What’s the best portable external hard drive with 4 terabytes of storage space?
An external hard drive is a data-holding storage device that plugs into your computer. Not only is it an efficient way to hold much more space for your computer or gaming system, but it’s also fantastic for physically transferring storage data to different locations. On top of that, they are an outstanding way to backup files, as well.
Each terabyte of storage is 1000 gigabytes. Therefore, each 4TB external hard drive carries 4000 gigabytes of data. In most cases, 4TB of storage is enough space to efficiently hold a fair amount of high-quality videos, pictures, backup files, audio files, etc.
Unfortunately, not all external hard drives were made equal. Some can be very slow at file transfers, break easily which can result in loss of files, compatibility with different software, and overpriced.
After extensive research, testing, and reviews; We formulated a list of the 10 best 4TB external hard drives. Each one of these is very reliable and provides the best value.
In Short, Here Are The Best Portable External Hard Drives With 4 Terabytes
- Toshiba (HDTC940XL3CA)
- Seagate STGX4000400
- WDBPKJ0040BBK-WESN
- Seagate STEA4000400
- LaCie (LAC9000633)
- Seagate STHP4000400
- Toshiba (HDTB440XK3CA)
- Seagate STEA4000402 for Xbox One
- WDBU6Y0040BBK-WESN
- Seagate STEL4000100
1. Toshiba (HDTC940XL3CA)
First up, the Toshiba (HDTC940XL3CA) is an exceptional 4TB external hard drive. You get a 2-year limited warranty with the purchase. Along with that, you also get Toshiba’s downloadable storage security software which makes it easier to back up your files. It’s compatible with both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, as well. Overall, it’s an excellent choice and we highly recommend it!
Users Say: “I went with Toshiba after losing 4 of 5 Seagate hard drives to poor quality! Do not buy Seagate products: They’re cheaply made using low-quality components. This Toshiba drive is not only better made, its speed is superior to any drive I own (Seagate). It’s fast, small, and very well made. I have several older Toshiba drives that are also working perfectly. I’ll never go any other way but Toshiba for my memory drive requirements.”
Tech Specs & Reviews
- Compatible with USB 3.0
- 4 Terabytes of storage
- Portable
- 2 year limited warranty
- Downloadable Backup Software
2. Seagate STGX4000400
Here is yet another one of the most popular 4TB external hard drives on the market. While it’s not as famous as WD, the Seagate STGX4000400 is a phenomenal choice for Xbox, PS4. You’ll love how it’s already preformatted for Windows and PC, as well.
There are a plethora of reasons why we love it. For one, it’s remarkably dependable. If you want a hard drive with the highest customer satisfaction and the lowest amount of issues among users, this hard drive might be the one for you. The moment you attach it to your Mac or Windows, it automatically recognizes the device and makes it effortless to drag and drop storage.
Of all the hard drives on this list, this is actually the brand I decided to keep and stick with. In my experience, I’ve never had a single issue with this hard drive since I got it 5 years ago. It provides relatively quick 120 MB/s max speed, as well. Overall, it’s a very reliable choice and provides superb value for your money!
Users Say: “I have a few Seagate external hard drives as well as 3 internal hard drives. Seagate products have never failed nor crashed on me ever. I have 2 old Buffalo 500GB external drives with Seagate drives in them. I bought them in 2007. I check the health and reliability of all my hard drives once a month or 2 months. Still healthy and strong. I use external hard drives for video and photography storage. Half of my drives are storage and the other half is a redundancy of back-up drives for the 1st half. I do have 1 WD internal hard drive that is coming up bad; meaning it can fail at any time. So I will be replacing it with a Seagate drive soon.”
Tech Specs & Reviews
- 1 year limited warranty
- Compatible with Windows or Mac
- 2 color options
- USB 3.0 for PS4, Xbox, PC, and Mac
- Portable
- 4 Terabytes of storage
3. WDBPKJ0040BBK-WESN
Coming in either black, red, or blue; The WDBPKJ0040BBK-WESN is another superb 4TB external hard drive for the money. The primary upgrade this hard drive offers is its +256 bit AES hardware encryption for security. In other words, if your planning on adding sensitive information to your hard drive and need added security, this one’s an excellent choice. You must initiate password protection for it to work.
Aside from its essential security capabilities, it comes with an impressive 3-year limited warranty, as well. You’ll also appreciate its automatic backup. The primary downside with this hard drive is it’s only compatible with PC. Unfortunately, Mac users must look elsewhere. Aside from that, it’s an amazing choice for PC users who need a portable 4TB external hard drive with AES encryption, backup, and storage!
Users Say: “Since I’m a photographer, copying and storing those photos after every shoot is an essential thing for me. Thus, my PC storage is definitely cannot handle all those pictures, I went further ahead and bought this WD My Passport when I’m traveling. This Passport does not let me disappointed at all! With a slim and slick design, portable enough to let it seat comfortably inside my travel bag almost all the time. No regret buying this even a second, absolutely worth the money I paid!”
