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If something is disappointing with any console or electronic device, it is a lack of space in the internal storage, and the two latest consoles are not exempt from this issue.
The PS5 comes with an internal storage of just 850 gigabytes, 667.2 Gb usable, while the Xbox Series X is a bit more generous as it comes with 1Tb but 802 GB available. However, that's not enough if you plan to have multiple games available on your console.
With online services such as Game Pass and PS Plus Premium/extra, you can download many games by paying a monthly fee. As a result, any internal storage will be full, as many interesting games will be available to download. Just Halo master chief collection, the enhanced version for the X|S needs 120 Gb of space, or buying any Call of Duty requires +200 Gb.
In the end, an external memory will be necessary if you plan to keep your games available anytime you want to play. Fortunately, there are either expensive or cheap options that you can get for your console. But first of all, let's clarify some aspects before proceeding. The PS5 and Xbox series X have SSDs (solid-state drives) for internal storage, which is faster than traditional HDDs (hard disk drives). For example, the PS5 SSD is 55 times faster than the PS4 hard drive.
Playstation 5 speed: 5.5GB/s (Raw), Typical 8-9GB/s (Compressed)
Xbox Series X speed: 2.4GB/s (Raw), 4.8GB/s (Compressed)
Second, if you want to buy an external memory, the USB connection has to be 3.0, 3.1 or 3.2, ideally, if you want your console to transfer data at an optimal speed.
The PlayStation 5 has 1 USB type-C and 2 USB type-A ports with up to 10 Gbps data transfer. On the other hand, the Xbox Series X has USB type-A 5Gbps.
And third, so far, the PS5 and Series X allow you to store next-gen games on an external device but not to play with them directly, unless the game is from a previous generation, such as PS4 or Xbox One. The reason is that the new generation games are designed to take advantage of the console's ultra-high-speed SSD. However, a solution to this matter is to store PS5/Series X|S games in the external drive, and anytime you want to play, you will need to transfer them to the internal SSD. Although unpractical, it takes less time than downloading or installing using an average speed internet.
However, if you prefer to buy an internal SSD for the Playstation 5 and play your games directly, there are excellent options for your console.
The Xbox has an expansion card that you can plug into your Xbox, and it will perform exactly like the internal SSD, but the price is expensive compared to a standard HDD.
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Some options that you can use for both consoles are:
Best External Hard Drive for PS5 and Xbox Series X S:
WD_BLACK P10 5TB Game Drive for On-The-Go Access To Your Game Library
PS5 and XBS X\S COMPATIBLE
The WD P10, which is one of the best sellers for the latest consoles, is an excellent and very reliable option for an HDD device if you plan to save a significant amount of games, paying a fraction of an internal/external SSD or the WD P50.
For an HDD, the speed is decent as it goes up to 140MB/s, and the quality is excellent. There is a three-year limited warranty included as well.
Although it doesn't match the speeds and requirements that the PS5 and XBS Series X|S need for fast performance, what makes this option attractive is its value for money, as you don't have to pay enormous prices for an M.2 SSD or expansion card storage.
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Seagate 2TB HDD Officially Licensed for Playstation Systems, Black
PS5 COMPATIBLE
The Seagate 2TB HDD is another good option for your PS5. Although this is not an external drive made for the Playstation 5, you can save games by paying a fraction of the price for an SSD. You can play PS4 games directly from this device, which lets you save space on your PS5 console storage for PS5 games.
It has a speed of 120 Megabytes Per Second, and the interface is USB 3.0.
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Best external SSD drive storage for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S:
Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S 1TB Solid State Drive
XBS X\S COMPATIBLE
The Seagate Storage Expansion Card is the official and most recommended external storage for your Xbox Series X|S. built-in partnership with Xbox to match the performance and the Xbox Velocity Architecture. Thus, you can expect the same result if you play games using the internal SSD storage or this expansion card. However, this excellent performance makes it more expensive than other options.
This card can be installed in a special slot located at the back of the Xbox Series X|S, which is very practical and easy to set up, and it currently has storage options of 500 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB.
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Samsung T7 Portable SSD - 1 TB - USB 3.2 Gen.2
PS5 and XBS X\S COMPATIBLE
This is another excellent choice as the T7 SSD Samsung offers read/write speeds of up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s, respectively, and the Interface is USB 3.2 Gen.2, so with this option, you can expect a quick data transfer for your console.
This SSD also comes with 2 cables USB Type-C to Type-C cable, and USB Type-C to Type-A cable.
In addition, this highly regarded brand offers excellent quality, so it is quite popular as an external SSD.
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SanDisk Extreme 1TB Portable NVMe SSD, USB-C, up to 1050MB/s Read and 1000MB/s Write Speed, Water and Dust-Resistant
PS5 and XBS X\S COMPATIBLE
This option has a particular characteristic, as it has up to two-meter drop protection and IP55 water and dust resistance. Something that you definitely can not do with any HDD storage, as you can damage the internal disk. So, if you want a storage device that can offer you a degree of protection from any accident, this is a great alternative.
Apart from its protective characteristics, it also has an outstanding performance, as the speed is 1050MB/s reading and 1000MB/s** writing, and it can provide storage up to 4Tb.
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WD (Western Digital) Black P50 1TB NVMe SSD Game Drive
PS5 and XBS X\S COMPATIBLE
The WD Black P50 is the best option if you want fast and reliable external storage for your PS5 and XBS Series X|S. The speed is up to 2000MB/s and is also suitable for USB 3.2. This is an advantage over the other external options as the new generation of consoles are designed to transfer data very fast, and this is the one that can give an outstanding performance.
It has up to 4TB of storage, so you can have a decent game library inside, and it comes with two cables - USB Type-C to Type-C and USB Type-C to Type-A.
Everything sounds good, but its good performance comes with an expensive price tag, and as mentioned before, these external drives don't allow you to play PS5 and Series X|S games directly.
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