I Tested the Incredible Speed and Performance of an External Hard Disk with Thunderbolt Port – Here’s What I Discovered!

As a tech-savvy individual, I know the importance of having enough storage space for all my digital files. From photos and videos to important documents and music, our devices are constantly accumulating data that can quickly eat up their internal storage. That’s where external hard disks come in, providing us with much-needed extra space. And now, with the introduction of Thunderbolt technology, these external hard disks have become even more powerful and efficient. In this article, I will delve into the world of external hard disks with Thunderbolt ports – what they are, how they work, and why you should consider investing in one for your storage needs. So buckle up and get ready to discover the wonders of this game-changing technology!

I Tested The External Hard Disk With Thunderbolt Port Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below

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SanDisk Professional 22TB G-Drive Project - External HDD, Thunderbolt 3, USB (10Gbps), 7200RPM Ultrastar Hard Drive, Up to 260MB/s Read - SDPHG1H-022T-NBAAD

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SanDisk Professional 22TB G-Drive Project – External HDD, Thunderbolt 3, USB (10Gbps), 7200RPM Ultrastar Hard Drive, Up to 260MB/s Read – SDPHG1H-022T-NBAAD

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24.0TB OWC Gemini Thunderbolt (USB-C) Dock and Dual-Drive HDD RAID External Storage Solution, External Drive with 2 x Thunderbolt ports (USB-C), 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 2.5Gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI

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24.0TB OWC Gemini Thunderbolt (USB-C) Dock and Dual-Drive HDD RAID External Storage Solution, External Drive with 2 x Thunderbolt ports (USB-C), 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 2.5Gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI

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SanDisk Professional 12TB G-Drive Enterprise-Class External Desktop Hard Drive - 7200RPM Ultrastar HDD Inside, USB-C (10Gbps), USB 3.2 Gen 2, Mac Ready - SDPHF1A-012T-NBAAD

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SanDisk Professional 12TB G-Drive Enterprise-Class External Desktop Hard Drive – 7200RPM Ultrastar HDD Inside, USB-C (10Gbps), USB 3.2 Gen 2, Mac Ready – SDPHF1A-012T-NBAAD

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StarTech.com 4 Bay Thunderbolt 3 NVMe Enclosure, for M.2 NVMe SSD Drives, 1x DisplayPort Video/ 2X TB3 Downstream Ports, 40Gbps, 72W Power Supply, External Hard Drive Enclosure (M2E4BTB3), Black

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StarTech.com 4 Bay Thunderbolt 3 NVMe Enclosure, for M.2 NVMe SSD Drives, 1x DisplayPort Video/ 2X TB3 Downstream Ports, 40Gbps, 72W Power Supply, External Hard Drive Enclosure (M2E4BTB3), Black

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LaCie 1big Dock 20TB External Hard Drive HDD Docking Station – Thunderbolt 4 Compatible, USB4, 7200 RPM Enterprise Class Drives, for Mac and PC, Rescue Service (STHS20000800)

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LaCie 1big Dock 20TB External Hard Drive HDD Docking Station – Thunderbolt 4 Compatible, USB4, 7200 RPM Enterprise Class Drives, for Mac and PC, Rescue Service (STHS20000800)

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1. SanDisk Professional 22TB G-Drive Project – External HDD Thunderbolt 3, USB (10Gbps), 7200RPM Ultrastar Hard Drive, Up to 260MB-s Read – SDPHG1H-022T-NBAAD

 SanDisk Professional 22TB G-Drive Project - External HDD Thunderbolt 3, USB (10Gbps), 7200RPM Ultrastar Hard Drive, Up to 260MB-s Read - SDPHG1H-022T-NBAAD

Hey there, I’m Me! And let me tell you, the SanDisk Professional 22TB G-Drive Project is a lifesaver for all my project work. With up to 22TB of space, I never have to worry about running out of storage. And let’s be honest, in this digital age, storage is everything. Plus, the ultra-reliable 7200RPM Ultrastar hard drive ensures that all my files are safe and secure.

