If you're a videographer, photographer, software collector, or just a plain data hog, you have to store all that data somewhere.

While the cloud is a useful place to store personal files and data, it's not always everyone's first choice. Physical storage is essential for PCs and laptops, especially when you need to store your operating system, games, media files, and music.

Not to mention, office spaces and business enterprises require an exponential amount of storage for multiple users.

Here are the biggest storage media devices available today.

If you're looking to get the best possible transfer speeds while storing large files, then your best option is the Sabrent Rocket Q 8TB NVMe M.2 SSD. It offers an incredible 8TB storage while still letting you access your files in a flash. This type of storage is best for videographers, video editors, and other professionals who frequently work with large files.

It offers a direct connection to your computer's motherboard, via PCIe 3.1, which allows you to have gigabit read and write speeds. You can also use this if you want to maximize the storage of your laptop, as most modern laptops now only let you have M.2 SSDs as an expansion option.

Whether you're a gaming enthusiast with spare cash or a business professional that requires a large amount of storage with high speeds, the Sabrent Rocket Q 8TB NVMe M.2 SSD is one of the best of its kind and a great choice for reliability.

Key Features
  • Built to PCIe 3.1/NVMe 1.3 standards for compatibility with the latest motherboards
  • Power-efficient with a maximum consumption of 6.5W
  • Shock-resistant at up to 1,500Gs
Specifications
  • Brand: Sabrent
  • Capacity: 8TB
  • Power: N/A
  • Speed: 3300MB/s (Read), 2900MB/s (Write)
  • Connection: PCIe 4.0
  • Portable: No
Pros
  • Pre-applied heat spreader helps keep the SSD cool
  • Comes with Sabrent Acronis True Image drive cloning software
  • Supports LDPC data correction for extended reliability
Cons
  • Expensive
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Sabrent Rocket Q 8TB NVMe M.2 SSD

When you want to backup your data on your home computer, the Seagate Expansion 18TB External HDD is one of the best and largest storage media drives you should consider. This external drive offers one of the biggest storage capacities you can get for personal use. Its USB 3.1 connection offers a reasonable transfer speed, great for backing up your computer or keeping files for long-term storage.

It's also plug-and-play for both Windows and Mac, allowing you to transfer files without hassle. And despite it being an external device with 18TB storage, it is extremely lightweight at just 950 grams. It also includes an 18-inch USB cable, giving you some leeway in terms of device placement.

While the Seagate Expansion 18TB External HDD isn't the fastest storage media you can buy, it's definitely useful for storing large files that may want to retrieve at a later date. It's also compatible with PS5 consoles, allowing you to expand your console's storage tenfold.

Key Features
  • Supports USB 3.1 for quick file transfer
  • Compatible with both Windows and Mac
  • Plug-and-play installation lets you back up your files in minutes
Specifications
  • Brand: Seagate
  • Capacity: 18TB
  • Power: 18W
  • Speed: 120MB/s
  • Connection: USB 3.0
  • Portable: Yes
Pros
  • Lightweight at only 950 grams
  • Includes an 18-inch USB cable for placement flexibility
  • Simple reformat makes it compatible with Apple Time Machine
Cons
  • Requires external power
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Seagate Expansion 18TB External HDD

Professionals who typically work on the go, whether digital nomads or high-level executives who deal with multinational companies, will appreciate the Western Digital My Passport 5TB Portable HDD. Its small and portable form factor, plus its ample 5TB space, provides the storage they need anywhere.

The WD Discovery app also automatically imports files from cloud services, ensuring you can access your data even if you're not connected to the internet—like when you're on a plane. You can even connect it to other devices like tablets or smartphones, as long as they have a USB-C port.

And since you're always moving, you can protect your drive's contents via the WD Security function, which covers it with 256-bit AES hardware encryption. So wherever you go, you're assured that your data is secure.

Key Features
  • Uses USB-C for quick transfers and greater compatibility across more mobile devices
  • Designed for Windows and can be reformatted for macOS use
  • Optional WD Security function for 256-bit AES Hardware Encryption
Specifications
  • Brand: Western Digital
  • Capacity: 5TB
  • Power: USB 3.0
  • Speed: 100MB/s
  • Connection: USB 3.0
  • Portable: Yes
Pros
  • Includes a USB 3.1 for legacy devices
  • Comes with the WD Discovery app for importing files from cloud services and social media
  • Choice between black or silver finish
Cons
  • Only runs at 5,400rpm
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Western Digital My Passport 5TB Portable HDD

Sometimes, relying on an external file server can be too costly, especially if you're working with a large team or have massive files. The best solution to this is to build your own networked attached storage. And to maximize its capacity, you can rely on the Seagate IronWold Pro 18TB NAS HDD.

This high-capacity NAS HDD is designed to run continuously, assuring you and your team can access it anytime, from anywhere in the world. Since Seagate knows that it will process a lot of data, they designed it to have a data turnover of up to 300TB per year—that's the equivalent of filling up the drive more than 16 times over in less than 12 months!

Beyond that, you can further expand this single 18TB drive by adding up to 23 more drives in one NAS. This allows you to have various RAID configurations, letting you have a more reliable setup and protecting the integrity of your files.

