PlayStation 4 owners have no shortage of choice when it comes to storage expansion. Popping out the internal drive is fairly easy, but if you don't want to go through the trouble there's an alternative. Just plug a USB hard drive into your console and you'll instantly you have all the storage you could ever need. All you need is to pick the right drive for your needs. Here are some solid options available to you today.
Best in size and reliability
Seagate Game Drive 2TB
Staff pick
This Seagate drive is super thin and can fit just about anywhere. Not only that, but it's officially licensed by PlayStation and has a perfect design that will fit right in. This edition comes with 2TB, but for only $25 more you can get an extra terabyte.
Best size for the buck
Seagate Portable Expansion
Seagate's portable options for hard drives come with some of the best prices. You can snag a 1TB hard drive for $50, a 2TB for $65, or a 4TB for $90. For $7 more, you can even add the case in the selling options to have a little more safety when traveling or storing.
Best in massive storage
Seagate Expansion 4TB
If all you care about is capacity, and you want to make sure you never have to worry about running out of storage on your PlayStation 4 ever again, the Seagate Expansion series has you covered. These external hard drives start at $90 for 3TB and go up to $160 for 8TB.
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For the color conscious
Toshiba Canvio Advance
This Toshiba Canvio 2TB may be just what the doctor ordered. For a 2TB drive, $65 is a reasonable price. Aside from the great price, it also comes in blue, black, white, and red color options. If you need more storage, but you also need to keep your color coordination game on point, this is the drive I would recommend.
Reliable structure
Western Digital WD Elements
The WD Elements series isn't small enough to be pocketable but can be concealed on most entertainment centers and has a decent shell to take a few accidental beatings. It's a 4TB drive, so you're unlikely to fill it anytime soon. There is also a 2TB option for $60 and a 3TB option for $87.
Kid-proof
Silicon Power Hard Drive with Armor
If you have kids in your home you know that no technology is safe. Little hands have a habit of grabbing things and throwing them before you can stop them, and that's why the Silicon Power hard drive is perfect for you. The built-in case, which comes in green or orange, is shockproof and has a scratch-resistant texture.
Why use an external hard drive over an internal hard drive?
If you've got a PlayStation 4, it is worth picking up one of these hard drives to ensure you never run out of space. All of the options on this list offer a trusty way to boost your storage without breaking the bank, and honestly, you can't ask for much more. Using an external hard drive prevents the need for taking apart your PlayStation and putting it back together as you would with an internal hard drive, but it also comes with loads of benefits.
For instance, using an external hard drive makes all of your game files much more portable. When it comes time for holiday parties or that gaming session at Joe's house, you can take all of your favorite games with you just by unplugging it from your PlayStation and throwing it into your bag. This way you don't have to do a second playthrough of to unlock the characters again or re-download so you can introduce your family to your VR headset.
Our favorite is the . It is a clean design which won't detract from a nice entertainment system layout. But if you want something that stands out instead of hiding it away, the has you. This external drive is bold with several color options to choose from. Despite having our favorites, you really can't go wrong with any of these drives.
Protect your hard drives
Worried about protection while you're traveling? Don't sweat. Cases for external hard drives are incredibly cheap to come by. If you're not buying the , it comes with a case for a little extra. Or, you can always go for a separate option. There are even vented hardback cases to secure your hard drive but also allow you to use it without removing the case.
We've found the best of the best options for your traveling needs here.
AmazonBasics External Hard Drive Case
This mesh hard drive case measures 5.8-by-4.2-by-1.2 inches, closes with a zipper, and has extra space for cords and small accessories for your travels.
Inateck Drive Housing
Not everyone needs to buy a whole new external drive to expand a PlayStation 4; you just need a solid enclosure to put an existing drive in. If that's you, the Inateck enclosure is everything you need. It's USB 3.0 enabled, offers an aluminum body to better handle heat dissipation when under stress, and doesn't require any additional software to set up.
