Technology & Electronics / Technology
Last updated: Written by: Rafael Rocha

5 Best External Drives for iPhone Backups

Five external drives for iphone backups, including Samsung T7 Portable SSD 1TB and Lexar ES3 1TB Portable SSD, compared for iPhone connector, file app support and power draw.

Our top 5 external drives for iphone backups

Swipe to compare price, rating and best use →

Five products compared by price, rating and best use.
ProductPriceRatingBest for
01Samsung T7 Portable SSD 1TB Titan Gray, USB 3.2 Gen 2, Up to 1,050MB/s | Reliable External Solid State Drive Storage for Gaming, Students, Professionals (MU-PC1T0T/AM) product image from AmazonSamsung T7 Portable SSD 1TB Titan GrayDetails ↓$229.78
4.7/5Amazon
Best overall
02Lexar ES3 1TB Portable SSD Silver, USB 3.2 Gen 2 up to 1050MB/s | External SSD compatible with iPhone 17 Series/Mac/PS5/XBOX/Laptop/PC product image from AmazonLexar ES3 1TB Portable SSD SilverDetails ↓$189.99
4.4/5Amazon
Best for a standard USB-C SSD
03Lexar 2TB ES5 Magnetic External SSD, Up to 2000MB/s, Compatible w/MagSafe, USB-C Smartphones, iPhone 15/16 or Above, PC, Mac, Supports Apple ProRes & Samsung Pro Video, Silver (LES5XXX002T-RNWNU) product image from AmazonLexar 2TB ES5 Magnetic External SSDDetails ↓$393.00
4.5/5Amazon
Best for magnetic attachment
04ORICO 256GB Portable SSD with 2 in 1 USB C/A Cable, Up to 460MB/s,Black | External Solid State Drives, LED Light, Compact and Portable, Reliable Storage for USB-C Smartphone, Tablet, PC - B5PLUS product image from AmazonORICO 256GB Portable SSD with 2 in 1 USB C/A CableDetails ↓$49.99
4.5/5Amazon
Best for USB-A transfers
05Yottamaster 128GB USB C Flash Drive, Up to 150MB/s Aluminum Portable SSD product image from AmazonYottamaster 128GB USB C Flash DriveDetails ↓$32.99
4.8/5Amazon
Best for a small flash drive
Samsung T7 Portable SSD 1TB Titan Gray, USB 3.2 Gen 2, Up to 1,050MB/s | Reliable External Solid State Drive Storage for Gaming, Students, Professionals (MU-PC1T0T/AM) product image from Amazon

01 — Samsung

Best overall

Samsung T7 Portable SSD 1TB Titan Gray

4.7/5Amazon
$229.78In Stock

Samsung T7 Portable SSD 1TB Titan Gray is an external drive with 1TB SSD capacity, USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection. A USB-C SSD may work with a recent iPhone, but connector fit and available power still determine whether a direct backup is practical. Confirm the exact iPhone model, cable and app workflow; an older Lightning iPhone may need a different adapter or powered accessory.

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Reasons to buy

+Samsung T7 Portable SSD 1TB Titan Gray is an external drive with 1TB SSD capacity, USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection

+1 TB

+USB

Lexar ES3 1TB Portable SSD Silver, USB 3.2 Gen 2 up to 1050MB/s | External SSD compatible with iPhone 17 Series/Mac/PS5/XBOX/Laptop/PC product image from Amazon

02 — Lexar

Best for a standard USB-C SSD

Lexar ES3 1TB Portable SSD Silver

4.4/5Amazon
$189.99In Stock

Lexar ES3 1TB Portable SSD Silver gives this external drive 1TB SSD capacity, up to 1,050 MB/s transfer. A USB-C SSD may work with a recent iPhone, but connector fit and available power still determine whether a direct backup is practical. Confirm the exact iPhone model, cable and app workflow; an older Lightning iPhone may need a different adapter or powered accessory.

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Reasons to buy

+Lexar ES3 1TB Portable SSD Silver is an external drive with 1TB, 10.5mm

+1 TB

+USB

Lexar 2TB ES5 Magnetic External SSD, Up to 2000MB/s, Compatible w/MagSafe, USB-C Smartphones, iPhone 15/16 or Above, PC, Mac, Supports Apple ProRes & Samsung Pro Video, Silver (LES5XXX002T-RNWNU) product image from Amazon

03 — Lexar

Best for magnetic attachment

Lexar 2TB ES5 Magnetic External SSD

4.5/5Amazon
$393.00Only 1 left in stock - order soon.

Lexar 2TB ES5 Magnetic External SSD lists 2TB SSD capacity, MagSafe attachment for this external drive. A USB-C SSD may work with a recent iPhone, but connector fit and available power still determine whether a direct backup is practical. Confirm the exact iPhone model, cable and app workflow; an older Lightning iPhone may need a different adapter or powered accessory.

