External hard drives with 2 TB in the test
What until a few years ago was largely reserved for industry and cost a fortune is now available to everyone: External hard drives with 2 TB storage capacity, including a very compact design.
The latter in particular has only become accessible to the general public through technical innovations, because of course there are now also compact storage media that have really large capacities.
In the field of 2 TB external hard drives, however, there has long been a storage capacity that often comes in the form of larger disks without the possibility of portable use - and of course you have to weigh up which of the two options is better suited to your personal requirements is.
It is precisely this point and a few other criteria that are decisive for the purchase that we want to address at this point before we list all of them in our overview further down the page external hard drives with a storage capacity of 2 TB list that we have covered in more detail so far.
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Toshiba Canvio... |
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WD My Passport... |
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Seagate OneTouch... |
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WD Elements Portable... |
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HURRICANE 3518S3... |
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HURRICANE GD35612... | Buy now " | |
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i-tec External... |
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Transcend 2TB... |
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Verbatim Store... |
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WD My Passport for... |
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Large amounts of data require fast transfer rates
Clearly: If you use a 2 TB hard drive, you will certainly want to store and access files with a large amount of data on it - and accordingly the drive should allow for fast transfers so that the data can be loaded or accessed quickly when required.
Around 2TB hard drives you are moving in a terrain that is normally reserved for HDDs, i.e. completely “normal” hard disks. Of course there are now SSD with a correspondingly high storage capacity, but in most cases they are simply too expensive for home users.
And HDDs also achieve transfer rates that are completely sufficient for the average user - and also enable the transfer of large files in a reasonable time frame.
Many factors are responsible for performance
An 2 TB plate has to do with large files - after all, hardly anyone saves such a large number of holiday photos. Films, backups or other large data packages are often found on disks with such a large storage capacity.
In order to be able to transport this quickly, several technical aspects are important, which only in combination decide how fast a record is in the end.
- The connection. Some disks would actually be quite fast, but are slowed down by a slow USB 2.0 connection - that doesn't make sense in our opinion, especially with a 2 TB external hard disk, which is why at least here USB 3.0 should be offered, which is now also considered good manners.
- The plate. The built-in disk as the heart of every external hard drive is another factor that does not slow it down too often - because even if different manufacturers use the same suppliers for the internal disk, the speed can end up being very different.
- Hardware and software. There are big differences between individual manufacturers, which ultimately manifest themselves in different access times, read and write speeds and thus different levels of convincing performance.
A fast internal hard drive alone is not enough to build a fast external hard drive. Especially with one 2 TB Due to the very generously dimensioned plate, the rest of the built-in technology is also important in order to deliver fast transfer rates and an overall convincing performance.
Find the right plate for all requirements
Of course, there is not only the aspect of performance, but also completely different characteristics in which the plates differ from one another - and here are some points that often influence the purchase decision:
- Size
- Safety
- robustness
- power consumption
- Design
Size and power consumption are often, but not always, related - this is mainly due to the fact that large 3,5" drives usually have an external power supply, while the smaller 2,5" external hard drives get their power from the USB get a connection.
Of course, security and robustness are particularly important for portable use in order to protect important data. On the one hand against bumps and other external influences, on the other against unauthorized access by strangers.
After all, the design is a point that can be decisive, above all for the plates, which otherwise do not stand out due to any special feature.
Because who simply a very simple 2TB external hard drive searches, finds such a large selection that price and design are legitimate points in the decision. On the other hand, if you place particular value on safety, robustness or terrific speeds, you will of course pay extra for it.
