Best SATA I External Hard Drives of 2025

Mike Davis Avatar
Mike Davis
Last Updated: Jan 5, 2025

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SATA I External Hard Drives are a reliable and convenient way to store and transfer large amounts of data. With capacities ranging from 250GB to 1TB, these drives offer plenty of space for documents, photos, videos, and music. They connect easily to a computer via USB and provide fast data transfer speeds. Additionally, SATA I External Hard Drives are durable and portable, making them a great choice for students, professionals, and anyone who needs to access their files on the go. Whether you need to back up important files or store your media library, a SATA I External Hard Drive is a smart choice.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

StarTech Dual-Bay USB 3.1 SATA Hard Drive Docking Station Cover #TOP 1
StarTech Dual-Bay USB 3.1 SATA Hard Drive Docking Station
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Thermaltake BlacX Duet Cover #TOP 2
Thermaltake BlacX Duet
ftb score rating icon 9.8
StarTech.com Single Bay USB 3.0 to SATA Hard Drive Docking Station Cover #TOP 3
StarTech.com Single Bay USB 3.0 to SATA Hard Drive Docking Station
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 8 SATA I External Hard Drives

StarTech Dual-Bay USB 3.1 SATA Hard Drive Docking Station

SDOCK2U313
Black
Dual Bay
StarTech Dual-Bay USB 3.1 SATA Hard Drive Docking Station Cover
StarTech.com Dual-Bay USB 3.1 to SATA Hard Drive Docking Station, USB 3.1 (10 Gbps), External 2.5/3.5" SATA I/II/III, SSD/HDD Docking Station, Hot-Swap Hard Drive Bay, Top-Loading (SDOCK2U313)

The StarTech.com Dual-Bay USB 3.1 to SATA Hard Drive Docking Station allows you to quickly and easily access your 2.5/3.5" SATA hard drives for file backup, disk imaging, or data transfer over USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps). The tool-less design enables easy hot-swapping of drives. This dock supports 2.5/3.5" SATA HDDs & SSDs of any capacity, and is backwards compatible with SATA I/II. The drive bays have a 5,000-cycle insertion rating for maximum durability, and the dock has LED activity lights.

What We Like
Quick and easy access to SATA hard drives for backup, imaging or data transfer
Supports 2.5/3.5" SATA HDDs & SSDs of any capacity
Tool-less design enables easy hot-swapping of drives
Backwards compatible with SATA I/II
LED activity lights
#TOP 2

Thermaltake BlacX Duet

ST0014U-C
black
Thermaltake BlacX Duet Cover
Thermaltake BlacX Duet 2.5"/3.5" SATA I/II/III USB 3.0 External Hard Drive Enclosure Docking Station ST0014U-C

The Thermaltake BlacX Dock is a versatile external hard drive enclosure docking station that supports 2.5" and 3.5" SATA I/II/III technology hard drives. With its USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface, you can transfer data at speeds up to 5.0 Gbps, which is 10 times faster than USB 2.0. This means you can quickly and easily back up or transfer large files, saving you time and effort. The hot swap capability allows for rapid access to your hard drives, making it convenient to switch between multiple drives without having to restart your computer. With plug and play installation, there is no need for any additional software. Compatible with both Windows and Mac OS, the Thermaltake BlacX Dock is a reliable and efficient solution for all your external storage needs.

What We Like
Fast data transfer
Versatile compatibility
Hot swap capability
#TOP 3

StarTech.com Single Bay USB 3.0 to SATA Hard Drive Docking Station

SATDOCKU3S
Black
1 Bay
StarTech.com Single Bay USB 3.0 to SATA Hard Drive Docking Station Cover
StarTech.com Single Bay USB 3.0 to SATA Hard Drive Docking Station, USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) Hard Drive Dock, External 2.5/3.5" SATA I/II/III HDD/SSD Docking Station, Top-Loading Hard Drive Bay (SATDOCKU3S)

The StarTech.com Single Bay USB 3.0 to SATA Hard Drive Docking Station is a toolless top-loading design that enables quick hot-swapping of idle SATA I/II/III HDD/SSD drives for file backup, imaging, and data transfer over USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) without the need for software/drivers. It is OS independent and supports 2.5/3.5" SATA HDD/SSD of any capacity. The product includes a USB 3.2 (5 Gbps) Type-A Cable and Universal Power Adapter. It is ideal for IT professionals and is backed by a 2-year warranty, including free lifetime 24/5 multilingual technical assistance.

What We Like
Quick hot-swapping of idle drives
Supports 2.5/3.5" SATA HDD/SSD of any capacity
Includes USB 3.2 (5 Gbps) Type-A Cable and Universal Power Adapter
Backed by a 2-year warranty
Ideal for IT professionals
#TOP 4

Cinolink USB 3.0 Dual-SATA Adapter

Portable
Clone docking
portable
Cinolink USB 3.0 Dual-SATA Adapter Cover
Cinolink USB 3.0 to Dual-SATA USB 3.0 Hard Drive Converter Adapter with Duplicator Dual-Bay Offline Clone Function for 2.5"/3.5" HDD SSD SATA (SATA I/II/III), Support 2 x 12TB and UASP

The Cinolink Dual-SATA Adapter allows you to connect both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA hard drives, supporting up to 12TB each. You can easily clone your drives offline without needing any drivers, making the setup process simple and efficient. Its compact design means you can take it anywhere, fitting easily into your bag. Additionally, it comes with a reliable power source that ensures stable operation, automatically entering sleep mode after 30 minutes of inactivity to save energy.

