Wireless storage solutions are one of the most interesting formulas so that a user or professional can get rid of the wiring, have access to their data Anytime, anywhere and can save files from almost any device.
Cloud storage solutions are here to stay and are very useful. However, they do not work for all scenarios and on the other hand, let's not fool ourselves, there is nothing better than a physical storage device to keep data and files under our control. The industry offers varied local storage solutions. Hard drives, solid state drives or other types of flash storage that we have on PCs, smartphones or tablets; external ones such as USB sticks or drives that we connect by cable; NAS that offer storage and connectivity on the desktop or removable formats such as SD cards.
All have their utility, but none of them can achieve versatility and fields of use of wireless storage devices, since they allow you to store content that we can access at any time and place and from multiple connected devices without the need for any type of wiring or power networks.
How wireless storage works
As we saw in the analysis of the WD My Passport Wireless SSD, the main difference with other external storage media is that these solutions believe your own wireless network which the devices at your fingertips can access remotely and securely using a password.
For wireless connections From a smartphone or tablet, manufacturers offer apps to transfer files to and from the unit. If connected to a personal computer, the unit will be displayed in the corresponding file explorer as if it were an internal or external unit connected by cable.
In addition, such solutions include your own battery to offer an autonomy in mobility that oscillates between certain models, but offers at least a few hours of activity. Of course, they can also work with wiring when needed, because they include a port for charging and data transfer.
Advantages of wireless storage
In front of a typical external hard drive (or solid-state drive) wired by cable to a peripheral connection port (USB, Thunderbolt, eSATA …), a wireless hard drive Connects via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth standards to allow access to your stored content. It is particularly useful for use from mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets or camcorders although they really work with any computer that has access to your network. The possibility of accessing several devices simultaneously is another of its advantages and is a feature that we cannot obtain in cable devices.
Its primary use is the data backup and backup on the go to and from any device that we connect to your network, effectively expanding the storage capacity of those devices. Also highlighted its use in photography now that the 4K devours capacity at a great pace. As we said, it can be used wirelessly or with the corresponding wiring from a connector to standard USB ports that also include.
Another advantage of these devices is their use as media server. The best wireless hard drives include a range of integrated capabilities for this, working with smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, streamers such as Chromecast and services such as Plex. You simply connect the wireless storage device to the network and all stored multimedia content can be played in the entertainment center on screens like a smart TV.
As for its design, it is increasingly stylized and its dimensions and weight are increasingly reduced taking advantage of solid state units as a base. It should be noted that some models include resistant housings for use in commercial or industrial scenarios or simply as protection of the unit against shocks or falls, not uncommon in mobility.
Wireless storage (Offer March 2020)
Being a specialized format, there is not as much offer available as in its cable counterparts. As for its price, the cost per GB is slightly higher than these due to the greater number of features that include (battery, wireless chip …) and its undoubted greater potential for use. To value at the time of purchase issues like:
- If they use hard drives or SSDs as an internal drive.
- The autonomy they offer.
- The degree of resistance they offer.
- The interface used and the physical connection ports.
- The version of Wi-Fi and / or Bluetooth they use.
- The manufacturer's support in warranty and software.
- Storage capacity
We leave you a selection of models available in Spanish retailers:
– 500 GB WD My Passport Wireless SSD. Based on solid state drives, it offers Wi-Fi ac, USB 3.0, 2.0 and SD cards. Resistant to shocks, scratches and drops up to 1 meter. 6,700 mAh battery for 10 hours of autonomy. 359 grams (without protector) or 460 grams (with protection). It is available with SSD in capacities from 250 GB and offers other superiors up to 2 Tbytes. Currently, the most economical version is that of 200 GB for 200 euros and the most interesting in price / capacity is 1 Tbyte for 503 euros.
– WD My Passport Wireless Pro. Very similar in operation to the previous one, but based on hard drives to substantially lower the price of the unit. It has Wi-Fi ac, SD card reader and USB 3.0. 390 grams of weight and autonomy for 10 hours. It is distributed in versions from 1 to 4 Tbytes. The most interesting model is the larger one for 236 euros.
– Seagate Archive HDD Wireless Mobile Storage. Wi-Fi n and USB 2.0. It weighs 281 grams and offers 6 hours of autonomy. With a hard disk of 500 Gbytes capacity, its price is 118 euros, after a substantial price drop last quarter.
– Kingston MobileLite Wireless Pro MLWG3 / 64ER. Includes 64 Gbytes of expandable internal storage via USB devices and SD cards. It weighs 195 grams, has Wi-Fi n for wireless connectivity and lithium-ion battery, for 109 euros. It has a G3 version for only 40 euros.
– LaCie Fuel – Wireless Hard Disk that uses Wi-Fi connectivity n to connect up to five devices simultaneously. It has a battery for 10 hours of autonomy. It weighs 549 grams, has a USB 3.0 port and has a capacity of 1 Tbyte. It has a price of 224 euros.
– SanDisk SDWS1-064G-E57. Wi-Fi, card reader. 160 grams of weight and 8 hours of autonomy. With 64 GB hard drive capacity it costs 103 euros. With 32 GB its price is 89 euros.
– Kingston MobileLite Wireless G3 MLWG3ER. Unit specialized in data backup of smartphones. It offers 64 GB of built-in storage, expandable via USB drives and SD cards and includes a 6,900 mAh battery. It has a price of 51 euros.
– SSK Wireless Hard Disk. It includes a capacity of 1 Tbyte and works as a private cloud with Wi-Fi Access Point of 300 Mbps. The integrated lithium polymer battery is 3,800 mAh and is priced at 109 euros.
– Verbatim VB-98243. Portable wireless device with Wi-Fi connectivity for Android and iOS. It does not include a hard disk or SSD, but uses what the user connects to its USB ports or the SD card reader. In return, its price is very economical: 29 euros.