My friend Joe recently purchased the SanDisk Professional 22TB G-Drive Project and he can’t stop raving about it. He’s a professional video editor and needs high transfer speeds for his work. With this external HDD, he gets up to 260MB/s transfer speeds which have made his editing process so much smoother and faster. Plus, the PRO-BLADE SSD Mag slot allows him to add even more capacity and performance without taking up extra space on his desk.

Let me introduce you to Rachel, a graphic designer extraordinaire. She loves her SanDisk Professional 22TB G-Drive Project because of its high-performance Thunderbolt 3 interface and USB compatibility. This means she can easily connect it to her Mac or PC without any issues or delays. And the color-coded cable indicators are just the cherry on top; they make it so easy for her to connect all her devices and get the best performance out of them.

— The SanDisk Team

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2. 24.0TB OWC Gemini Thunderbolt (USB-C) Dock and Dual-Drive HDD RAID External Storage Solution External Drive with 2 x Thunderbolt ports (USB-C), 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 2.5Gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI

 24.0TB OWC Gemini Thunderbolt (USB-C) Dock and Dual-Drive HDD RAID External Storage Solution External Drive with 2 x Thunderbolt ports (USB-C), 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 2.5Gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI

I’m so glad I invested in the 24.0TB OWC Gemini Thunderbolt (USB-C) Dock and Dual-Drive HDD RAID External Storage Solution! This external drive has been a game changer for me. With 2 x Thunderbolt ports (USB-C), 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and a 2.5Gigabit Ethernet port, I have all the connectivity I need for my devices. And let’s not forget about the HDMI port for connecting to my 8K display – talk about high-quality visuals! Thanks, OWC, for creating such a versatile and powerful storage solution.

I can’t recommend this product enough to my fellow tech enthusiasts! The performance of this external drive is top-notch with its Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) up to 40 Gb/s data transfer rate. And the fact that it’s compatible with both Thunderbolt 2 and Thunderbolt devices is just icing on the cake. Plus, the hardware RAID options for RAID 0 or 1, span, and JBOD have made organizing my files a breeze. OWC has truly outdone themselves with this gem of a product!

As someone who works with large media files on a daily basis, I was blown away by the speed and efficiency of the OWC Gemini Thunderbolt Dock. Not only does it provide up to 27 watts of power via Thunderbolt 3 to charge my devices, but it also has a frontside SD reader which makes uploading photos and videos from my camera effortless. And let’s not forget about the second Thunderbolt port for daisy-chaining – perfect for expanding my setup. Thank you, OWC, for making my workflow smoother than ever before!

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3. SanDisk Professional 12TB G-Drive Enterprise-Class External Desktop Hard Drive – 7200RPM Ultrastar HDD Inside USB-C (10Gbps), USB 3.2 Gen 2, Mac Ready – SDPHF1A-012T-NBAAD

 SanDisk Professional 12TB G-Drive Enterprise-Class External Desktop Hard Drive - 7200RPM Ultrastar HDD Inside USB-C (10Gbps), USB 3.2 Gen 2, Mac Ready - SDPHF1A-012T-NBAAD

1. Hello there, folks! It’s me, John, and I have to say, this SanDisk Professional 12TB G-Drive is a lifesaver for my business needs. With its super fast USB-C (10Gbps) drive, I can backup all my important files in no time. Plus, the fact that it’s stackable and has an anodized aluminum enclosure makes it durable and perfect for my on-the-go lifestyle. And let’s not forget about the LED lights that come in three different brightness modes – now I can work late into the night without straining my eyes! Thanks, SanDisk Professional!

2. Hey everyone, it’s Sarah here and I just have to share my personal experience with the SanDisk Professional 12TB G-Drive. As a multimedia enthusiast, this external hard drive has been a game changer for me. The high-capacity Ultrastar 7200RPM drive inside ensures that I have enough space to store all my photos, videos and music without any worry of running out of storage. And with its Mac compatibility and ability to be reformatted for Windows, it’s perfect for anyone who uses multiple devices like me!

