In this article, I will discuss the Best Seagate External Hard Drives, highlighting their top features, performance, and ideal use cases.
Whether you need a high-speed SSD, a reliable backup solution, or a gaming-optimized drive, Seagate offers a range of options to suit different needs. Let’s explore the best choices for storage, speed, and durability.
Key Points & Best Seagate External Hard Drives for Storage & Backup in 2025 List
| Model | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Seagate Ultra Touch HDD | Compact, fabric design, USB-C compatible, encrypted backup. |
| Seagate Backup Plus Slim | Slim, portable, auto backup, USB 3.0, 1-5TB capacity. |
| Seagate Expansion Desktop Drive | High-capacity (up to 20TB), plug-and-play, ideal for large storage needs. |
| Seagate One Touch SSD | Portable SSD, fast transfer speeds, password protection, USB 3.0. |
| Seagate Game Drive for Xbox | Designed for Xbox, up to 5TB, fast load times, plug-and-play. |
| Seagate FireCuda Gaming SSD | NVMe SSD, blazing-fast speeds (up to 2,000 MB/s), RGB lighting. |
| Seagate IronWolf Pro NAS HDD | Built for NAS, 24/7 reliability, up to 22TB, IronWolf Health Management. |
| Seagate BarraCuda Fast SSD | Compact SSD, up to 540 MB/s, USB-C, sleek design, lightweight. |
| Seagate Expansion Portable Drive | Simple, plug-and-play, USB 3.0, up to 5TB, reliable storage. |
| Seagate Starfield Special Edition Drive | Xbox-themed design, 2TB, fast performance, exclusive Starfield artwork. |
10 Best Seagate External Hard Drives
1.Seagate Ultra Touch HDD
The Seagate Ultra Touch HDD blend ergonomics with aesthetics; ultra portable and fashionable, this external hard drive is perfect for many people.
The 5TB storage capacity is also commendable when it comes to backing up personal files like documents, photos or videos.
This external storage device also comes with a USB-C plug, enabling easy and fast data transfers. To protect data, this hard drive caliber comes with password protection via AES-256 encryption.
The Ultra Touch performed decently for the majority of the tests; averaging read speeds to be around 140MB/s and write speeds from 129 to 137MB/s. Other features include a 36 month warranty and trial offers for services like Mylio Photos or Dropbox Backup.
Seagate Ultra Touch HDD – Key Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | Up to 5TB |
| Interface | USB 3.0 (with USB-C adapter) |
| Speed | Read: ~140 MB/s, Write: ~129–137 MB/s |
| Encryption | AES-256 hardware encryption |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac |
| Backup Software | Mylio Photos and Dropbox trials |
| Design | Compact, fabric-textured exterior |
| Warranty | 3 years |
2.Seagate Backup Plus Slim
Seagate’s Backup Plus Slim is an elegant and fashionable portable external hard drive with a space of up to 2TB which makes it ideal for storage, videos, documents and photos. It has a rugged design and has a USB 3.0 interface which makes data transfer quick.
During my performance assessment, the external hard drive reached sequential read and write speed of around 119.5MB/s.
It comes with Seagate Dashboard software which makes backup easy and customizable and provides complimentary Mylio Photos+ for 6 months along with free trial of Dropbox backup plan for 6 months. To top it all, you also get a two year warranty for this device.
Seagate Backup Plus Slim – Key Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | Up to 2TB |
| Interface | USB 3.0 |
| Speed | Read: ~119.5 MB/s, Write: ~119.5 MB/s |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac |
| Backup Software | Seagate Dashboard |
| Extras | 6-month Mylio Photos+ and Dropbox Backup trials |
| Design | Slim, portable, metal casing |
| Warranty | 2 years |
3.Seagate Expansion Desktop Drive
The Seagate Expansion Desktop Drive features a storage capacity of up to 24TB, which is sufficient for large media libraries and data backups. It has a plug and play feature, so it will work seamlessly with both Windows and Mac computers, although Mac users might have to reformat the drive to make use of it.
