The best external hard drives for editing photos and video need plenty of speed and storage capacity. Photographers and videographers are well aware that the more we shoot, the more data space we need, and some sort of external storage solution quickly becomes essential. However, we also need to spend a lot of time editing, and ideally we want to be able to edit directly off our drives, rather than having to transfer files on and off our computers’ internal storage.
That’s where these hard drives come in. With enough capacity to hold plenty of files, and high speeds thanks to the latest data transfer systems, these are the drives that are capable of handling intense editing workflows, meaning you can load up your files in Photoshop, Premiere or your other editing software of choice, and edit to your heart’s content.
The other advantage of an external hard drive is also often portability. While this varies from product to product, many drives are also portable enough that they can be packed up and taken anywhere with you — perfect if you do your editing on a laptop like a MacBook Pro.
We’ve included both SSDs (Solid State Drives) and HDDs (Hard Disk Drives). SSds offer greater speeds and more portable form factor, while HDDs are generally more affordable, and offer greater storage capacity. So, here is a selection of the best high-speed, high-capacity external hard drives for editing.
Our top picks
Lexar ARMOR AR700 Portable SSD 1TB
Perfect for professional photographers, videographers, and content creators, the Lexar ARMOR AR700 Portable SSD 1TB delivers rapid speeds of 2000MB/s max read/write. It is built for travel with a dust- and water-defying IP66 rating and a design that withstands drops up to 3 metres. It offers extensive compatibility – including PC, Mac, Android, iPhone 15 series, camera, gaming consoles, and more.
£105.00 View
Pros:
- Brilliant value for money
- Durable, shock-resistant design
- Stays cool even at top speeds
Cons:
- Expensive (but worth it)
- Gen 2x2 is needed for top performance
Also available in 2TB and 4TB.
Compact, lightweight, and affordable, the Lexar Armour AR700 is a reliable portable SSD, ideal for those who need efficient storage for editing. Its high-speed data transfers make it suitable for handling video and photo editing workflows, ensuring smooth performance even with large files. The AR700 also features excellent security measures, offering 256-bit AES encryption to keep your data safe.
With storage options of up to 4TB, the AR700 series offers space and professional performance for large media libraries and projects. As for its construction; its slim, shock-resistant metal design makes it durable and entirely travel-friendly, making it perfect for editing on the go or in tough environments where reliability is crucial.
Samsung T7 Portable SSD - 1TB - Blue
The Samsung T7 Portable SSD is a compact and lightweight solution for quick data transfer with complete data security. This drive has a smart AES 256-bit encryption system that secures all your files and documents the moment they are transferred into the drive. Also, you can access the encrypted files with a password that you can easily set up with its integrated software. The drive features the ePCM technology and the Dynamic Thermal Guard that work in unison to control and manage the heat generated during the transfer of large chunks of data. The SSD is capable of quick data transfers due to its high reading and writing speeds, saving your precious time on transfers with its optimum performance. This drive has a sturdy metal encasing that endures accidental falls, protecting the drive and the data within against physical damage.
£139.00 View
Pros:
- Brilliant value for money
- Secure data encryption system
- Fast read/write speeds
Cons:
- Max 2TB
Also available in 2TB and in Grey
Small, light and affordable, this is realistically the hard drive we would recommend to the majority of people who want something to use for editing. The Samsung T7 boasts fast enough data transfers to handle most editing workflows, and it’s also highly secure both inside and out. Inside, because it boasts state-of-the-art encryption and password protection, meaning that your files are secure from prying eyes. And outside, because it’s housed in a rugged metal casing that can absorb the impact from drops and falls.
As it’s a solid-state drive, the Samsung T7 doesn’t reach the same capacity highs as HDDs, and the maximum storage configuration is 2TB, with 1TB and 500GB variants also available. Its slimline dimensions mean you can carry it pretty much anywhere with you, making it an ideal choice for editing on the go.
