Officially licensed for PS4 systems, the Seagate external HDD is not only compatible with both PS4 and PS5 and is super easy to set up, but it also has the same firmware as the console. The device is so compact you can put it in your bag or pocket.
Some users find the USB wire a bit too short.
The Seagate portable HDD is an excellent choice for console players to increase game loading speed. The PS4 external hard drive can store around 50 games and, more importantly, ensure flawless game running.
2 TB (1 TB, 4 TB, 5 TB, 500 GB also available)
USB 3.0 (USB 2.0 compatible)
Any generation of PS4 (system software version 4.5 or higher) and PS5
11.35 x 7.6 x 0.96 cm
0.135 kg
3 years limited
The drive is built in compliance with the strictest requirements, so it can offer extreme durability and high resistance against physical impact, shaking and vibrations. This excludes the risk of losing your data due to damage of internal components.
Emits a fair amount of noise, though it's not too disturbing.
If you own PS4 Pro and play mostly 4k games, buying the WD My Passport Hard Drive can be the right thing to do: this drive offers 4TB of space which will be enough to store large collections of some of the most resource-intensive 4k games.
2 TB (1 TB, 4 TB, 5 TB, 500 GB also available)
USB 3.0 (USB 2.0 compatible)
Any generation of PS4 (system software version 4.5 or higher) and PS5
10.7 x 7.5 x 1.9 cm
0.21 kg
3 years
The case is made of high-quality and particularly durable plastic, so the likelihood of damaging the drive during transport is minimal. A matte coating has increased resistance to scratches and abrasions.
There is no software for high-speed file backup.
This budget and practical hard drive has a capacity of 1 TB, so it will help you out when the built-in storage in the console is already full. Nevertheless, the transfer speed here is not inferior to more expensive models.
2 TB (4 TB, 500 GB also available)
USB 3.0 (USB 2.0 compatible)
Any generation of PS4 (system software version 4.5 or higher) and PS5
10.9 x 7.8 x 1.4 cm
0.15 kg
2 years
Games that have been installed onto the drive will load about 25% faster than the ones on the console's built-in memory thanks to higher RPM of the device, raised from 5400 to 7200.
The initial setup and formatting takes a while.
This model is famed for its compatibility and can be used on any laptop, computer, or gaming console, which will come in handy should you choose to transfer your gaming to Xbox. Plus, it's a great choice for cutting load times by a quarter, improving your playtime experience.
2 TB (0.5 TB, 0.75 TB, 1 TB, 1.5 TB, 3 TB, 4 TB, 5 TB, 480 GB also available)
USB 3.0 (USB 2.0 compatible)
Any generation of PS4 (system software version 4.5 or higher) and PS5
11.1 x 8.2 x 1.6 cm
0.17 kg
2 years
This external HDD works with the USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports for ultra-fast transfer speeds. The chip is coated with an aluminium anti-interference layer for heat dissipation and data protection.
This device comes in the exFAT format. It may require reformatting to NTFS depending on its use.
A great solution not only for PS5 users, but also for TV, PS4, Xbox, Windows, Mac, Linux, or Android owners. Fast loading of games and a comfortable launch of your favourite movies. Thanks to its compact design, you can take the drive with you when you travel.
1 TB (160 GB, 250 GB, 320 GB, 500 GB, 750 GB also available)
USB 3.0 (USB 2.0 compatible)
Any generation of PS4 (system software version 4.5 or higher) and PS5
11.58 x 8 x 1.27 cm
0.24 kg
3 years
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Seagate Portable HDD
Designed for PS4
The next external storage in our review is officially licensed for PS systems. From plug-and-play setup to a flawless game running, this portable HDD proves that using licenced hardware can make a big difference indeed. As soon as you connect the device to your PS system, automatic detection will occur and you will be able to begin a guided setup that only takes about 3 minutes. Furthermore, because the portable external storage uses the same firmware as your PlayStation console, you will be able to enjoy a flawless gaming experience time after time.
