Whether you are looking for a backup source for your precious files or extra storage space for your music, 4k videos, and other large files, getting the best 6TB external hard drive is the way to go.

While it is true that an averagely 500GB external storage capacity is enough for many users, this is not necessarily the case for gamers and the console crowd. This makes 6tb external hard drive the most viable option.

In this world of ever-growing game installs and new emerging large software, external hard drives have become more popular because they are fast, dependable, easy to use, and above all, portable.

Having a reliable 6 terabyte external hard drive is vital if you hate losing all your hard work and precious files.

Here is a quick comparison of our top 3 best 6tb external hard drives. If you are not in a hurry, you can read our entire detailed review down below.

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Top 8 Best 6Tb External Hard Drive For The Money

1. SeagateSTEB6000403 6TB External Hard Drive HDD

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The Seagate Expansion will suit those looking for an external hard drive with fast transfer speeds without costing too much. It is ideal for both home and office use.

Features

It is super easy to use. Unlike other sophisticated hard drives, with this model, you don’t need any recognition software.

All you have to do is connect the drive to your Windows computer using a USB cable, and you are ready to roll.

The drive comes preformatted for Windows PC files. For MAC computer users, a quick reformat may be needed. This should not worry you as it is an easy process.

The STEB6000403 external hard drive comes with an 18watt power adapter, start guide, and 18 inches USB 3.0 cable. This 6tb portable hard drive offers you massive storage space for all your files.

The drive case has rubber feet that help dampen vibrations, thus reducing the amount of noise generated.

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2. WD 6TB My Book Desktop External Hard Drive

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If you are looking for a reliable backup source, the WD My Book is the one to get.  It features WD backup software and time machine compatibility to help protect your data.

Features

It comes with RAID- optimized WD red drive to reliably store massive amount of data. Measuring 4.65’ x 1.61‘x 7.8‘My Book is a compact external storage device that can fit in any pocket.

The drive does its work quietly with minimal noise.  Furthermore, It weighs 2.31lbs, which quite less, making it easy to move around with.

It features an auto-backup feature that ensures that you never forget to back up your sensitive files at any given time. Password protection and hardware encryption make this drive safer for your sensitive documents and files.

It is easy to use and allows you to conveniently access your files from anywhere.  Just plug it into your WI-FI routers at home or workplace and save your files in one central place and access them anytime, anywhere you want.

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3. G-Technology 6TB Desktop External Hard Drive-0G03674-1

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The 0G03674-1 is another great external hard drive from the G-Technology and features a transfer speed of up to 245Mb/s. The silver finish on it makes it look appealing and will look great on any working area.

Features

It features a slim, compact design that makes it highly portable and convenient to move around with it.

All the ports are on the front side of the drive, which, when you come to think of it’s a genius design as they are easily accessible at any time.

This drive is solidly built with an aluminum case for durability; also, the aluminum casing plays a major role in dissipating the heat generated. The meshed backside also contributes to heat dissipation keeping the drives cool at all times.

They come ready to use out of the box for MAC user. For Windows users, a quick reformat will be necessary.

Supporting USB 3.0 for high-speed data transfer, the 0G03674-1 has a speed 0f 7200RPM. It may not be the lightest drive on the market, but it will serve the purposes as you would expect.

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4. Fantom Drives 6TB External Hard Drive-GF3B6000UP

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Looking for a highly versatile external hard drive? This 6tb external hard drive by Fantom Drives is the one for you. It is compatible with more than four devices, including Xbox and PS4.

Features

This model has a speed of 7200RPM, which is 33% more than its predecessor. With the new generation of USB 3.O, you can reach even greater transfer speeds of up to 10X faster than the rate of USB 2.0.

The solid aluminum casing allows for a fan-free design, which means less noise generated by the drive. Furthermore, the aluminum casing acts as a natural heat sink that dissipates heat energy generated.

The aluminum mesh on the front side improves the air circulation in the drive, keeping them cool and functioning.

With this model, you choose how you want to position it; it can be horizontal or vertical; this helps you optimize your small working space.

The matte black finish on the drive will complement the home office desk, perfect for office use. On the backside, there are four ports; 3.0 USB port, power supply & Kingston lock, and a power switch.

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5. Seagate STEL6000100 6TB External Hard Drive

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The Seagate STEL6000100 offers you convenient connections, thanks to the dual front-facing USB 3.0 ports. It also comes with two-year rescue data recovery services and support for Seagate’s app; the best way to keep your files safe.

Features

The application allows you to safely backup your desired files from your Android phone or iOS to the hard drive via any WI-FI network. It is an excellent option for Mac and windows.

Use this drive as a power bank to charge your mobile phone and transfer files via the two USB 3.0 ports.

As a complimentary note, you will enjoy a four-month Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan’s editing apps free membership once you purchase this drive. Just remember to redeem the bonus within one year of registration.

