Read update
- The article has been updated to include the latest devices and newly released external storage options for iPhones.
- 8.60/10 1. SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe
- 8.80/10 2. SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Go
- 8.40/10 3. iDiskk 4-in-1 USB 3.0 Flash Drive
- 8.60/10 4. Qubii Pro Flash Drive for iPhone
- 8.60/10 5. iDiskk 2TB External Hard Drive for iPhone
- 8.40/10 6. iDiskk 1TB External Hard Drive for iPhone with built-in 10000mAh Power Bank
- 7.20/10 7. SSK Portable External Wireless SSD
- 8.20/10 8. Qubii Duo USB-C Flash Drive
- 8.60/10 9. JSL JDTDC Apple MFi-Certified Photo Stick
UPDATE: 2023/04/27 12:30 EST BY SANUJ BHATIA
The article has been updated to include the latest devices and newly released external storage options for iPhones.
While the iPhone is one of the best smartphones you can buy today. However, it does have a drawback that a significant number of users find inconvenient: it doesn't come with a MicroSD card slot. Most buyers opt for the base 128GB variant and find their iPhone storage filling up quite fast — especially now that your iPhone 14 Pro can capture 48MP RAW photographs. While Apple offers the iCloud+ subscription for iPhone users who want extra storage space — and many other extra features — it's not a very convenient solution.
What if you could use a flash drive with your iPhone? All your photos, videos, and other important files would be accessible offline without the need for an internet connection or excessive data usage. Thankfully, there are several peripherals currently available on the market that connect to your iPhone via the Lightning port (or wirelessly), and enable you to offload excess files. These are the best iPhone external storage drives you can buy right now.
It goes without saying that SanDisk is one of the best brands in the world of external storage devices, and its iXpand Flash Drive Luxe is inarguably one of the best external storage solutions you can get for your iPhone. Besides iPhones, it also supports Android and all types of iOS devices thanks to its 2-in-1 USB-C and Lightning connector. Using this device, you can share photos directly with your friend's Android smartphone to your iPhone without the need of a PC or a computer.
In addition, the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe offers a number of features that make it the best device for its price. The storage is managed via the official SanDisk app on your iPhone, and it features automatic back up of your photos and videos. Furthermore, you can password-protect your files to prevent others from accessing them on their Android device, PC, or Mac.
- Supports both iPhone and Android devices
- Lightning and USB Type-C connectors
- Automatic Photos and Videos backup
- Manage storage via app
- Metal casing
- Brand: SanDisk
- Capacity: 128GB
- Connection: USB-C and Lightning
2. SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Go
If you're looking for a rather quick plug-in-and-go solution, the SanDisk iXpand 128GB flash drive is one of the best options out there. It works with all iPhones running iOS 10.0.2 and above, including the recently launched iPhone 14 series. Storage can be managed via the iXpand app, which is available free of cost on the iOS App Store. Like other devices in the list, it features automatic photo and video backup, and you can even password-protect files using the app.
- Works with all iPhones running iOS 10.0.2 and above
- 128GB storage space
- Manage storage via the iXpand app
- Automatic photos and videos backup
- Password protect files
- Brand: SanDisk
- Capacity: 128GB
- Connection: Lightning
iDiskk 4-in-1 USB 3.0 Flash Drive is one of the unique external storage solutions you can buy for your iPhone. This device not only works with your iPhone, but you can connect it to practically any device out there since it offers 4-in-1 connectors in the form of Micro-USB, USB-A, USB-C, and Lightning. Thanks to this multi-interface functionality, sharing files between devices is a piece of cake.
Moreover, the iDiskk 4-in-1 USB 3.0 Flash Drive offers a number of other features that make it a great buy. It comes with 256GB of onboard storage and features automatic photo and video backup. You can also protect your important files with Touch ID or Face ID in addition to using the traditional password protection. The storage is managed via an app that is free to download from the iOS App Store. For the price, this is one of the best external storage device for your iPhone.
- Multi-connector interface: Lightning, USB-A, USB-C, Micro-USB
- Storage managed via app
- Automatic photo and video backup
- 256GB storage
- Metal casing
- Brand: iDiskk
- Capacity: 256GB
- Connection: Lightning, USB-A, USB-C, Micro-USB
Qubii Pro offers an interesting way to back up photos and videos from your iPhone to external storage devices, as it connects directly to the charger of your phone and backs up the files while charging. It automatically starts the backup procedure when you plug in your iPhone. It backs up your photos, contacts, 4K videos, and more.
It also features automatic backup and resumes from where it left off. You can even connect multiple iPhones to this device. It will create different profiles for different devices and automatically back up whichever device is connected. The only con of this storage solution is that it requires an external microSD card to work, which you might have to purchase separately.
- Back up while charging
- Attaches directly onto the charger of your iPhone
- Automatic backup pause and resume
- Supports up to 2TB microSD card
- MFi-certified
- Brand: Qubii
- Capacity: Requires external microSD Card
- Connection: Connects directly to the charger
If a 128GB or 256GB storage solution isn't enough for you, then you should take a look at the iDiskk External Hard Drive for iPhone. Not only does it feature 2TB of storage space, but it also comes with three cable connectors so that you can use it not only with your iPhone but with your iPad, Mac, and even Windows devices.
