Cloud storage has become the most practical and useful way to back up all our files. But beyond buying space in Dropbox or Google Drive, we can bet on hard drives that will make our lives easier on some tasks. For example, to record content or play our multimedia files on television. Today we compile some of the best hard drives for Smart TV.
What should we consider when choosing hard drives for Smart TV? There are many types of disks, different storage or format or connectivity, and everything must be taken into account before choosing it. We show you some of the best according to your needs.
What to look for?
You have to consider a number of things before choosing a new hard drive. For example, external power. We will find discs that need external power with connection to a plug and others that do not need external power and the connection to the TV will suffice.
In the case of the best hard drives for Smart TV we recommend that you get power through the USB connection and avoid cables. In most cases, the requirements are that they are external USB hard drives that require a maximum intensity of 500 mA since this will save compatibility problems with the TV.
On speed, you can look at the transfer rates offered by the manufacturer, to highlight the difference between the classic HDD (slower but higher capacity) and the most recent SSD, with higher speed, lower capacity, and usually more expensive than the first .
It is important that we also look at the design, weight or quality . It may seem secondary but it is possible that you will move your hard drive with you whenever you want to see some content in someone’s home or take photographs or videos of the studio home, from home to work. In that case, look at the size, weight or quality or even the reliability of the brand.
And the capacity? It will depend on the use. If you are looking for a hard disk for Smart TV we recommend that the storage does not exceed 2 TB if you need it to record.
If you simply want a hard drive to play content, you can have the storage you want although this will always depend on the specifications of the manufacturer and its operating system. In most operating systems, 2 TB is the maximum supported. This happens in LG webOS or NetCast systems, in Samsung‘s Tizen operating system or on Android TVs.
WD Elements
Western Digital is one of the most popular brands in the sector and its basic range may be more than enough if you simply need a hard drive to connect to your Smart TV and record content or play it.
It is a 2.5-inch hard drive and you won’t need a power connection to work, just connect to the TV. In this range you will find versions from 500 GB to 5 TB in total, so you will have enough space for whatever you want.
It is a basic hard drive although somewhat slower than others, with read speed of 100 MB per second. If you want to change content continuously, it is not the most recommended.
It is a good option if you do not need high data transfers, it is an affordable option and it only weighs 231 grams so it will not be difficult to take it from one place to another. A recommended hard drive if you are looking for something basic and cheap, compact, is one of the best hard drives for your smart TV.
Toshiba Canvio
A basic hard drive, complete, balanced and affordable : the Toshiba Canvio A hard drive that you can find from 500 GB to 3 TB of storage and that will allow you to record or play content. In addition, this device has version 3.0 to ensure speed, but it is also compatible with previous versions.
The Toshiba Canvio has a weight of 260 grams and a 2.5-inch format, does not require connection to the power outlet and works with the USB connection as a power source.
This hard drive has a reading speed of between 150 and 160 MB / Another advantage of this hard drive is that it has an internal shock sensor that will protect the contents inside it in case of any impact.
LaCie Posche Design
If you want a compact hard drive, design and with enough space, the LaCie Porsche Design may be one of the best options. It is not the cheapest or the fastest but it can be “yours” if you are worried about how attractive it is when placing it in the living room. In addition, with one of the most prestigious brands.
The LaCie Porsche Design is a pink gold-colored hard drive , with Porsche Design aluminum housing , with 2 TB of storage and with USB 3.0 connectivity. A hard drive focused on those who want some careful design to connect to the Smart TV. It is also very light, weighing only 190 grams. This Lacie hard drive also has a USB C connector and operates a read speed of 130 MB per second.
Western Digital: My Book
Space for whatever you want you will have with the Western Digital My Book. If your Smart TV is compatible with a hard disk of more than 2 TB in the case of playback (such as many of the models that work with Android TV) and you do not care about space or cables, the Western Digital My Book It is one of the best options.
A desktop hard drive with which you can have several terabytes of storage to save as many movies, photos or videos as you want and watch them on your big screen. It is one of the best hard drives for Smart TV with USB 3.0 connectivity and with high read speed that would reach 180 Mb / second. Of course, its weight is more than 900 grams and you will have to have it plugged in, but you will make sure you never run out of space.
Seagate One Touch SSD
The Seagate One Touch SSD is a hard disk with the appearance of woven fabric on the outside but without sacrificing speed, quality or lightness. It has USB 3.0 connectivity and reaches transfer speeds up to 400 Mb / s that allows you to stream videos, photos or all kinds of content from your PC or to your Smart TV. In addition, it does not require any type of software and does not need any power connection to the current since the power works exclusively through USB.
It is one of the fastest, compact and interesting hard drives but also one of the least affordable.
SanDisk Extreme
If you are looking for the fastest speed on a portable and small hard drive, this one from SanDisk is one of your best options with 550 Mb / second of read speed and 500 GB of storage. It is compatible with USB 3.1 Type C connector but also includes adapters that will allow you to connect to all types of devices.
In addition, it is compact, small and has an Ip55 resolution that will make it resistant to splashes and spills. If you want maximum speed, the SanDisk Extreme SSD is one of the best options and is available in memory versions of 250 GB up to 2 TB.
LaCie Rugged Mini
If you are worried about bumps, splashes or falls… The LaCie Rugged Mini is an external hard drive that you can have for less than 100 euros with 2 TB of storage and with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 connection. If you are looking for one of the best hard drives for Smart TV but also compatible to go with you on a trip, for photographers or audiovisual artists.
It has resistance to shocks and falls and is resistant to splashes and rain so it is useful both if you are going to take risks outside or if your room is a continuous risk of spills or falls. It has a transfer speed of up to 130 Mb per second.