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Reasons to buy

+Lexar 2TB ES5 Magnetic External SSD is built as an external drive with USB-C, 2TB, 8K

+2 TB

+USB-C

ORICO 256GB Portable SSD with 2 in 1 USB C/A Cable, Up to 460MB/s,Black | External Solid State Drives, LED Light, Compact and Portable, Reliable Storage for USB-C Smartphone, Tablet, PC - B5PLUS product image from Amazon

04 — ORICO

Best for USB-A transfers

ORICO 256GB Portable SSD with 2 in 1 USB C/A Cable

4.5/5Amazon
$49.99In Stock

ORICO 256GB Portable SSD with 2 in 1 USB C/A Cable is built as an external drive with 256GB SSD capacity, USB-C and USB-A cable. A USB-C SSD may work with a recent iPhone, but connector fit and available power still determine whether a direct backup is practical. Confirm the exact iPhone model, cable and app workflow; an older Lightning iPhone may need a different adapter or powered accessory.

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Reasons to buy

+256 GB

+USB

+2 in 1 USB C/A Cable

Yottamaster 128GB USB C Flash Drive, Up to 150MB/s Aluminum Portable SSD product image from Amazon

05 — Yottamaster

Best for a small flash drive

Yottamaster 128GB USB C Flash Drive

4.8/5Amazon
$32.99In Stock

Yottamaster 128GB USB C Flash Drive offers 128GB flash capacity, USB-C connector in an external drive format. A USB-C SSD may work with a recent iPhone, but connector fit and available power still determine whether a direct backup is practical. Confirm the exact iPhone model, cable and app workflow; an older Lightning iPhone may need a different adapter or powered accessory.

View on Amazon ↗

Reasons to buy

+Yottamaster 128GB USB C Flash Drive offers 128GB flash capacity, USB-C connector in an external drive format

+128 GB

+USB

Price information

Amazon price and availability checked Oct 17, 2026, 10:50 PM Lisbon time. Prices and availability are subject to change; the information shown on Amazon.com at purchase applies.

Our process

How we picked.

We compare five relevant products for different needs, using documented specifications, clear use cases and practical trade-offs. Our goal is to make the differences clear and help you choose with confidence.

  • 01
    Relevance

    Each product must fit the guide’s intended use, audience and requirements.

  • 02
    Specifications

    We compare the key product details that meaningfully affect the buying decision.

  • 03
    Use case and fit

    We compare the intended use, configuration and practical fit of every selected product.

  • 04
    Strengths and limitations

    We explain where each option performs best and the compromises to consider.

Read our full methodology →

Good questions

FAQ — External Drives for iPhone Backups

01What matters most when comparing external drives for iphone backups?+

Compare iPhone connector, file app support and power draw. A USB-C SSD may work with a recent iPhone, but connector fit and available power still determine whether a direct backup is practical.

02What should I check before buying external drives for iphone backups?+

Confirm the exact iPhone model, cable and app workflow; an older Lightning iPhone may need a different adapter or powered accessory.

03How do Samsung T7 Portable SSD 1TB Titan Gray and Lexar ES3 1TB Portable SSD Silver differ?+

Samsung T7 Portable SSD 1TB Titan Gray has 1TB SSD capacity and USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection; Lexar ES3 1TB Portable SSD Silver has 1TB SSD capacity and up to 1,050 MB/s transfer. Confirm the exact iPhone model, cable and app workflow; an older Lightning iPhone may need a different adapter or powered accessory.

04Is Lexar 2TB ES5 Magnetic External SSD a suitable external drive for this use?+

Lexar 2TB ES5 Magnetic External SSD identifies 2TB SSD capacity and MagSafe attachment. A USB-C SSD may work with a recent iPhone, but connector fit and available power still determine whether a direct backup is practical.

05What should I know about ORICO 256GB Portable SSD with 2 in 1 USB C/A?+

ORICO 256GB Portable SSD with 2 in 1 USB C/A Cable lists 256GB SSD capacity and USB-C and USB-A cable. Confirm the exact iPhone model, cable and app workflow; an older Lightning iPhone may need a different adapter or powered accessory.

06Who is Yottamaster 128GB USB C Flash Drive best suited to?+

Yottamaster 128GB USB C Flash Drive lists 128GB flash capacity and USB-C connector. A USB-C SSD may work with a recent iPhone, but connector fit and available power still determine whether a direct backup is practical.

The short answer

Start with the Samsung T7 Portable SSD 1TB Titan Gray.

It is our first pick for this guide’s exact scope. Choose another option when its stated use case or trade-off better matches yours.

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