Looking to replace 5 year old external hard drive

[Claymoresama]

So my file backups are important. Lots of important, sensitive information and pictures. I've been using a WD my passport 1tb that I bought for about $80 way back in July of 2013. After close to 5 years of use my drive is now starting to fail. Whenever I move large amounts of info over usb 3.0 or 2.0 from ssd or hdd, my drives transfer dips to nothing at random points. I've tried troubleshooting and I figure its on the way out. I'm looking to buy another WD drive since they've been well for me. I have 1.5 tb of WD blue storage in my desktop alone.

I'm looking at getting either at WD passport or easystore.
Here are the two models I'm considering:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/wd-easystore-4tb-external-usb-3-0-portable-hard-drive-black/5792405.p?skuId=5792405

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/wd-easystore-4tb-external-usb-3-0-hard-drive-black/5792400.p?skuId=5792400

I understand that the 2nd link will need an external power, but if the drive is better and more importantly, faster than thats ok. My main use is storing my videos, music, pictures and transferring video game files between computers so I don't run down my data cap. Which model would you all recommend or should I avoid these like the plague?

Also i heard they use WD red drives in these and you can take them out of the enclosure and use them like a normal drive if you want which sounds like a big plus for me.

My passport has a soldered on usb connector so i cannot do that.

 

[JaredDM]

The 2.5" drive you posted will also have the USB built right onto the drive just like a My Passport drive has. In fact, it's probably a same model drive inside as a My Passport, it just won't have the password protection like My Passport has.

Also, with the 3.5" model you posted a link to, it's a normal drive inside (I don't think it's a red drive, I think it's a green unless you buy one of their NAS models). However, the USB->SATA bridge board usually encrypts the data. So if you put data on there while using it as an external, then remove it from the case, your data will be encrypted.

Honestly, the best drives right now are Toshiba and HGST as far as reliability is concerned. Avoid Seagate like the plague. WD is fine, but not as good as Toshiba or HGST.