Best Internal Hard Drives for Laptop of 2026

Mike Davis Avatar
Mike Davis
Last Updated: Jan 11, 2026

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Internal hard drives for laptops are essential for storing and accessing data on the go. They come in various sizes and storage capacities, ranging from 250GB to 2TB, and use different interfaces such as SATA and NVMe. Upgrading the internal hard drive of a laptop can significantly improve its performance and speed. It is important to consider the compatibility of the hard drive with the laptop's motherboard and the physical dimensions of the drive before purchasing. Some popular brands of internal hard drives for laptops include Seagate, Western Digital, and Toshiba.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Seagate BarraCuda Pro 12TB Internal HDD Cover #TOP 1
Seagate BarraCuda Pro 12TB Internal HDD
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Toshiba Notebook Hard Drive MQ01ABD100V Cover #TOP 2
Toshiba Notebook Hard Drive MQ01ABD100V
ftb score rating icon 9.7
MDD MQ04ABB400 4TB Hard Drive Cover #TOP 3
MDD MQ04ABB400 4TB Hard Drive
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 4 Internal Hard Drives for Laptop

#TOP 1

Seagate BarraCuda Pro 12TB Internal HDD

ST12000DM0007-CR/5YR
Silver
12TB
Seagate BarraCuda Pro 12TB Internal HDD Cover
Seagate BarraCuda Pro 12TB Internal Hard Drive Performance HDD – 3.5 Inch SATA 6 Gb/s 7200 RPM 256MB Cache for Computer Desktop PC Laptop – Frustration Free Packaging (ST12000DM0007) (Renewed)

The Seagate BarraCuda Pro HDD offers a massive 12TB storage capacity, giving you plenty of space to store large files, games, and multimedia. It spins at a fast 7200 RPM, which means quicker access to your data and smoother performance. With a 256MB cache, the drive can handle data more efficiently, speeding up your everyday tasks. The drive supports fast data transfer rates, up to 6Gb/s, so you can move files quickly between devices. This makes the Seagate BarraCuda Pro HDD a solid choice for desktop users, creative professionals, or anyone needing reliable and fast storage.

What We Like
Large 12TB capacity
Fast 7200 RPM speed
256MB cache size
High 6Gb/s data transfer
#TOP 2

Toshiba Notebook Hard Drive MQ01ABD100V

MQ01ABD100V
Toshiba Notebook Hard Drive MQ01ABD100V Cover
Toshiba 1TB 5400RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 2.5 inch Notebook Hard Drive (MQ01ABD100V) - 1 Year Warranty,Usb

Toshiba 1TB Laptop HDD is a high-capacity internal hard drive designed for laptops, notebooks, and USB enclosures. With a 5400RPM rotation speed, 8MB buffer, and SATA 3.0Gb/s interface, it provides fast data transfer and efficient performance. Its 2.5-inch size and 9.5mm height make it compatible with any brand of SATA interface laptops and Macbooks. This hard drive is perfect for storing large amounts of data, including documents, photos, videos, and music. With a 1-year warranty from the reseller, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing you have a reliable product.

What We Like
1TB capacity
Fast data transfer
Compatible with any brand
#TOP 3

MDD MQ04ABB400 4TB Hard Drive

MQ04ABB400-OEM
MDD MQ04ABB400 4TB Hard Drive Cover
MDD MQ04ABB400 4TB 5400RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 2.5in Hard Drive (15mm Thickness for TiVo, MiniPC, CCTV DVR only, NOT for Laptop)

The MDD 4TB HDD is a 2.5" SATA 6.0 hard drive with a massive capacity of 4TB and an MTTF of 600,000 hours. It has a 15mm height which makes it too thick for laptops, but perfect for TiVo, workstations, external enclosures, small form factor PCs, all-in-one systems, desktop PCs, and surveillance systems. This bare drive has no screws, cables or accessories included, and it is recommended to format the HDD on your system in order to be detected and shown on the system. With a 3-year warranty from the reseller, the MDD 4TB HDD is a reliable and efficient storage solution for your needs.

What We Like
Massive 4TB capacity
Long lifespan with 600,000 hours MTTF
Compatible with various systems and enclosures
#TOP 4

Seagate BarraCuda 8TB Internal Hard Drive

ST8000DM004
argentée
Seagate BarraCuda 8TB Internal Hard Drive Cover
Seagate BarraCuda Internal Hard Drive 8TB SATA 6Gb/s 256MB Cache 3.5-Inch (ST8000DM004),Mechanical Hard Disk

The Seagate BarraCuda Internal Hard Drive is a cost-effective 5400 RPM upgrade for your laptop or desktop computer allowing you to store all your media with ease. It provides optimized burst performance with its SATA 6Gb/s interface and hardware-based data security. The hard drive is best suited for desktop or all-in-one PCs, home servers, and entry-level direct-attached storage devices (DAS).

What We Like
Cost-effective upgrade to store all your media
Optimized burst performance with SATA 6Gb/s interface
Hardware-based data security with Seagate Secure models
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you add an internal hard drive to a laptop?

In most modern laptops, adding a second internal hard drive is not possible. However, you can use an external hard drive as an alternative storage solution for your laptop.

2. What are the different types of internal hard drives for laptops?

There are two main types of internal hard drives for laptops: HDD (hard disk drive) and SSD (solid-state drive). HDDs have rotating aluminum plates for data storage, while SSDs use memory chips for faster and more efficient data access.

3. How do I add storage to my laptop?

To add storage to your laptop, you can consider deleting unused programs, backing up rarely used data on an external hard drive, and running the Disk Cleanup utility to free up space on your laptop's internal hard drive.

4. What is the biggest drawback to SSD drives?

The biggest drawback of SSD drives is their higher cost compared to HDDs. Additionally, it can be more challenging to find SSDs with large storage capacities compared to traditional HDDs.

5. What is the difference between internal hard drive and internal SSD?

The main difference between an internal hard drive and an internal SSD is the technology used for data storage. SSDs use memory chips for faster access, while HDDs have rotating plates. SSDs are faster, quieter, more durable, and consume less energy, while HDDs are cheaper and offer larger storage capacities.

6. Which is better SSD or HDD?

SSDs are generally faster, more reliable, and offer improved overall system performance compared to HDDs. However, they are also more expensive. If you prioritize speed and performance and can afford the higher cost, then an SSD is recommended. If you need a larger storage capacity at a lower price, an HDD may be the better choice.

Editor's Notes

During our internal hard drive for laptop research, we found 24 internal hard drive for laptop products and shortlisted 4 quality products. We collected and analyzed 59,966 customer reviews through our big data system to write the internal hard drives for laptop list. We found that most customers choose internal hard drives for laptop with an average price of $206.51.

The internal hard drives for laptop are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of internal hard drives for laptop, including Seagate, TOSHIBA, MDD MAXDIGITALDATA. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 64 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.

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.