What We Like
Supports large capacity drives
Easy offline cloning
Compact and portable design
Stable power supply
#TOP 5

StarTech.com M.2 SATA SSD Enclosure

SM21BMU31CI3
Black
StarTech.com M.2 SATA SSD Enclosure Cover
StarTech.com M.2 SSD Enclosure for M.2 SATA Drives - USB 3.1 G - USB-C - Portable M.2 External Enclosure (SM21BMU31CI3)

Turn your M.2 NGFF SATA drive into high performance external storage with this portable M.2 SSD enclosure. You can connect it to your MacBook or other USB Type-C device with full SATA III performance over a USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) host connection. The durable aluminum enclosure and built-in ventilation holes provide optimum operating temperature for your drive, while the compact design makes it easy to carry around. Compatible with common M.2 SATA SSDs and multiple drive lengths.

What We Like
Portable design
Full SATA III performance
Durable aluminum enclosure
#TOP 6

Agatige SATA HDD Docking Station

Agatigegegx7fdomv-01
US 110-240V
Agatige SATA HDD Docking Station Cover
SATA HDD Docking Station, USB 3.0 to SATA I/II/III Three-Bay External Hard Drive Docking Station for 2.5inch 3.5inch HDD SSD(US 110-240V)

The Agatige HDD Docking Station is a versatile solution for connecting 2.5 and 3.5-inch SATA/IDE hard drives. With its three-bay design, you can easily plug in bare disks without any installation hassle. It boasts fast data transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps via USB 3.0, ensuring quick access to your files. You can also clone data offline, allowing you to copy information between drives without needing a computer. This docking station is compatible with various operating systems, making it a convenient choice for users with different setups.

What We Like
Three-bay capacity
Fast data transfer speed
Offline cloning feature
Easy plug-and-play setup
#TOP 7

VSVABEFV Hard Drive Docking Station

YPH01-V_LOGO
black, red
VSVABEFV Hard Drive Docking Station Cover
VSVABEFV IDE Hard Drive HDD Docking Station Hard Drive Dock Reader, 2.5" 3.5" External Hard Drive Enclosure, External HDD Hard Drive Card Reader USB 3.0 Hub, USB 3.0 to 2 SATA Ports 1 IDE Port

The VSVABEFV HDD Dock is designed to support both 2.5" and 3.5" SATA and IDE hard drives, making it easy for you to access your data. With a high-speed USB 3.0 interface, you can transfer files quickly, reaching speeds up to 5Gbps. This dock also allows for direct cloning of hard drives without needing a computer, streamlining your backup process. Plus, it features tool-free installation and plug-and-play functionality, so you can start using it right away without any complicated setup.

What We Like
Fast data transfer speeds
Easy plug-and-play installation
Supports multiple hard drive types
Direct cloning without a PC
#TOP 8

NRICO Ultra Slim 250GB External Hard Drive

NRICO
BLACK
NRICO Ultra Slim 250GB External Hard Drive Cover
NRICO Ultra Slim 250GB Portable External Hard Drive USB3.0 HDD Storage Compatible for PC, Desktop, Laptop,Mac,PS4, Xbox one (Black, 250, GB)

The NRICO External Hard Drive is an ultra-slim storage solution that measures only 0.51 inches thick, making it easy to carry wherever you go. Its durable metal design provides protection against shocks and pressure, ensuring your data stays safe. This drive is compatible with various operating systems, including Mac and Windows, so you can use it with your devices without hassle. With USB 3.0 technology, you can enjoy lightning-fast transfer speeds of up to 5 Gbit/s, significantly improving your PC’s performance and saving you valuable time. Plus, it’s ready to use right out of the box—just plug it in and start transferring your files.

What We Like
Ultra-slim design
Shockproof and durable
Fast USB 3.0 transfer speeds
Plug-and-play convenience
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a SATA external hard drive?

Introduced in 2003, SATA (or Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) is the default interface for most desktop and laptop hard drives. They are referred to as SATA hard drives, but they are actually rotary hard drives with spinning platters and a moving needle that writes data to consecutive sectors on each platter.

2. Can we use SATA hard drive as external?

Can an internal drive be used externally? Yes. Hard drive caddies – or enclosures – are effectively SATA-to-USB converters and allow you to turn an internal SATA hard drive into an external one that you can use for storing or backing up files, or to keep a library of videos that you could leave attached to your TV.

3. Are portable hard drives SATA?

Sellers of portable SSDs seldom indicate if the drive is SATA- or PCIe-based. However, checking the specs can be a dead giveaway. If the drive tops out at sequential read and write speeds between 400MBps and 550MBps, it's very likely SATA-based. Speeds of 800MBps or higher indicate a PCIe-based drive.

4. Is SATA 1 enough for HDD?

Negligible, IMHO. Sata I is not only speed, it's also lack of certain features introduced with later revisions. But, speaking from experience - it doesn't matter. No matter how fast the HDD is, it will be crawling compared to SSD.

Editor's Notes

During our sata i external hard drive research, we found 24 sata i external hard drive products and shortlisted 8 quality products. We collected and analyzed 8,265 customer reviews through our big data system to write the sata i external hard drives list. We found that most customers choose sata i external hard drives with an average price of $53.21.

The sata i external hard drives are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of sata i external hard drives, including StarTech.com, Thermaltake, Cinolink, Agatige, VSVABEFV. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Written by
Mike Davis Avatar

Mike Davis is a professionally trained electrician with six years of working experience in the electronics industry. He has written an array of web and mobile-based articles for e-magazines and blogs. He loves trying out some novel and popular gadgets and his expertise is in the areas of electronics and computers which is built over many years of working and personal experiences.