best hard drive for ps4

Best Hard Drive for PS4 – Internal and External HDD

In gaming, storage space is never enough, no matter how enormous it is, especially for PS4 games. So, we are here with the best hard drive for PS4, both internal HDD and external HDD’s. Thus, the choice is all yours, whether you want to upgrade your device with the best internal hard drive for PS4 or use a portable external hard drive to fulfill your needs.

When initially PS4 was launched, now it feels like ages ago. At that time, 500GB of space was more than enough for all of us. However, although games were large at that time, the size of the game is becoming larger and larger, so the small base drive of PS4 is not enough. Hence, if you want to enjoy new games without losing your older data, upgrade your device or get a portable external drive. Then, you will have enough space to store games like Red Dead Redemption 2, requiring up to 100GB of space in both cases.

So, if any user has decided about increasing storage space, then the first thing that they should know is like every shoe doesn’t fit in your feet. Similarly, every drive can’t be used by PS4. PS4 uses a smaller 2.5-inch drive with a maximum vertical clearance of up to 9.5 mm. Some drivers are too tall to fit, so make sure that you choose a hard drive of the proper size. In addition, it would be best to keep in mind that the internal drive should be greater than 160GB, and USB 3.0 can only connect the external hard drive with PS4.

In this article, we are briefly reviewing the 5 best external and 5 best internal hard drives for PS4. This will make the selection a lot easier for you. But still, if you can’t decide about the best product then our buyer’s guide will prove to be very helpful in making the right decision.

Best Hard Drive for PS4 in 2023:

  1. SAMSUNG T7 Touch Portable SSD – Best Overall
  2. Seagate Portable External Hard Drive – Best Speed
  3. WD Elements External HDD for PS4 – Best Lightweight
  4. Seagate Expansion External Hard disk – Best Value
  5. Lacie Rugged Thunderbolt – Rugged and Portable
  6. Samsung 860 QVO – Best Internal SSD for PS4
  7. Samsung 860 EVO – Best Overall Internal SSD
  8. Seagate Gaming SSHD ST1000LM014 – Best Budget
  9. Seagate Barracuda – Best Value HDD for PS4
  10. Crucial MX500 – Best Value SSD for PS4

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Editor’s Choice

WD Elements HDD

Portable and Enormous Storage Capacity

Brand: Western Digital
Storage Capacity: 1TB to 18TB
Interface: USB, USB 3.0, USB 2.0
Runner Up

HGST Touro S

Fastest External HDD

Brand: HGST, a Western Digital
Storage Capacity: 1TB
Interface: USB 3.0

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Product Reviews

Best Hard Drive For PS4 in 2023:

1. SAMSUNG T7 Touch Portable SSD

Brand: SAMSUNG | Digital Storage Capacity: 1TB, 2TB | Hardware Interface: USB 3.1 Type C | Read Speed: 1050 MB | Compatible Devices: Laptop, Desktop, Television, PS4
REASONS TO BUY
Super Fast
Metallic Design
Fingerprint Reader
Compatible with all OS

REASONS TO AVOID
Little bit Expensive
You will need to install software for a fingerprint to work.

The Samsung SSD T7 is the best hard drive for PS4, considering performance and durability. Although there are many SSDs available in the market but the read and write speed of T7 is quicker than all its competitors. Moreover, being compact and durable can carry PS4 games to different places without any worries. So, users who are constantly traveling will be please by it the most. However, for some users, the price tag may not be friendly, the features are worth every penny.

If you look at the build quality, the SSD T7 is made of metal from top to bottom. The design is such that it can fit in the palm of your hand very quickly. The hard drive comes with USB Type-C to Type-C and Type-C to Type-A cables which make connectivity convenient. The best hard drive for PS4 comes with a fingerprint reader for security and offers a storage capacity of 500GB. More, apart from PS4, it’s compatible with MAC, PC, and Android devices.

2. Seagate Portable External Hard Drive

Brand: Seagate | Digital Storage Capacity: 2 TB | Hardware Interface: USB 3.0/2.0 | Compatible Devices: PS4, PC, Gaming Console, Mac
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Fast and Reliable
Huge Storage

REASONS TO AVOID
Not as fast as SSD

Differentiating between a good hard drive and bad hard drive is a very tough task. You can only rely on the customer satisfaction and reviews. In a hard drive, the only thing that matters is the speed, storage and working efficiency. Seagate Portable external hard drive is the most reviewed and loved hard drive on the market. It comes with enormous speed and efficiency. So, if you are looking for a portable external hard drive that performs wonderfully and is available at a good price, you are at a right place. Furthermore, there are a lot of storage variants available. You can find hard drive from 500GB to Up to 18TB. At last we can proudly say that it’s one of the best, cheapest and most reliable hard drive on the market.

