I’ve used an HDD hard drive for the first time in years, a device that I see some drawbacks to in the middle of 2025, but also great benefits. I tell you about my experience and compare it with other current storage solutions such as SSD and cloud.
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The rapid pace at which technology is going is as clearly noticeable in few things as in the evolution of the way in which users store their personal data, from photos and videos to any type of document or digital file.
While a few years ago most people had a hard drive at home to save their personal photos or back up their computer, the rise of the smartphone, cloud storage services, and the cheapening of the SSD have made the HDD hard drive lose much of its prominence.
However, HDDs still exist today. And not only for companies and content creators, where they are very common, but also for many people who continue to find in this format an economical way to store a large amount of data from their devices.
Let me tell you what state I think physical hard drives will be in in 2025, with the main pros and cons that I see for them, so you can decide if it is worth continuing to bet on this technology or betting on alternatives.
Huge capacity: HDD is still king
The fact that other technologies with great popularity have arrived should not make us forget that in 2025 portable HDD hard drives are still the option that offers the most storage capacity, by far, so it is not surprising that they are still the favorite of companies and creators who need a lot of space.
The 6 TB My Passport that I have tested has enough capacity for someone not too fond like me to save a lifetime of images and photographs. In that sense, it’s really appreciated that all the current options offered by Western Digital are 1TB or more, because even someone like me has peace of mind knowing that they’re not going to run out of memory.
But if you are a person who needs more than 2 TB, a capacity from which it begins to be difficult to find affordable external SSD drives, this modality is still the queen of all, with options such as the 6 TB that I have tested.
I recommend that you think carefully about the type of user you are and the digital footprint you will need to save before making the purchase, because compared to the few GB of cloud storage platforms or the high prices of a multi-TB SSD, an HDD may be the solution that suits you best even today.
Unbeatable value for money
HDD is the format that convinces me the most, without a doubt, to save money in the long term, despite the cost of shelling out almost 200 euros on an external hard drive like the one I have tested.
For example, if you want an SSD with 6 TB, the price can easily go above 500 euros in the models currently available from brands such as Samsung, which are the most advanced.
After 2 years, the HDD is already better priced than the hard drive in the case of Google, despite being a third of the capacity, and in Apple’s case, you start saving in the seventh month, although cloud storage also has benefits when changing devices and remote access, among others.
It’s like going back in time
However, there are things where I have felt like going back in time when using an HDD. And no, I am not speaking in a good way.
First of all, I was surprised to see a recent model from a major manufacturer launching with a Micro-B USB port. Although it comes with the included cable, finding such an unusual one will be difficult in a scenario where everything already leads to the use of USB Type-C.
And I don’t know if the USB Micro B has bothered me more or that the included cable is USB-A at the other end, a port that my computer no longer has (or many recent models) and that has forced me to use an adapter.
And speed? Backing up an entire macOS operating system with 180 GB was possible, leaving a lot of space to spare, but in return it took a soporific 2 hours, despite using another adapter with USC 3.0 and the original programs.
In this respect it loses out to the fastest SSDs, but uploading files to the cloud is usually not faster, although it always happens in the background.
Has less comfort and versatility
I have made things a little difficult for the 6TB My Passport that I have tested, because I have analyzed it on a MacBook despite it not being the right model for it, but the manufacturer assured me that it was possible in the box, so I gave it a try.
First of all, I didn’t like to see that the My Passport models are not designed for any desktop operating system. Both the normal and Ultra versions are different for Windows and Mac and even change depending on whether they have a USB Micro-B or USB Type-C port. An unnecessary mess in the middle of 2025, if you ask me.
But if something is confusing, it is the experience of trying to use it in another operating system, as I have done, confident in what the brand said.
In the end, I had to install 5 Western Digital apps one after another to be able to simply back up my Mac’s internal hard drive.
- Western Digital Discovery as the main app.
- Acronis True Image for Western Digital: for backups.
- NTFS for Mac: For use on Mac.
- WD Drive Utilities: to install drivers.
- WD Security: For security settings such as encryption.
Is it so much to ask in 2025 for everything to be included in the same software? I must admit that I have been really lost and on the verge of giving up several times in the process.
Lose design and make noise
Although it is not essential, I have been left with the feeling that using HDD in the middle of 2025 is a little behind in terms of elements not related to usability but that are also noticeable, such as design and noise.
The 6TB My Passport can be customized by choosing from different colors—only the top cover; the bottom is always dark grey—but it feels somewhat archaic in its plastic design despite the diagonal lines included by Western Digital.
And when using it, I remembered something that I had already forgotten in the digital world and computers with ARM: HDDs make noise. Having a hard drive in which, as the name suggests, the disk moves, it has been a surprise to hear the noise of a device again when connecting it to the computer, something that does not happen with SSDs.
FAQ—Based on User Experience with HDD in 2025
Q1: Why is HDD still considered the best option for large storage in 2025?
A1: HDDs still offer the highest storage capacities at the lowest cost per terabyte. In 2025, external drives like the 6TB My Passport provide ample space for lifetime photo and file storage, especially when SSDs over 2TB become significantly more expensive.
Q2: How does HDD compare in cost to SSD and cloud storage?
A2: HDDs are much more cost-effective long-term. A 6TB HDD costs around €200, while a 6TB SSD can exceed €500. Cloud storage, like iCloud’s 6TB plan, costs €29.99/month, making the HDD cheaper after just seven months.
Q3: What are the major drawbacks of using HDDs in 2025?
A3: Key drawbacks include outdated USB Micro-B ports, slower data transfer speeds (e.g., 2 hours for a 180GB macOS backup), compatibility issues with modern MacBooks, and the need for multiple software installations for full functionality.
Q4: Is the HDD user-friendly across different operating systems in 2025?
A4: No, using an HDD like the 6TB My Passport on macOS requires installing multiple apps, including drivers and backup tools. Compatibility varies by model, and switching between Windows and Mac requires extra configuration and software.
Q5: Does the HDD still make noise and feel outdated compared to SSDs?
A5: Yes, HDDs still produce mechanical noise due to spinning disks, and their plastic design with limited aesthetics makes them feel outdated next to silent, sleek SSDs and modern devices.
