by 448 reviews.
Seagate Ultra Touch HDD 5TB Review: A Stylish and Eco-Friendly Storage Solution
The Seagate Ultra Touch HDD 5TB is a standout in the world of external hard drives, offering a blend of sustainability, performance, and sleek design. With its massive 5TB storage capacity, USB-C compatibility, and eco-friendly construction, this drive is perfect for professionals, students, and creatives alike. It’s not just a storage device—it’s a statement piece for your workspace.
Key features include:
- 5TB storage capacity for all your files, photos, and videos.
- USB-C connectivity for fast transfers and universal compatibility with PC, Mac, and Chromebook.
- Eco-friendly design made with 30% post-consumer recycled materials and 100% recyclable packaging.
- Password protection and AES-256 hardware encryption for top-notch security.
- Included subscriptions
6 months of Mylio Photos and Dropbox Backup. - Rescue Data Recovery Services for added peace of mind.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
1. Design and Build Quality
The Seagate Ultra Touch HDD has received praise for its sleek, nature-inspired design and compact form factor. Customers love the soft, cloud-white finish, which adds a touch of elegance to their workspace.
Pros:
- Eco-friendly materials
Many users appreciate the drive’s sustainable construction, with one reviewer noting, “It’s great to see a tech company prioritizing the environment.” - Portable and lightweight
The small size makes it easy to carry around, whether you’re heading to work or traveling.
Cons:
- Durability concerns
Some users recommend purchasing a hard case for added protection, as the drive’s smooth finish can be prone to scratches.
2. Performance and Usability
When it comes to performance, the Seagate Ultra Touch HDD delivers reliable speeds and seamless compatibility.
Pros:
- USB-C convenience
The USB-C connector is a major win for users, offering faster transfers and a more durable design compared to USB Micro B. One reviewer raved, “The USB-C feature is a game-changer—no more worrying about broken connectors!” - Plug-and-play simplicity
Many customers highlighted how easy it is to set up and use, with one saying, “It worked perfectly right out of the box.” - Password protection
The built-in encryption and password protection features were a hit, with users calling them “essential for keeping sensitive data safe.”
Cons:
- Speed limitations
While the drive performs well for everyday tasks, some users noted that it’s not the fastest option for transferring terabytes of data.
3. Customer Support and Reliability
While most customers had positive experiences, a few encountered issues with defective units and customer support.
Pros:
- Reliable for backups
Many users praised the drive’s performance for Time Machine backups and file archiving. One reviewer shared, “It’s been a lifesaver for organizing my downloads folder and backing up my laptops.”
Cons:
- Defective units
A small number of customers received drives that threw up file errors or failed to work altogether. - Customer service frustrations
Some users reported poor experiences with Seagate’s support team, including delays in receiving replacements and being asked to cover return shipping costs for defective products.
Final Verdict
The Seagate Ultra Touch HDD 5TB is a stylish, eco-friendly, and reliable storage solution that ticks most of the boxes for everyday users. Its USB-C compatibility, password protection, and included subscriptions make it a versatile choice for backing up and organizing your digital life.
However, it’s not without its flaws. While the drive performs well for most tasks, it may not be the fastest option for heavy data transfers. Additionally, some users experienced issues with defective units and less-than-ideal customer support.
Who is it for?
- Eco-conscious users who value sustainability.
- Professionals, students, and creatives needing a portable backup solution.
- Anyone looking for a stylish and secure external hard drive.
Who should skip it?
- Users requiring ultra-fast transfer speeds for large datasets.
- Those wary of potential customer service challenges.
Overall, the Seagate Ultra Touch HDD 5TB is a solid choice for anyone seeking a blend of style, sustainability, and functionality. Just be sure to handle it with care and consider purchasing a protective case for added durability.
Specification Seagate Ultra Touch HDD, 5TB, Externe harde schijf, Mac & Chromebook, gerecycled materiaal, USB-C-compatibiliteit met pc, Dropbox en Mylio inbegrepen, Cloud White, Data Rescue Service (STMA5000400):
Comments from Amazon:
The USB C connector is a great benefit of the Seagate Ultra Touch HDD 5TB. Most portable drives like this use a USB Micro B connector on the drive. The USB Micro B connector has a long history of early failures due to a design which is not very strong and a wide profile that allows the user to apply a force with leverage that over time breaks wires in the connector. For some reason, typical reviewers of portable HDDs focus on cost only and ignore this problem with USB Micro B connectors. For Windows users, save yourself some future trouble and format as NTFS. The NTFS format allows some file types that the default exFAT format cannot handle. When you back up a large collection of files, there is a good chance that there are one or more files that exFAT does not handle.
While I have a desktop, I have and use 2 laptops, on for work and the other for personal use. I use this drive for Time Machine backups and archiving my downloads folders. I always set up my external drives for us on a Mac. That process is quick! Now, this drive isn't speedy if you are transferring terabytes of data to it? But when doing off loading and Time Machine backups, this drive does the job! If I fill this drive up before the end of the year? I will purchase another, organize the files by month and year. Portability is great, as long as you purchase a hard case for this product! I have MVME SSD drives I use for traveling with.
I received the drive and it continually threw up file errors regardless of the computer or cable I used. Called tech support who confirmed it was defective. Was told they would ship one in7-10 days, and then I would ship the bad one back. No one said shipping would be at my expense. Called 15 days later about not receiving the replacement. Was first told, 'Well RMA was only created 2 days ago, you need to give us time.' I provided proof of the original conversation that it had been OVER 15 days. Then they switched tack, and told me I had to ship it to them, first, on my own dime (contradicting their 1st set of instructions) before they'd send out a replacement. At this point, I realized I could just ship it back to Amazon FOR FREE and take the credit and buy a drive from a different manufacturer. Of course, I could have shipped it back to Amazon for free, and asked for a replacement as well (but they had pissed me off by this point). So, in the future, why bother to even use technical support for a defective product when I can get it more easily replaced through Amazon itself? Charging clients to ship back a defective product should be illegal. If it is defective, return shipping should be on Seagate's dime, not mine.
This drive is a little more expensive but the speeds are worth it! Love it!
Plug and play. Great back up drive. Recently retired and had tons of files to back up from my 25yrs - this drive worked great.
The password protected feature and portability are great! Highly recommend!
This hard drive is amazing. The usb c to usb c feature is also very cool. It allows for much faster transfers and is super convenient. Runs almost silently. Has a small form factor. Functions as advertised.