It’s very annoying that if your laptop has only USB-C ports (such as MacBook Pro) and you don’t want to use a USB hub or docking station. It will make it easier if the external devices are equipped with a USB-C connector, such as a USB-C external CD/DVD drive.
Best Buy External Hard Drive for MacBook Pro – Overall. The first category with every such review or list is the overall category for a reason. It is the one which will satisfy the needs of the largest range of. The LaCie 2big Dock Thunderbolt 3 is much more than just a hard drive. To start, it contains two drives, not just one. We are using the top-end config, which has two 10TB IronWolf Pro disks. Amazon's Choice for best external hard drive for macbook pro. WD 2TB My Passport for Mac Portable External Hard Drive - Blue, USB-C/USB-A - WDBA2D0020BBL-WESN. 4.5 out of 5 stars 4,160. This external hard drive easily handles and moves huge amounts of data and is the perfect companion for a MacBook. Pros Available in 4, 6, 10, and 14TB sizes. Jan 29, 2021 If you want to make use of your Mac's Thunderbolt port, then this is the best external hard drive for Macs. It provides twice the speeds of standard USB 3.0 drives.
With the popularity of the USB-C port, more and more manufacturers will release their USB-C external optical drives, but this does not mean that an external DVD drive with a beautiful appearance and a USB-C connector is a reliable product. We believe that an experienced provider can guarantee the stability and better scalability of the product, as well as better support and warranty service. No one is willing to risk choosing a low-priced but unreliable product, as it may waste more time.
We analyzed all USB-C external CD/DVD drives on Amazon, excluded those choices with fake ratings, and listed the following trusted products, which we will keep updated (Updated: Jan 07, 2021)
1. ROOFULL USB 3.0 & USB-C CD DVD Drive Burner Writer with Protective Carrying Sleeve for MacBook Pro / Air, Windows 10 Laptop
Features
- Interface: USB 3.0 & USB Type-C
- Optical Drive Type: Reader, Writer, ReWriter
- Compatible with Windows 10/8.1/7/xp, Linux and Mac OS
- Supported discs: CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL
- Max 24x CD Write Speed
- Max 8x DVD±R Write Speed
- No additional installation required
- Excellent after-sales service
2. ASUS ZenDrive Black 13mm External 8X DVD/Burner Drive +/-RW with M-Disc Support
Features
- Interface: USB 2.0 & USB Type-C
- Optical Drive Type: Reader, Writer, ReWriter
- Compatible with Windows 10/8.1/7/xp, Linux and Mac OS
- Supported discs: CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL, M-Disc
- Read: 24X CD, 8X DVD, 5X DVD-RAM
- Write: 24X CD-R/CD-RW; 8X (DVD+/-R, DVD+RW); 6X (DVD-RW, DVD+/-R DL); 5X DVD-RAM
- Nero BackItUp function for Android Devices
- Come with USB 2. 0 and Type-C cables
3. USB 3.0 & USB-C CD DVD Drive Burner Writer with Protective Carrying Sleeve for MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Windows 10 Laptop Desktop
Features
- Interface: USB 3.0 & USB Type-C
- Optical Drive Type: Reader, Writer, ReWriter
- Compatible with Windows 10/8.1/7/xp, Linux and Mac OS
- Supported discs: CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL
- Max 24x CD Write Speed
- Max 8x DVD±R Write Speed
- No additional installation required
- Excellent after-sales service
FAQs:
Q: Do I need to use both USB and USB-C connectors together?
A: No, you only need to use the USB connector or USB-C connector separately, the 2 kinds of connectors are just to allow you to use the CD/DVD drive on different computers with USB and USB-C ports.
A: No, you only need to use the USB connector or USB-C connector separately, the 2 kinds of connectors are just to allow you to use the CD/DVD drive on different computers with USB and USB-C ports.
Q: How can I make sure my laptop can provide enough power for an external DVD drive?