Tech Specs & Reviews
- 4 Terabytes of storage
- + 256 bit AES hardware encryption
- Auto backup
- 3 color options
- 3-year manufacturer’s limited warranty
- Portable
4. Seagate STEA4000400
Next in line, the Seagate STEA4000400 is another wildly popular 4TB external hard drive with great customer reviews. Coming with the purchase is an 18-inch USB 3.0 cable and peace of mind with a 1-year limited warranty. Upon connection to your Windows software, the hard drive is automatically recognizable. With a 4.61 length and 3.15 width, it’s easy to travel with. Overall, it’s an excellent choice for windows!
Users Say: “I purchased this for use with my Xbox One, specifically to hold all of the huge, DLC heavy games like COD, Fallout, Skyrim, etc. Ever since I’ve plugged it in 9 months ago it’s never given me any issues. I followed my Xbox to format it, moved the games over, and made it the primary download location for most of the games and DLC I’ve downloaded ever since. The content loads fast and I have no complaints. Purchased another one to use with my MacBook Pro.”
Tech Specs & Reviews
- Dimensions: 4.61 x 3.15
- 4 Terabytes of storage space
- Portable
- Compatible with USB 3.0
5. LaCie (LAC9000633)
Next up, the LaCie (LAC9000633) is an exceptional 4TB portable external hard drive. Coming with the purchase, it includes a 2-year limited warranty. One of its essential attributes is its quick 130MB/s speed. You’ll also appreciate the 1-month complimentary Adobe creative cloud membership.
The primary downside with this external drive is it’s a bit faulty. Many people complain about it prematurely breaking or their compatible computer doesn’t recognize it. However, a far greater amount of users are extremely happy with it. Be sure to check out the reviews below.
Users Say: “I’ve only had this for a few weeks and got it to replace an Iomega drive that failed, I was using it for my time machine backups. So I needed a new drive and decided on this one. I like the small form factor, protective cover, etc. I work for a communications company where I install fiber data circuits for businesses, and I kept seeing this drive being used as a daily backup in their data rooms. When they weren’t using a NAS drive for onsite backup, this drive was always the one I kept seeing. When it came I formatted for MAC and was up a running. I can’t speak to the tech support as I didn’t have a need for it.”
Tech Specs & Reviews
- Compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0
- Portable
- 4 Terabytes of space
- Max Speed: 130MB/s
- 2 year limited warranty
- Compatible with Laptop and PC
6. Seagate STHP4000400
Just recently, the Seagate STHP4000400 had a significant price cut. Although we’re unsure if this discount is permanent or temporary, we believe it’s either way, an outstanding value. You can get this 4 Terabyte hard drive in either black, light blue, or red.
With the purchase, you get a 2-year limited warranty. On top of that, it also comes with a 60-day complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan and a 1-year free subscription to Mylio Create.
Primarily made of aluminum with a minuscule amount of brushed metal enclosure, it’s made of stylish but robust material. It’s compatible with both Windows and Mac for either PC or laptop. Amongst users, it’s very popular with incredible ratings. You’ll also appreciate the fast 120MB/s max speed. Overall, this hard drive is a dependable choice for any application. It’s well priced and very portable!
Users Say: “I bought a Western Digital drive and the drive went out in 31 days and Western Digital would not provide a replacement without me returning the one that went bad and was full of personal and sensitive information. They ran me around in a circle for 2 weeks then decide not to replace the item. I offered to pay a fee to keep and destroy the old one. I bought a 5TB Seagate for less money from Amazon and got it the same day. I have had one for 10 years and got this one because of the 5TB storage. No more Western Digital.”
Tech Specs & Reviews
- Compatible with Mac or Windows
- 4 Terabytes of storage
- Aluminum enclosure
- USB 3.0
- Portable
- Auto back-up
- 120 MB/s
- 3 color options
- 2 year limited warranty
7. Toshiba (HDTB440XK3CA)
Running under $100, the Toshiba (HDTB440XK3CA) is an affordable but high-quality 4TB external hard drive. Not only is it formatted NTFS for Windows or Macintosh, but it comes with a 1-year limited warranty, as well. It’s also compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0. You’ll love the professional matte finish design, as well.
This hard drive is very popular with amazing user reviews. With a 4.3 inch length and 3.1-inch width, it’s very comfortable to travel with. Overall, it’s a fantastic external hard drive!
Users Say: “This was so easy to use! I was able to just plug it in and start using it right away. I had a problem with my HP laptop and even though my husband and I were able to fix it, I became a little paranoid about only having one backup (and that was Internet-based). So I decided to purchase a portable HD as he used at work to ensure I had a second backup that was not Internet-based. This was perfect! I backed up my entire laptop in a matter of 45 minutes (yes, I have a LOT of files). I read lots of reviews and truly thought about the size I needed before purchasing this particular HD. I am very pleased and would highly recommend this brand and drive.”
