The Best External Hard Drives for a MacBook Air

It adds 256-bit AES hardware encryption and the largest capacity here, 5TB. Its 5TB capacity is the largest here; the Rugged USB-C comes next at 2TB. A USB-C (USB 3.1) connection is unique to it among these picks, while the One Touch 2TB uses a USB 3.0 connection.

It also comes with formatting for Mac out of the box, a metal cover and a USB-C connection. As a spinning hard drive it is slower than an SSD and less tolerant of knocks while running. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the Rugged USB-C.

It suits a MacBook without adapters. The LaCie Rugged shell is built to survive drops, dust and rain, which suits carrying footage between sites. It connects over USB-C and works with USB 3.0 ports on older machines.

It matches the One Touch 2TB, the Rugged Mini and the Seagate Portable 2TB on capacity (2TB). You get a USB-C (USB 3.0 compatible) connection here, which sets it apart from the Seagate Portable 2TB and its a USB 3.0 (USB-A) connection. Like the Seagate Portable 2TB, it has a none stated security, while the Rugged Mini uses a password security.

You also get Mac and PC compatibility. As a spinning hard drive it is slower than an SSD and less tolerant of knocks while running. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper Rugged Mini and the pricier Passport Ultra for Mac, at the time of writing.

Its warranty runs two years with Rescue data recovery. On capacity it ties with the Rugged USB-C, the Rugged Mini and the Seagate Portable 2TB at 2TB. No other pick in this guide offers a USB 3.0 connection; compare the Rugged Mini, which has a USB 3.0 (USB-A) connection.

It also offers scheduled or one-click backups. It connects by USB-A; a USB-C-only laptop such as a MacBook Air needs an adapter or a USB-C cable. As a spinning hard drive it is slower than an SSD and less tolerant of knocks while running. When we checked, only the Seagate Portable 2TB cost less, and the Rugged Mini cost more.

It connects by USB 3.0 and needs reformatting for Mac. On capacity it ties with the Rugged USB-C, the One Touch 2TB and the Seagate Portable 2TB at 2TB. Like the Seagate Portable 2TB, it has a USB 3.0 (USB-A) connection, while the Passport Ultra for Mac uses a USB-C (USB 3.1) connection.

You get a password security here, which sets it apart from the Seagate Portable 2TB and its a none stated security. It also comes with built-in password protection and a rubber bumper design. It connects by USB-A; a USB-C-only laptop such as a MacBook Air needs an adapter or a USB-C cable.

It ships formatted for Windows, so a Mac user reformats it (exFAT for both systems, APFS for Time Machine). When we checked, only the One Touch 2TB and cheaper picks cost less, and the Rugged USB-C cost more.

It is the low-cost way to add backup space to any laptop. It matches the Rugged USB-C, the One Touch 2TB and the Rugged Mini on capacity (2TB). It shares a USB 3.0 (USB-A) connection with the Rugged Mini; the One Touch 2TB goes with a USB 3.0 connection.

Like the Rugged USB-C, it has a none stated security, while the Rugged Mini uses a password security. It also offers drag-and-drop file saving on Windows and Mac and a low price per terabyte. It connects by USB-A; a USB-C-only laptop such as a MacBook Air needs an adapter or a USB-C cable.

As a spinning hard drive it is slower than an SSD and less tolerant of knocks while running. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the One Touch 2TB was the next step up.