A: In general, 14-inch and above laptop with thunderbolt port can provide sufficient power for big external devices.
A: In general, 14-inch and above laptop with thunderbolt port can provide sufficient power for big external devices.
Q: Why can’t my Windows computer recognize the external optical drive?
A: This is one common problem, it can be fixed, you can refer to this article to fix it: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/314060/your-cd-or-dvd-drive-is-not-recognized-by-windows-or-other-programs
A: This is one common problem, it can be fixed, you can refer to this article to fix it: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/314060/your-cd-or-dvd-drive-is-not-recognized-by-windows-or-other-programs
Q: If I have to use a Hub, which Hub can provide enough power for an external optical drive?
A: Recommend the powered (20 watt or above) USB/USB-C hub
A: Recommend the powered (20 watt or above) USB/USB-C hub
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Does this sound similar to you?
You thought you had enough disk space when you originally bought your MacBook Pro, but soon you realized that storage is being filled up quicker than you can clear old files.
Or maybe you already had an external drive to help extend your MacBook’s storage, but now it’s either outdated, too slow, or experiencing issues.
We may be in the age of cloud computing and remote files storage, but it’s always helpful to have a portable hard drive you can count on both for file backups and to work off as needed.
Best Buy External Hard Drive For Macbook Pro 2020
In this buying guide, we’ll help you pick the best external drive for your MacBook Pro so you can access all your files without sacrificing speed or performance.
Quick Summary
Here’s a brief overview of our recommendations depending on your specific needs and preferences:
- The 10TB G-DRIVE Desktop External Hard Drive will give you enough volume and lightning speed for a traditional drive, and comes pre-formatted for Mac.
- If you need instant cross-platform compatibility, and an array of color choices, you’ll be covered with the Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB.
- Known for being rough on your electronics? The Silicon Power 1TB Drive is rugged and durable, with water resistance in addition to quick read and write speeds.
- If you prefer a modern speedy solid-state drive, the Glyph Atom RAID 1TB SSD is sure to meet expectations in terms of speed and durability.
Do I Need An External Drive for My Mac?
External drives are a worthwhile investment for more than just power users, but it can be hard to determine if you need one or not. Consider this:
- Do you regularly work with large files such as videos and edited images, or run other data heavy program such as video games?
- Is your MacBook Pro running slower due to being overburdened with files?
- Have you ever wanted to backup your Mac just in case of any data disaster?
- Are you using a cloud storage or online backup service but fear of security and reliability issues from the provider?
- Are old files being stored on your computer because you occasionally reference them but can’t completely delete them?
Macbook Air External Hard Drive
Answering yes to any of the above scenario questions is a fairly good indicator that an external hard drive would benefit you.
On the other hand, an external hard drive is probably not the best option for those of you who only have a small volume of unimportant files to save, which might be better served by using a cloud storage program like Dropbox or Google Drive or by offloading their old files onto a large USB flash drive.
The Best External Drives for MacBook Pro in 2020: Our Picks
Kindly note that the products chosen below are mainly based on our personal preferences and the guidelines as shown above. They are by no means made in the order below.
1. G-Technology 10TB G-DRIVE USB-C Desktop External Hard Drive
This speedy HDD drive offers a huge chunk of storage at an uncommonly high RPM. It will stand up to daily use in editing and media programs and connects to your computer via USB-C so you can take full advantage of its specs.
Pros:
- If you have set up Apple Time Machine, this drive will be ready for easy file backup so you won’t be waiting for your files to read or write. Also, it comes with a great amount of storage space.
Cons:
- The disk is pre-formatted for Mac, you won’t be able to use your files on a secondary computer such as a Windows PC unless you reformat it to NTFS file system.
2. Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB
Audio video editing software. Available in four different sizes, this hard drive from trusted brand Seagate comes in several colors. Approximately the size of your phone, it packs a punch for its size and is very portable.
Pros:
- It can be used on both Mac and PC without reformatting. Also, it offers fast connection via USB and weighs about 5 ounces.
