What external drive to get for Time Machine?

[AppleFan.]

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for a 2TB to 4TB external hard drive for Time Machine backups on my Mac mini M4. While I’m not close to filling up the 1TB of internal storage yet, I want a reliable backup solution for two main reasons: to back up my files and to be able to retrieve old versions or deleted files when needed.

I’m thinking HDD over SSD since it seems like a better value for this purpose, but I’m curious to hear your thoughts. USB-C is important for me, so I can connect it without an adapter or a dongle.

Any recommendations for a reliable external drive that works great with Time Machine. Bonus if it comes with a USB-C cable!

Thanks in advance!

 

[MisterSavage]

I used a G-Drive for a few years. After that died I ended up getting a SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD.

https://shop.sandisk.com/products/ssd/portable-ssd/portable-ssd-sandisk-extreme-usb-3-2?sku=SDSSDE61-500G-G25

 

[seggy]

I use the mainstream range Seagate bus-powered HDD's for Time Machine since at the time they were the cheapest appropriately sized drives that appeared in my size (they range from 2 to 4Tb in my inventory), and I have had one per Mac. Seagate doesn't have the best rep for drive reliability but it's a backup, and also not absolutely mission critical for me since all the data I actually care about is elsewhere. The drives also contain(ed) WinClone backups, and either TM or this was as a 'return to image / point in time' time saving measure, not a real data backup.

I have no idea how many snapshots Mistersavage saves in a day but an SSD is largely wasted as a TM drive.

I've always run the drives off a TB dock so no C. I haven't yet set up TM on all my new Macs since they aren't quite in a state I want them to be, but I'll probably do the same (just hang them off the dock)

 

[fricotin]

I use a 2T Canvio Flex Toshiba HDD, 1T is used for storage.

 

[MisterSavage]

I have no idea how many snapshots Mistersavage saves in a day but an SSD is largely wasted as a TM drive.

Reliability and portability in an emergency were big factors. I have no regrets with my purchase.

 

[seggy]

Reliability and portability in an emergency were big factors. I have no regrets with my purchase.

I can't imagine a TM drive as your main backup...?

 

[dotzero123]

I use ACASIS 40Gbps M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure. Works very well for me.

 

[MisterSavage]

I can't imagine a TM drive as your main backup...?

Feel free not to. It's been a great solution for me, including when I had a catastrophic failure and had to restore everything from my TM backup when my Mac got wiped.

 

[fricotin]

I trust my TM backup but I also use SuperDuper on a different drive...

 

[seggy]

Feel free not to. It's been a great solution for me, including when I had a catastrophic failure and had to restore everything from my TM backup when my Mac got wiped.

Exactly that - I'd use a local, single TM for mitigating fallout from something dumb that I did, or to try to revert from a disastrous Apple OS upgrade (something that seems to be becoming more frequent).

So I wouldn't call it a backup. But you do you.

 

[Raublinger65]

I use a LaCie 1big dock 10TB HDD.