It also features a USB 3.0 interface, which allows for larger transfer rates than 2.5 inch external HDDs. In performance reviews, the device managed to reach close to 280MBps for read and write speeds.
The device is externally powered, but does feature internal power management to increase energy efficiency. Aesthetically, the device is vented, streamlined, and has anti-skid feet that allow for better ruggedness. On the downside, it is more expensive than SSDs and does not offer backup or encryption software.
Seagate Expansion Desktop Drive – Key Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | Up to 24TB |
| Interface | USB 3.0 |
| Speed | Read/Write: ~280 MB/s |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac (reformat required for Mac) |
| Power Source | External AC adapter |
| Backup Software | None |
| Design | Ventilated casing, anti-skid feet |
| Warranty | 1 year |
4.Seagate One Touch SSD
As a portable solid state drive, the Seagate One Touch SSD has 2TB of storage, weighs 43 grams, and is approximately 70 x 50 x 10 mm in dimension. In addition to its compact and lightweight design, the drive also has high transfer speed thanks to its USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface.
It is capable of sequential reading and writing at a max of 1,030MB/s, and successfully completed performance testing with read speeds of 953.63MB/s and write speeds of 957.21MB/s.
This drive is compatible with many devices including those running on Windows, Mac, Android, and more. To top it off, it’s also equipped with Type C and Type A USB ports for more flexibility. You can also find this SSD in a variety of colors like white, blue, black, and even more!
Seagate One Touch SSD – Key Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | Up to 2TB |
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Speed | Read: ~1,030 MB/s, Write: ~957 MB/s |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, Android |
| Backup Software | Seagate Toolkit |
| Extras | USB-C and USB-A cables included |
| Design | Compact, lightweight, multiple colors |
| Warranty | 3 years |
5.Seagate Game Drive for Xbox
The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is an officially licensed external hard drive desgined to be an extension to your Xbox console’s storage. It comes in sizes up to 5TB, which allows you to have enough room for your media files, games and downloadable content. The sleek black design with green accents will compliment your Xbox.
This drive also provides USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports which makes setup effortless, and provides better speed than normal hard drives.
Although Xbox Series X and Series S optimized games cannot be played straight from the hard drive, it can be used as efficient Cold Storage which saves internal space and allows a user to transfer it back when it is needed so re-downloading is not required.
The drive is also compatible with Xbox One enabling gameplay on older titles. The Seagate Game Drive is an all in one storage solution for gamers looking to expand their storage without complicating the seamless integration into the Xbox ecosystem.
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox – Key Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | Up to 5TB |
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 1 |
| Speed | ~140 MB/s (HDD speed) |
| Compatibility | Xbox Series X |
| Power Source | USB-powered |
| Backup Software | None |
| Extras | Green LED bar, plug-and-play setup |
| Warranty | 1 year |
6.Seagate FireCuda Gaming SSD
The FireCuda is a next level gamer’s external SSD drive. It is ideal for heavy-duty gaming because it has a whopping storage capacity of 2TB. It has a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface for further support and this is helpful to transfer files at 2000 MB/s speed.
The drive comes with RGB lighting to add some psychological appeal for users. During testing of the drive was extremely impressed with the speeds achieved while performing sequential read and write operations.
The unique design and style of the drive set it apart from competitors because it offers a customizable LED light strip which serves both form and practical uses.
Like most external drives the FireCuda is always compatible with Windows and Mac, although the flashing LEDs can be turned off only via Mac. To aid with backup and sync storage options for gaming individuals, Seagate’s Toolkit software comes pre-installed.
Seagate FireCuda Gaming SSD – Key Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | Up to 2TB |
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 |
| Speed | Read/Write: Up to 2,000 MB/s |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac |
| Backup Software | Seagate Toolkit |
| Extras | RGB lighting, customizable effects |
| Design | Sleek, durable, LED light bar |
| Warranty | 5 years |
7.Seagate IronWolf Pro NAS HDD
Built with NAS systems in mind, the Seagate IronWolf Pro NAS HDD provides high capacity of up to 24TB. It can function non-stop with its 7200 RPM spindle speed, 256 MB cache, and sustained transfer speeds of 255 MB/s.