Cons:
- Largest TB size option is not compatible with Mac.
3. Silicon Power 1TB Rugged Armor A60
An extremely versatile and sturdy drive, this model is compatible with more than just your MacBook. It’s water resistant, with read and write speeds at the standard 120 mbps.
Pros:
- It can be used with several gaming consoles and Apple Time Machine in addition to your Mac.
- It’s also durable and available with the modern USB-C which is especially useful if you’re using the newest MacBook Pro.
Cons:
- It appears somewhat unprofessional, also the drive is a bit on the heavy side as it weighs around 8 ounces.
4. Glyph Atom RAID 1TB External Solid State Drive
![Best buy external hard drive for macbook pro computers Best buy external hard drive for macbook pro computers](https://9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2017/01/aukey-29w-dual-usb-charger.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1000)
Available with USB and USB-C connections and pre-formatted for Mac, this SSD from well-known brand Glyph provides extremely fast speeds that will support your casual and power use. It looks clean and functions beautifully.
Pros:
- It comes pre-formatted for Mac with easy reformats for PC or cross-platform compatibility, significantly faster than comparable drives from Samsung and other brands, available in several colors and two connection types.
Cons:
- It’s the heaviest drive on our list at 11 ounces, and a bit on the pricey side as well.
Useful Tips & Resources
Picking a hard drive can be difficult, especially if you aren’t sure whether you need one. One way to help decide is to try a cloud storage platform such as Google Drive or Dropbox before you decide to buy an external drive. Both platforms are free to start with and they offer terabyte storage options for paying customers and using one may help you decide if you need more constant access to your files or simply a place to store them.
If you know you want an external drive but aren’t sure what storage type you need (HDD or SSD), perhaps this guide from PCWorld will help you decide which best fits your requirements.
Also, It’s worth noting that some external drives available on the market are formatted for PC only, but you can reformat it to Mac OS Extended, or for cross-platform compatibility (with NTFS) if you need to use your external drive for your MacBook Pro and a PC as well. This tutorial is definitely worth checking out:
Best External Drive for MacBook: What to Look For in 2020?
Storage Capacity
If you’re purchasing an external hard drive, it’s because you need the space on your MacBook, so it doesn’t make sense to cut corners on how much exterior space you purchase. However, it’s still important to consider exactly how much space you need. Consider how quickly you create large files (such as photo imports) and if you plan on keeping them in a long or short term to decide your actual need.
Formatting
While many newer drives come formatted to work on both Mac and PC, it’s best not to choose one that is single-system compatible as it will limit the drive’s versatility (though you could manually format an external drive for both PC and Mac compatibility, it’s an extra effort and requires you to be a bit geeky). For added convenience, you should look for drives that come pre-formatted for Mac, which means you don’t have to install a special program and do it yourself.
HDD or SSD
There are several kinds of external drives based on the electronics that make them work. An HDD is the traditional spinning disk of data, whereas an SSD is newer technology that has no moving parts and store information inside the electronic components. An HHD, or Hybrid Hard Drive, uses a combination of these methods. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to speed, durability, price, and information safety, so make sure you know which you prefer.
FAQ
Do Any External Hard Drives Work With Mac?
Yes, there are many external hard drives that work with Mac, and you should check out the list we covered above. To find out whether if an external hard drive is Mac compatible, all you need to do is to look at the compatibility section under specification – if it does not indicate Mac, it is likely that it does not work with Mac. Hence, you should look for the ones that do.
How do I Backup My Entire Mac To An External Hard Drive?
After you open up Time Machine program from System Preferences, click Select Backup Disk, and you will get the option to select external drive. Apple has a detailed guide here.
Final Words
Regardless of your final choice of external drive, having one will definitely improve your workflow and computer performance. You’ll be able to use your files more effectively and improve your MacBook’s performance. Which external drive have you used in the past or are considering purchasing? Let us know.