In addition to the Seagate external game drive, the purchase includes a USB 3.0 cable and a quick start guide. The device has a really compact size and weighs as little as 135g. You can carry it around in your bag or even in your pocket and bring it along with you wherever you go. For example, you can take it to your friend's place, connect it to their console and enjoy your favourite games together.
Thanks to its compact size, the PS4 external hard drive will take little space on your desk. That said, to guarantee optimal performance of the hardware, make sure that there is at least a 10 cm distance between the unit and the console.
Your Favourite Games Collection
Portable as it is, the Seagate external HDD will allow you to store over 50 games. That way, instead of deleting completed games to free space for newly released ones, you will be able to save them and resume playing at any comfortable time. Note that as soon as any content is stored, you will only be able to access it from the account that was used to transfer it.
The only minor drawback of the external hard drive is that it has a rather short USB wire. However, this is more of a nitpick than a serious issue, seeing you can always swap for another one if you find it too short.
To wrap it all up, the Seagate portable HDD is an excellent choice for PS4/PS5 owners. Allowing you to add dozens of games to your collection, the device will help you enjoy your favourite games any time you want. Designed to be used with PlayStation systems, it will take your gaming experience to a new level.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | £69.99 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B07PPNSFBK |
WD My Passport
A Decent Competitor
My Passport Drive is a favourite of many users and there are many good reasons why. To start off, this drive adopts a very stylish design featuring bevelled wavy texture in the half of the device. These waves enhance its visual look and provide a firmer grip on the smooth plastic. The drive is also rather compact and sleek, so you will be able to easily carry it in your pocket and it will not inconvenience you. What you will also like is that it's available in several colours, so if you don't like the testing drive in black, you can buy it with either silver, blue or red finish.
Moving to the performance, this drive makes a decent competitor to more expensive drives, providing an insane 4TB of storage, plenty of speed, and extensive compatibility, supporting Xbox, PS4 and PS5 as well as all operating systems (though reformatting might be needed). The writing and reading speeds are also quite good, with the drive perfectly handling batches of files and folders that aren't too huge in size. Naturally, it won't beat such giants as Seagate's Backup Plus Fast, for example, or LaCie's Rugged SSD Pro performance-wise, nonetheless it's still much better than any average drive and will be able to satisfy the needs of pretty much everyone, given they won't need to move gigabytes of data every other day.
Extra Perks
Aside from reasonable price and great overall performance, many customers are lured into getting this drive due to its USB Type C connector. Found on most recent devices with slimmer profiles, it's obvious the future is behind this connector type. That said, the drive ships with an adapter, so if you use a USB Type-A smartphone or laptop, you will be able to hook it up as well.
Another advantage of this drive is that it comes including the bundled software. The WD Discovery provides quick access to the drive and Cloud home where you can transfer files and back up your data. The WD Security, as you can guess from the name, will let you protect your data by setting up a password for the drive with 256-bit AES hardware encryption. Nothing fancy yet everything you need to make sure the digital contests of your life is safe and sound.
Finally, WD My Passport has one of the lengthiest warranties (3 years). So, if you often travel and/or your devices go through quite a lot of tossing during your commutes, this should give you some nice peace of mind.
To end it up, My Passport Drive from WD isn't the fastest drive you can find. That's true. Besides, it doesn't have a lot of fancy features. However, it has everything most people want these days, including a decent performance with batches of small files, reasonable retail price, nice write/read speeds, and high-level protection. On top of that, it works with nearly all devices including xbox, PS4 and PS5 lag-free and offers plenty of space to store some of the most demanding 4k games.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | $0.00 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B07VTFN6HM |
Toshiba (Canvio Basics)
Trusty Companion for Years
Want to get a PS4 external memory drive but worry about how long that thing will actually last? You could try relying on the warranty, sure, but why not go for the Toshiba Canvio Basics instead? This sturdy portable hard drive is guaranteed to serve you for a long time and it’s going to look good doing so.
