Both the Xbox Series X and Series S come with a pretty decent amount of storage space. For the most part, this built-in storage is more than enough to store a wide variety of games.
However, if you’re the type to collect plenty of games, then the built-in storage is obviously not enough. Besides, most games these days already come with very huge file sizes.
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To solve this problem, you’re going to need an external drive. Luckily, we’re here to help you out.
After in-depth research, we’ve come across five of the best external drives you can use for your Xbox Series X|S. Let’s have a look at all of them.
5 Best Xbox Series X|S External Drives for Storage Expansion
| Best Xbox Series X|S External Drives for Storage Expansion | Storage Capacity | Speed | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAMSUNG T7 2TB Portable SSD | 2 TB | 1,050 MB/s | |
| SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD | 2 TB | 1,000 MB/s | |
| Seagate Storage Expansion Card | 2 TB | 160 MB/s | |
| WD_BLACK 2TB P50 Game Drive SSD | 2 TB | 2,000 MB/s | |
| Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive HDD | 2 TB | 120 MB/s |
| Best Xbox Series X|S External Drives for Storage Expansion | Storage Capacity | Speed | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAMSUNG T7 2TB Portable SSD | 2 TB | 1,050 MB/s | |
| SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD | 2 TB | 1,000 MB/s | |
| Seagate Storage Expansion Card | 2 TB | 160 MB/s | |
| WD_BLACK 2TB P50 Game Drive SSD | 2 TB | 2,000 MB/s | |
| Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive HDD | 2 TB | 120 MB/s |
There are lots of external drives out there in the market you can use for your Xbox Series X|S. To keep things uniform, we’re going to use the 2 TB variants of the drives we’ve found on the market.
Let’s get started.
Top Pick: SAMSUNG T7 2TB Portable SSD
Samsung is a well-known brand that has its own line of quality products in the storage market as well. This T7 portable SSD happens to be one of the best storage drives they have to offer.
As an external SSD, you can expect it to have faster read/write speeds compared to the typical external drives you see on the market. And it works seamlessly with your Xbox Series X|S console as well.
We’re talking about speeds reaching up to 1,000 MB/s which means reduced load times, faster transfer speeds, and more. Besides, there’s the fact that it can even match the load times of your console’s internal SSD.
Of the five products we included in this list, this is the one we would highly recommend as it offers the best value and performance for an external SSD of its price.
Pros
- Premium-looking design
- Excellent performance for its price
- Compact
Cons
- Short USB cable
- Can’t play Optimized titles on your console
Runner Up: SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD
Compact yet powerful are the two words that sum up what the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD has to offer. Despite its size, it’s actually quite powerful as it features ultra-fast transfer speeds which can reach up to 1,000 MB/s, similar to the Samsung T7. This places it as the perfect alternative to our top pick.
As part of the Extreme series of SanDisk’s storage options, this one is built to be rugged and sturdy. In fact, it’s covered in a silicone shell which provides it with IP55-rated protection. This makes it perfect for carrying with you during travels alongside your Xbox Series X|S.
Aside from physical protection, you can rest easy knowing that your data is protected as well. This is all thanks to SanDisk’s 256-bit AES hardware encryption. As an external SSD with ultra-fast speed, you can enjoy playing your favorite Xbox titles without any major issues.
Pros
- Built to be sturdy and durable
- Comes with digital security
- Features ultra-fast transfer speeds
Cons
- Doesn’t have a power indicator
- USB cable is too short
Premium Option: Seagate Storage Expansion Card
This one could have been our top pick if not for its really extravagant price. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a premium external drive for your console, this one is definitely the perfect choice. Of the products we’ve included in this list, this one is a bit different for a few reasons.
First, it’s actually a small, lightweight card that you can insert in your Xbox Series X|S’ NVMe expansion slot. And second, it’s the only external drive in this list that offers a seamless upgrade to your storage. It’s more than just external storage. In fact, it would be more fitting to think of it as expanded storage for your console.
As such, you can expect to play Xbox titles directly from it and don’t have to suffer from any noticeable impacts in speed. What makes it even better is that it’s plug-and-play, so you don’t have to go through any extra configuration just to get it working.
Pros
- Can play all Xbox Series X|S games, even the Optimized titles
- Acts like an expanded storage
- Designed to match the speed of your console’s internal SSD
Cons
- A bit expensive
Durable and Rugged Option: WD_BLACK 2TB P50 Game Drive SSD
While the SanDisk Extreme is durable and rugged in its own right, it doesn’t come close to the P50 Game Drive from WD_BLACK as far as durability is concerned. Of course, it does hold its own when it comes to transfer speed as well.
In fact, it can reach speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s and even uses a SuperSpeed USB interface on top of that.
However, unlike the Seagate card, you can’t really use it as an expanded storage for your Xbox Series X|S, so speed might be noticeably impacted if you play games directly from it. That said, it’s a really solid choice if you need an ultra-fast external drive that is also durable and rugged.
The problem is that it’s also quite expensive as well. If not for its price, it could have been the runner-up on this list. If money is not a problem for you, you can also use it as a companion for the Seagate card but mainly as a storage for your games.
Pros
- Extremely durable
- Ultra-fast transfer speed
- Compact design
Cons
- A bit expensive
- Can’t be used as expanded storage
Budget: Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive HDD
HDDs might be outdated as of now, but if you’re just looking for an external drive for your Xbox Series X|S for the sole purpose of storing games and other files, then this one is for you. With 2 TB of storage, this external HDD from Seagate is more than enough to store several of your games.
Its main selling point is its cheap price that comes with lots of storage space to offer. The speed isn’t that bad either, considering that this one is made by Seagate which is a well-known brand. As long as you’re fine with waiting for a few more seconds, then going for this one shouldn’t be a problem at all.
Of course, if you can afford to spend more for an external SSD, then go for it. But in the meantime, this portable HDD will be more than enough to serve your needs.
Pros
- Pretty cheap and comes with lots of storage space
- Durable and reliable
- Slim profile
Cons
- Speed is considerably slower than external SSD
To Sum Up
At the end of the day, your choice of external storage for your Xbox Series X|S will depend on your personal needs and preferences.
That said, the internal SSD that comes with these consoles is pretty limited in terms of space. So, buying an external drive is the natural next step you should take if you find yourself playing games on a regular basis.
Overall, my personal recommendation would be the Seagate Storage Expansion Card as it works pretty much like your console’s internal SSD. But if you’re just going for storage, then the Samsung T7 portable SSD would be your next best option.
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