3. WD Elements HDD – Portable and Enormous Storage Capacity

Brand: Western Digital | Digital Storage Capacity: 1TB to 18TB | Hardware Interface: USB, USB 3.0, USB 2.0 | Compatible Devices: Laptop, Desktop, Television, PS4
REASONS TO BUY
Faster Data Transfer
High Storage Capacity
2 Years Warranty
Plug & Play

REASONS TO AVOID
Reliability
Cable issues

The WD elements are a compact, high-capacity storage external drive and come at a reasonable price. This best hard drive for PS4 comes in various sizes, from 4TB to 10TB so that you can choose the size according to your budget and needs. Moreover, the design is stylish and highly portable; thus, you can carry your data in a very convenient way. Along with this, the two years manufacturer’s limited warranty makes the deal fair and square. However, if you compare this with Seagate Expansion, then WD is a bit slower in performance.

The simple design of WD elements enables it to work well with both PCs and PS4. In addition, you can use it either as a storage expansion or a backup drive hence WD elements is one of the best hard drive for PS4. So, users looking for a convenient device to carry their data around it is the best choice. On the other hand, this hard drive will not be the best choice if you need security and backup software features. But if one does not have a budget issue, you can get the backup software by paying a little extra.

4. Seagate Expansion – Best Value Hard Drive

Brand: Seagate | Digital Storage Capacity: 1TB to 16TB | Hardware Interface: USB 3.0 | Compatible Devices: Laptop, Desktop, Television, PS4
REASONS TO BUY
Higher Storage Capacity
Faster Read and Write speed
USB 3.0 for Connectivity
Compatible with win 7, 8 & 10
Plug and Play
Easy to setup

REASONS TO AVOID
No backup software
Short Warranty

If your selection is on the “go big” motto, the Seagate Expansion should be considered. It is the best hard drive for PS4 with enormous storage space. So, the available storage space of your PS4 can be increase with the USB 3.0 external hard drive in a nominal way. Moreover, the price is made much reasonable considering the high GB per dollar value. Along with this, the drive comes in different sizes ranging from 3TB to 8TB, so you can choose such a size that will fulfill all your needs.

There are many external drives for PS4, but Seagate Expansion is hard to beat with an 8TB storage capacity. Due to such an enormous space has earned the third position in our list of best hard drives for PS4. You must know that it requires a separate power cord to operate, so keep this in mind before planning your setup. Further, this drive requires Windows 7 or 8 operating systems, but it needs to reformat first if you want Mac compatibility. Reformatting will erase all your data which might not be acceptable for some users.

5. Lacie Rugged Thunderbolt – Best for Rugged nature and Mobility

Brand: SAMSUNG | Digital Storage Capacity: 2TB | Hardware Interface: USB 3.0 | Compatible Devices: Laptop, Desktop, PS4
REASONS TO BUY
Thunderbolt Speed
Include USB 3.0
Shock, Dust & Water Resistant
Compatible with all OS
Free recovery service till warranty

REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive

Lacie rugged is the rockiest and most portable hard drive available on the market. As it comes with IP 54 protection due to which the best hard drive for PS4 is highly resistant to shock, dust and water. Also, it can survive up to a two-meter drop which is certainly admirable. Travelers will love the high durability because the climates and environments are not always friendly. Yet, the harsh conditions will not affect it. On top of that, the hard drive is bus-powered for complete mobility.

Going towards connectivity, you will be pleased to know that the best hard drive for PS4 comes with USB 3.0, which offers universal connectivity. What will please you the most is the thunderbolt 387MB per second transfer speed. Along with this, the hard drive possesses automatic backup capabilities. Further, the 1-month complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud is a different pleasure. Last but not least, you will have 2TB storage space to accomplish all of your gaming needs.

6. Samsung 860 QVO – Best hard drive for PS4

Brand: SAMSUNG | Digital Storage Capacity: 250GB to 4TB | Hardware Interface: SATA 6.0 Gb/s | Compatible Devices: Laptop, Desktop, PS4
REASONS TO BUY
Latest 4-bit MLC Technology
Comes in 1TB, 2TB & 4TB
Faster Read & Write Speed
Higher Storage Capacity
SATA III Interface
Wonderful reliabilty

REASONS TO AVOID
SATA only
warranty relatively short

This internal hard drive is SSD in nature, due to which its performance is exceptional compare to traditional HDD. You may know that SSDs are up to 5 times faster than HDD, which certainly makes it a deal. In addition, if you are concerned about reliability, then SSDs are more reliable, accurate and can last for years. Therefore, the best hard drive for PS4 comes with a 3 years limited warranty. The only hurdle in getting Samsung 860 QVO is the higher price, but if budget is not an issue, don’t worry about the performance.

