6 Best External Hard Drive Storage for PS5

The PlayStation 5 is one of the best gaming consoles on the market. It offers tremendous power to boot and can run the latest games at superb graphics settings. However, its internal storage can fill up quickly, especially with the large file sizes of modern titles. If you’re looking to expand your PS5’s storage capacity and keep your favorite games readily available, an external hard drive is a great solution.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the best external hard drives for PS5 to increase the available storage. This will grant you ample storage space to store your favorite titles, downloadable content, and more. So, let’s get to it.

But first, you might want to check out the following:

• Carry your console in one of these PS5 travel cases for all budgets.
• Upgrade your aim with the finest controllers for FPS games.
• Enjoy driving simulators? Check out the smoothest PS5 racing wheels you can buy.

Can PS5 Run Games From External Storage

Before starting, it’s important to understand the purpose of opting for external storage for your PS5. According to Sony, you can store both PS5 and PS4 games on your external storage solution. However, you can only play PS4 games directly from them on your PS5. On the other hand, PS5 games rely on the console’s high-performance internal SSD.

You can still use an external drive to store PS5 games to free up space on your console’s internal SSD. When you want to play one of these stored PS5 games, simply transfer it back to the internal SSD.

This is a much faster process than redownloading the entire game. You can also use your external storage to keep your media files, such as screenshots or gameplay recordings.

Now, let’s look at the best external storage solutions for your PS5.

1. Toshiba Canvio Gaming

• Storage type: HDD
• Capacity Options: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB

Toshiba Canvio Gaming stands out with its exceptional features tailored for gamers who crave a seamless storage experience. Boasting an enormous storage capacity of up to 4TB, the external hard disk drive works best for budget gamers looking for an affordable way to accommodate their large games library.

The external HDD comes with Toshiba’s Always On mode baked into its firmware. This delivers a responsive experience without any stutters when playing older PS4 games directly off it. Also, the HDD uses USB 3.0 technology, which isn’t the fastest by modern standards. However, it should still work fine for transferring games to and fro from your PS5.

2. Seagate Game Drive for PlayStation

• Storage type: HDD
• Capacity Options: 2TB, 5TB

The Seagate Game Drive for PlayStation comes with matching firmware to work with all PS5 models out of the box. Add to that, it combines a sleek design with blue LED lighting. This not only complements your PS5 but also adds a cool factor to your gaming station.

As for storage, the external HDD offers up to 5TB capacity, ensuring that you have ample space for your entire game library, downloadable content, and more. It also uses the USB 3.2 Gen1 connector to offer comparatively faster transfer speeds than what you’d get with the Toshiba Canvio Gaming HDD.

3. WD BLACK P10

• Storage type: HDD
• Capacity Options: 2TB, 4TB, 5TB

With up to 5TB of storage space, this external hard drive ensures that you have ample space for your extensive game library. Similar to the Seagate Game Drive, the P10 also uses the USB 3.2 Gen1 interface for fast transfer speeds of up to 130MB/s.

One standout feature of the WD BLACK P10 is its durable design, making it an excellent choice for gamers who are always on the move. Whether you’re attending gaming events or simply gaming at a friend’s place, the P10’s robust build ensures that your data stays secure.

4. Crucial X6

• Storage type: SSD
• Capacity Options: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB

The Crucial X6 is an ultra-portable SSD that is perfect for gamers who prioritize speed and convenience. While it might have a smaller storage capacity for the same price compared to traditional hard drives, you can get up to 4TB of storage on the X6 as well. However, you will have to spend a bit more in that case.

As for connectivity, its USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface ensures lightning-fast data transfer speeds. In fact, Crucial claims that the X6 offers transfer speeds up to 800MB/s, which is much faster than external HDDs. The X6 is quite compact and drop-proof, making it extremely portable as well.

5. Samsung T7

• Storage type: SSD
• Capacity Options: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB

Samsung’s T-series of SSDs have long been considered one of the best portable SSDs on the market, and for good reason, too. The T7 is no different, packing in plenty of fast storage inside a compact and stylish shell. The SSD’s NVMe technology delivers outstanding read and write speeds, ensuring that your games load in the blink of an eye.

It also uses Dynamic Thermal Guard to withstand and control heat, allowing you to game for extended sessions without hiccups. It’s also available in a trio of color options, including Red, Blue, and Black, to match your setup. However, its maximum capacity of 2TB falls short compared to its competition.

6. WD BLACK P50

• Storage type: SSD
• Capacity Options: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB

For gamers who demand top-notch performance, the Western Digital P50 is a game-changer. With SuperSpeed USB 20 Gbps connectivity and read speeds up to 2,000MB/s, this drive will significantly reduce loading times and improve your overall gaming experience. It’s also available with a maximum storage capacity of up to 4TB, offering enough storage for both older as well as modern titles.

The P50’s durable and stylish design further adds to its appeal, with the drive being fully shock-resistant while being extremely portable. It’s definitely one of the most expensive external storage solutions for the PS5, but even consumer reviews agree that it’s one of the best options, too.

That being said, you can opt for the WD Black P40, which offers almost the same performance. It’s limited to 2TB of storage but is even more portable than the P50.

Add an External Hard Drive Storage to Your PS5

Well, those were our picks for the best external storage solutions for your PS5. Each of these external hard drives brings something unique to the table, catering to different preferences and priorities. Whether you prioritize storage capacity, speed, or portability, there’s a perfect match for every gamer. However, make sure to format your storage drive first from your PS5’s settings before transferring any data.