Despite having special reinforced materials that provide a highly durable casing to the unit, the model still weighs remarkably little. Plus, the matte finish on its body is scratch-resistant so the drive will look as good as new even after a year or two of regular use. And, of course, it provides ample protection from vibrations and damage, so you won't have to worry about any bumps or drops ruining the drive or causing data loss.
However, the focus on the drive preservation seems to have tipped the scale from file preservation instead. Thus, the drive doesn’t come with a program for emergency backup, a highly useful tool when dealing with portable storage. We recommend getting one as soon as possible if you want to take full advantage of this capacious device without worrying about data corruption. Regardless, though, the fact that it doesn't come with emergency backup software is a non-issue since many utilities for such are available now for free.
Affordable Storage Expansion
Another thing that we really like about this model is that it has quite a bit of storage space to take advantage of. The standard option is 1TB but, if you feel like installing a large number of games, don’t hesitate to go for the 2TB and 3TB ones. Although the 1 TB drive is easily the most affordable option, the higher capacity drives are also quite affordable, letting you easily choose the one that best fits within your budget.
One thing that some people worry about with cheaper external hard drives is their data transfer speed. Thankfully, that won't be an issue here. This drive takes advantage of the high data speeds offered through its USB 3.0 connection, meaning that the drive's performance won't be lacking when compared to more expensive models. This fact alone should make this model worth a close look to anyone who wants a fast drive for an affordable price.
While you’ll have to spend a couple of minutes getting the Toshiba Canvio Basics ready for long-term use (mainly by downloading backup software), the overall setup of the drive is quite easy and won't confuse anyone. All in all, this model is a powerful and reliable drive that’s going to serve you for years.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | £53.88 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B07994QL95 |
WD Elements
All Fun, No Waiting
Tired of your games loading for a minute or more while you just want to play? Instead of bearing the annoying wait, take that minute instead to order the Western Digital Elements Portable, a PS4 external storage drive that will help you cut loading times.
Any game you install on this drive specifically will have its load time decreased by 25%. That’s a big bonus if you prefer playing online and want to get into matches faster. All this is thanks to higher RPM, up to 7200 from 5400. However, that speed does require a time sacrifice first. You see, the initial setup and formatting process takes upwards of 10 minutes. You do save much more time in the long run so we’d say it’s more than worth it.
This model also comes in a pretty broad variety of storage capacities. We can’t know whether you’d prefer the mid-range 1TB choice or go for the pricier 4TB option but we’d say that 1TB is enough for gaming. The latter, though, would be perfect should you decide to convert this drive into a place to store your files.
Although it takes a bit to get going, we still found the Western Digital Elements Portable drive a great time-saver and a stellar choice if you want to streamline your gaming process. Get in the fast lane with the Western Digital external HDD.
Take Advantage of Extended Storage
If you have owned your PS4 for any amount of time and you are reading this review, then chances are that you are desperately in need of extra storage space for the console. Just adding the extra storage can help, but if your current drive is already full, then you may continue to run into problems until you are able to free up some space on it. Not to fear, though - once you have connected your new Western Digital Elements Portable External Hard Drive to the PS4, you can easily free up space on the built-in internal hard drive by moving games over to the new drive.
Moving games over is quite easy. On your PS4, go into Settings, select Storage, and then select System Storage. On this screen, you should see a list of all games and applications that are stored on the internal hard drive. To move something over to the new drive, select the application or game and press X on your controller. Select Options, and then select Move to Extended Storage. The move process may take a couple of minutes, depending on the size of the game or app that you are moving, but once it has moved over to the new drive, you should now have that space freed up on the internal drive. You can do this with as many games as you want in order to balance out your new amount of storage space.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | £58.00 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B06W55K9N6 |
UnionSine HD2510
Your Storage 911
The PS4 may have a decent storage capacity, but if you’re an avid gamer, it can run out of free space one day. Your best strategy will be to get a compatible external hard drive. The UnionSine model is extra fast and portable, which makes it a logical choice in such a case.
