The Playstation 5 has quickly become Sony’s fastest-selling console ever. With support for 8K, an ultra-fast built-in SSD, and a plethora of other features, this console is something everyone is itching to get. However, gamers with a PS5 have found themselves vying for more space inside the console. With the built-in 825GB SSD also using space for the OS, it’s easy for storage to run out easily. However, a very easy solution is available. You can outfit your PS5 with external storage to give the console more room and shift some games around. To help you get started with getting external storage for your PS5, we have compiled a list of the best external hard drives you can get.
The list below contains the very best external SSDs and HDDs for the PS5. If you’re partial to a particular brand or model, use the table below to look for it.
Things You Should Know Before You Get an External Hard Drive for Your PS5
PS5 External Storage RequirementsWhat to Look in an External Hard Drive for Your PS5
SSD vs HDDForm FactorDurabilityBest PS5 External Hard Drives for the PS5WD_BLACK 1TB P50 Game DriveSamsung T7Samsung T5Crucial X8SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSDCrucial X6Seagate Expansion 4TB HDDG-Technology 1TB ArmorATDSeagate Game DriveToshiba Canvio Basics 1TB
PS5 External Storage Requirements
SSD vs HDDForm FactorDurability
Things You Should Know Before You Get an External Hard Drive for Your PS5
When it comes to fitting external storage besides your PS5, there are a few things you should know. The first and most important being is that you cannot use these external drives to play PS5 games on the console. While PS4 games stored on external storage will work without problems, next-gen PS5 titles require the games to be inside the built-in disk itself.
Another thing to note is that you cannot plug in any old external drive to your PS5 and expect it to work. Sony has listed a few requirements that external drives must meet in order to work with the PS5. These are:
- SuperSpeed USB 5 Gbps or later.250 GB minimum, 8 TB maximum capacity.Not all devices are guaranteed to work with the PS5 console.You can’t connect the drive through a USB hub.Two or more USB extended storage drives can’t be connected at the same time. You can connect multiple USB drives to your console, but you can use only one at a time.
As you can see, you cannot install any drive with storage less than 250GB and they must have USB 3.0 support at the minimum. However, don’t worry as our list of the best external drives for the PS5 are all fully compatible with the console. But if you feel you need another model, then kindly pay attention to the above criteria before you buy anything.
Now that you have a better idea of all the factors, here are some things you can watch out for to make sure your external drive purchase for the PS5 is a good one.
The long-standing division continues even in the console world. Both types of external drives offer their own advantages for the PS5. While SSDs will you extremely fast transfer speeds, HDDs will be more affordable and will generally have more storage.
The list of external drives for the PS5 below come in all shapes and sizes. While one SSD will all but disappear into the background, another HDD will stand out like a brick. Depending on your interior plans or any designs you might have, make sure the external drive you choose fits the form factor you’re picturing.
3. Durability
Since at the end of the day, these are all external drives, you can unplug them and use them for other purposes if you wish. So if you’re a camper or a traveler who is considering taking his/her drives out from time to time, go for a rugged one. Our top two rugged drives are on the list. Let’s see if you can find them.
Now that we have covered everything else, here are the best external drives you can get for your PS5.
Being one of the fastest and coolest-looking drives around, the WD Black P50 Game Drive takes the cake when it comes to external storage for the PS5. The P50 Game Drive fits all our ideal requirements and it even shows. The NVMe SSD drive itself is encased by a solid metal shell that has clearly been designed to appeal to gamers. The overall design of the drive ensures that it can take a few dings and knocks without being damaged.
If speed coupled with the good built quality is what you want, go for the WD Black Game Drive without hesitation.
Pros:
Cons:
Samsung has been an industry leader when it comes to many products and external drives are one of them. The T7 external drive for the PS5 offers a lot and costs less than you would expect. This slim case SSD is the perfect fit for PS5 users looking for something nondescript and small. However, that also means it will likely be damaged easily so watch out.
While transfer speeds cap out at 1050MB/s for the T7, that is more than enough for simple game transfers for the PS5. If you’re playing PS4 games you will experience improvement nevertheless since the speeds are much faster than the older console’s native drive. This lightweight and fast external drive for PS5 is available in a list of storage options and is more affordable than the WD Black.
3. Samsung T5
If you liked the Samsung T7 but have no need for such an ultra-fast SSD, the T5 is another solid-state drive to consider. Boasting V-NAND tech with speeds up to 540MB/s, the Samsung T5 is a capable external drive for your PS5. The T5 is encompassed in a slim and lightweight chassis and weighs a few grams less (51 grams) than the T7.
Cons:
- Not the fastest drive out thereMore expensive than T7
The Crucial X8 represents an external drive that is a solid combination of strong build quality and effective speeds at a good price. This NVMe powered external storage for the PS5 dishes out fast speeds of up to 1050MB/s without worries. So expect to experience fast transfers and playing times on your PS5.
Pros:
- Fast-transfer speedsSurvives drops of up to 7 feet. Decent pricing
Remember we talked about drives that will last you through damage? The Sandisk Extreme is one of them. This tiny 1TB external drive will not compliment the PS5 nicely but can easily be picked up and taken anywhere. Featuring a rubberized body combined with a small design, the Sandisk Extreme Drive is one good purchase.
The Crucial X6 is the most affordable SSD on this list for the PS5. While there are cutbacks you will have to make to account for the price, things are actually pretty good. The X6 for starters has a tiny lightweight design that makes the drive weighs less than your car keys. So if you’re someone who plans to travel light, this SSD can be the perfect companion.
The potential downsides like a short cable and average transfer speeds don’t make this a prime choice for external drives for your PS5. But if you’re a gamer who primarily wants to play PS4 games or is on a budget, the X6 makes an excellent pick.
The Seagate Expansion is for the PS5 gamers who want to take extra storage and move it five steps beyond. This chunky boy features a thick rectangular design and has its own power adapter to function.
However, despite the big form factor, the Seagate Expansion series provides a dramatically better cost to storage ratio. This external drive for the PS5 provides speeds up to 160MB/s which while slow is still enough to transfer games across drives. Sure you will have to wait but in exchange, you get 4TB of space at the minimum with options up to a whopping 16TB.
8. G-Technology 1TB ArmorATD
If you’ve been wanting the shock-proof SSDs above but can’t spare the money, the ArmorATD is something just for you. The G-Tech 4TB drive does not look or even feel like a PS5 external one but trust us, it works and it works well. This external drive has been specially designed to take all kinds of abuse and still works perfectly. The ArmorATD has triple-layer shock protection, rain and dust resistance, and a 1000lbs (500KG) of crush rating. This is clearly a hard drive that will last.
- Not as fast as SSDsHeavy design
While all the above external drives work easily with the PlayStation 5, this Seagate Game Drive is the only one officially licensed by Sony. You can see the same by noticing the small PS logo on the top right of the drive. Originally designed for the PS4, this drive works flawlessly for the PS5 as well. Only available in 2TB and 4TB variants, the Seagate Game Drive has a slim form factor with a sleek aluminum enclosure for more protection.
- Sony licensed product Good transfer speeds
While this drive is last on the list, the Toshiba Canvio Basics provides the best value of money quality of all the drives here. Priced at a very affordable 40 dollar mark, this external drive does the job you want without taking a bite out of the wallet. Designed in a simple yet modern way, this hard drive for the PS5 looks similar to staple HDDs. While it has no drop protection, it has a design that can be easily handled without slipping.