It has a built-in 2000mAh battery, so it doesn't require external power. Other features of this external drive include automatic photo backup via the iOS app, file encryption, and MFi certification (which means it is officially verified by Apple to work with your iOS device). On the whole, if you are looking for an all-in-one solution with a lot of storage space, you should consider buying this external drive.
- MFi Certified
- Storage management via app
- Works with other devices in addition to iPhone and iPad
- Build-in three cables
- Data backup for iOS and iPadOS
- Brand: iDiskk
- Capacity: 2TB
- Connection: USB-C, USB-A, Lightning
6. iDiskk 1TB External Hard Drive for iPhone with built-in 10000mAh Power Bank
Another interesting device from iDiskk is this 1TB external hard disk. This hard drive not only features support for iPhone, but it also comes with a 10,000 mAh power bank built-in so you can charge your iPhone on the go, all while backing it up. Like other hard drives on this list, it features automatic backup, storage management via an app, and device profiles. In addition to supporting iPhone, you can also connect this external hard disk to your iPad, Windows PC, and Mac devices thanks to the USB-C cable that's included in the box.
- MFi certified
- 1TB Storage space
- Automatic photo and video backup
- Built-in 10,000 mAh power bank
- 18 Months Worry-free Warranty
- Brand: iDiskk
- Capacity: 1TB
- Connection: Lightning, Micro-USB, USB-C
If you're looking for an external storage solution for your iPhone, but don't want to get tangled up in cables and wires, then you should keep an eye on this small portable wireless SSD from SSK. This SSD makes its own hotspot and connects to the device wirelessly. It also has a built-in 3,800 mAh battery that can also be used as a power bank for your iPhone. Like other devices on the list, it features automatic backup and storage management via an app. This device can even allow you to access files on it even remotely.
- Wireless external hard disk
- Built-in 3,800 mAh battery
- Auto-Backup
- Supports all devices
- Control via app
- Brand: SSk
- Capacity: 1TB
- Connection: Wireless
8. Qubii Duo USB-C Flash Drive
This device is similar to the Qubii Pro model, but it features a USB-C port for newer iPhones that come with USB-C to Lightning cables. It, however, retains the functionality that the Pro models offers meaning it provides automatic backup and resumes functionality, which ensures that your files are safely backed up every time you charge your device.
What's more, the Qubii Duo USB-C Flash Drive is 30% faster than the Qubii Pro model, making it an ideal choice for those who want faster backup speeds. It is also compatible with Android devices, so you can use it to back up files on both your iPhone and Android devices. However, one disadvantage of this storage solution, just like the Qubii Pro model, is that an external microSD card is required for it to work, which needs to be purchased separately.
- USB-C for newer iPhones
- Back up while charging
- 30% faster compared to Qubii Pro
- Attaches directly onto the charger of your iPhone
- MFi-certified
- Password Encryption
- Brand: Qubii
- Capacity: Requires external microSD Card
- Connection: Connects directly to the charger
If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to SanDisk's thumb drive, then the JSL JDTDC Apple MFi-Certified Photo Stick is probably one of the best options out there. It is MFi certified, so you can attach it to any of your Apple devices without any worry. With 128GB of external storage, this photo stick offers ample space for storing your favorite videos, audio, music, and pictures.
This thumb drive comes with a companion app and offers transfer speeds of up to 80MB/s for read and 40MB/s for write. On the other side of the thumbstick, there is a USB-A port that you can use to store your backup on your computer. It is compatible with all iPhones running iOS 9 or above and also comes with a 18-month warranty.
- Lightning and USB Type-A connectors
- Companion app
- Metal casing
- Backup to computer
- Cheaper than San Disk thumbdrive
- Brand: JSL JDTDC
- Capacity: 128GB
- Connection: Lightning Port
Which External Storage Device Should You Buy for Your iPhone?
The list above comprises some of the most popular external storage devices for your iPhone, but if you still need help choosing one, here are some of our recommendations.
If you're looking for a rather quick plug-in-and-go solution, then we recommend you go with the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Go. This external flash drive connects to your iPhone via the Lightning port and lets you manage storage via an app. Additionally, it offers automatic photo and video backup. If, however, you plan to connect the flash drive with devices other than iPhone, you might want to take a look at the SanDisk iXpand Luxe and iDiskk 4-in-1 USB Flash Drive. These drives not only offer the same set of features as the Flash Drive Go but also offer multi-USB connectors meaning they can connect to practically any device out there.
On the other hand, if you're looking for a rather effortless solution, the Quibii Duo USB-C flash drive is a great option. Plug this device into your iPhone charger and let it back up your data while your device charges. This device supports microSD cards of up to 2TB, which needs to be purchased separately. Unlike the Qubii Pro, this version features a USB-C port for newer iPhones, providing seamless connectivity. However, if you have an older iPhone, you might want to take a Quibii Pro flash drive for the iPhone.
Lastly, if you have a lot of data on your hand, you might want to take a look at full-size external hard drives that support the iPhone. One of the best products available out there is the iDiskk 1TB External Hard Drive that also doubles as a 10,000 mAh power bank. This device not only lets you offload the excessive files off your iPhone, but it can also work as a battery pack when needed. Another great product available in this category is the SSK Portable External Wireless SSD. It connects to your iPhone wirelessly, so you don't need to get tangled up in cables and wires.
This concludes our collection of the best external storage drives for the iPhone. Feel free to share any other great recommendations in the comments below.
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