LaCie 1TB Rugged Pro Thunderbolt 3 SSD
The LaCie 1TB Rugged Pro Thunderbolt 3 SSD is the ultimate in-filed data solution for filmmakers and digital imagine technicians who need lightning fast and reliable data transfer and rendering. It was built for the extreme of modern filming and editing. This NVMe-boosted scratch disk unit is capable of reaching speeds of up to 2800MB/s for transfers and editing which makes it perfect for 6K to 8K high-resolution and super slow-motion footage. It uses a Thunderbolt™ 3 and requires Mac OS® 10.12 or later, or Windows® 7 or later.
£219.00 View
Pros:
- IP67-rated water resistance
- Thunderbolt 3 transfer speeds
- Includes Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps Plan
Cons:
- More expensive than Samsung equivalents
Also available in 2TB and 4TB capacities.
We’d say that LaCie’s Rugged Pro SSD is overall a better hard drive for editing than Samsung’s T7 — however, it comes at a higher cost, so you’ll have to weigh it up against your budget. If you can stretch to the LaCie, you’ll find you’ve got a brilliant hard drive on your hands, with all the tough construction that LaCie’s iconic hard drives are known for. It has an IP67 rating for water resistance (meaning it can survive limited, brief, shallow submersion) and is protected from drops, bumps and knocks by its extensive padding.
This of course wouldn’t matter if the drive wasn’t fast enough to handle editing workflows. Thankfully, the NVMe-boosted scratch disk unit is more than up to the challenge, with transfer speeds of up to 2800MB/s via Thunderbolt 3. It hardly seems possible from a drive that practically fits in the palm of the hand!
Sandisk Professional G-DRIVE PRO SSD 1TB
This Sandisk SSD has been designed by professionals, for professionals. The Sandisk Professional G-DRIVE PRO SSD offers impressive, turbocharged transfer speeds that allow for real-time editing, fit for any working creative. The Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) port has been designed for heavy workflows, for example, multi-stream 8K footage at a full-frame rate or the super-fast rendering of VR projects. This internal mechanism that allows such a high-speed performance are all housed within a super-rugged and durable aluminium shell that not only provide 3-metre drop protection and 450kg crush resistance but also helps to feel the core cool and therefore, maintain a consistently high level of performance.
£449.00 View
Pros:
- Supercharged speeds support real-time editing
- Metal shell provides physical protection
- Works with Mac and Windows
Cons:
- Max 2TB
Also available in 2TB here.
Thanks to its turbo-charged Thunderbolt 3 connectivity (which will still work with newer Thunderbolt 4 devices), the Sandisk Professional G-DRIVE PRO SSD can deliver up to 40GBps transfers. These kinds of speeds put real-time editing in play for even the most demanding of workflows, so whether you’re handling 8K footage or even the high demands of VR content, the drive will be able to handle it.
Available in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB versions, the Sandisk Professional G-DRIVE is built tough. Its aluminium core is housed in a protective shell that provides protection against drops and crushing pressure, so you should have no qualms about taking the drive with you for editing on the go. Regular file transfers and backups can be accomplished in a matter of seconds, and the drive is compatible with both macOS and Windows (though requires reformatting for the latter).
LaCie 2big Dock v2 Thunderbolt 3 - 20TB
The LaCie 2big Dock v2 Thunderbolt 3 hard drive brings innovation and unmatched compatibility. Designed for professional workflows, the 2big Dock v2 is compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2, CFexpress Type B, CFast 2.0 and SD Cards. It has dual Thunderbolt ports for daisy-chaining multiple devices and different RAID configurations with speeds of up to 550MB/s. This powerful hard drive can tackle any task.
£999.00 View
Pros:
- Super-high capacity options
- iPad compatibility
- Super-fast speeds
Cons:
- Bulky and heavy
- Professional price
Also available in 16TB, 28TB and 36TB.
With enormous storage capacity (up to 40TB!), USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity and CFExpress-compatible card slots, the LaCie 2big Dock v2 is a beast for those who need every last byte. It can transfer huge files in a matter of seconds, and offers fast enough speeds to support an editing workflow, even when working with high-resolution 8K content or ultra-large RAW files.