First off, this versatile HDD goes not only with PS4/PS5, but also with your TV, Xbox, Windows, Mac, and more. No need to buy a separate external drive for every smart device you own. Save money and enjoy the boosted storage across your home or office.
This HDD is ultra-fast with the USB 3.0/2.0 ports. Thanks to this, your video games will load in a flash, and the favourite films or shows won’t be lagging every other second. Take your gaming or viewing experience to a whole new level with this practical device.
Now to the upgraded look of this unit; it combines the mirrored logo strips with the striped design that is also non-slip for the added comfort. Also note the rounded corners of this drive that won’t go hard on your fingers when you’re holding it. Weighing only 240 g, this HDD is perfectly compact and portable for home, office, or travels.
Unpack & Use
The UnionSine is a plug-and-play device, meaning there is no software for a long and tedious installation. All you have to do is plug it in, and you’re ready to store your games or multi-season TV shows. Absolutely no need to be tech savvy for using this device.
The hard disk chip in this unit has a layer of aluminium anti-interference wrapping. This boosts the heat dissipation, protecting the HDD and your stored data. Planning to transfer your old but cherished files onto this external drive? No problem and no worries.
Is this external drive good for recording TV programs such as sports events? Yes, definitely. Spacious and reliable, it allows you to enjoy the broadcasts whenever you have the time.
One thing to take note of is that this HDD comes in the exFAT format. This means you’ll need to reformat the drive to NTFS for certain systems such as Windows 10 PC or Mac. Unfortunately, the instructions that come with this device are minimal, so you’ll probably have to do your own research on the topic.
In short, the external HDD by UnionSine is a great solution to most of your storage problems.
| Last updated price | $0.00 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B091FVQC25 |
What Is an External Hard Drive for PS4?
New video game consoles like the Playstation 4 have quite a few differences from consoles of old, with one of the primary differences being in their use of mass storage. Whereas older game systems used battery backups in game cartridges or flash memory cards, newer video game systems come equipped with internal hard drives for the vast amounts of data that they need. The internal hard drives are used for storing the system's operating system, holding game saves, and even downloaded games or movies. With such options available for game consoles, coupled with the fact that digital distribution is much more common than before, internal hard drives tend to fill up pretty fast, often leaving users with no choice but to clear up space on their full drives.
The best solution to increasing your PS4's storage capacity is by connecting an external hard drive. External hard drives for the PS4 are very easy to connect, and tend to require little in the way of setup in order to start using them. An external drive can connect through the included USB ports on the PS4, and the system will recognize it as additional storage. For those who aren't sure what steps are needed to take to connect an external hard drive to their PS4, you can find some authoritative information here.
What Features to Compare
Just adding any external hard drive to your PS4 is probably not the best idea. Although many external hard drive models may work on it, there are a number of factors that should be taken into consideration before adding a new external drive to any system, including your PS4. Paying careful attention to these details can save you a lot of trouble in the long run, so check these details carefully about any external hard drive before purchasing one. After all, you want only the best external hard drive for PS4, so choose wisely.
Storage Capacity
The main factor you want to take into consideration for any external hard drive you purchase is its storage capacity. The total storage capacity, measured in Gigabytes (GB) or Terabytes (TB), shows how much data the drive can hold. The higher the number, the more games, movies, and other data that can be stored on the drive. Most external hard drives will start with at least 500 GB, although it is highly recommended that you get one with at least 1 TB of capacity, preferably more. After all, buying additional games and other things can quickly fill up a hard drive, so having as much available storage space as possible will prevent any problems with a full drive in the future.
Interface
Most external hard drives now connect to any system through the USB port, and the PS4 is no exception. All PS4 models include two USB 3.0 ports on it, allowing you to connect more than one external drive. Any external drive that you get should support at least USB 2.0, although USB 3.0 is necessary to work properly with your PS4 system and is listed in the PS4's requirements for external hard drives. Although most recent external hard drives already use USB 3.0, it is always best to check before purchasing the drive.