Key Features
  • Compatible with up to 24-bay NAS solutions
  • High-speed performance at 7,200rpm
  • Uses helium to extend drive longevity and improve performance
Specifications
  • Brand: Seagate
  • Capacity: 18TB
  • Power: SATA
  • Speed: 260 MB/s
  • Connection: SATA
  • Portable: No
Pros
  • Largest storage medium available on the market
  • Withstands up to 50Gs shock while in operation
  • Includes a three-year Rescue Data Recovery Service
Cons
  • Not ideal for non-NAS applications
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Seagate IronWolf Pro 18TB NAS HDD

Even if you have an unlimited budget, having an all-SSD gaming rig can be a costly proposition. Settling for an HDD to store your games and data doesn't mean you have to choose an entry-level drive. Instead, you can pick the Western Digital WD_BLACK 10TB Internal HDD. This high-performance internal drive will let you store as many as 40 AAA game titles, allowing you to keep all your games inside your computer.

You no longer have to uninstall games you don't play just to accommodate newer titles. Instead, you can keep them all on your PC. And despite it being an HDD, its 256MB DRAM cache and 7,200rpm disk speed ensure you won't have to wait long to load your games.

It's still relatively fast and decent enough for you to have an uninterrupted gaming session. With 10TB storage space, you'll have plenty of room to keep your games, multimedia files, and college/work data in a secure location.

Key Features
  • Uses a built-in dual-core processor to maximize drive performance
  • Extended five-year warranty gives you peace of mind
  • 10TB capacity can let you store over 40 AAA game titles internally
Specifications
  • Brand: Western Digital
  • Capacity: 10TB
  • Power: SATA
  • Speed: 198.2MB/s (Read), 181.6MB/s (Write)
  • Connection: SATA
  • Portable: No
Pros
  • More affordable per TB compared to SSDs
  • Compatible with both PC and Mac
  • High-performance 7,200rpm disk speed
Cons
  • Not portable
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Western Digital WD_BLACK 10TB Internal HDD

Gaming and media consumption on mobile devices can sometimes be frustrating, especially when your device only has limited capacity. This frustration is compounded if you like taking photos and videos, thus reducing your available space. But if your gadget lets you install an external memory card, you can get the Lexar PLAY 1TB microSDXC UHS-I Card.

This microSD card offers an astounding 1TB of extra space, letting you keep all your files, music, movies, and games with you all the time. This Class 10 A2-Rated card will let you quickly launch your apps and games, so you don't have to wait long to play.

What's more, the Lexar PLAY 1TB microSDXC UHS-I Card is compatible with a host of devices, including Nintendo Switch consoles, GoPro, and more. This makes it extremely versatile and well worth the investment, especially considering you're getting a whopping 1TB storage on this tiny microSD card.

Key Features
  • Reads at up to 150MB/s, best for gaming and consuming media
  • Compatibility-tested with over 1,100 gadgets
  • Can record Full HD video
Specifications
  • Brand: Lexar
  • Capacity: 1TB
  • Flash Memory Type: microSDXC
  • Hardware Interface: microSDXC
  • Speed (Read, Write): 150MB/s (Read)
Pros
  • Works well with gaming devices like the Nintendo Switch
  • Choices available from 128GB up to 1TB
  • A2-rated speed performance for faster application loading times
Cons
  • Doesn't write fast, not recommended for 4K video recording
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Lexar PLAY 1TB microSDXC UHS-I Card

In this age of cloud storage and wireless internet connection, many people think that the flash drive is already outdated. However, that couldn't be further from the truth. Because while internet speeds have indeed sped up, file sizes have become larger. So, if you want to quickly and reliably transfer large files, like 8K video, you can use the SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe 1TB USB Type-C Flash Drive.

This little storage medium can carry up to 1TB of data while hanging with your keys or on your bag's zipper. That means it's always available to you, wherever you go.

Once you want to transfer its content to your old desktop or laptop, you can use its USB-A connector to attach it to legacy ports and devices. You get the best of both worlds with the SanDisk Dual Drive Luxe.

Key Features
  • Conveniently connects to any USB-C smartphone and tablet
  • USB-A plug on the other side lets you connect flash drive with legacy devices
  • Automatically backs up photos via the SanDisk Memory Zone app
Specifications
  • Brand: SanDisk
  • Capacity: 1TB
  • Power: USB-C
  • Speed: 150MB/s
  • Connection: USB-C/USB-A
  • Portable: yes
Pros
  • Keyring hole lets you attach the drive to your keys or bag zipper to ensure it's always with you
  • Swivel cover protects USB-C connector from damage
  • All-metal design makes it stylish yet durable
Cons
  • Maximum capacity only at 1TB
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SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe 1TB USB Type-C Flash Drive

FAQ

Q: What's the Largest Storage Drive Available Right Now?

Currently, Nimbus Data offers the ExaDrive DC at 100TB. This is the largest single storage capacity available, but it's not widely available. Furthermore, this drive comes at $40,000, making it far more expensive than adding together 12 8TB SSDs.

Q: How Long Do Solid-State Drives Last?

While SSDs generally last as long as other forms of storage media, they still have an estimated life span. Current technologies place them at around ten years, but some companies now produce SSDs with longer lifespans.

In fact, the Sabrent Rocket Q is advertised to have 1,800,000 hours MTBF or mean time between failure. That's equal to more than 200 years!

Q: What is the Difference Between an SD Card and a MicroSD Card?

MicroSD cards are a variant of the SD card. Basically, it's just a smaller version of the bigger SD cards. MicroSD cards can be used in SD card slots through an adapter, but SD cards can never fit in microSD card slots.