At the back, there is one USB 3 connector and two at the front that transforms it into a convenient USB hub. The slick, angular case design is one of the selling points of this drive.

What sets the STEL6000100 6TB apart from other external drives is the automatic backup feature that allows you to plan your backup schedule using the included Seagate software.

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6. WD 6TB Elements Desktop Hard Drive

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Portability in terms of lightweight is one of the primary advantages of WD 6TB Elements hard drive. It weighs about 2.1lbs making it the lightest external hard drive on our list. More so, the lightweight nature makes it hassle-free to move with it around.

Features

The drive has two USB ports for you to easily insert your flash sticks. The 3.0 USB port allows files to be transmitted at a superfast rate of 20Gbps.

The drive has rubber feet that help to reduce the vibrations. Other than excellent performance, the WD 6tb elements drive is also visually appealing. It is cased in a sharply tailored black aluminum metal.

Enjoy massive data storage space and safely back up your documents, audio files, and video files on the WD Elements desktop hard drive.

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7. G-Technology 6TB External Hard Drive – 0G05670-1

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G-Technology external hard drive – 0G05670-1 is a stylish drive that will accentuate your laptop/PC table area. It is the best choice for those looking for a fancy yet functional storage backup.

Features

The USB –C port allows you to quickly back up and store all your files at a much faster rate.

The sweet spot for this hard drive is the compatibility it has to offer. USB- C to USB-A cables are included, which allows this drive to work with all USB 2.0, 3.0, and 3.1.

The 45watt USB-C port allows you to charge your laptop or MacBook while transferring your files at the same time.

The 0G05670-1 drives come ready to use for Mac computer users; as for those who use Windows computers and laptops, you may want to perform quick, hassle-free reformat using the software that comes with it.

The meshed backside improves on air circulation, which keeps the drives cool and operational at optimum levels.

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8. Glyph Studio S6000 6TB External Hard Drive

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The Glyph Studio S6000 is one of the most durable external hard drives you can get out there. It is has a metal casing to protect delicate inner components. The S6000 is an improvement of the previous Glyph version and runs quietly.

Features

The Glyph Studio S6000 drive packs a lot of performance and massive storage capacity into a tiny unit measuring 8.6′ x 6.5′ x 1.6′. It comes with one Glyph USB 3.0 cable, Glyph firewire800 cable, and IEC power cable.

The drive is compatible with Windows Vista and above and Mac OS X 10.4 and above. When it comes to connectivity, you will have three options; a USB 3.0,2X fireware 800, and eSATA.

Some of the features that set this hard drive apart include; auto-sensing power feature and disk monitoring feature, which allows you to closely monitor the performance of your drive.

You are going to like the fact that the drive is rack-mountable. The rack kit, which is sold separately, allows you to transform your Studio into 1U rack mount hardware.

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How To Choose The Best 6TB External Hard Drive For Cheap Price

The market is filled with plenty of 6tb portable external hard drives. Choosing the appropriate one for your needs can be a bit daunting, especially if you are not a computer geek.

Regardless of your needs, they are a lot of options to choose from. External hard drives come in different sizes in terms of storage capacity and physical dimensions.

When you take into account the below factors, you should be in a position to choose the most appropriate 6tb external hard drive from our list.

Storage Capacity

Before you get any external hard drive, the storage capacity should be on top of your list of considerations.

Storage capacity simply means how much storage space the external hard drive provides. In other words, the maximum amount of data a drive can accommodate.

Luckily for you, external hard drives offer the best combination of price and storage capacity as compared to alternative backup solutions like cloud storage.

It is always recommended to purchase an external drive twice the space you currently need to cover your future needs.

Transfer Speed

If speed matters to you, take you need to be keen on the type of USB on the hard drive you want to buy. There are mostly two types of USB connection you will find on hard drives; USB3.0 and USB 2.0.

The external hard drives that come with USB 3.0 are excellent for those planning to large backup files as they are much faster compared to those with USB 2.0.They offer transfer speeds of upto 20 Gbps

Depending on the kind of data or files you want to backup or store on your drive, you can either choose between the two.

The storage technology and the connectors used in a hard drive determine how fast your drive can operate. It is also important to note that malware and viruses can reduce down your drive transfer speed.

Portability

One thing that has made external hard drives more popular is the compact design that makes them easy to transport.

Even the largest hard drive can fit in your pocket. The size of the hard drive you want to get should be determined by how often you will be moving around with it.

If you are looking for an external storage device just for backing up your files at your home or office, you can get a 3.5-inch drive.

On the other hand, if you plan on often moving around with your drive, a 1.5 inch would be a great choice. They are minimalistic in addition to being lightweight and can fit in any pocket.

Durability

When it comes to durability, the first thing you need to consider is the material used in making the outer casing.

The casings are made of either steel or aluminum. Both of these materials have their pros and cons.

