which hard disk is best for macbook air m3

External drives are mass produced commodities now and many different brands will work fine. Endless opinions online about which is better than others, no real consensus, you are probably fine with any major brand. I use WD, Seagate, G-Drive, Apricorn, Samsung, Lacie, OWC on a variety of older and newer Mac platforms, some are APFS formatted, others are HFS+.

What I try to do is:

• find models that have a 5-year or longer warranty, which indicates that the manufacturer stands behind their product as a more reliable one
• on sites like Amazon or Best Buy where many thousands of units are sold, look for ratings that are close to 5 stars, maybe 4.5 stars or higher, with preferably tens of thousands of ratings used for that average
• avoid external drives with "special" features like push button functions, proprietary encryption/locks on the drive, etc. because those features require special firmware or software to be installed, and often such firmware/software stops working in a future update to the MacOS. In a worst case scenario one can loss access to the drive. Best way to secure the drive is to use the MacOS built in tools for that.
• always obtain a second drive to back up the contents of the external drive

On more thing -- I would look for a drive that comes with a USB-C type connector. If it comes with an older USB3 type connector, you will need an adaptor to connect to a new MacBook Air M3. Those should work fine (I use some myself) but it is an extra item that needs to be securely connected each time you connect the drive.

avay64 wrote:

Which companies hard disk is support in macOS

This is what ChatGPT says:

When choosing an external hard disk for your MacBook Air M3, you'll want to consider a few factors such as storage capacity, portability, and compatibility. Most external hard disks will work with macOS, but it's always a good idea to check for compatibility before making a purchase.

Here are some popular options:

1. **Samsung T5 Portable SSD**: This is a highly popular option known for its compact size, durability, and fast transfer speeds. It's compatible with macOS and offers various storage capacities to suit your needs.

Does Samsung even make the T5 anymore? I see T7s and T9s. Be careful with that T7 "Shield". The USB port is awful. Even the slightest movement will disconnect the drive, possibly corrupting the data.

2. **Seagate Backup Plus Portable**: Seagate is a well-known brand in the storage industry. The Backup Plus Portable series offers large storage capacities in a compact design. These drives are typically compatible with macOS.

What kind of no-name is "Backup Plus Portable"? Is that some kind of cheapo shingled 2.5" hard drive running at floppy disk speed? Seagate is a well-known brand. At least that's true. Don't spend money on generic names. Find out what kind of mechanism is used, what the real-world speeds are. This is like going down to the grocery store and buying a "Computer".

3. **Western Digital My Passport**: WD My Passport drives are another reliable option. They come in various colors and storage capacities, and they're generally compatible with macOS.

This isn't much better than the one above. Maybe "My Passport" is better for a trademark than "Backup Plus".

4. **LaCie Rugged Portable Hard Drive**: If you need a drive that can withstand rough handling and outdoor conditions, the LaCie Rugged series is a great choice. They're designed to be durable and offer good compatibility with macOS.

I used to have one of these. It wasn't rugged at all. I threw it away when it stopped working.

When choosing a hard disk, make sure to check the specifications to ensure compatibility with macOS. Additionally, consider factors such as storage capacity, speed, and whether you prefer a traditional HDD or a solid-state drive (SSD) for faster performance.

Doh! It's 2024. Don't buy anything other than an SSD. Yeah, they're expensive. But if don't buy an SSD, you're liable to get even less than you paid for.

avay64 wrote:

Which companies hard disk is support in macOS

An external drive...?

There is no best. Use your google search.

OWC External Hard Drives for Mac and PC

Thunderbolt External Drives from OWC

External Drives

Connect and use other storage devices with Mac-Apple Support

All new drives should be erased/reformatted/initialized

Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac

Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

Sadly, the Apple Support Community Forums have recently been over-run by AI / LMM / ChatBots.

AI / LLM is basically a Super Version of Predictive Text which is based upon a Data Set.

When that Data Set is based upon Older Data Points, the outcome of the response will be equally Out Dated and unreliable

AI is also the newest form for Data Mining by Large Corporations.

PRP_53 wrote:

Sadly, the Apple Support Community Forums have recently been over-run by AI / LMM / ChatBots.

ChatGPT disagrees:

As of my last update in January 2022, the Apple Support Community Forums weren't overrun by AI, LMMs, or chatbots. However, it's possible that Apple has integrated more automation or AI-driven features since then to enhance user support experiences. You might want to check the current state of the forums for the most accurate information.

avay64 wrote:

hey dear what's POTBOX in Mac I didn't understand what's it?

is it important ? or I can also delete it cause its capture to many storage.

so what can I do?

Am I dear to you?

In this case, I don't disagree with ChatGPT:

"Potbox" is not a term or feature commonly associated with Mac computers. It's possible that there's been a misunderstanding or a typo. Could you provide more context or clarify where you encountered this term? That way, I can offer a more accurate explanation.

Don’t buy any “hard disk” (HDD). A hard disk is a device that has moving parts inside, a motor, a spinning platter, a recording head that moves thousands of time per second. Instead only consider solid state drives (SSD)which have no moving parts at all. HDDs are generally cheaper but SSDs are faster and require much less power which is important for a battery powered computer like your MBA M3.