn't as delicate as most. Its official IP rating is IP57, meaning it can be submerged in 3-feet of water for 30 mins and come out the other side functional. That's not all; this Thunderbolt 3 compatible drive can also withstand falling from about 4-feet high. We still don't suggest that you purposely abuse the CalDigit Tuff. Still, it's always good to have peace of mind when you're carrying your hard drive around.
Cons:
Best rugged driveCalDigit Tuff
Can withstand drops and water
Official rated IP57, the CalDigit Tuff can survive an accidental dip into the water and has a great price tag.
If you're used to dealing with giant file sizes and need a hard drive that can handle transfer data fast, the Samsung X5 is one of the fastest SSD's you'll find. Its read and write speeds are 2,800MB/s and 2,300MB/s respectively, and the entire body is made of metal, making it much harder than plastic drives. Plus, The internal frame on the inside is shock resistant for drops from 2 meters.
This SSD comes with Thunderbolt 3 technology included. This you can take advantage of the fast speeds on your Mac or MacBook Pro, and it doesn't need any formatting, so it's plug and play!
Pros:
Best fast driveSamsung X5
Incredibly fast SSD
If you need blazing fast speeds for giant files, the Samsung X5 is a monster external SSD that can handle any workload.
Bottom line
The Seagate Backup Plus Slim is the most reliable hard drive you can carry around with you at all times. It is formatted for both Mac and Windows right out of the box, and its easy-to-use software can automatically do backups for you as often or as little as you want.
Seagate also throws in a one-year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create. This program can help you wrangle your photo library if you don't already use some photo managing tool. A two-month membership to Adobe's Creative Cloud Photography Plan means it's perfect for budding photographers as well.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Luke Filipowicz is an iMore staff writer who has been carrying around his Seagate Backup Plus Slim since his college days.
Lory Gil is the Managing Editor of iMore and an avid believer in having as many backups of your important files and documents as possible.
Rene Ritchie is the foremost authority on all things Apple and has insider knowledge about the goings-on at the biggest tech company in the world. When it comes to accessories for Mac, Rene has used them all.
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Customers recommend
See items customers recommended most in reviews and Q&A
…It will work with Macs and uses Mac's Time Machine application. I had some trouble setting it up on two Mac laptops I own. …They are patient, professional, polite, and extremely knowledgeable about their drive and about the Mac operating system.…
Reviewed on Jun 18, 2019
…I bought the Mac version and it worked flawlessly right out of the box.…
Reviewed on Sep 25, 2017
…I use on a Mac and it works great.
Reviewed on Jul 21, 2018
works so well with my mac -- plugged it in -- and voila!!!!…
Reviewed on Feb 4, 2017
So far so good. I was able to easily follow the instructions for making this compatible with my Macbook Pro (2009).
Reviewed on Dec 13, 2017
Easy plug and go with my iMac. This is just what we needed to store all of our pictures and videos. This make and model had good reviews and I am glad I purchased. I may have to purchase another to create/save back-ups for everything else.
Reviewed on Jul 20, 2019
See what other customers said
…It will work with Macs and uses Mac's Time Machine application. I had some trouble setting it up on two Mac laptops I own. …They are patient, professional, polite, and extremely knowledgeable about their drive and about the Mac operating system.…
Reviewed on Jun 18, 2019
Do you need to reformat for Mac?
The model I have can be used for either a PC or Mac. No reformatting is necessary. For Macs, the drive will ask you if you want to use Time Machine as your backup application and the Seagate drive as your backup device. Once you select these options, it pretty much runs automatically.
Can i use this for both a pc and a mac?
Hi..I’m using it with a Windows PC but specs says it’s Mac compatible. You can always send it back if it doesn’t work.
Do you have to format this drive for Mac?
It will format itself for a Mac once you select using this device as your backup device for Time Machine. It will ask you to select it once you plug it in.
Will this work with Mac 10.9 system?
Yes
Can i use this to back up photos from my iphone or will only work with a pc?
