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01Best overall external storage for Xbox Series X and Series S
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03Best budget HDD or Xbox Series X and Series S
We’re having a look at the best external storage for the Xbox Series X and Series S so you can correctly increase the capacity of your console.
Both the Xbox Series X and S have much to gain from external hard drives, especially the Xbox Series S which comes with half as much internal storage versus the Xbox Series X. This is because, with an Xbox Game Pass a tonne of games are freely available to get stuck into, provided you can download them to your device.
Before we get into our picks you should keep in mind that games that are ‘optimized’ for Xbox series X/S cannot be launched from external storages on this list. These are games that have been certified by Microsoft as making full use of the technical design of the Xbox consoles and so can reach faster and smoother speeds.
These can be launched from internal storage with no problem, so there is still an incentive to expand the overall storage capacity of your console, freeing up internal space for the games that need to be kept there.
It is actually possible to upgrade the initial Xbox Series S SSD however it makes more sense to opt for an external device which avoids the need to fiddle with the insides of your console. With that in mind, let’s get into our picks.
Best external storage for Xbox Series X and Series S
Best overall external storage for Xbox Series X and Series S – WD 4TB My Passport Portable
WD 4TB My Passport Portable
Capacity
4TB
Hard drive
SSD
USB type
USB 3.0
- Massive storage size
- Slim dimensions
- Micro USB port is a bit outdated
This slim and pocket-sized external storage device from WD comes with a mighty 4TB of terabytes of storage. With that amount of added capacity, you can download a serious number of games to your Xbox Series X or S.
While the HDD technology is not as fast as the SSD options available out there, it does mean you get a tonne of data for a pretty affordable price. And it’s not like the speeds are ridiculously slow either, with the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port allowing for 5GB/s.
This is perfect on a pair of consoles that have access to the Microsoft Games store. There you’ll find a lot of the games that are available completely for free to download. With this hard drive, you can download a tonne of them and cycle through gaming history to your heart’s content.
All this is packaged in a product that fits in the palm of your hand and comes in a wide range of colours too, leaving you free to pick one which appeals the most to you.
Best external SSD or Xbox Series X and Series S – WD-Black P40
WD-Black P40
Capacity
2 TB
Hard drive
SSD
USB type
USB 3.2
- USB 3.2
- RGB lighting
- SSD
- On the expensive side
This is a high-capacity, fast, and well-built external SSD perfectly suited to expanding the storage of either your Xbox Series X or S.
It’s able to read and write information at high speeds, up to 2,000MB/s in fact. This is thanks in part to its USB 3.2 connectivity. However, if you want to make sure you can access these speeds you’ll need to check that have suitable USB 3.2 compatible cables.
It’s not just the Xbox Series X or S it’s compatible with either, with the drive working well for storing data from your PC too. Get your hands on one of the best capture cards and you’ll be able to store the footage captured and move it from device to device in record time.
It’s well-built physically with a stylish ribbed design, and sturdy materials granting a shock-resistant structure than can endure a drop of two metres. This look is nicely complimented with customisable RGB lighting.
Best budget HDD or Xbox Series X and Series S – Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB
Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB
Capacity
2TB
Hard drive
HDD
USB type
USB 3.0
- Reasonable price
- 2TB of storage
- Convenient size
- Slower HHD storage
The hard drive for Seagate packs a serious amount of data storage in a compact hard drive at and reasonable price. The 2TB of storage will be enough for most gamers’ games libraries, and the read and write times are good for an HDD drive.
This storage device is also impressively durable and drop-proof, and this is reflected internally with data transfer that is both stable and reliable. The drive comes with a 2-year warrant for increased peace of mind.
You won’t be able to launch Optimized games for Xbox Series X / S, but neither can the other picks on this list, with such titles only being compatible with internal storage or certified Xbox expansion cards.
Overall this drive offers you a tonne of data for a low asking price, allowing you to take your games library on the go more easily, without having to break the bank.
Frequently asked questions
What does optimized for Xbox Series X mean?
If a game is certified as optimized for the Xbox Series X/S it means that the developer has coded parts of the game with the specific hardware and capabilities of the Microsoft consoles in mind. This results in faster load times and improved all-around performance.
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