This means they have the advantage of lacking moving parts. SSDs are based on newer, faster flash-memory technology, where data is written electronically to microchips. Although HDDs are slower than SSDs, this usually doesn’t matter very much if you’re primarily using them for backup and archival purposes. HDD storage is typically cheaper per terabyte. They typically have a much higher storage capacity relative to SSDs, however. HDDs are based on much older and more mature technologies, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re better or worse. It’s worth noting that there are two main types of hard drives: classic, spinning hard disk drives (HDD) and solid-state drives (SSD). You might notice that we mentioned SSDs earlier let’s define some terms before we go much further. USB-C and Thunderbolt: Understanding Ports and Cables for Macs and iPads If you’re still not sure which is right for you, learn more about USB vs. And in many cases, USB speeds are actually just as fast as Thunderbolt they share the same port and much of the same underlying technology. Spending more for potentially faster transfer speeds is only useful if you have a lot of large files to back up regularly, such as if you work with video. Backups are considered to be “cold storage,” data that you only need to access occasionally-hopefully rarely. Generally speaking, and especially if you’re solely using the drive for backup purposes, there’s no major advantage to Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt drives tend to be more expensive in fact, they are priced at more than twice the average cost. Is USB or Thunderbolt better for backups? You have much more flexibility if you have a lot of data to back up than in the past. But with recent changes in hard drive technology, you can now get drives up to 20 TB, and soon perhaps much more. Ī few years ago, the largest hard drive you could get was generally 8 TB. And, over time, Time Machine deletes the oldest backups when it needs more space for new backups.

Time Machine does this by not copying files that haven’t changed, so if you back up a Mac with a 500 GB SSD, it will take a long time to fill up an 8 TB drive. The same is true if you buy a hard drive to use with Apple’s Time Machine, which creates multiple versions of backed up files. So if you have a 4 TB drive with media and archives connected to a Mac with a 500 GB SSD, then you should use at least an 8 TB backup drive. If, however, you have data on your internal SSD and on another external drive-such as a drive containing a media collection, work archives, or other data-be sure to factor that in. If all your data is on a Mac with a 500 GB SSD, then a 1 TB external drive might be sufficient. If you plan to make regular backups of your Mac, the best approach is to choose a drive that is at least twice the size of the data you are backing up. One terabyte is equivalent to 1,000 gigabytes at least, that’s how drive manufacturers measure them. It’s helpful to first know that GB stands for gigabyte, and TB is shorthand for terabyte. Types of hard drives that can be used for backupsīefore choosing drives, you should determine how much storage you need.Which hard drive brands are best for Mac users?.Is USB or Thunderbolt better for backups?.In this article, I discuss the different types of drives that you can use to back up your Mac, and how to choose the best drive for your needs. You have lots of choice, but each of these devices works best for specific use cases. So how can you tell which type of hard drive is best for you? You can use external drives connected to your Mac, portable drives that you connect when needed, or network devices. There are different types of backup drives available for Mac. Likewise, backing up your Mac is essential: if you need to use a backup hard drive to restore your data, it can save you a great deal of time, money, and headaches. We often remind you how important it is to back up your files, but it’s not just the backup that matters. The media you use to store your data is critical. Apple What’s the best Hard Drive or SSD to back up your Mac?īackups are a lot like insurance: it’s imperative to have it, and you hope you never need to use it.

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