If you store movies, games, office files or raw photos, a reliable external hard drive feels almost like a basic utility now. Laptops with 256 GB or 512 GB SSD fill up fast, and cloud storage in India is still limited by data caps, patchy broadband, and slow upload speeds. A 4 TB external drive gives you breathing room for years, whether you back up family memories, keep a media library, or need something for office work and client projects.
When you choose an external HDD, you should look at speed, reliability, build quality, data protection features, and how easy it is to carry and use. Indian buyers also have to think about frequent power cuts, voltage fluctuations, high temperatures in many cities, and after‑sales support in case something fails. In this guide I focus on 4 TB drives that make sense for our market, keeping value for money in mind without quoting any fixed price, since online prices keep changing week to week.
All the models below are popular 4 TB external hard drives available in India from known brands like Seagate and Western Digital. I will walk through which one suits which kind of user, whether you are a student, working professional, gamer, or home user who wants a simple backup solution and peace of mind.
Seagate Expansion Desktop 4TB (STKP4000400)
A 4 TB desktop external HDD built for permanent desk setups, with 7200 RPM speed and basic plug‑and‑play usage for Windows and Mac.
Pros
- High 4 TB capacity for bulk storage at home or office
- 7200 RPM drive offers better performance than slower desktop HDDs
- Comes with 3‑year Seagate Rescue Data Recovery Services in India
- Simple plug‑in setup with separate power adapter
Cons
- Needs external power, not suitable for travel
- 3.5 inch size takes more space on desk
- No built‑in hardware encryption or password protection
- Not ideal for frequent plug and unplug use
Seagate Expansion Desktop 4TB is meant for users who want a permanent storage solution on a table, not in a backpack. The 3.5 inch 7200 RPM drive sits in a vented enclosure that stays on your desk, connected through USB. You connect the included power adapter, plug in the USB cable, and your Windows PC or Mac recognizes the drive automatically. For Indian homes and offices where multiple people share one computer, this works as a common dump drive for movies, CCTV backups, and archived work files.
Because the drive spins at 7200 RPM, performance is better than many slower desktop HDDs, especially for large file transfers like 4K video collections and game backups. You can store years of DSLR photos, raw project files, or huge media libraries without juggling space. The drive is compatible with Windows out of the box, and you can reformat for Mac, including Time Machine, if needed. This flexibility helps if you switch between platforms or use both a PC and a MacBook.
One big plus for Indian buyers is the included 3‑year Seagate Rescue Data Recovery Services. Drive failure sometimes happens due to voltage fluctuations, heat, or simple wear and tear. Having a professional recovery service bundled adds peace of mind, especially when family memories or business documents live on the drive. Seagate has an established service footprint in India, so RMA and support processes are relatively straightforward. If you want a “set it and forget it” external drive for your desk, this model sits right in that sweet spot.
Seagate Expansion Portable 4TB (STKM4000400)
A slim 4 TB portable HDD with USB 3.0, designed for on‑the‑go storage of movies, music, photos and work files on Windows and Mac.
Pros
- Compact 2.5 inch design, easy to carry in a bag
- USB 3.0 powered, no separate adapter required
- 3‑year Seagate Rescue Data Recovery Services included
- Simple drag‑and‑drop backup and file storage
Cons
- Portable drives are more vulnerable to drops
- No hardware encryption or password lock by default
- Plastic shell feels basic compared to premium models
- HDD speed is slower than SSD options
Seagate Expansion Portable 4TB targets users who travel or move between home, office, and college. The 2.5 inch form factor slips into a laptop bag pocket, and since it uses USB 3.0 power, there is no need to carry a power brick. Plug into a USB port on your laptop, smart TV, or desktop, and you are ready to copy data. This suits Indian students and professionals who move between hostel, PG, office, and home with a full library of movies, notes, and project files in one place.
The drive focuses on simplicity. It supports drag‑and‑drop file saving, and your Windows or Mac system detects the drive on connection. For Time Machine on Mac, you may need a quick reformat, which is a one‑time step. Once set, you can use it for regular backups or as extended storage. For many users in India with 256 GB or 512 GB SSD laptops, this type of portable HDD is the most cost effective way to carry several TB of data without worrying about internet speed or cloud limits.
Seagate includes its 3‑year Rescue Data Recovery Services for Indian buyers here as well, which adds a layer of security against accidental damage or unexpected failure. Service centers and logistics for Seagate are well established in India, which reduces downtime if there is a warranty claim. If you are okay with HDD speeds and want a rugged enough drive to throw in a bag, this model balances portability, capacity, and value without extra frills.
WD My Book 4TB
A 4 TB desktop external hard drive from Western Digital with automatic backup software, password protection, and hardware encryption.