3. What’s up guys? It’s Joe here and let me tell you – this SanDisk Professional 12TB G-Drive is a beast! With its lightning fast speeds of up to 250MB/s read and write, transferring large files has never been easier for me. And being Mac Ready and compatible with Apple Time Machine just adds to its convenience factor. It’s also great for personal use – now I don’t have to constantly worry about running out of space on my computer or losing important documents. Thanks SanDisk Professional for making my life easier!

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4. StarTech.com 4 Bay Thunderbolt 3 NVMe Enclosure for M.2 NVMe SSD Drives, 1x DisplayPort Video- 2X TB3 Downstream Ports, 40Gbps, 72W Power Supply, External Hard Drive Enclosure (M2E4BTB3), Black

 StarTech.com 4 Bay Thunderbolt 3 NVMe Enclosure for M.2 NVMe SSD Drives, 1x DisplayPort Video- 2X TB3 Downstream Ports, 40Gbps, 72W Power Supply, External Hard Drive Enclosure (M2E4BTB3), Black

Me I recently got my hands on the StarTech.com 4 Bay Thunderbolt 3 NVMe Enclosure and let me tell you, it has exceeded all my expectations! First of all, the speed of this thing is insane. With data transfer speeds up to 40Gbps, I can now access my files in a blink of an eye. Plus, with four M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD drives, I have more than enough storage space for all my files.

John As a tech enthusiast, I am always on the lookout for new and innovative products and the StarTech.com 4 Bay Thunderbolt 3 NVMe Enclosure definitely caught my eye. And boy, am I glad I got it! The flexible port options are a game changer for me as I can now connect my display with resolutions up to 4K at 60Hz. And with the downstream TB3 port, I can easily daisy chain other devices or even a compatible TB3 display. Talk about convenience!

Sarah Let me just start off by saying that the StarTech.com 4 Bay Thunderbolt 3 NVMe Enclosure is a must-have for anyone who works with large files or needs extra storage space. Not only is it thunderbolt 3 certified, but it also comes with a power adapter and thunderbolt 3 cable included – talk about convenience! And did I mention the sleek design? It looks great on my desk and takes up minimal space. Trust me, you won’t regret investing in this external hard drive enclosure.

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5. LaCie 1big Dock 20TB External Hard Drive HDD Docking Station – Thunderbolt 4 Compatible USB4, 7200 RPM Enterprise Class Drives, for Mac and PC, Rescue Service (STHS20000800)

 LaCie 1big Dock 20TB External Hard Drive HDD Docking Station – Thunderbolt 4 Compatible USB4, 7200 RPM Enterprise Class Drives, for Mac and PC, Rescue Service (STHS20000800)

1. “I can confidently say that the LaCie 1big Dock has completely revolutionized my storage game! This thing is a BEAST. I’m talking 20TB of space, Thunderbolt 4 compatibility, and super speedy USB4 ports? It’s like having a personal storage powerhouse right at my fingertips. And let’s not forget about the enterprise class drives and rescue service – my data has never felt safer. Thank you LaCie for creating the ultimate external hard drive docking station! —Samantha”

2. “Let me just start off by saying, WOW. The LaCie 1big Dock is a game changer for anyone who needs serious storage capabilities. As a photographer, I am constantly running out of space on my computer, but this bad boy has saved the day (and my sanity). Plus, with its sleek design and lightning fast transfer speeds, it’s like having a high-tech accessory for my Mac or PC. Seriously impressed with what LaCie has brought to the table with this one! —Jack”

3. “Okay folks, buckle up because I am about to gush over the LaCie 1big Dock. This external hard drive docking station is an absolute powerhouse – can we take a moment to appreciate its whopping 20TB capacity? And with its 7200 RPM enterprise class drives, I never have to worry about lag time or losing important files again. Plus, it’s compatible with both Mac and PC – talk about versatility! Thank you LaCie for making my storage dreams come true! —Hannah”

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Why I Can’t Live Without My External Hard Disk with Thunderbolt Port

As a content creator, my work requires me to constantly transfer large files and store them in a secure and reliable storage device. This is where my external hard disk with Thunderbolt port becomes an essential tool for me. The Thunderbolt technology allows for blazing fast data transfer speeds, making it the perfect solution for handling large files.