Mac Backup Drives Reviews
I believe it is PC or Mac only.
Can i use this to backup both mac and pc at the same time? or do i need to partition and dedicate one partition apiece for each os?
Sorry, Don’t know...
will these work on my product?
Will it work with what product? The only thing I can tell you is I have an Apple Mac air, and it works with that.
Will this connect with my MacBook Pro?
Absolutely, it connects to a usb port and gets powered by your computer so no need to plug into an outlet plus it's small in size. All I own are Macs. It will ask to reconfigure it (takes seconds) and you're good to go.
Will this work for my Xbox one to save & store all my games
You would have to research its compatibility with your Xbox One. Also consider the capacity of the drive, if are you a big gamer you need lots of storage space. If it meets both your compatibility and storage needs then you have a winner here since the device is excellent for PC, Mac and PS4. Good luck!
See what other customers said
…I bought the Mac version and it worked flawlessly right out of the box.…
Reviewed on Sep 25, 2017
Working good so far!
Reviewed on Oct 21, 2018
Love it. works great with my Mac Air.. no formatting needed.. Highly recommend for your Mac
Reviewed on Apr 11, 2018
what is the difference between hub and hub for Mac?
Mac one is HFS formatted. Non-Mac ones is NTFS
I want to use this drive on both pc and mac. if i buy the drie already formatted for pc, where do i install ntfs driver for mac ? on my mac computer?
mac will read it, and u can add stuff, IF u get it for mac, it will work only on mac.
I have only had this drive for a few days, but, so far, it has worked flawlessly backing up my Mac Mini through Time Machine.… Tourism book pdf.
Reviewed on Sep 16, 2018
I have three other identical drives for my old PC, but this one was formatted by my new 2018 Mac mini.…I highly recommend the Seagate Backup Plus Hub for PC or the Mac.…
Reviewed on Nov 28, 2018
Work great so far for both Mac and PC
Reviewed on Nov 20, 2018
Can i reformat for mac, or do i need to specifically buy the mac version?
You can reformat for a mac or pc.
Does it come with a cable to connect to Mac
I do not have a Mac, so I can not tell. But it comes with a USB cable.
See what other customers said
…I use on a Mac and it works great.
Reviewed on Jul 21, 2018
…Easy to use with my Mac.
Reviewed on Nov 5, 2018
Works as expected and simple to use. Use with Time machine- The truth will be how long does it last. Had two Seagate drives fail in short periods of time, less than a year. Hopefully WD will last at least 3-5 yrs.
Reviewed on May 21, 2018
Once reformatted for mac, can it be used between mac and pc seamlessly?
different setups will read and others might not depending on the format type. I've used a format type for PC and it worked on a mac
Is this compatible with a 2015 Mac Book air?
I've never used it with a mac book, but the documentation I have says it is.
The backup drive works ok on mac. I know they make a mac specific version but this one works totally fine on a mac.…
Reviewed on Jan 18, 2019
…Used this one to copy another external drive from a Windows computer to use on my Mac and all translated perfectly without having to do any formatting etc.…
Reviewed on Jan 1, 2019
Works for both Mac and PC.
Reviewed on Mar 4, 2019
backup hard drive on mac
I use the Time Machine app on my Mac to back up to the external WD hard drive. It runs automatically in the background and it works fine.
How easy is it to reformat if I going to use with a mac?
Very simple. You plug it in your mac with the usb cable you get and let the magic happend
See what other customers said
works so well with my mac -- plugged it in -- and voila!!!!…
Reviewed on Feb 4, 2017
This is my 3rd product from WD that is another perfect addition to my collection. Thank you!
Reviewed on Oct 3, 2018
The drive works flawlessly on Windows computers and MAC with NTFS drivers installed.
Reviewed on Dec 21, 2017
easy to reformat for mac?
