Network and storage

The unglamorous half of a desk: the box that carries the internet, the hub that turns one cable into many, and the drive that holds a copy of everything. These purchases are decided by standards, compatibility and the number of ports you will genuinely fill.

Networking and storage share one theme: the bottleneck is usually the cheapest part in the chain. A fast router behind a slow uplink, or a fast drive behind a slow bridge chip, both end up waiting on the link rather than on the device.

Compatibility decides more than raw speed here. The physical keying of a drive, the alternate mode a laptop USB-C port supports, and the class of the memory card all have to line up, and they are printed on the hardware and in the manual.

What actually decides a purchase here

The wired ports on the back of the router, since that is where the throughput is actually usable.
Drive form factor and interface: check the keying and the generation before ordering.
Whether the enclosure states the actual transfer ceiling, rather than one theoretical number.
Backup power sizing, so the equipment runs long enough to shut down cleanly.

Our picks in this category

Network and storage

TP-Link Deco mesh Wi-Fi system

Two or three units that put one Wi-Fi network across a flat instead of one weak signal.

Best for: Flats and houses with thick walls or a router stuck in a hallway cupboard.
Watch out for: The wireless backhaul between units halves the speed unless the units are wired together.

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Network and storage

Anker USB-C hub with HDMI and card reader

One cable from the laptop that fans out into display, network, cards and USB ports.

Best for: A laptop with two or three ports that has to drive a screen and peripherals at a desk.
Watch out for: It can only pass through what the laptop port supports, and it usually gets warm under load.

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Network and storage

SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD

A pocket drive with no moving parts, for moving large files between machines.

Best for: Video, photo and project files that are too big for a cloud upload.
Watch out for: It still has to obey the port it is plugged into, and it can run warm during long copies.

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