PS4 Best External Hard Drives: 5 Ways To Get More Storage After The 4.50 Firmware Update

The holy grail was finally achieved...I got a PlayStation 4.
The holy grail was finally achieved...I got a PlayStation 4. Sony

PS4 external hard drives are a thing now that the 4.50 firmware update has been released, so we’ve made a list of the best ones to buy. Here are five great options that should be available from most online retailers at the time of writing.

Seagate Expansion 2TB Portable External Hard Drive ($54.99) : This one’s a little pricey, but it comes with the assurance of being an Amazon best seller with over 4,000 user reviews and a nearly perfect rating. It’s a 5,400 RPM drive with possible transfer speeds up to 5 GB/s. In layman’s terms: that’s plenty fast enough for console gameplay. It’s also entirely powered by USB too, so you don’t need an extra outlet. With a length of about 5 inches, it’s pretty portable.

The Seagate Expansion portable HDD is a bit large and pricey, but it comes with the added assurance of nearly universal positive reviews.
The Seagate Expansion portable HDD is a bit large and pricey, but it comes with the added assurance of nearly universal positive reviews. Seagate/Amazon

Other configurations range from 1TB to 4TB, depending on how many games you want to install at once. [Buy]

Western Digital 2TB Elements Portable Hard Drive ($69.99) : It has the same 5,400 RPM, 5 GB/s stats as the previous drive and is also powered by USB. It’s positively reviewed as well. It’s about a half-inch smaller than the Seagate drive if portability is a factor. Its additional configurations range from 1TB to 3TB. [Buy]

The Western Digital Elements drive is both the smallest and cheapest external HDD on this list. As of right now, it may be the best all-around selection for PS4 owners.
The Western Digital Elements drive is both the smallest and cheapest external HDD on this list. As of right now, it may be the best all-around selection for PS4 owners. Western Digital/Amazon

Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable Hard Drive ($83.48) : This option also ticks the necessary 5,400 RPM, 5 GB/s transfer rates as our previous two options. It’s USB powered and has nearly 3,000 positive reviews to vouch for it. Its size rests somewhere between the previous two picks but is still compact enough to fit in a purse or small bag. It ranges in storage capacity from 500GB to 3TB. [Buy]

The Toshiba Canvio Basics is a nice external hard drive with a fairly small form factor and a reasonable price. It should work just fine with PS4.
The Toshiba Canvio Basics is a nice external hard drive with a fairly small form factor and a reasonable price. It should work just fine with PS4. Toshiba/Amazon

Samsung T3 500GB Portable SSD ($169.99) : The market for portable SSDs isn’t exactly massive right now, but this is one of the most popular choices when it comes to console use. Its data transfer rates are several times faster than any of the HDD options, despite its 3-inch length. You’ll pay dearly for that luxury and won’t get any extra space per se, but if fast load times really matter to you, this is the best external option today. If you’re feeling exceptionally rich, it comes in sizes up to 2TB. [Buy]

The Samsung T3 is a fast external SSD that will offer improved load times when connected to PS4, but its price and limited capacity may be a drawback.
The Samsung T3 is a fast external SSD that will offer improved load times when connected to PS4, but its price and limited capacity may be a drawback. Samsung/Amazon

Seagate Expansion 5TB Desktop External Hard Drive ($122.99): For those of you who value space over portability, this is a great option. It’s got the same 5GB/s transfer rate as many of the options listed above and clocks in at 4,650 RPM. That’s a ton of space in a chassis that’s more than capable of handling it.

This 5TB Seagate Expansion drive isn't portable, but it offers a massive amount of storage for just above $100. It's great if your PS4 stays at home.
This 5TB Seagate Expansion drive isn't portable, but it offers a massive amount of storage for just above $100. It's great if your PS4 stays at home. Seagate/Amazon

Of course, it’s not portable at all, and it requires an included AC adapter to stay powered. In terms of size, you’re looking at something that’s around twice as large as the products we’ve already discussed. However, if you plan on keeping your PS4 at home, there’s plenty of value in what’s on offer. [Buy]

PS4 update 4.50 is available to download for free today.

Which external hard drive do you plan on buying for your PS4 now that the 4.50 update is here? Would you prefer an internal solution instead? Tell us in the comments section!

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