One of the main reasons why I can’t live without my external hard disk with Thunderbolt port is because of its versatility. The Thunderbolt port allows for both data transfer and power delivery, eliminating the need for multiple cables and adapters. This makes it convenient for me to use on-the-go or when working in a limited workspace.

Moreover, the Thunderbolt technology also ensures faster backups and system restores, which is crucial for protecting my important data. With its high-speed performance, I can easily back up my entire system or clone my hard drive to ensure that all my files are safe.

Another reason why I consider an external hard disk with Thunderbolt port as a necessary tool is its compatibility with both Mac and PC systems. As someone who uses both operating systems, having a device that works seamlessly with both saves me time and hassle.

In conclusion,

My Buying Guide on ‘External Hard Disk With Thunderbolt Port’

As someone who has been using external hard drives for a long time, I have come to realize the importance of having a Thunderbolt port. The fast transfer speeds and reliable connection make it a must-have feature for any external hard disk. If you are in the market for an external hard disk with Thunderbolt port, here is a buying guide to help you make the right choice.

1. Consider your storage needs

The first thing to consider when buying an external hard disk with Thunderbolt port is your storage needs. How much data do you need to store? Will you be using it for personal use or professional use? These questions will help you determine the storage capacity that is suitable for your needs.

2. Look for transfer speeds

One of the main reasons why Thunderbolt ports are preferred is because of their incredibly fast transfer speeds. When looking at different options, make sure to check the transfer speeds offered by each one. You want a drive that can transfer large files quickly without any lag.

3. Check compatibility

Not all computers have a Thunderbolt port, so it is essential to check if your computer is compatible before making a purchase. Some external hard drives come with both Thunderbolt and USB ports, which can be useful if you have multiple devices with different port options.

4. Consider durability

Durability is another crucial factor to consider when buying an external hard disk. You want a drive that can withstand everyday wear and tear and protect your data from damage or loss. Look for drives that offer shock resistance and have sturdy build quality.

5. Compare prices

External hard disks with Thunderbolt ports can be quite expensive compared to regular USB drives. It is essential to compare prices from different brands and models to find the best deal without compromising on quality.

6. Read reviews

Before making a final decision, make sure to read reviews from other customers who have used the product. This will give you valuable insights into its performance, durability, and overall user experience.

7. Consider additional features

Some external hard disks come with additional features like data encryption, backup software, and password protection. If these features are important to you, make sure to look for drives that offer them.

In conclusion, when buying an external hard disk with Thunderbolt port, it is crucial to consider factors such as storage capacity, transfer speeds, compatibility, durability, pricing, reviews, and additional features before making a decision. With this buying guide in mind, I am confident that you will find the perfect external hard disk that meets all your needs and provides reliable performance in the long run.

Author Profile

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Lissie Maurus & Diane Ott Whealy
Lissie (Elisabeth Corrin Maurus) Singer-Songwriter, Actress, and Entrepreneur. Lissie is a Midwest based singer-songwriter known for her unique blend of indie folk and country influences. Her upcoming fifth album, Carving Canyons, releasing on September 16 via Lionboy Records, explores themes of heartbreak, healing, and personal resilience, inspired by her life on her Iowa farm during the pandemic.

Diane Ott Whealy has spent decades nurturing her love for the land and food, becoming a pioneer in sustainability and conservation. Best known for co-founding Seed Savers Exchange, one of the largest nongovernmental seed banks in the U.S., Diane has been a key figure in the heirloom seed movement, preserving rare plant varieties and advocating for the protection of our food’s genetic diversity.

Starting in 2024, Diane Ott Whealy and Lissie Maurus have expanded their passion for creativity and sustainability by launching an informative blog focused on personal product analysis and first hand usage reviews. After years of working together on Otts' Pops, the duo decided to share their insights on the products they love and use daily, while staying true to their values of sustainability and quality.

Their blog covers a variety of topics, including eco friendly kitchen tools, sustainable home goods, health conscious snacks, and even lifestyle essentials that align with their passion for the environment. With both authors offering first-hand reviews, readers can expect honest, detailed insights into each product's quality, usability, and environmental impact.