For instance, steel tends to be more sturdy, thus offering more protection to the drives but at the cost of extra weight.

On the other hand, aluminum is lightweight and great at dissipating heat away, although it’s not as solid as steel.

To boost your drive’s lifespan, carefully handle it, avoid dropping them down, and storing them near magnetics.

Security

Encryption is vital if the data stored in your hard drive is sensitive. Something to smile about is that most drives are compatible with software encryption solutions.

You can also go a step further and choose a drive with hardware encryption for maximum security. In some cases, the casing is made of sturdy and durable material to curb any physical tampering.

Compatibility

Most hard drives out of the box come preformatted for a specific operating system. It can either be preformatted for windows OS or macOS.

It is always advisable to check whether the drive is compatible with your operating system before purchase.

On rare occasions, you may want to buy a drive, but it’s already preformatted for another different OS. In such a case, you will be required to reformat the drive using the necessary software that is always included in the package.

How To Care For And Handle Your External Hard Drive

The benefits of having a hard drive are apparent; it helps expand your storage capacity, offers a backup source to your sensitive files, and allows you to carry files and data from one point to another easily.

As such, it is only logical to take good care of them, lest they fail on us when we need them the most. Here are some tips to help you properly care for your hard drive.

• Properly position your hard drive and store it correctly on a flat and clean surface.
• Avoid overloading your hard drives. You can either compress or delete unwanted files from the drive.
• Speed up your hard drive. Avoid spotlight from indexing your drive; this goes for those who own MACs. If you are using a Windows computer, choose ‘Better Performance” under the properties on the hardware tab
• Use a surge protector. Power surges may spoil not only your hard drive but also your computer; it is, therefore, imperative to protect your devices from sudden power spikes.
• Backup your hard drive. Even if you are using an external hard drive as a backup, specialists say that it is wise to choose to have your drive backed up somewhere else, especially if they are holding highly sensitive data and files.

How To Reformat Your External Hard Drive

Since different OSs use the different file systems to analyze and process data, you may need to reformat your hard drive to be compatible with your current OS.

While it is undisputed that many hard drives are compatible with both MAC and Windows OS, a good number of them come preformatted for windows.

Before reformatting, you need to make sure that you choose the right format for your drive;

• NTFS- suitable for File History backups on a windows computer.
• HFS- Suitable for Time Machine backups on a macOS.
• FAT32- Both windows and Mac operating system will support this format
• exFAT- an excellent choice if you want to move files larger than4GB between a windows PC and a Mac computer.

Reformatting your drive in Mac operating system

1. Plug in the hard drive and open the Finder
2. Click on the Go menu and select utilities, and then click on disk utility.
3. Choose your drive then click erase
4. Assign your external hard drive a name and select the file system you want from the drop-down
5. Click erase to reformat your external hard drive.

FAQs

Is it safe to just unplug my external hard drive?

It is recommended to follow the right procedure before unplugging your external hard drive. From your computer, confirm that no app is running/ using the hard drive before unplugging it. Otherwise, you risk losing or damaging your files.

What is the lifespan of an external hard drive?

Averagely, the life span of an external hard drive is about 3-5 years. The life span of your hard drive will depend on the conditions stored in, model, and frequency of using it.

To ensure that your data is safe, it’s recommended to replace your drive after every few years.

Is 6tb external hard drive enough for me?

For average peeps who own computers, including gamers,  a6TB external hard drive as a backup unit will provide more than enough storage for your video files, pictures, and other programmers and software.

Is it safe to leave my external hard drive on 24/7?

While it is not necessarily bad to leave your hard drive on 24/7, it is not advised. Leaving a hard drive on for 24 hours a day will reduce its life span due to the needless wear on the drive bearing. You will also waste energy.

What may cause an external hard drive to crash?

Physical shock, for example, dropping the disk, accounts for more than 90 percent of hard drive failure.

The shock damages the platters where data is stored. Stiction, which is a combination of sticking and friction of the read/write armatures heads, may also result in failure.

Circuit board failure can also cause HDD to crash, although it is not a common phenomenon. And lastly, drive motor failure may also result in HDD failure.

Does saltwater destroy a hard drive?

Saltwater will destroy the electronics and read/write heads in a matter of minutes, but all your data will still remain intact.

A specialist can easily retrieve your data. There are many more creative, easy ways of getting rid of your HDD, the most efficient one being magnetization.

Conclusion

Sooner or later, you will find out that you need an external hard drive. It could be because you are out of space, or you are looking for higher speeds.

Especially if you are a gamer, games nowadays need a lot of data storage space, and you may need more than the onboard storage options to stay up-to-date on games.

External hard drives offer the best solutions as a backup source and extra storage source since they are small in size, secure, and easy to use.

If you are looking for an external hard drive, any of the above-reviewed drives is highly recommended. They are packaged will all a high-performing external drive has to offer.

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