The Best External SSD for Video Editing on Mac

When it comes to video editing, having a reliable and fast external storage solution is crucial. While internal hard drives can be tempting, especially with the new Mac Pro's ability to add additional storage, an external SSD is often the best option for those who need to work with large 4K and above footage files.

One type of external drive that shouldn't be considered for video editing is traditional desktop hard drives, such as those from Seagate or Western Digital. These drives are incredibly inexpensive because they use slow spinning disk drives, which can lead to long transfer times and lost productivity.

Next up are plug-in external drives, which come in a variety of connection types, including USB-A, USB-C, Thunderbolt 1, 2, or 3, and even newer technologies like USB 4. Most modern external drives use solid-state drives (SSDs) for faster performance, but some still rely on spinning disk drives.

Some popular brands to consider include LaCie, G-Drive, Samsung, and SanDisk, all of which offer a range of external hard drive options. Be aware that these drives are powered by the computer they're connected to, so you won't need to worry about finding an outlet.

For those who want even more flexibility, there are portable, bus-powered external drives that don't require being plugged into a wall outlet to use. However, for the purposes of this article, we'll be focusing on external hard drives specifically.

If you're working with 4K and above footage on your Mac Pro or iMac, it's likely that you'll need a larger storage capacity than the standard 2TB offered by many external hard drives. In these cases, consider investing in an internal hard drive upgrade for your tower, which can be a more cost-effective option.

Before we dive into our chart breaking down the four different types of video editors, let's take a closer look at the different types of hard drives you might be considering for your arsenal.

Internal Hard Drives

For those who are already familiar with the world of video editing, it's likely that you're working with an internal hard drive on your laptop or desktop computer. While this can be a great option, especially with the ability to add additional storage to the Mac Pro, an external SSD is often the best choice for those who need to work with large files.

Stay tuned for our next article, where we'll explore the different types of video editors and how they can help you choose the right external SSD for your needs.

Best external ssd for video editing mac