The 14TB model performed well in benchmark tests and the drive has a trustworthy 300TB/year workload rate, 2.5 million hours MTBF, and 5 year warranty.
It also comes with three years of data recovery services to ease the minds of users. Plus, the IronWolf Pro works easily with top NAS brands such as Synology.
Seagate IronWolf Pro NAS HDD – Key Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | Up to 24TB |
| Interface | SATA 6Gb/s |
| Speed | 7200 RPM, ~255 MB/s |
| Compatibility | NAS systems, Windows, Linux |
| Workload Rate | 300TB/year |
| MTBF | 2.5 million hours |
| Extras | Vibration sensors, RAID-optimized |
| Warranty | 5 years + 3 years data recovery |
8.Seagate BarraCuda Fast SSD
The BarraCuda Fast external solid-state drive by Seagate comes in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB sizes. With a sophisticated square shape, it has a green-illuminated accent and a USB-C port for connections.
Based on the performance tests done on the devise, it reached sequential read speeds of up to 557 MB/s for and write speeds of 522 MB/s.
The performance remained reliable for different file sizes as well. Compared to NVMe drives with the same pricing, the BarraCuda Fast will be outperformed in speed, but for base SATA SSD performance, this drive is exceptional.
This product comes with a 3-year limited warranty and also includes the Toolkit software by Seagate, which can be used for backup and folder mirroring.
Seagate BarraCuda Fast SSD – Key Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | Up to 2TB |
| Interface | USB 3.0 (USB-C compatible) |
| Speed | Read: ~557 MB/s, Write: ~522 MB/s |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac |
| Backup Software | Seagate Toolkit |
| Extras | USB-C and USB-A cables included |
| Design | Compact, square shape, green LED |
| Warranty | 3 years |
9.Seagate Expansion Portable Drive
Compact in design and available in storage options up to 2TB, the Seagate Expansion Portable Drive is great for supporting the backup of documents, photos, and videos. With a USB 3.0 plug and play device, It allows for reformatting on mac systems, too.
On average, the drive has read speeds of 107 MB/s and write speeds of 104 MB/s. Although this device does lack additional bundled software and security features, the drive’s affordability makes it a reliable option for simple storage.
Seagate Expansion Portable Drive – Key Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | Up to 5TB |
| Interface | USB 3.0 |
| Speed | Read/Write: ~107 MB/s |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac (reformat for Mac) |
| Power Source | USB-powered |
| Backup Software | None |
| Design | Compact, lightweight, textured casing |
| Warranty | 1 year |
10 Seagate Starfield Special Edition Drive
The Seagate Starfield Special Edition Game Drive is an external hard drive compatible with Xbox systems and PCs.
“Starfield” is prominently featured in its design. With a maximum storage of five terabytes, users can store plenty of games and media. It features RGB LED customizable lighting which enhances its aesthetics.
It connects via USB 3.2 Gen 1 and is powered by USB, meaning there is no additional external power source required.
While it cannot run Xbox Series X|S optimized games, it provides effective cold storage for users to transfer games as they need. Customer reviews praise the design and portability of the drive.
| Feature | Seagate Starfield Special Edition Drive |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 2TB |
| Connectivity | USB 3.2 Gen 1 |
| Speed | Up to 120 MB/s |
| Compatibility | Xbox & PC |
| Design | Starfield-themed special edition |
| Best For | Gamers & Starfield Fans |
Conclusion
To sum up, Seagate’s external hard drives can be used for a spectrum of purposes ranging from gaming to secure data storage.
Gamers will appreciate the Seagate Starfield Special Edition Drive, while those who need speed and portability will love the One Touch SSD.
Whether your focus is on backup, performance, or design, Seagate never fails to deliver quality and reliability.