Tech Specs & Reviews
- Compatible with USB 2.0 or USB 3.0
- 1 year limited warranty
- Portable
- 4 Terabyte of storage space
8. Seagate STEA4000402 for Xbox One
Explicitly designed for Xbox One, this 4TB external hard drive is a phenomenal choice. With the Seagate STEA4000402, you’re able to store over 50 titles. Another beneficial attribute is it’s little to no lag time. Considering it was customized for Xbox, you won’t have a delay opening your games. Overall, if you’re primarily looking for an external hard drive for Xbox, this is the one to get!
Users Say: “I was so happy to finally get this drive. I was at the point where I had to delete games just to get updates. I plugged in the drive and it asked if I wanted to use the drive for streaming media or games. I chose games and began downloading all of the games I had deleted. I still have 3.5 terabytes of free space now! I did have to delete one game from my main drive and re-download it to make space on the primary drive, but it is working flawlessly. In fact, I feel like my games actually run smoother from the other drive… and I’m not sure why. All in all, I am extremely happy with my purchase. I can literally download every game available on Game Pass and not worry.”
Tech Specs & Reviews
- 4 terabytes of storage space
- Portable
- Optimized for Xbox
- Unformatted
- 140MB/s Max Speed
9. WDBU6Y0040BBK-WESN
For many reasons, the WDBU6Y0040BBK-WESN is the most famous 4TB hard drive on the market with near-flawless reviews. To make things better, it’s currently on a hefty 54% discount, as well. This external hard drive is compatible with both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. You’ll also be very impressed with the amount of storage its compact design is able to handle. With a 4.35-inch length, 3.23-inch width, and weighing only half of a pound, you’ll have no issues fitting in a pocket or purse.
Another tremendous benefit is its 2-year manufacturer’s limited warranty providing peace of mind. It’s compatible with both Mac and Windows. Whether you’re gaming or need it for PC storage, it’s a fantastic bang for the buck portable external hard drive. Be sure to check out the reviews below!
Users Say: “I put this drive into use immediately upon receipt. The included in the package, which is quite small, is the drive itself, the connecting cable, and a rudimentary, fold-out sheet of instructions in several languages. The instructions are unnecessary, as the setup is extremely simple. Connect one end of the cable to the drive and the other end of a USB port. There’s only one way to connect the cable, as you will discover. Wait a few minutes for plug and play to recognize the device and pretty soon it shows up on Windows Explorer (or, as I use it, Q-Dir, with the next consecutive drive letter assigned. Presto, about 4tb of extra space. I use a Targus AWE55US Chill Mat Cooling Stand under my laptop, and this drive fits in the void between the top and bottom of the stand and butts up against the fan. The cable is easily routed to an adjacent USB port. It’s small enough to be easily portable in a briefcase, purse, laptop bag. or the pocket of your cargo pants.”
Tech Specs & Reviews
- Portable
- Formatted NTFS for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7
- 4 Terabytes of storage
- Compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0
- 2-year manufacturer’s limited warranty
10. Seagate STEL4000100
Last but not least, the Seagate STEL4000100 is a remarkable 4TB external hard drive. It provides two USB 3.0 ports and a 2-year limited warranty. With the purchase, you also get a 2-month Adobe Creative Cloud Photography membership. Not only is it fantastic for backing up your data, but the added USB port can charge your phone, as well. Overall, it’s a great choice and we highly recommend it. Be sure to check out the reviews below!
Users Say: “I didn’t think of writing a review until today when I had ordered another 8TB external hard drive that was a different brand and I had something to compare to, this external hard drive has a very fast write speed I was getting 150 or so, the other cheaper 8TB external hard drive of another brand was much slower writing at 20 MB/sec… so if you are debating on buying something cheaper I would spend the extra $ 20.00 to get this one as it’s much much faster, I will be buying another one to replace the cheaper slow one I made the mistake of purchasing.”
Tech Specs & Reviews
- 2-year limited warranty
- 4-terabytes of space
- 2 Months Adobe CC Photography
- 2 USB Ports 3.0
Quick Recap
Here Are The Best External Hard Drives With 4 Terabytes
- Toshiba (HDTC940XL3CA)
- Seagate STGX4000400
- WDBPKJ0040BBK-WESN
- Seagate STEA4000400
- LaCie (LAC9000633)
- Seagate STHP4000400
- Toshiba (HDTB440XK3CA)
- Seagate STEA4000402 for Xbox One
- WDBU6Y0040BBK-WESN
- Seagate STEL4000100
What’s an external hard drive?
An external hard drive is basically a drive that provides storage space. While a computer’s internal hard drive delivers storage within the computer, an external hard drive is portable and comes in various amounts of storage space.
How much does an external hard drive cost?
While it primarily depends upon the provided space, $47 all the way up to $850. However, most popular external hard drives run between $47 to $200’s.
How many terabytes of storage do external hard drives offer?
External hard drives come in various storage space amounts any from 1 terabyte all the way up to 24 terabytes and almost everything between.
What does an external hard drive do?
An external hard drive provides storage space within a square-like portable object.
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