The best hard drive for PS4 possesses latest 4-Bit MLC technology due to which the read/write speed is 500/520 MB per second. Further, the hard drive comes in various sizes 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB. The price also varies accordingly. So, choose such a size that will easily fit your budget and fulfill all your gaming needs. The hard drive is compatible with any PC or laptop device that accepts 2.5 inches SATA III drive. Hence, this internal SSD will maximize the performance of PS4 to the highest possible level and give such a gaming experience that you have never expected before.

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7. Samsung 860 EVO – Best Internal SSD for PS4 Overall

Brand: SAMSUNG | Digital Storage Capacity: 250GB to 4TB | Hardware Interface: SATA 6.0 Gb/s | Compatible Devices: Laptop, Desktop, PS4
REASONS TO BUY
V-NAND Technology
Wonderful endurance
Magician software
SATA III Interface
5 Years Warranty

REASONS TO AVOID
TRIM related performance issues

If you are looking for an even better option than 860 QVO, then Samsung 860 EVO is right. The best hard drive for PS4 is powered by Samsung V-NAND technology. Thus, the performance is further enhanced. The off chance of comparing the read and write speed with 860 QVO is 550 MB/s and 520 MB/s. No doubt SSD is a good upgrade for standard PS4 but due to slower SATA II connection you may not get the desirable SSD’s speed. However, if you have a PS4 Pro, there is no better option than the Samsung 860 EVO.

Talking about compatibility, operating systems like Windows 7 or 8, Mac OS X, and Linux are acceptable. Further, this hard drive is compatible with any device that will accept a 2.5 inch SATA III drive. On top, the best hard drive for PS4 comes in various sizes, from 250GB on the lower end to 4TB on the higher end. Hence, if you want fast and massive storage capacity, then SSD like this is the most convenient way to add up to 4TB to your PS4. But keep in mind that getting an internal SSD like this will cost you a lot.

8. Seagate Gaming SSHD ST1000LM014 – Best Budget Internal HSSD for PS4

Brand: Seagate | Digital Storage Capacity: 1TB | Hardware Interface: SATA 6.0 Gb/s | Compatible Devices: Laptop, Desktop, PS4
REASONS TO BUY
Faster Data Transfer
8GB Cache Capacity
SATA Interface
2.5 inch Width

REASONS TO AVOID
little noisy
packaging

This best hard drive for PS4 is a hybrid, which means that performance is like SSD but price is like HDD. The 1TB gaming SSHD comes with some improvements granted by full SSD, like shorter load time and faster install time without any higher price tag. Keep in mind that this SSHD also relies on a physical disk spinning at 5400 RPM, so the performance will not be as fast as a traditional SSD. But without any doubt, this hard drive will increase your storage capacity. In many games, the performance will also increase.

If you want to know the speed in terms of MB, then the maximum external data transfer rate is 768 MB per second. Moreover, the best hard drive for PS4 comes with a SATA interface. It is compatible with any device that accepts a 2.5-inch drive. The best part of the PS4 hybrid drive which attracts most users is the affordable price tag. Hence, purchasers with a limited budget who want SSD’s like performance will be please by it the most. On top of that, the hybrid drive prioritizes the frequently used data on the SSD part; therefore, performance is much better than HDD.

9. Seagate Barracuda – Best Value Hard Drive for PS4

Brand: Seagate | Digital Storage Capacity: 2TB | Hardware Interface: SATA 6.0 Gb/s | Compatible Devices: Laptop, Desktop, PS4
REASONS TO BUY
Higher Storage
128MB Cache Capacity
SATA Interface
2.5-inch Width
Faster Data Transfer
5 years warranty
Great Support service

REASONS TO AVOID
Only two year recovery service
Expensive

A simple hard drive will upgrade your PS4 or PS4 Pro storage capacity up to a great level. The other three internal drives in the list are SSDs, so everyone can’t afford them. Therefore we have included an HDD which is the best hard drive for PS4 and is highly affordable. Further, if you wait for a deal, this HDD can be obtained at a lesser price than a new game. Along with this, the availability of different size ranges from 500GB to 5TB further makes it a deal.

