Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, reviewstook.com earns from qualifying purchases. Links to Amazon on this page are affiliate links; they cost you nothing extra.

Basics is cheapest; Advance adds more.

This guide is built from Amazon product listings and maker specs, not our own testing, so confirm compatibility, capacity and current price on each product page.

Prices are approximate and were shown on Amazon.com on November 1, 2026; check the current price.

Last updated: November 1, 2026.

Quick Picks

Product Type Best for
Toshiba Canvio Advance 1TB Portable Hard Drive Portable HDD, USB 3.0 Toshiba drives
Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB Portable Hard Drive Portable HDD, USB 3.0 Toshiba drives
Toshiba Canvio Advance 2TB Portable Hard Drive Portable HDD, USB 3.0 Toshiba drives
Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable Hard Drive Portable HDD, USB 3.0 Toshiba drives
Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB Portable Hard Drive Portable HDD, USB 3.0 Toshiba drives

Our Picks

1. Toshiba Canvio Advance 1TB Portable Hard Drive

A Toshiba Canvio Advance 1TB Portable Hard Drive (portable hdd, usb 3.0), per the listing. It showed at about $110 on Amazon.com on November 1, 2026.

Good for: Toshiba drives. Watch out: Check included software.

Check on Amazon

2. Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB Portable Hard Drive

A Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB Portable Hard Drive (portable hdd, usb 3.0), per the listing. It showed at about $117 on Amazon.com on November 1, 2026.

Good for: Toshiba drives. Watch out: Basic features.

Check on Amazon

3. Toshiba Canvio Advance 2TB Portable Hard Drive

A Toshiba Canvio Advance 2TB Portable Hard Drive (portable hdd, usb 3.0), per the listing. It showed at about $140 on Amazon.com on November 1, 2026.

Good for: Toshiba drives. Watch out: Check included software.

Check on Amazon

4. Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable Hard Drive

A Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable Hard Drive (portable hdd, usb 3.0), per the listing. It showed at about $144 on Amazon.com on November 1, 2026.

Good for: Toshiba drives. Watch out: Basic features.

Check on Amazon

5. Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB Portable Hard Drive

A Toshiba Canvio Basics 4TB Portable Hard Drive (portable hdd, usb 3.0), per the listing. It showed at about $214 on Amazon.com on November 1, 2026.

Good for: Toshiba drives. Watch out: Basic features.

Check on Amazon

How to Choose

HDD vs SSD

Hard drives cost less per terabyte; SSDs are faster and tougher.

Capacity

Pick 2TB to 5TB for backups and media.

Format

Windows drives may need reformatting for Mac. Back up before reformatting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do hard drives last?

Often several years; replace and back up regularly.

Do I need external power?

Portable drives use USB power; desktop drives need an adapter.

Is one backup enough?

No. Keep another copy.

Bottom Line

Canvio Basics is the cheapest; Advance adds software.

More Storage Guides