The Best PS4 External Hard Drives for Your Game Library

With video games becoming more complex and technologically sophisticated all the time, it is no surprise that modern games take up a whole lot of space on a console’s hard drive. However, if you are tired of deleting games off your PS4 in order to download the latest title you crave, there is a better way! External hard drives have also come a long way over the years and are an inexpensive way to double or triple your console’s storage space without sacrificing its performance. We made this guide to showcase the best external hard drives for the PS4 to ensure you have enough disk space for the games you love.

Shopping for an External Hard Drive for Your PS4

Here are the things you should consider before purchase:

• Compatibility: For your external hard drive to be a good match for your PS4, ensure it uses USB 3.0 technology and has a storage capacity between 250 GB and 8 TB. Some external hard drives are even pre-formatted for PS4, meaning you can save time formatting them using the console for a plug-and-play experience.
• Storage Capacity: Determining how much storage space you need for your games can be tricky. Since an external hard drive’s cost doesn’t correlate precisely with its storage capacity, it’s usually not hard to find an amazing deal on a high-capacity external hard drive. Choosing a 2- or 3-TB model will also give you more peace of mind than a 1-TB model, especially when you start filling it up with your favorite titles.
• Durability: To ensure a long life of high-quality performance, the durability of an external hard drive should definitely be considered. While many models offer shockproof construction, some go even further to make their hard drives water-resistant. Added durability will also make it safer to travel with your external hard drive so that you can bring your game library on vacation or to a friend’s house.

Top Pick: Western Digital 4-TB Gaming Drive

Our top pick is the Western Digital 4-TB Gaming Drive. Featuring a sleek PlayStation-inspired design and color scheme, this hard drive resists getting hot and is more than fast enough to handle the rigors of gaming on a PS4. It’s also quick and simple to set up with your console so that you can spend your time downloading and playing games. While it’s slightly pricier than some of the other PS4 external hard drive options out there, this model is also ruggedly constructed and performs well enough to justify the investment.

Best Budget: Silicon Power 1-TB Black Rugged Portable External Hard Drive

This external hard drive is not only inexpensive, but it is also one of the most durable external hard drives you can buy for your PS4. Sporting military-grade shockproof technology, IPX4 water resistance, and a scratch-proof surface, this external hard drive is rugged enough to travel with and not worry about your game library becoming lost. Besides its toughness, this product is also super fast and reliable, so you won’t experience any performance issues while downloading or playing on your PS4.

Easiest Setup: Avolusion HDDGear 3-TB External PS4 Gaming Hard Drive

For effortless additional storage space for your PlayStation 4, PS4 Slim, or PS4 Slim Pro, the Avolusion HDDGear 3-TB External PS4 Gaming Hard Drive is an excellent pick. Featuring an exceptionally quiet operating volume, this external hard drive is pre-formatted for your console to ensure a plug-and-play experience right out of the box. It’s also solidly constructed and sports a power switch for an easy means to shut the unit down. While this model does get a little hotter than similar models, it is offered at a great price point given its storage capacity, making it a budget-savvy option for those who value simplicity.

Best Capacity: Seagate 6-TB External Hard Drive

For those with serious storage requirements, Seagate’s line of PS4-friendly external hard drives has you covered. This 6-TB external hard drive features more storage space for PS4 games than most gamers could ever need. Despite this, it isn’t much more expensive than lower-capacity external hard drives from other brands. Performance-wise, this product is also up to snuff, as its 160 MB/s speed and USB 3.0 connection will ensure you will not be left holding the controller for prolonged load screens or in-game lagging.

Also Consider: Seagate Game Drive for PS4

Rounding out our guide is the Seagate Game Drive for PS4, which is not only an officially licensed PlayStation accessory but a budget-friendly choice as well. Thankfully, this external hard drive definitely delivers in terms of speed, and its compact, rugged design is perfect for taking on the go. Given the file size of your average PS4 game, its 2-TB capacity is large enough for about 50 games, giving you plenty of space to play with. If you’re a fan of the sleek design and PlayStation branding, you can’t go wrong by picking this hard drive.