List of the best 2TB External Hard Drives
Most people on the lookout for the best external hard drive would go with one that has a capacity of 2TB. Sure 1TB seems to be the popular one but the attention is slowly shifting to the 2tb external hard drive. Now if you are choosing between the 1TB and the 2TB versions, we recommend going with the 2TB external hard drive. Why? Simply because you get double capacity without having to pay double the price. In fact, you only have to shell out 50% more which is way better than having to pay for two 1tb drives. And with today’s file sizes, you certainly cannot get enough storage space.
For this review, we have divided the 2tb external hard drives into two categories – the 2TB desktop external hard drive and the 2TB portable external hard drive. Like what we have mentioned in our other external hard drive reviews, the desktop variation requires an external power supply which means you will need a separate power source for it unlike the portable version that can be powered simply via USB.
Top 2TB Desktop External Hard Drives
Western Digital WD Elements 2TB USB 2 Desktop External Hard Drive
Link: Buy from amazon
Coming in first is the most popular drive – the Western Digital Elements Desktop External hard drive. Most people buy this because it’s the most popular brand in the hard drive industry so most consumers choose this by default which isn’t a bad decision at all. If you’re the regular computer user and do not demand too much from a hard drive and just need the reliability and peace of mind the western digital brand provides, then this is the perfect drive for you.
If you’re a mac user, you have to take note that you will need to reformat this drive before you can start using it with your macbook or iMacs. If you’re a mac user and prefer a drive that works straight out from the box we recommend the G-Technology G Drive.
Bottom line: this drive is cheap, does its job and has a 1 year warranty. The only major drawback we see with this drive is its lack of support for USB 3.0 which proves to be a huge bottleneck for any drives larger than 1TB. But if you consider yourself a basic computer user who does not deal with multimedia or large files in general, then this drive is perfect for you, otherwise get the Lacie Minimus.
LaCie Minimus 2 TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive
Link: Buy from Amazon
The past few years the Lacie brand has been getting some well deserved attention especially since they have proven to be a good solid performer. The LaCie Minimus is actually the smallest USB 3.0 external desktop hard drive to date covered in sleek aluminum that is both stylish and sturdy weighing in at only 1 pound. Compatibility is one of the pros since its LaCie backup assistant will work with both the Mac and PC. The ultrafast USB 3.0 is a big plus as well especially if you’re going to be transferring HD movies, music, photos, or any file that is bigger than usual. Now if you don’t have USB 3, you wouldn’t have to worry since it is backwards compatible to USB 2.0. Another huge plus is the fact that it provides an extra USB port power cable which means you can just plug it in your computers USB to power it – no need to look for that extra power socket which could be a pain at times.
Bottomline: It costs a few dollars more than western digital but the sleek, compact, sturdy and fast LaCie proves to be a great choice amongst the 2tb desktop external hard drives in the market.
G-Technology G-DRIVE Q 2TB External Hard Drive w/ eSATA, USB 2.0, Firewire 400, Firewire 800
Link: Buy from Amazon
Last but not the least is the G-Technology G-DRIVE. This is one of our favorite external hard drive brands for mac users. Apart from its super sleek and very well themed look that matches perfectly with your mac computer, it also provides a variety of options connectivity – from USB 2 all the way to Firewire 800. If you’re a mac user this is the best drive to have not only because its fast but also because it is compatible with time machine. G-Tech also provides one of the longest warranty coverages of 3 years.
A couple of cons we have noticed is the number of users stating that the drive is noisy but there are also a couple ones attesting to its quietness so if you’re a bit sensitive to noise, go with the Lacia Minimus instead. The bright light coming being emitted by the hard drive may also be annoying to some but can be resolved easily by covering it with black tape. Other than that, if you have enough budget and you need a fast, reliable drive, go with G-Tech.
