At the time of the PS4's launch, 500 GB was a lot of storage space. But it's not uncommon for a current PS4 game to take up 50 or 100 GB on the console's hard drive! Faced with this situation, you have 2 choices: uninstall the titles you no longer play or buy an external hard drive for PS4. If you have chosen the second option, read this guide.
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Our selection
"Seagate's Game Drive is without a doubt the best external hard drive for PS4 on the market. This 4Tb version has been optimized for the…"
"The Toshiba Canvio Gaming 1TB is probably the best cheap PS4 external hard drive you can find. Very fast and compact, this model also offers…"
"The Samsung T5 MU-PA2T0B/EU 2Tb is an external SSD for PS4 with spectacular speed. It will be well worth every penny spent. Just make sure…"
"Crucial brand is known for its high-performance and competitively priced hardwares, and has been for more than 20 years. Its external hard drive for PS4…"
Seagate's Game Drive is without a doubt the best external hard drive for PS4 on the market. This 4Tb version has been optimized for the Sony console and offers a read speed of 140MB/s.
81,60 £ on Amazon
The Toshiba Canvio Gaming 1TB is probably the best cheap PS4 external hard drive you can find. Very fast and compact, this model also offers performance up to expectations.
43,98 £ on AmazonThis external hard drive for PS4 has a simple and robust case. Good luck opening it! The matte finish with the Toshiba logo and a single status light on the front panel is also interesting. You can connect the included cable to a mini-USB 3.0 connector on one side. As with most cheap PS4 hard drives, there's no power button or software included. This is a plug and play device.
One thing is for sure : the performance of this external hard drive for PS4 is not likely to disappoint. This is not surprising, as the high surface density and the number of platters used ensure that the Toshiba Canvio Gaming 1TB performs admirably, without noise or overheating.
The Samsung T5 MU-PA2T0B/EU 2Tb is an external SSD for PS4 with spectacular speed. It will be well worth every penny spent. Just make sure you have compatible hardware.
196 £ on AmazonUltra compact, the Samsung T5 MU-PA2T0B/EU 2Tb weighs only 51g. You can easily slip it into a pocket, but be careful not to lose it! Made entirely of brushed aluminum, it doesn't differ much from the T3, except for the lack of color scheme. The choice of a metal chassis ensures that the chips inside are properly cooled, which increases the overall robustness of the device.
The notable evolution of the T5 over its predecessors comes from the use of 64-layer Triple Level Cell 3D V-NAND flash memory, updated firmware as well as support for TRIM via the USB Attached SCSI (UASP) protocol. Using a USB Type-C Gen 1 connector (thus limited to 5 Gbps), the T5 drive already achieves read speeds of 463 Mbps and 323 Mbps in writing. These speeds will be much higher with a compatible USB Type-C Gen 2 connector, 510 Mbps minimum in reading and writing!
Crucial brand is known for its high-performance and competitively priced hardwares, and has been for more than 20 years. Its external hard drive for PS4 Crucial CT2000X8SSD9 X8 2Tb, very fast, is no exception.
224 £ on AmazonThanks to the aluminum shell and rubber caps, the Crucial X8 looks great and offers a high level of protection for your data. Of course, in addition to the PS4, the Crucial X8 works on PC, Mac, Xbox One, and even mobile devices running Android, iOS, and Chrome OS, making it a truly versatile backup/storage device.
But it's in the performance department that this model really stands out. Of the many external SSDs for PS4 currently on the market, the Crucial CT2000X8SSD9 X8 2TB is the one that comes close to the claimed speed of 1050 Mbps with the CrystalDiskMark benchmark, with a score of 1025 Mbps! Moreover, it gets high scores on all benchmarks.
Any specific needs?
The best external hard drive for PS4 in 2021
The best entry-level external hard drive for PS4
The best high-end external hard drive for PS4
The fastest external SSD for PS4
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| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
9/10 |
8/10 |
9/10 |
8/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
Seagate Game Drive 4 To
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Toshiba Canvio Gaming 1 TB
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Samsung T5 MU-PA2T0B/EU 2 To
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Crucial CT2000X8SSD9 X8 2 To
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Seagate's Game Drive is without a doubt the best external hard drive for PS4 on the market. This 4Tb version has been optimized for the Sony console and offers a read speed of 140MB/s.
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The Toshiba Canvio Gaming 1TB is probably the best cheap PS4 external hard drive you can find. Very fast and compact, this model also offers performance up to expectations.
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The Samsung T5 MU-PA2T0B/EU 2Tb is an external SSD for PS4 with spectacular speed. It will be well worth every penny spent. Just make sure you have compatible hardware.
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Crucial brand is known for its high-performance and competitively priced hardwares, and has been for more than 20 years. Its external hard drive for PS4 Crucial CT2000X8SSD9 X8 2Tb, very fast, is no exception.
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Type
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HDD
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HDD
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SSD
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SSD
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Capacity
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4TB
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1 TB
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2TB
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2TB
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Hardware interface
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USB 3.0
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USB 3.1
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USB 3.1 Gen 2
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USB 3.1 Type C
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Maximum transfer speed
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10 Gbps
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5 Gbps
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10 Gbps
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10Gbps
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Read speed
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140 Mbps
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540 Mbps
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540 Mbps
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1Gbps
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The main thing to consider when buying an external hard drive for PS4 is storage space. If you're short on space, but don't buy games often, a 1 or 2TB hard drive will do the trick. For hardcore gamers and those who love to store their favorite titles, plan on an 8TB PS4 hard drive. That way, you could install all the hot titles without having to uninstall the ones you care about.
