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Deal.ai › Seagate › Hard Drives
Seagate
Seagate Expansion 28TB External USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive

Seagate Expansion 28TB External USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive

4.4(1,683 ratings)

Best price now

$1,299.99at NeweggChecked 22 h ago

Compared across 2 stores. Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when. Store links may earn us a commission. Price via Klarna.

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Price facts

  • Last seen at $1,299.99 at Newegg on Nov 9.
  • Checked at 2 stores.

Our take on the Seagate Expansion 28TB External USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive

The Seagate Expansion Desktop is a plug-in external hard drive for backing up and storing large amounts of data. This 28TB model uses a 3.5-inch 7200 rpm drive over USB 3.2 Gen 1, so it needs its own power adapter and a wall outlet. It suits people archiving big media libraries, full PC backups or NAS-style cold storage who want one huge volume rather than several smaller drives. Rivals at this capacity are mostly multi-bay enclosures or pricier desktop drives; this one is a single simple volume with no software beyond basic backup utilities. Owners rate it well overall, with reliability and speed complaints mixed in.

Best forArchiving large photo, video and game librariesFull-system and folder backupsCold storage for media servers and NASBuyers who want one big volume, not several drives
Pros
  • Very high 28TB capacity in a single drive
  • 7200 rpm spindle for faster large-file transfers
  • Simple plug-and-play setup on Windows and Mac
  • USB 3.2 Gen 1 for up to 5Gbps throughput
  • Works as a plain external volume with no subscription
Cons
  • Requires a separate power adapter, so it is not portable
  • Single drive, so no RAID or built-in redundancy
  • Slower than SSDs for many small files
  • Some owners report drives failing within a year or two
  • Bulkier and heavier than portable drives

Seagate Expansion 28TB External USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive prices at every store

  • NeweggNew

    In stock

    $1,299.99Free shippingChecked 22 h ago
    Visit Newegg
  • Best BuyNew

    Out of stock

    $849.99Free shippingChecked 22 h ago
    Visit Best Buy

Store links may earn us a commission. Some prices via Klarna.

Seagate Expansion 28TB External USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive price history

Lowest price we've seen: $849.99 on Nov 10 at Best Buy. Tracked across 2 stores since Nov 10.

What reviewers say

  • 4.4 / 51,683 ratings

Owners rate it 4.4 out of 5 across more than 1,600 ratings. Most praise the huge capacity, easy setup and steady transfer speeds for backups and media. A minority report early failures and noisy operation, and some find it slower than expected.

What people mention
  • CapacityPraisedOwners value fitting entire media libraries and backups on one volume.
  • SetupPraisedReviewers say it works as soon as it is plugged into power and USB.
  • ReliabilityCriticisedSome owners report the drive failing within a year or two of use.
  • NoiseMixedThe 7200 rpm drive is audible when spinning and can vibrate on a desk.
  • SpeedMixedLarge sequential copies move quickly, but some buyers find real-world transfers slower than expected.
  • Power adapterCriticisedIt needs a wall outlet, so it cannot be used as a portable drive.

Specifications

Form Factor
3.5"Source
Type
HDDSource
Placement
ExternalSource
External Connection
USB-ASource

Questions and answers

Is 28TB enough for a media library?
Yes for most people. 28TB holds roughly thousands of hours of HD video or hundreds of thousands of photos. It is a single volume, so plan a second copy for anything you cannot lose.
Does it need a power adapter?
Yes. It is a 3.5-inch desktop drive with its own power supply and USB-A cable. It is not bus-powered and is not meant to travel.
How fast is it?
The USB 3.2 Gen 1 link tops out at 5Gbps, and the 7200 rpm drive is the real limit. Expect solid sequential speeds for big files and slower performance with many small files.
Does it work with a Mac?
Yes, but it ships formatted for Windows. Reformat it to APFS or exFAT on a Mac before use, which erases anything already on it.
Can I use it with a NAS or router?
It can be shared from a router or PC USB port, but it is not a NAS drive. For always-on RAID storage, a multi-bay enclosure is the better fit.
Is it worth it over a smaller portable drive?
If you need one huge volume for backups and archives and have a free outlet, yes. If you need portability or redundancy, a smaller portable drive or a two-drive enclosure suits you better.
Where is the Seagate Expansion 28TB External USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive cheapest?
At Newegg, for $1,299.99, as of our latest check.
What do buyers say about the Seagate Expansion 28TB External USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive?
Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 1,683 ratings.
Where can I buy the Seagate Expansion 28TB External USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive?
2 stores we checked sell it, including Best Buy, Newegg.

Stores we've priced the Seagate Expansion 28TB External USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive at

  • Best Buy deals and prices
  • Newegg deals and prices

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USB Version
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps)Source
Interface
USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 3.0Source
RPM
7200 rpmSource