These portable drives can get damaged from drops or knocks more easily, so they often work better if you plan to keep the drive on a desk rather than take it places with you. The traditional portable hard disk drive contains moving parts inside and uses a magnetic system, so it has much slower read and write speeds compared to the SSDs available today.
Each type uses different types of technology and has pros and cons that make them suitable for different users and storage needs. When shopping for a portable hard drive, you’ll come across two main types: traditional hard disk drives and newer solid-state drives (SSDs).
A portable hard drive can also help you hold onto an older computer a bit longer if you’re just running short on space. These small devices work well whether you desire extra space for documents and media files, need to regularly back up your system or just prefer a portable device that lets you easily access files in different places. If you need extra storage for a computer, tablet, game console or phone, a portable hard drive can offer a helpful and flexible solution.