While it’s not the most portable of drives, it is compatible with iPad editing workflows, so it is an option for on-the-go editing providing you don’t mind hefting a bit of a bulky drive around with you. It also offers different RAID configurations, meaning you can optimise its storage space for performance, or instruct it to duplicate data as an extra backup. Also, the drives can be swapped out and upgraded, so that’s an option if you find yourself bumping up against the upper limits of its capacity.
G-Technology G-DRIVE Pro Thunderbolt 3 SSD 1920GB Gray EMEA
G-DRIVE Pro SSD with Thunderbolt™ 3 technology lets you edit multi-stream 8K footage at full frame rate, quickly render VR projects and experience them at full resolution, and transfer as much as a terabyte of content in seven minutes or less. Transfer rates up to 2800MB/s deliver the maximum speed Thunderbolt 3 has to offer so you can natively edit footage in real-time, or transfer as much as a terabyte of content in seven minutes or less.
£1,499.00 View
Pros:
- Powerful enough for 8K editing
- Very large capacity options
Cons:
- Gets expensive at higher capacities
Also available in 960GB, 3840GB and 7680GB.
If you’re going to be working in high data-demand formats like 8K, 360-degree or VR video, you’re going to need a drive that can keep up. The G-Technology G-DRIVE Pro SSD is just the thing, having been specifically optimised to handle editing workflows in these formats. Available in a wide range of storage capacities, going as high as 7.68TB, the G-Technology G-DRIVE Pro SSD boasts two Thunderbolt 3 ports (though only comes with one cable), and can transfer a full terabyte of content in as little as seven minutes. The drive is compatible with both MacOS and Windows
Able to robustly support 8K workflows, this is a supreme solid-state drive for video professionals. For anyone else, it’s likely to be overkill, particularly the large-capacity options, which incur a significant price jump.
FAQs
What size external hard drive do I need for video editing?
The size of the external hard drive you need depends on the quality and length of your videos. For HD projects, 1TB to 2TB is generally enough, but if you're working with 4K footage or larger projects, you may want 4TB or more for storage. It's always best to have more space than you think you'll need to avoid running out of room during your editing process.
Is SSD or HDD better for video editing?
For video editing, an SSD is better than an HDD due to its faster read and write speeds, which make editing smoother, especially with large video files. SSDs also reduce lag when rendering or moving footage. However, HDDs are more affordable if you need a large amount of storage, though they may slow down performance compared to SSDs.
What is the best connection type for an external hard drive for editing?
The best connection type for an external hard drive for editing is usually Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C. These provide the fastest data transfer speeds, which is crucial for handling large video files efficiently. Older connections like USB 3.0 will still work but might slow down the editing process, especially with high-resolution footage.
Can I edit videos directly from an external hard drive?
Yes, you can edit videos directly from an external hard drive, but you need one with fast read and write speeds, like an SSD, to avoid performance issues. A fast connection type, such as Thunderbolt or USB-C, is also essential to ensure the editing process runs smoothly without lag or long loading times.
How long do external hard drives last for video editing?
Manufacturers suggest that external hard drives will typically last between 3 to 5 years with regular use. SSDs tend to last longer than HDDs because they have no moving parts, which makes them more durable. However, the lifespan can vary depending on your usage, so it's wise to back up important projects regularly to prevent data loss.
How do we decide?
Our in-house photography experts, store staff and partners all work collaboratively to pour over these guides. We also consider emerging trends and customer feedback to make sure our guides are always up-to-date and reflective of what people are truly looking for. By curating only the best products, our guides provide trustworthy recommendations, making it easier for customers to make informed choices with confidence.
If you would like more advice on any purchase our contact centre staff are here to help. Alternatively, you can reach us via email or social media. And don't forget. If you were to purchase anything based on our recommendations you'll be covered by our full returns policy
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