The Best External Hard Drive for iMac Users: A Comprehensive Guide
As technology evolves, choosing the right external hard drive for your iMac can be daunting, especially with so many options available on the market. This guide will help you understand the latest trends and offer recommendations for the best external hard drives that suit different needs and budgets.
Choosing an External Hard Drive for Your iMac
The latest external hard drives I have purchased over the past few years are the SanDisk Portable SSD, which now have a total of 9 and no issues with any of them. Any USB drive will work fine, and you can find plenty of articles online discussing reliability to help you choose a brand. But remember, what is best changes regularly, and all drives are good these days.
Unless you really need all that storage, it’s usually not necessary to get an Apple-branded drive. You can format any one you get using Disk Utility, which came with the Mac. You can also get external SSD drives on eBay, Amazon, or locally at Walmart that need to be formatted for the Apple OS. There are websites with current testing information to help you make the best choice.
SSD vs. Hard Drive: What You Should Choose?
Your 27-inch iMac model should have a SSD. Different models come with different storage capacities, starting from 256GB to up to 8TB. If you mean using an external USB 3 hard drive, both Seagate and Western Digital make great options. However, the best kind of drive is often the most expensive kind, so it's important to consider your budget.
For general use, a 4TB laptop external drive is a good starting point. You can choose between an SSD or a hard drive, and between a desktop or enterprise model. The choice depends largely on the model of your iMac and the purposes for which you need the drive. If you have a recent model with Thunderbolt 3, the OWC Envoy Pro EX or the newer FX model SSDs are excellent options.
Reputable Brands to Consider
One brand that has been producing cost-effective drives of above average reliability lately is HGST. It's worth checking if you can find one with that brand in it. Alternatively, you can build your own using an external drive enclosure, which is very easy to do. If you have a pathetic HDD or Fusion Drive, the FX or EX models are an excellent upgrade.
Conclusion
When selecting an external hard drive for your iMac, it's crucial to consider your budget, the specific needs of your machine, and the reliability of the drive. Whether you choose an SSD or a hard drive, always ensure to format the drive correctly for your Mac using Disk Utility. With a bit of research and consideration, you can find the perfect external hard drive for your iMac to store, back up, and ensure the longevity of your data.