Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive: full spec sheet and buying guide
The Seagate Portable 2TB is one of the most-rated external hard drives on Amazon, with more than 273,000 ratings, a simple way to add storage and back up files. At the time of writing it holds a 4.6/5 average from more than 273,330 Amazon ratings.
2 TB of plug-and-play USB 3.0 storage for Windows and Mac, drag-and-drop backup and no software needed.
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Setup and use
Connect it to a computer and it's recognized automatically, with no software required. Seagate describes drag-and-drop backup for Windows and Mac, and it includes an 18-inch USB 3.0 cable. Some Macs may need the drive reformatted for full read-write use, depending on its factory format.
Hard drive vs. SSD
As a spinning hard drive, it gives a lot of capacity for the money, but it's slower and more fragile to drops than a portable SSD. That makes it a good fit for backups and archives rather than editing files directly from the drive.
Strengths based on its spec sheet
- Huge number of positive ratings
- Lots of storage for the price
- Plug and play, no software
- Works with Windows and Mac
What to consider before buying
- Slower than a portable SSD
- More sensitive to drops
- Short 18-inch cable
Want to compare this product with other computing options? Check out our computing buying guide.
Who is it ideal for?
Backing up photos, documents and computer files at home.
Who is it NOT the best option for?
If you move large files every day, the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is much faster and tougher; see our computing buying guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Seagate Portable work with Mac?
Yes, it's designed for Windows and Mac; some Macs may require reformatting for full use.
Do I need to install software?
No, it's plug and play.
Is it good for backups?
Yes, hard drives offer a lot of capacity for backups at a low price.
Is the Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive the right fit for you?
See current price on Amazon