Inateck 2.5 External Hard Drive Enclosure
Inateck has a metal mesh shell for heat protection, a switch to lock the case to prevent accidental slip-outs, and connects with a 3.0 USB that offers up to 5Gbps of speed. This case is for your existing PlayStation 4 hard drive.
Best in size and reliability
Seagate Game Drive 2TB
Staff pick
This Seagate drive is super thin and can fit just about anywhere. Not only that, but it's officially licensed by PlayStation and has a perfect design that will fit right in. This edition comes with 2TB, but for only $25 more you can get an extra terabyte.
Best size for the buck
Seagate Portable Expansion
Seagate's portable options for hard drives come with some of the best prices. You can snag a 1TB hard drive for $50, a 2TB for $65, or a 4TB for $90. For $7 more, you can even add the case in the selling options to have a little more safety when traveling or storing.
Best in massive storage
Seagate Expansion 4TB
If all you care about is capacity, and you want to make sure you never have to worry about running out of storage on your PlayStation 4 ever again, the Seagate Expansion series has you covered. These external hard drives start at $90 for 3TB and go up to $160 for 8TB.
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For the color conscious
Toshiba Canvio Advance
This Toshiba Canvio 2TB may be just what the doctor ordered. For a 2TB drive, $65 is a reasonable price. Aside from the great price, it also comes in blue, black, white, and red color options. If you need more storage, but you also need to keep your color coordination game on point, this is the drive I would recommend.
Reliable structure
Western Digital WD Elements
The WD Elements series isn't small enough to be pocketable but can be concealed on most entertainment centers and has a decent shell to take a few accidental beatings. It's a 4TB drive, so you're unlikely to fill it anytime soon. There is also a 2TB option for $60 and a 3TB option for $87.
Kid-proof
Silicon Power Hard Drive with Armor
If you have kids in your home you know that no technology is safe. Little hands have a habit of grabbing things and throwing them before you can stop them, and that's why the Silicon Power hard drive is perfect for you. The built-in case, which comes in green or orange, is shockproof and has a scratch-resistant texture.
Why use an external hard drive over an internal hard drive?
If you've got a PlayStation 4, it is worth picking up one of these hard drives to ensure you never run out of space. All of the options on this list offer a trusty way to boost your storage without breaking the bank, and honestly, you can't ask for much more. Using an external hard drive prevents the need for taking apart your PlayStation and putting it back together as you would with an internal hard drive, but it also comes with loads of benefits.
For instance, using an external hard drive makes all of your game files much more portable. When it comes time for holiday parties or that gaming session at Joe's house, you can take all of your favorite games with you just by unplugging it from your PlayStation and throwing it into your bag. This way you don't have to do a second playthrough of to unlock the characters again or re-download so you can introduce your family to your VR headset.
Our favorite is the . It is a clean design which won't detract from a nice entertainment system layout. But if you want something that stands out instead of hiding it away, the has you. This external drive is bold with several color options to choose from. Despite having our favorites, you really can't go wrong with any of these drives.
Protect your hard drives
Worried about protection while you're traveling? Don't sweat. Cases for external hard drives are incredibly cheap to come by. If you're not buying the , it comes with a case for a little extra. Or, you can always go for a separate option. There are even vented hardback cases to secure your hard drive but also allow you to use it without removing the case.
We've found the best of the best options for your traveling needs here.
AmazonBasics External Hard Drive Case
This mesh hard drive case measures 5.8-by-4.2-by-1.2 inches, closes with a zipper, and has extra space for cords and small accessories for your travels.
Inateck Drive Housing
Not everyone needs to buy a whole new external drive to expand a PlayStation 4; you just need a solid enclosure to put an existing drive in. If that's you, the Inateck enclosure is everything you need. It's USB 3.0 enabled, offers an aluminum body to better handle heat dissipation when under stress, and doesn't require any additional software to set up.
Inateck 2.5 External Hard Drive Enclosure
Inateck has a metal mesh shell for heat protection, a switch to lock the case to prevent accidental slip-outs, and connects with a 3.0 USB that offers up to 5Gbps of speed. This case is for your existing PlayStation 4 hard drive.