It has Mac apps installed
Does it work with Mac OS sierra
Yes, it will work with all versions of the Mac OS.. but you need to reformat the hard drive using the 'Mac OS Extended' file system. The drive comes preformatted for Windows using the NTFS. If you need to connect this external drive to both Windows and Mac systems, I recommend using the ExFat file system - since both Windows and Mac can read/write to this file system.To get to the hard drive formatting options on your Mac, goto - Applications > Utilities > Disk UtilityJust be careful to only reformat the WD external drive (and not your system drive).
Good and format for mac.…
Reviewed on Sep 17, 2017
…Reformatted drive for a mac and works perfectly.
Reviewed on Apr 30, 2017
The backup drive works ok on mac. I know they make a mac specific version but this one works totally fine on a mac.…
Reviewed on Jan 18, 2019
How to set up on mac with time machine
Reformat the drive for Mac using Apple Disk Utility then set it as your Time Machine drive in Time Machine preferences.
Drive states for windows and mac, butauto back-up specifically states windows. is there a downloadable version for mac?
Here you go, Amazon sells them. Have a great day/nite. WD 4TB My Passport for Mac Portable external Hard Drive - USB-C/ USB-A Ready - WDBP6A0040BBK-WESE by Western Digital $139.99 $ 139 99 Prime FREE Shipping on eligible orders Temporarily out of stock. Order now and we'll deliver when available. Product Features .. Formatted for Mac OS x Password .. USB-A compatible WD discovery ..
See what other customers said
So far so good. I was able to easily follow the instructions for making this compatible with my Macbook Pro (2009).
Reviewed on Dec 13, 2017
This external hard drive works great on my mac.…
Reviewed on Oct 5, 2018
…Formatting it to play nice with the Mac file system was a simple 20-second affair in disk utility following these instructions: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201909It's been working well, and is much more affordable than many of the 'mac-compatible' external hard drives.…
Reviewed on Oct 11, 2015
Work with Mac?
Definitely work with MAC
is it both Mac and Windows compatible?
It works on Windows. I don't know about Mac
Mac Backup Drive Unmounts
After reformatting for my Mac, it’s perfect.
…Worked fine with my Mac.
Reviewed on Nov 29, 2015
…I had to format the drive for the use of mac and windows, which was pretty easy to do. After the format you can also use it for time machine(Mac).
Reviewed on Aug 21, 2018
How To Backup Macbook Air
Can it be used internaly in a mac desktop
It is in it's own external case with the USB cable attached. I have mine attached to the external USB port of my MAC with it sitting next to the MAC case. It works great. Be sure to reformat it for the MAC as it comes formatted for Windows.
Does this product work with a MAC computer?
It should all my external drives always worked on Mac.
See what other customers said
Easy plug and go with my iMac. This is just what we needed to store all of our pictures and videos. This make and model had good reviews and I am glad I purchased. I may have to purchase another to create/save back-ups for everything else.
Reviewed on Jul 20, 2019
Working great, easy to use Mac and PC.
Reviewed on Aug 3, 2019
Easy set up on my Mac.…
Reviewed on Feb 26, 2018
does it work with Mac says yes but how and what des reformatting mean?
Mac Backup Storage Devices
Reformatting changes the way data is stored on the drive for access by different computer systems. Some firmats are universal some are more specific according to the computer’s OS. Apple has their own format but can read some others as well. Reformatting is done on a Mac using Apple Disc Utility.
Can I reformat this so that it will work with mac?
Yes
Item worked well (after getting required for Mac).…
Reviewed on Aug 10, 2019
Nice drive - quiet and efficient. Reasonable price.
…Use on a Mac system.
…Used for time machine backups on Macs.…
Reviewed on Apr 25, 2018
Will this work not only to backup photos but to save photos to instead of the hard drive on my Mac and pull from (quickly) to edit, etc on my Mac?
yes, i store music, movies, photos, and computer back ups to it
will it work with Raspberry pi 3 b+ as long as it has op windows or Mac
It's just a USB 3.0 hard drive with an external power supply. It should work with any system capable of recognizing a 6TB drive with a USB 3.0 connector.
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