PS5 external hard drives
The PlayStation 5 is packed with some of the most advanced hardware ever released, and its next-generation games are optimized to take full advantage of those components. However, many of those titles take up quite a bit of space, so some users opt for an external expansion drive. There are a few caveats to consider, but there are also plenty of high-performing drives that are 100% compatible with the PS5.
The SanDisk Extreme is the best choice for those who want outstanding performance, as it fully supports the USB 3.2 Gen 2 standard and can achieve transfer rates up to 1,050 megabytes per second.
What to know before you buy a PS5 external hard drive
PS5 game storage restrictions
Unfortunately, you can’t play PS5 games directly from external storage, and that’s not going to change. The storage architecture used by the PS5 is actually one of its more interesting features, as it allows developers to create incredibly detailed assets like models and textures for characters, items and environments. By providing a massive data pipeline directly from the internal drive to the CPU, the PS5 can load and process huge amounts of those assets in milliseconds, delivering faster transitions than any gaming PC or console has ever seen before. As a result, any PS5 games stored on an external drive will need to be installed onto the internal SSD before playing.
Native PS4 titles, on the other hand, can be stored on and played directly from external storage without issue.
PlayStation 5 USB ports
On the back of the PS5 is a pair of USB Type-A ports, both of which offer 10 gigabits of throughput using the USB 3.2 Gen 2 standard. On the front is a single USB-C port capable of the same 10 gigabits in addition to a Type-A port that offers the 5 gigabytes of the last-generation SuperSpeed USB protocol.
To take full advantage of the 10-gigabit USB ports, you’ll need an external NVMe drive. You can opt for an external SATA drive for considerably less money, and even though SATA drives max out at around 500 megabytes per second read and write speeds, many gamers will be satisfied with their speed. If you want to save money, a traditional magnetic hard drive will certainly work, but it will be considerably slower.
Use the exFAT file system format
Some drives ship with the relatively outdated FAT32 or NTFS file systems already in place. NTFS-formatted drives are not compatible at all with the PS5, and FAT32 has a 4-gigabyte restriction on individual files. Make sure to check your drive before you start archiving any games; it’s quick and easy to reformat a new drive, but once there’s data on it, you’ll have to do a complete wipe to change the file system.
PS5 external hard drive features
A range of capacities
The lower limit for PS5 expansion drives is 250 gigabytes. Such small drives are pretty affordable, but if you opt for a traditional hard drive instead of an SSD, you can get in the neighborhood of 2 terabytes without breaking the bank. The PS5 is compatible with drives as big as 8 terabytes. In between, you’ll find many models that can hold roughly 500 gigabytes or 1, 2 or 4 terabytes, with 3- and 6-terabyte models being somewhat more rare.
Rugged construction
Solid-state drives contain no moving parts and are therefore inherently more durable than old-school hard drives. In addition, many high-end drives are built with shock-resistant and waterproof enclosures. Many of these rugged drives are tested in line with US military durability standards and sport ingress protection ratings as high as IP68, which ensures that neither dust nor water will damage the unit or the data inside.
PS5 external hard drive cost
You can find a 250-gigabyte to 500-gigabyte hard drive for less than $50, but if you want an SSD that can maximize the SuperSpeed USB bandwidth and hold a large collection of AAA titles, expect to spend over $100 for 2 terabytes and as much as $500 or more for a 4-terabyte model.
PS5 external hard drive FAQ
How big are PS5 games?
A. There’s no definitive answer. Installation sizes vary greatly, with casual games only requiring a couple gigabytes. Some take upward of 100 gigabytes, like Spider-Man: Miles Morales did at launch. Moving forward, though, the PS5 utilizes a special compression standard called Kraken, which greatly reduces the footprint of many games. Individual titles must be optimized for this protocol, though, and not every game currently supports it.
Sports games like the FIFA and NBA2K series tend to have large file sizes due to the significant amount of downloadable content. The Call of Duty series is also notorious for huge installations, with the PS5 Black Ops: Cold War release commanding a borderline ridiculous 225 gigabytes of storage space.
When will Sony unlock the internal expansion slot?
A. We don’t know for certain, but reports indicate that the PlayStation 5 software will be updated to allow additional internal storage in the summer of 2021. At the very least, you’ll need a PCI 4.0-enabled drive. There is not yet any definitive word as to whether the expansion slot will allow for direct gameplay or if it, too, will be for storage only. It is likely, though, that adding an approved NVMe drive will allow for direct play.
Which PS5 external hard drive should I get?
Best of the best PS5 external hard drive
SanDisk Extreme: available at Amazon
Our take: This high-end unit from one of the most well-respected manufacturers in the industry is sure to satisfy the most demanding gamers.
What we like: It’s waterproof, safe from dust and drops, and comes in a range of sizes from one-half to 4 terabytes. Because it uses the 10-gigabit USB 3.2 standard, it can transfer files to the PS5 as fast as anything else out there.
What we dislike: It costs quite a bit, especially if you want more than 1 terabyte of storage.
Best bang for your buck PS5 external hard drive
Western Digital My Passport: available at Amazon
Our take: If you aren’t too concerned with speed, you can’t do much better than this magnetic hard drive in terms of price per gigabyte.
What we like: The largest size is 5 gigabytes and even that version isn’t terribly expensive. As long as you have a little patience, this one’s an affordable way to keep all your games on hand so you don’t have to wait for long downloads that tie up your Internet bandwidth.
What we dislike: Because of the moving parts, it’s not as durable as an SSD, and it’s nowhere near as fast.
Honorable mention PS5 external hard drive
Pioneer APS-XS03: available at Amazon
Our take: Halfway between a hard drive and NVMe SSD, it’s a good compromise for those who don’t want to spend a fortune or wait forever to install stored games.
What we like: In terms of price vs. speed, this Pioneer can’t be beat. It comes from a highly reliable manufacturer, weighs just 25 grams and is small enough to fit in your pocket.
What we dislike: The largest size available is 960 gigabytes, which means the usable space will be even less.
Chris Thomas is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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