Pros
- Hardware AES encryption with password protection
- WD Backup software and Time Machine support
- Desktop form factor suits permanent setups
- Trusted WD reliability with strong brand presence in India
Cons
- Needs external power adapter
- Bulkier than portable 2.5 inch drives
- Backup software needs some initial setup
- Not built for frequent travel or rough handling
WD My Book 4TB is a desktop‑class external hard drive for users who care about both capacity and data security. The enclosure stands upright on your desk, connected to your PC or Mac through USB 3.0 with backward compatibility for USB 2.0. Where it stands out is in its software features and hardware encryption. You get WD Backup software for automatic backups on Windows and compatibility with Time Machine on Mac, plus password protection backed by hardware encryption.
For Indian professionals working with sensitive client files, office documents, or financial records, this security layer helps if your drive is stolen or accessed without permission. You can set a password so the contents stay encrypted and unreadable without that key. The drive comes formatted in exFAT for direct use with both Windows and Mac, which is helpful if you carry the drive between different systems without reformatting.
WD has a long presence in India, and My Book is a familiar product line among system builders and IT admins. Service centers and RMA processes are established in metro cities and many tier‑2 towns. For home users, this means predictable after‑sales support in case of rare failures. If you want a serious backup drive that stays next to your desktop or Wi‑Fi router and keeps automatic scheduled backups going in the background, WD My Book 4TB is a strong fit.
WD My Passport 4TB
A compact 4 TB portable hard disk with USB 3.0, 256‑bit AES hardware encryption, and backup software, suitable for everyday use on Windows and Mac.
Pros
- Portable 2.5 inch design for easy carrying
- 256‑bit AES hardware encryption with password protection
- Software suite for device management and automatic backup
- 3‑year warranty support from WD in India
Cons
- Plastic build is prone to scratches
- HDD speed is limited compared to SSDs
- Security features need software setup
- Short USB cable for some desktop setups
WD My Passport 4TB is one of the most popular portable HDDs in India. The 2.5 inch plastic enclosure is small enough for jeans pockets or a laptop sleeve, and the USB 3.0 port works with older USB 2.0 ports as well. It comes formatted with NTFS for Windows, and you can reformat for Mac or other operating systems based on your needs. This makes it a handy drive for students, freelancers, and office workers who move with their data daily.
One strong point here is security. WD includes 256‑bit AES hardware encryption with password protection. Once you set up the password through the software, your data stays encrypted in hardware, which provides better protection than simple software locks. If your drive gets lost in a cab or during travel, your sensitive files stay protected. WD also ships backup and device management tools so you can set automatic backups of selected folders, making it easier to stick to a backup habit.
From a service angle, WD offers a 3‑year warranty on this model, and the company has a widespread service network in India. For users in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and even many smaller cities, warranty support is usually straightforward through authorized centers or courier processes. If you want a portable drive with built‑in security features and a known brand name, My Passport 4TB offers a sensible mix of features, capacity, and reliability for Indian conditions.
Seagate One Touch 4TB (STKZ4000401)
A stylish 4 TB portable HDD with hardware encrypted password protection, backup scheduling, and a brushed metal design in silver.
Pros
- Hardware encrypted password protection for data safety
- Compact portable form factor with metal finish
- Includes 3‑year Seagate Rescue Data Recovery Services
- Bundled Mylio Create and Dropbox backup offers
Cons
- Metal finish can show fingerprints and scratches
- Security and backup features need some setup time
- Slightly heavier than plain plastic portable drives
- HDD level speeds, not SSD‑grade performance
Seagate One Touch 4TB in silver focuses on style and security along with high capacity. The brushed metal enclosure looks premium on a desk next to a modern laptop, and the 2.5 inch form factor fits easily in a bag. Inside, you get a 4 TB HDD connected over USB 3.0, powered directly from the port without any external adapter. This model suits users who want their portable drive to blend with their device aesthetic, whether that is a silver ultrabook or a MacBook.
On the feature side, One Touch offers hardware encrypted password protection. You can protect the contents of the drive with a password so strangers cannot read your files if the drive goes missing. Seagate also supports one‑click backups and scheduled backups at daily, weekly, or monthly intervals. For Indian families backing up phone photos and videos from multiple devices, such scheduling helps avoid the “I forgot to back up” problem and reduces the risk of data loss during phone theft or accidental reset.
The drive includes Seagate’s 3‑year Rescue Data Recovery Services, as well as limited period offers like a 6‑month Mylio Create plan and a Dropbox backup plan. Even if you do not use the bundled cloud services, the physical drive itself gives you offline storage that is not affected by poor broadband or mobile network quality. Seagate has strong brand recall in India and a fairly dense service network, which matters if you need warranty support. If you want something that looks a bit more premium than plain plastic drives and also adds encryption and backup tools, One Touch 4TB is a solid pick.
Buying Guide
Deciding Your Budget For A 4TB External HDD
For most Indian buyers, price is the first filter. 4 TB external HDDs sit in a sweet spot where cost per GB is low compared to SSDs and smaller drives. Desktop 3.5 inch models tend to cost less than portable 2.5 inch models with the same capacity, because they use bigger, cheaper drives and need an external power adapter. Portable models with hardware encryption or premium finishes often cost a bit more. Instead of chasing the absolute lowest listed price, check recent buyer reviews, warranty terms, and whether you need security features. Also factor in that prices on Amazon and other sites fluctuate during sales like Big Billion Days, Great Indian Festival, and bank offers, so timing your purchase can save you a decent amount.
