Jordan ClarkeExternal hard drives6 products
If you want reliability, pick the Toshiba or Seagate. If you are on a tight budget and just need bulk storage, the ModusTech or Maxone will get the job done without much fuss.
Safe, reliable backups
Budget-conscious buyers
Style-conscious gamers
USB-C device owners
Reliability seekers
Basic file storage
| Feature | Seagate Portable | UnionSine Portable | Maxone Ultra Slim | ModusTech Facet | Toshiba Canvio Partner | Sonnics Portable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | €79.99 | €78.88 | €73.99 | €62.91 | €100.99 | €81.11 |
| Build QualityThe aluminum casing on the Maxone feels significantly more premium than the sea of generic plastic shells. | Standard plastic | Plastic with aluminum | Aluminum (winner) | Plastic | Standard plastic | Aluminum |
| ConnectivityModusTech is the only one modern enough to include USB-C, saving you from digging through old cable drawers. | USB 3.0 | USB 3.0 | USB 3.0 | USB-C (winner) | USB 3.0 | USB 3.0 |
| Rotational SpeedThe faster 7200 RPM drives offer a slight edge in speed, though we are still talking about spinning platters in 2025. | 7200 RPM (winner) | 5400 RPM | 5400 RPM | 7200 RPM | 5400 RPM | 5400 RPM |
Safe, reliable backups
A no-frills workhorse that does exactly what it says on the box. It includes decent data recovery services for that extra peace of mind.
Budget-conscious buyers
It is a basic drive that relies on a budget-friendly price point to move units. It functions fine for static file storage.
Style-conscious gamers
This drive tries to look professional with its aluminum shell, and it mostly succeeds. It fits nicely next to a console.
USB-C device owners
It is the only unit here that acknowledges modern laptops actually use USB-C. It is handy, if a bit plasticky.
Reliability seekers
Toshiba sticks to the basics and does them well enough for most people. It is a classic plug and play drive.
Basic file storage
Another generic option that offers 1TB of space for a competitive price. It works for gaming consoles and general storage.
If you were hoping for earth-shattering speeds, look away. These are all mechanical hard drives, meaning they are built for bulk storage and backups, not for editing 4K video directly from the drive. Spec sheet says one thing, reality says another, but frankly, you are paying for space, not speed.
The Seagate and Toshiba models lean into the traditional, boring but reliable approach. Meanwhile, the ModusTech is the only one trying to be modern by tossing in a USB-C connection. The rest are largely variations of the same 5400 RPM parts wrapped in different shells.
The differences here are mostly aesthetic or durability-related. Maxone and Sonnics go for aluminum, which keeps them cool and feeling less like a disposable toy. ModusTech and UnionSine are perfectly usable, but they feel like they might crack if you look at them too hard.
At this price tier, you aren't paying for cutting-edge engineering. You are paying to store your photos somewhere that isn't your main computer. Any of these will work if you just need a place to offload files.
If you value your data and want something that feels like it will survive a year in a backpack, go with the Toshiba or the Seagate. They are the standard for a reason. If you have a modern laptop and don't want to carry dongles, the ModusTech is the only rational choice.
For those who just want the cheapest 1TB of metal they can find, the Maxone's aluminum build makes it feel like the least 'budget' of the budget options.
Prices on amazon.es as of November 10, 2026. Prices may change.
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