Compatibility
This is another very important consideration to make before purchasing an external hard drive. Making sure that whatever hard drive you want to add to your PS4 system is fully compatible is something that needs to be checked. While the PS4 utilizes the USB standard for connecting external devices, some older external hard drives may encounter some compatibility issues with more recent versions of the PS4 software. Furthermore, there is more than one model of the PS4 available, including the PS4 and PS4 Pro, so it is best to ensure that whatever external hard drive you want to add to the system has full support for that model.
Access Speed
One consideration that many people don't think about is the access speed of the hard drive. The access speed of the hard drive shows how quickly that the hard drive can load or save data. This is especially important for those who purchase and download games online. Having an external drive with a slow access speed has the potential to cause issues while playing a game, including slow load time and general performance problems, so it is best to make sure that the hard drive has a fast access time to prevent this from being a concern.
Although there may be a few other considerations to look for before purchasing an external hard drive for your PS4, keeping the above-mentioned factors in mind will ensure that you have the best experience possible.
Did you know?
Connecting an External Hard Drive to Your PS4
Anyone who has filled up the hard drive of their PlayStation 4 console will already know how good having an external hard drive will be. However, there are still quite a few people who have never connected an external drive to their PS4, and many of these same people are not sure how it's done. Fear not - connecting an external hard drive is quite easy, and only takes a couple of minutes to get it connected and configured correctly. Below are the steps that you will want to take to get your new external hard drive connected to your PS4.
Physical Connection
The first thing you will want to do is to connect the hard drive physically to your PS4. This is done by using the USB cable included with your external hard drive, and connecting it to one of the USB ports on your PS4. Many external hard drives use a proprietary connector tor the cable's connection to the external drive, so there shouldn't be any confusion about which end plugs into which, as the size of the connectors are usually quite different. Regardless, if you are confused about which side to connect to the drive and which to the PS4, your external hard drive will most likely come with instructions on how to do this.
Once the drive has been connected to your PS4, power on the system. When the system fully boots up, you will probably see a message explaining that the USB device is not supported. This is fine, as it just indicates that the external hard drive needs to be formatted before it can work.
Formatting the Drive
To format the hard drive, go to Settings - Devices - USB Storage Devices - Format as Extended Storage through the PlayStation's menu. Once you have selected Format as Extended Storage, the format process will commence. This should take no more than a couple of minutes, as even large external hard drives will format pretty quickly. Once it is finished, go back to Settings - Storage, and you should see your external hard drive now listed as a storage device. This drive should now be the default drive for installing or downloading games or other files to your PS4. It is recommended that you leave it as the default storage device, especially if your PS4's internal hard drive is nearly full.
You can find more information regarding connecting an external hard drive to your PS4 here.
Troubleshooting
In almost all cases, you should not encounter any problems with connecting an external hard drive to your PS4 if you follow the steps listed above. However, in case you do encounter any problems, there are a few things you can do to try fixing the problem yourself.
First, make sure that your external hard drive meets the requirements for external drives that are supported by the PS4. The requirements include a hard drive that supports USB 3.0 or later, and a drive that is at least 250 GB in size., with a maximum capacity of 8 TB. If your external hard drive does not meet these criteria, then you will need to purchase a new external drive that does.
Check the physical connection between your external hard drive and PS4. Make sure the USB cable is connected securely in both ends. If your external hard drive has a power light, make sure that this power light is lit while it is connected and the PS4 is powered on. If the light isn't lit, then this might indicate a problem either with the external hard drive or the USB cable.
If the hard drive power light is lit, but your PS4 is not showing a message about the external drive, navigate to Settings - Devices - USB Storage Devices in the menu to make sure that the drive is being detected by your PS4. If it is, select Format as Extended Storage to format the drive. It should then be detected properly once it is formatted.
If you are having any further problems with connecting an external hard drive to your PS4, you can find more information and troubleshooting steps at the official PlayStation Support Page.
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