Desktop vs Portable: Which Form Factor Suits You
The biggest choice is between desktop 3.5 inch drives like Seagate Expansion Desktop or WD My Book, and portable 2.5 inch drives like Seagate Expansion Portable, WD My Passport, and Seagate One Touch. Desktop drives need an external power adapter and sit in one place, but often provide slightly better sustained performance and value for money. They suit home media centers, office desktops, and NAS‑style setups. Portable drives draw power from USB and fit in your bag, perfect for students, photographers, and people who move between systems. In Indian conditions with frequent power cuts, a portable drive connected to a laptop is less likely to suffer sudden power loss compared to a desktop drive tied to a power strip.
Key Technical Specifications To Check
When you look at specs, focus on capacity, interface, RPM, and file system. All models here offer 4 TB capacity, which is plenty for most home and small office uses. The USB 3.0 interface is standard now and is backward compatible with USB 2.0, though at slower speeds. Desktop drives like the Seagate Expansion Desktop use 7200 RPM internals which help with faster transfers. Portable drives usually sit around 5400 RPM, which is fine for media storage and backups. Most drives arrive formatted for Windows (NTFS or exFAT). If you use Mac, you might need to reformat to a Mac‑friendly file system, especially for Time Machine. Always back up important data before reformatting.
Security, Backup Software, And Privacy
If you handle sensitive data, look for hardware encryption and password protection. WD My Book, WD My Passport, and Seagate One Touch support hardware encrypted passwords, which protect your data even if someone removes the drive from the case. Basic models like Seagate Expansion Desktop and Expansion Portable focus on simple storage without built‑in encryption. Backup software also matters. WD bundles backup tools, and Seagate offers one‑click and scheduled backup options on supported models. For many Indian users, especially freelancers, CA professionals, and small business owners, setting up automatic backups reduces the risk of losing critical files due to laptop failure, theft, or malware. Always use strong passwords and avoid sharing them loosely.
Performance Requirements For Indian Use Cases
For 4K movie libraries, PC game backups, or large raw photo sets, HDD performance affects how long transfers take, but not whether your content works. USB 3.0 portable drives handle media streaming to TVs or laptops without issues. If your workload involves frequent random reads and writes, like editing video footage directly from the drive, you will see some lag with HDDs compared to SSDs. In that case, treat the HDD as an archive and not a working drive. In many Indian homes with moderate broadband speeds, copying to an HDD is still far faster than uploading to cloud storage, especially for hundreds of GB at once.
Build Quality, Durability, And Heat
Indian climate puts stress on electronics due to high ambient temperatures, dust, and humidity. Portable drives face the added risk of drops and rough handling in bags or during travel by bus and train. Look for drives with solid enclosures and avoid stacking heavy objects on them. Metal enclosures look premium but can feel warm in non‑AC rooms during summer. Plastic enclosures stay cooler but may scratch. Try to keep drives on a hard surface with some airflow and avoid direct sunlight. For desktop drives, use a surge protector or UPS to minimize the risk from voltage spikes during power cuts and thunderstorms.
Warranty, Service Network, And Brand Support In India
For storage, warranty and service network often matter more than small differences in speed. Seagate and WD both have a strong presence in India with authorized service centers and courier‑based RMA processes. Most of the drives here have 3‑year warranty coverage, which is adequate for typical home and office use. Models that include data recovery services, like many Seagate drives, add extra security. Before buying, check how warranty claims work in your city, whether there is a nearby service center, and if the manufacturer offers pick‑up and drop options. Also keep your invoice PDF and serial numbers safe for future claims.
Compatibility With Devices You Already Own
Think about which devices you plan to connect. For Windows laptops and desktops, NTFS‑formatted drives work immediately. For Mac, exFAT or HFS+ is better, and Time Machine support is helpful. If you plan to plug the drive into smart TVs, gaming consoles, or routers, check their supported file systems and maximum drive sizes. Many Indian users plug external drives into TVs to watch offline movies and shows to save data. In such cases, a portable drive like Seagate Expansion Portable, WD My Passport, or Seagate One Touch is more convenient, since it does not need separate power and can sit behind the TV without visible clutter.
Feature Importance
| Feature | Importance |
|---|---|
| Capacity (4 TB) | High |
| Form factor (Desktop vs Portable) | High |
| USB interface (USB 3.0, USB 2.0 compatibility) | High |
| Hardware encryption and password protection | High |
| Brand reliability and service network in India | High |
| Included backup and management software | Medium |
| Drive RPM and transfer speed | Medium |
| Build quality and physical design | Medium |
| Bundled data recovery services | High |
| Compatibility with Windows, Mac, TVs, and consoles | High |
