Western Digital

For most Mac users running stationary Time Machine backups, the WD My Passport Ultra is the Top Pick: high capacity at a genuinely low cost per terabyte, USB-C connectivity, and reliable macOS compatibility with minimal setup friction. MacBook users who travel should step up to the Samsung T7 Shield SSD, which adds meaningful drop and weather resistance in a pocket-sized form factor. The right drive is determined less by raw specs than by a single question: does the drive move with the Mac, or does it stay on a desk?

Updated September 2026

The WD Red Plus is the top pick for most NAS RAID builds: it guarantees CMR recording technology across the entire lineup, carries a workload rating suited to always-on home and small-office use, and avoids the compatibility pitfalls that have made SMR drives a recurring headache in RAID arrays. Buyers running larger bays under heavier multi-user loads should step up to the Seagate IronWolf Pro or WD Red Pro for the higher workload ceiling and extended warranty coverage. The Seagate EXOS X20 earns its place only when raw capacity and sustained throughput are the primary concern and enterprise pricing is on the table.

Updated September 2026