Another important criterion: brand awareness. External hard drives for PS4 are relatively prone to failures, especially external hard drives. That's why you should choose a reputable model, not a brand you don't know about. A reliable manufacturer also reduces the risk of failure and offers very good warranties.
If you take your data security seriously, an external hard drive for PS4 with data encryption is an excellent choice. Some encryption options prevent physical tampering. Such hard drives have a security layer positioned in the circuit board, prohibiting access to the inside of the hard drive.
You
shouldn't overlook connectivity either. The goal is to buy an external hard drive that you can easily plug into your PS4 and transfer data as quickly as possible. USB-C ports are certainly better for transferring data than 2.0 ports. Make sure your PS4 has compatible ports. SSDs and HDDs are both great storage devices, but SSDs have better transfer speeds, reducing loading times for PS4 games.
Some
gamers prefer to carry their games to play in a friend's apartment. In this case, the drive needs to be light and small to fit in a bag. But portability doesn't come without durability. An excellent external hard drive for PS4 should be sturdy enough, so that even if it slipped out of your bag or fell from the table, it would not be damaged. You could then opt for models with aluminum casings and rubber bumpers.
Although size is the main criterion when buying an external hard drive for PS4, it is not everything. The transfer speed is extremely important. It concerns both the data transfer, but also the loading speed of the games. Transfer speed will affect loading times and responsiveness in games.
There are two main factors that play a role in the operating speed of an external hard drive: the underlying storage technology and the connector it uses. While some external hard drives are faster than others, in general, SSDs can process data faster than HDDs.
When it comes to the connector between the external hard drive and your PS4, there are several standard options to consider. The PS4 and PS4 Pro use a USB interface, but there are different generations of interfaces with distinct differences. USB 2.0 external hard drives should definitely be avoided. USB 2.0 is an old standard with a maximum transfer speed of only 480 Mbps.
Instead, opt for models listed as USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen1 or USB 3.2 Gen1. All three are essentially the same, offering speeds up to 5 Gbps. There are currently USB 3.1 Gen2 and USB 3.2 Gen2 external hard drives that are also essentially the same, offering transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps.
An HDD was first invented over 60 years ago. Whether an internal or external device, an HDD consists of one or more rotating platters that use magnetism to store data. A read/write head hovers over the rotating platter to read and write information.
The speed of rotation will indicate the speed of data transfer. The larger the hard drive, the more platters that can fit inside, which equates to a larger storage capacity. As a rule, external hard drives are more affordable and, more importantly, available in larger capacities. On the other hand, they are much slower in transferring and processing data.
SSDs have advanced rapidly over the past few years. SSDs rely on electronic storage in non-volatile memory, which means that the stored data will not disappear when you turn off your computer. Let's put it this way: an SSD is a much larger and more advanced version of the USB flash drive.
Similar to a USB flash drive, the SSD has no moving parts. Instead, data is stored in microchips. SSDs are generally more expensive, but more robust, more compact, and most importantly, faster.
If you are looking to store large amounts of information at a low cost, an external HDD will be a good option for you. On the other hand, if speed is your top priority, we recommend choosing an SSD. For a PS4, it's best to go with an SSD, as you'll be running most of your games from the external hard drive.
Consider buying an external hard drive for PS4 that has a warranty
An extended warranty tends to be an overlooked feature, but having one can be a real lifesaver in the event of a failure.
Don't forget to check the type of cable that comes with the external hard drive
Depending on the version of your PS4, you'll need a specific connector. If the hard drive you want to buy doesn't have the right cable, consider buying an adapter. It could also be that the hard drive has a suitable connection, but the cable doesn't come with it. So you'll have to buy one separately.
Determine how much storage space you really need
Not everyone needs a 5TB external hard drive for PS4. Consider the size of the files you need to store before buying a giant hard drive.
Avoid physical damage
Certain
physical factors can cause the external hard drive for PS4 to fail, such as dust, fire, fluctuating electrical voltage, etc. It is difficult to take care of this kind of device, but you should take the utmost care.
Handle it with care
Don'
t throw it away anywhere. The external hard drive should be handled with great care. Make sure you keep it in the right place. When transporting it from one place to another, wrap it in a padded box if possible.
The best external hard drive for PS4 depends on your needs and budget. Read our buying guide for the best products out there.
The
only thing that prevents a hard drive from working on the PS4 is its format. You'll only need to reformat the hard drive to make it work with the PS4. However, compatibility is usually stated by the manufacturer itself or the online vendor. Anyway, any external hard drive should work with the PS4. You just need to configure it to the right format.
Yes
, provided it's certified as USB compliant. However, brands always recommend using the cable that comes with their device. So, if you use a longer cable and experience sensing problems, slow data transfer speed, or clipping, go back to the original cable that came with your external hard drive.
Check
that both ends of the USB cable are fully inserted into their respective ports. Try disconnecting the cable, then wait 10 seconds before reconnecting it. If this still doesn't work, try another USB cable. It's likely that your original cable will give up the ghost soon.
1
.Update the PlayStation 4 system to version 4.50 or later.2.Format the external hard drive to exFAT .3.Plug the external hard drive directly into the PS4 or PS4 Pro (via the console's USB port instead of a USB hub).4.Set this external hard drive as the default location for all your downloads and installations
.
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