Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
The best hard drives & solid state drives you can buy for the Playstation 5
The PlayStation 5 has been out for a while now. Hopefully, you’ve been able to get your hands on one and start playing some awesome games, old or new. If you’ve already downloaded a few games, it’s probably time to start thinking about extra storage for all of your games in the form of the best PS5 hard drive.
There are only 667GB of usable storage on the PS5, which is plenty to get you started. But you’ll likely need to think about getting extra storage later on. Plus, if you’re planning to play some of your PS4 games on the PS5, you’ll need to think about storage space for those games as well.
We’ll go into more detail below about what storage options are compatible with the PS5. Then, we’ll give our recommendations for the best external hard drives and SSD’s for the PlayStation 5.
Check out: PlayStation 5 review
Will external hard drives and solid-state drives work with the PS5?
Yes, external hard drives will work with the PlayStation 5, but maybe not exactly how you think. External HDDs and even external SSDs will work with the PS5, but not for PS5 games. PS5 games will require a good m.2 SSD that’s lightning-fast and prepared for all the visual enhancements programmed into the games.
However, for PS4 games, an external HDD or SSD will work great. If the PS4 game you want to play was enhanced to play better on the PS5, it likely also requires an internal SSD. If you don’t care about playing the enhanced version, you can definitely use the external HDD or SSD to store those PS4 games. And if a PS4 game isn’t enhanced, then, by all means, go ahead and install it on your external HDD or SSD!
Obviously, if you go the route of purchasing an SSD instead of an HDD, your games will run and load faster. SSDs are typically more expensive than HDDs, but they’re usually worth it for the quality increase. HDDs still provide ample storage at a lesser price if you’re okay with slower loading times and want to save some money.
Related: Finally got a new PS5? Here are 7 things you should do first
Will internal SSDs work with the PS5?
They will! After over a year of waiting, Sony has finally activated the Ps5’s internal m.2 SSD slot. An article on Sony’s support page details technical requirements, step-by-step instructions, and an FAQ for interested folk. Some of the SSDs on the market right now, even though they might have awesome specs, don’t have the same bandwidth specifications and other beefy specs of the custom SSD that’s inside the PS5. The custom SSD that comes in the PS5 has been specifically designed to deliver all of the hyped enhancements and loading speeds the console and its games have to offer, so check reviews and product pages to ensure PS5 compatibility before you buy.
You’ll likely fill up 667GB of storage space quickly, so we definitely recommend getting treating yourself to the extra space. If you absolutely need extra space for your PS4 games, by all means, check out any of the options below to see the best PS5 hard drives and SSD’s you can buy for the PlayStation 5.
Best hard drives & solid-state drives for the PlayStation 5:
- VectoTech Rapid 2TB External SSD
- Fantom Drives 2TB External HDD
- WD Black 2TB P10 Portable External HDD
- Samsung T7 Touch Portable 1TB SSD
- Seagate Portable 1TB External HDD
- WD Elements 4TB External HDD
- Seagate FireCuda 1TB External SSD
VectoTech Rapid 2TB External SSD
The VectoTech Rapid SSD is pretty expensive, but you’ll get extremely fast read/write speeds, making your games run really fast too. With this 2TB external SSD, you’ll have a read speed of up to 540 MB/s and transfer speeds that are 3-4x faster than conventional spinning hard drives. Also, there’s a 1TB option if you’re looking for a less expensive but still efficient SSD and a 4TB option if money is no issue and you want to maximize your storage space. This is one of the best SSD’s for PS5.
Also read: Is the PS5 backwards compatible with PS2, PS3, and PS4 games?
There aren’t any moving parts inside, so it’s more resistant to falling, shock, and vibration. It’s made out of highly durable aluminum as well, adding to its resistance to minor damage. Although this SSD might not look the sleekest when compared to other brands, its specs speak for themselves. The VectoTech Rapid SSD is currently compatible with the PS4 and will most likely be compatible with the PS5 as well — just not with PS5 games, as mentioned earlier.
Fantom Drives 2TB External HDD
This is a PS5 hard drive, so it’s going to be significantly less expensive, but also slower. It matches the VectoTech with 2TB of storage space, but they are not equal in speed. However, this particular HDD boasts 7200 RPM, meaning it’s a bit faster than traditional hard disk drives.
It’s made of durable aluminum that does a great job of protecting the hard drive and also eliminates the need for fans. The aluminum mesh on the front also improves airflow, keeping it cool without the use of fans. I love the look of this HDD. It’s incredibly sleek and you have the option of placing it horizontally or vertically. While that may not be one of the most important selling factors for an external hard drive, it is a nifty feature to have. The last cool thing I’ll mention is the power switch. There’s a power switch on the back that you can turn off when you’re not using it to prolong the life of the hard drive.