Seagate Barracuda best hard drive for PS4 comes with standard spin rate of 5400 RPM, also the 128MB cache is a presentable size in such a standard HDD. Moreover, the hard drive is compatible with any device that will accept a 2.5-inch drive with a SATA interface. The built-in multi-tier caching technology offers outstanding performance with very low power consumption. The durability of a product can be guessed from the manufacturer’s warranty. Here it is 2 years which is more than enough for such an affordable drive.

10. Crucial MX500 – Best Value Internal SSD for PS4

Brand: Crucial | Digital Storage Capacity: 1TB | Hardware Interface: SATA 6.0 Gb/s | Compatible Devices: Laptop, Desktop, PS4
REASONS TO BUY
Higher Storage Capacity
Faster Read/Write Speed
Accelerated by 3D NAND Technology
Reliable
Variants from 250GB to 2TB
Budget friendly cost

REASONS TO AVOID
Edurance for large files transfer

Although Crucial has not had the same reputation as Samsung, when it comes to SSD, the MX500 is an incredible internal storage drive for PS4. Since it provides excellent value and superb performance, therefore we have included it in our list. Moreover, the best internal SSD for PS4 has a faster read and write speed than the Samsung 860 Evo. Plus, the base price of 1TB Crucial MX500 is lower compared to the cost of 1TB 860 Evo. Though price changes day by day, you should not be surprised if one is more expensive than the other.

Available from 250GB to 2TB, storage space should not be an issue for you. Along with this, it comes with 256-bit hardware-based encryption that keeps your data safe from hackers. More, the reliability is world-class since it gives you the perfect combination of quality and performance. On top of that, the manufacturer-backed thousands of hours of validation and dozens of qualification tests with a 5-year warranty.

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Buyers Guide

Choosing Best Hard Drive for PS4 2023

Before going to the market to buy a product, some basic knowledge is needed so that your choice will be the best. As many users can’t decide which product is best, we have some general tips to help you find the best outcome. Whether you are looking for an internal or external hard drive, you can make the final decision based on the following factors. Choosing an effect on these factors will be worthy of investment and will deliver outstanding performance.

Storage Capacity

Whenever a person is looking for a hard drive, they have no room left on the current drive and are tired of figuring out which game or app to delete. Hence, the new drive you are looking for should accomplish your current gaming needs and have enough spare space for the future.

Importance of Speed

The following important factor that you should consider is the speed of a hard drive. The faster it will perform, the better will be your gaming experience. Games download, file transfer, and load time depend upon a hard drive’s speed; therefore, speed should be an essential part of your decision-making process. Thus, in this regard, SSDs are the best, then come to SSHDs, and HDDs are on the last number in this run.

Is it Compatable?

The most important thing to keep in mind in the selection process is the compatibility of a hard drive with your console. So, the hard drive should be such that it comes with all the necessary tools. On the other hand, if the required tools are not included, you have to spend more to make them fit your system.

Does it fit in your Budget?

The last thing that needs to be considered before making a final decision is the hard drive price. Make sure that you choose a hard drive that easily fits your budget and compares it with the competitors. If the competitors also come with the same features, storage space, and speed but with a low budget, then go for that.

Does catche size matter?

The cache is the size of the RAM in the hard drive PCB. This is solely used for buffering purposes between the hard drive, CPU, and memory. The cache sizes range from 128KB to up to 16MB. The higher cache means better performance by the hard drive. So it would be best if you made sure that the hard drive has a good cache size.

What is RPM (Revolutions Per Minute)

As the name indicates, RPM is the measurement of the hard drive revolution that it makes per minute. The higher RPM rate means that the data will be accessed more quickly. So, before buying a hard drive, makes sure that it does have a reasonable RPM. For example, a 7200 RPM hard drive is suitable for handy personal applications. In contrast, a performance-sensitive application needs a higher RPM.

Different Types of Hard Drive

You may already know that PS4’s hard drives are available in three different types: SSD, HSSD, and HDD. The general overview of these three other hard drives is as follows.

Solid State Drive (SSD)
SSDs are the fastest hard drive ever introduced to the market, and in terms of speed, no one can compete with them. But the biggest hurdle in getting them is the higher price tag which everyone can’t afford. Also, they do not offer such an enormous storage space as the traditional HDD.

Traditional HDD
This type of hard drive comes with an enormous storage capacity that can create your gaming library. Also, they are much affordable but not as fast as SSDs. So, don’t expect any next-level performance from them, but still, high-end HDDs perform much better than your primary PS4 drive.

