Toshiba Canvio Advance Review

External hard drives have grown a lot in demand since they do prove very useful in terms of portability, easy access to terabytes of files, fast transfers, secure backups, and similar features. However, not all devices that you will buy are going to provide you with the same features. As a result, today we’re going to do a thorough Toshiba Canvio Advance review and decide whether this portable hard drive will meet your expectations.

The detailed review you’re going to have a look at will be based on tests we’ve done on the most important areas when it comes to the best external hard drives out there. The list includes the appeal of the device, whether it’s portable enough and easy to store, software compatibility and versatility, overall performance, and only then will we conclude whether this device is worth it.

Design and Portability

toshiba canvio advance colors

It’s true that among the many features this type of device can provide, most users only want to worry about the amount of storage it can offer and the speed at which the files can be transferred. However, the hard drive’s design is also important, as you definitely don’t want to carry around a 5-pound brick around with you in your bag, because you can’t even fit that type of device in your pockets.

With the Toshiba Canvio Advance portable hard drive, you won’t have to worry about this at all, as it is one of the most compact and beautifully designed devices of the sort out there. When dimensions are in question, this hard drive is a little over 4 inches long, 3 inches wide, and only 0.77 inches thick. That’s slightly thicker than the MacBook Pro 2020 edition.

On top of all that, you have a lot of design freedom to choose from in terms of color. There are four available options, including black, green, red, and white. One slight drawback that’s worth mentioning here is that it does have a shorter than usual cable, standing at only 45cm from one terminal to the other. You can get a longer one, but you need to keep in mind that the new cable needs to match the specs of the old one, otherwise it won’t transfer files as fast or it may not even work at all.

Software

One of the best things about this hard drive is the software it takes advantage of. It was designed with motives like security, ease of use, and compatibility. The first exciting piece of software you are likely to enjoy a lot is the automatic backup software. It features backup 2.0, resulting in much faster backups than the regular version. The automatic part means that even if you forget to back up your data, you won’t ever risk losing any of it as the device already does it for you on its own.

The second piece of software that gets users excited is the password protection. This will help prevent virtually anyone who wants to access the device without your authorization. Having said that, the Toshiba Canvio Advance will be yours and yours only, unless you share the password with someone. Another worthy note that needs mentioning here is that both of these pieces of software are available to download for free only for Windows users.

Compatibility

toshiba canvio advance portable hard drive

When it comes to hard drives, one of the worst things you can experience is unboxing it and realizing it isn’t compatible with your laptop or PC. For that reason, here is what you need to know about compatibility regarding the Toshiba Canvio Advance.

This device is compatible with both USB 3.0 and 2.0. It does not work with a USB-C port, bear that in mind if that’s the case with your PC or laptop. Also, this hard drive works perfectly fine for Windows devices. However, you will have to reformat your Mac if you must use it with the Toshiba Canvio Advance. Now, even though this hard drive is preferred for Windows users, it will still work just fine if you take the necessary steps before connecting it to a Mac.

Features

toshiba canvio advance external hard drive

The Toshiba Canvio Advance external hard drive can store up to 4TB of data. Ideally, that should be more than enough for most to enjoy for a long time before running out of storage. However, you can decide for yourself whether 4TB of storage is going to be enough.

Aside from storage, this device also features an LED indicator on the top right corner, letting you know when file transfers are processing and showing battery status as well. Another amazing feature that is definitely worth mentioning before buying is that the cable that comes with this device ends in the standard USB port, proving especially critical information for anyone who has a laptop that only features a USB-C port.

Performance

So far, all the other features and extras that this device has been able to provide are quite satisfactory and more than able to meet most standards. When it comes to performance, the fact that it isn’t as fast as an SSD is inconvenient but it also means that it is much cheaper for the same reasons as well.

Regarding speed, this is a 5400RPM hard drive that is considered reasonable and worth it for the price. This means that it will usually transfer files at a rate of 142MB/s. This is perfectly reasonable for an HDD, as opposed to an SSD where, while it will be faster, you will get around 500GB of storage for the same price.

Contrary to popular belief, hard drives still serve a necessary purpose to consumers. They have gotten relatively cheap to purchase and have great capacities of storage, greater than most users ever need. Toshiba’s Canvio Advance is a low noise drive that will rarely bug or annoy you while it’s working.

Tip: Try to stick to USB 3.0, as using the 2.0 port will limit your transfer speeds to around 60MB/s.

Specifications

I will list a brief overview of the major specs you need to worry about when deciding to buy an external hard drive. This is everything the Toshiba Canvio Advance external hard drive features:

  • Storage Capacity – 4TB
  • Casing – Textured Finish
  • Compatibility – USB 3.0/2.0
  • OS Compatibility – PC/Mac (reformatted)
  • Color – Red, Green, Black, and White
  • Automatic Backup – for Windows only
  • Password Encryption – for Windows only

Key Takeaways

From what you can see in this Toshiba Canvio Advance review, 4TB of storage should be more than enough for you to use this device for quite a while. The fact that it features USB 3.0 is a great bonus, as you can transfer files much faster considering that your PC also supports the same port. This device comes with a 2-year warranty and features automatic backups and password protection for extra security. Overall, you’re getting a highly reliable external hard drive that is faster than most and has everything you need to securely store your data and access it whenever necessary with ease.

8.5
Review Summary

It will be hard to use up all 4TB of data but it’s nice to have the extra storage. The file transfer is quite fast considering that you use the USB 3.0, as it will not go as fast with the 2.0 version. I absolutely love the auto backup and the password protection and never feel that my files are at risk. It’s still an HDD drive so I doubt it’s extremely durable but it still feels sturdy enough to hold a couple of falls before giving out.

  • Portability 9.0
  • Storage 9.5
  • Durability 7.0

Pros:

  • Doesn’t make noise
  • Elegant and versatile design
  • Solid price

Cons:

  • Short cable

About The Author

Catalin Tabacu

Catalin is a long-time PC enthusiast and an avid gamer. His love for overclocking is second only to his love for a well-written RPG. Having taken a swing at competitive DOTA2, he has the know-how to give you the best recommendations that will elevate your in-game performance to the next level.

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