WD Black 2TB P10 Portable External HDD
The WD Black P10 Portable is another great inexpensive option for an external HDD. If you’re looking for more storage, there are 4TB and 5TB options as well. And while the PS5 console may not be portable, this HDD is easily portable and durable enough to withstand travel.
Also read: The best upcoming PS5 games: Release dates, latest trailers, and more
This external HDD is a high-performance HDD. Although it won’t compare to the performance of an SSD, it will be generally faster and more effective than other HDDs on the market. Plus, this HDD comes with a three-year manufacturer warranty, so you’ll have peace of mind for a while just in case anything bad happens to it. This is one of the best PS5 hard drives for its design perks.
Samsung T7 Touch Portable 1TB SSD
The Samsung T7 Touch is another fantastic SSD if you’ve got the money to spend. There is a 500GB option if you don’t have as much money to spend. Or, there’s a 2TB option if you want to make sure you have plenty of storage space. In my opinion, the 1TB option is that sweet spot between price and storage, so long as you can find a sale. This portable SSD comes in black and silver. I think this is a nice touch if you’ve got a specific color scheme going on in your entertainment center.
Let’s take a look at what’s really important, though: the specs. This SSD can read up to 1050 MB/s and writes up to 1000 MB/s, transferring files almost ten times faster than HDDs. Samsung has a T5 model as well, but the T7 model is twice as fast, making it one of the best SSD’s for PS5. So if you’re going to invest in something that you’ll likely have for multiple years, you might as well spring for the fastest model. And again, as the previous SSD mentioned, there are no moving parts within this SSD. So damage from drops (up to 6 feet), shocks, and vibrations is minimized.
One of the coolest things about this SSD is the fingerprint or password security. The Samsung T7 Touch uses AES 256-bit encryption to protect your data and allows you to unlock it with either your fingerprint or a password of your choosing. And everything is packed into this tiny, durable package. The T7 Touch is so small it can fit in your palm. Out of all the HDDs and SSDs on this list, the T7 Touch is the most compact and portable.
Seagate Portable 1TB External HDD
Seagate is a highly reputable brand when it comes to external storage. The 1TB Seagate Portable HDD is one of the best hard drives you can buy for the PlayStation 5 and retails at a pretty low price. And at such a low price, it might be well worth it to splurge on the 2TB, 4TB, or 5TB options if you want more storage. This particular HDD also comes in black and silver as well.
As this is a portable external HDD, it’s small enough to easily carry with you. If you’re looking for the best PS5 hard drive you can get without breaking the bank; this is the HDD for you. You’ll have ample storage space for all of your old PS4 games and still have leftover money to spend on new PS5 games to install on that beefy, custom SSD inside the PS5.
WD Elements 4TB External HDD
The WD Elements external hard drive is another one of the best PS5 hard drive options that’s inexpensive but provides lots of storage space. Depending on what your budget is, there are also 1TB, 2TB, and 5TB options that are equally efficient and affordable.
Although this external HDD may not be as fast as some of the other options on this list, and especially not as fast as any of the SSDs, it will still run your PS4 games well and save you a lot of money. If you have the money to splurge on the WD Black option listed above, I’d go with that one. But if that’s a little out of your budget or you want more storage space for the same amount of money, the WD Elements HDD is still one of the best hard drives you can buy for the PlayStation 5.
Seagate FireCuda 1TB External SSD
Seagate’s FireCuda external SSD was specifically made for gamers, making it one of the best SSD’s for PS5. There is a 500GB option and a 2TB option as well. This is the most expensive option on the list, but for good reason.
The FireCuda has USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 technology that allows for speeds of up to 2000MB/s. This is the fastest SSD on this list, so you’ll see much faster load times in your games. Everything is wrapped up in a sleek aluminum casing that allows for heat dissipation, extending the life of your SSD. If you have the money in your budget, this is truly the best option on the list. If you see yourself filling up 1TB pretty quickly, I’d suggest going for the 2TB option. It would be pretty annoying to fill up 1TB and then have to buy a larger SSD and transfer everything a few years down the road.
Check out: PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition – Which console is better for you?
Just as a final reminder, any of the best hard drives for PS5 will work great for storing your PS4 games, but not your PS5 games. PS5 games need to be installed on a compatible internal m.2 SSD. Otherwise, you won’t get all of the cool things that Sony promised with their PS5 games, like virtually no loading times. If you’re just looking to store your PS4 games, then these are some of the best hard drives and solid-state drives you can buy for the PlayStation 5.