Solid State Hybrid Drive (SSHD)
To overcome the cons of the above two types, an innovative hard drive has been introduced to the market. As the name suggests, it is a hybrid of HDD and SSD; thus, it performs almost like SSD and offers storage capacity like HDD. Moreover, the price is not $10 more than the traditional HDD of the same size.

Top 3 Brands of Hard Dive

As you know that the specific product performs only as better as the brand behind it. So, to understand the top three brands in the hard drive world, read on.

Samsung
Most of you will know Samsung due to their cell phone and television products, but the hard drive is also none the less. Further, they also make some internal parts in Apple products; therefore, their hard drives come with innovative features for an excellent performance.

Western Digital (WD)
Western Digital has been in the games for ages and is making world-class gaming products. So, the hard drive manufacture by them is most durable, reliable, and fast, thus perfect for games.

Seagate
In this article, we have included some of the best products of Seagate, so by now, you will be familiar with this brand. The hard drives manufactured by them are the most used and most dependable. However, the biggest reason that they attract most customers is the affordable price of their product. Along with this, performance is also exceptional; therefore, users can’t resist.

Although many brands make hard drives with acceptable price and performance, the overall products of the above three brands are the best; therefore, we ranked them on top.

Conclusion
This article reviewed the ten best hard drives for PS4, both internal and external. The selection of products is purely on a merit base and without any biases. Thus, they will serve you in the best possible way and take your gaming experience to the next level. Moreover, we shall be updating the list so you can visit again for future queries.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should I buy an External Hard Drive?

External hard drives are incredibly portable, easy to use, and can help you store large amounts of data. It’s not just about keeping the data. You can carry that data anywhere with yourself. Also, whenever you need to transfer data from one computer to another, it can be highly beneficial. So, sharing many movies and large gaming files with your friend won’t be a problem anymore.

The ability to store large amounts of data (often in terabytes) makes it perfect for storing backed-up files safely in case you need them later. For example, you can use third-party programs to store music, pictures, and video collection on an external hard drive to keep them safe.

It’s not just about that. You can also use them to extend your computer space without opening the whole computer. Sometimes, space on your computer gets low. You can copy some files and move them to an external hard drive to save space. So, having an external hard drive can always be beneficial.

Is it possible to use a part of the partitioned external hard drive for additional storage on PS4?

No. PS4 doesn’t allow a partitioned external hard drive for additional storage. So, you will need to have a hard drive with a single partition solely dedicated to PS4 usage.

Can I Swap a PS3 hard drive with a PS4 hard drive?

Well, PS3 and PS4 both use the same hard drives, and yes, you can sway the PS3 hard drive into the PS4. But before you do that, you will need to reformat the drive, and you won’t be able to use any of the data you had on the PS3.

What are the compatibility requirements for PS4 external storage?

There are a few specific things that you need to make sure for a hard drive to work on a PS4. First, PS4 only supports USB 3.0 ports, so if you don’t have an external hard drive with a USB 3.0 port, it won’t be supported by PS4. The next important thing is a limit on the minimum and maximum storage of the external hard drive. It would help if you made sure that the hard drive storage ranges from 250GB to 8TB.

Also, the PS4 doesn’t support a HUB connection, wireless connection, and double-layer hard drive. The external hard drive also needs to be solely dedicated to PS4. You won’t be able to use it on a PC or MAC.

Noor Shahid

Noor Shahid Khan is a Software Engineer and SEO Expert. He has been producing content in technology and lifestyle niches which besides a good read also have an impact on Google search rankings surge. His content focus on balancing information with SEO but neither at the expense of entertaining read. Apart from his writing career, he is also Senior Editor at Mist Interactive.

7 comments

  • Toshiba X300 doesn’t fit the PS4 requirements. It’s a 3.5 inch hdd, the PS4 only fits 2.5 inches. Could please amend this for future purchasers?

    • Thanks for the heads up. Actually, it can be used with the help of a SATA extension cable but to make sure it fits internally, we have changed Toshiba X300 and included a new one. Thanks again

  • Is the 128Mb cache capacity of ‘Seagate barracuda 2Tb 2.5in’ enough for the standard Ps4? And what must be the ideal cache capacity for a standard Ps4?

  • Seagate 2tb barracuda failed within 2 months. One forced shut down when I brushed up against the disc eject button and this hard drive never booted again.
    Avoid.

    • Thanks for the information regarding this specific hard drive. This maybe coincidence but still we will change the product and add a new one soon.

  • I’m confused as to which is better for PS4: Samsung 860 QVO or Samsung 860 Evo.

    You Indicated that they’re both the best for PS4.