The eleven best external storage devices for your iPad in 2019

There are many external storage devices available in the market for your iPad if you run out of space on your device and wanna save your important data. Though you can try deleting unused apps or move few files to cloud to get some space on your iPad but still you may need more to help out retain your data. Also you might not be able to upgrade an iDevice’s internal storage specs, but you can add more storage with external accessories.

For that here are the eleven best external Wi-Fi drives and Lightning-enabled flash storage devices for your iPad in 2019 that you can purchase and make use of.

1. Leef iBridge 3

Leef iBridge 3 features USB 3.1 and Touch ID protection too, providing speedy, secure transfers. It also boasts a 256GB option –and using the iBridge 3 app, you can access all your photos, movies and music (apart from DRM-protected files) without taking up any storage on your iOS device.

With the iBridge Camera, a feature built into the iBridge app, you can take photos and directly save them to the storage device. If you want to clear space by transferring photos from your iOS device, that’s also available via the app – you can then copy/move these by plugging the iBridge into your PC.

The iBridge 3 weighs just 12g, so it’s easy to carry around in your pocket, and the silicon and aluminium case can cope with being banged about in a backpack when you’re travelling.

It’s compatible with the iPad 3 or later device and costs of Flash Drive 64GB (Black) – Expanded Memory for iPad is AU$108.81 + $8.47 Delivery at Amazon online store.

2. Leef iAccess iOS Micro SD

Leef offers another storage option for your iPad. The iAccess looks very similar to the iBridge, but instead of having its own built-in Flash memory it allows you to insert an SD memory card for storing your files. It was primarily designed so that you could transfer photos and videos from an action-cam or drone on to your iPad, but the transfer process works both ways so you can just as easily copy files from your iOS devices onto a memory card for safe-keeping. The other advantage of the iAccess is that you can just keep adding memory cards to give you all the extra storage you need. It costs AU $211.73 at Amazon and for $91.79 at Ebay Australia.

3. PKparis K’ablekey

K’ablekey is the product of Paris-based company PKparis, and offers a slightly different design. The K’ablekey features a brushed aluminium look with built-in magnets that keep the two semi-circle halves stuck together for easy transportation. When you want to use the cable, simply pull off the orange rubber ends and pull the two sections apart or simply pull off the orange rubber ends and pull the two sections apart. The K’ablekey offers three functions: the ability to store and access media on your iOS device, easy transfer of files from PC/Mac to iOS and charging capabilities when plugged in to a charger/computer/powerbank.

It’s ideal for those with low storage as the iOS app offers the ability to not only copy but move all your photos and videos to K’ablekey, freeing up much-needed storage and making your entire library accessible via USB storage. It also provides a simpler way to watch movies on your iPad and  it’s easier to transfer a movie to the USB and watch it in the Pk Memory app, rather than converting and uploading it via iTunes. Available at their own store for AU $59.99

4. LaCie Fuel 1TB Wireless

The Fuel has a USB 3.0 port that allows it to be used as a conventional hard drive with PC. However, it also has built-in Wi-Fi, which will allow you to transfer files to or from an iPad when you need to. LaCie says the battery is good for up to 10 hours. Can be found online at various stores in Australia and costs A$285.0 at Umart.

5. Verbatim iStore ‘n’ Go

The  Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go is a flash memory stick with a full-size USB port at one end and a Lightning port at the other, but this is a fast USB 3.0 port that’s backward-compatible with USB 2.0. This makes it easy to share, copy or move files between PCs, laptops and iDevices, or use the stick itself to back up content on your iDevice or play back media stored on the Verbatim on your iPad. The Verbatim’s connection is a fast USB 3.0 port, which is backward-compatible with USB 2.0.

You’ll be prompted to download a free companion app from the App Store the first time you connect the Verbatim to your iPad, and can then use this to play media stored on the stick, back up content or save camera photos directly to it.

The Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go is compatible with iPads running iOS 7.0 or later, and s available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities. Costs AU$32 at Tech Buy or AU$99 here.

6. Buffalo MiniStation Air 2

The Air 2 is slimmer and lighter than the original model, and now offers up to 1TB of hard disk storage. The battery life on this model is a lot better too, lasting for 10-12 hours when using wifi, and it’s even powerful enough to top up the battery on your iPad as well.

There’s also a high-speed USB 3.0 port so that you can use it like an ordinary hard disk with your Mac or PC if you need to.  You can buy here at shopbot or at Ebay for $296.33

7. Kingston MobileLite G3

The MobileLite doesn’t have any built-in storage of its own, but it acts as a versatile wireless adaptor that will allow you to connect other storage devices that you already own. There are both USB and SD card slots so that you can quickly plug in a USB stick or memory card and then transfer photos and other files via the MobileLite’s built-in WiFi. It even has an Ethernet port as well, which means that you can use it as a handy portable router for devices that don’t have their own WiFi.

The rechargeable battery in the G3 will last for more than 10 hours, and can even be used to top up the battery of your iPad as well. Buy at Umart online for AU$139

8. Mophie Spacestation

The Spacestation is first and foremost a charger, with a 6,000mAh battery that’s powerful enough for multiple charges. But it also includes either 32GB or 64GB of storage so that you can back up your files while you’re topping up the battery.  Buy here online in Australia for AU$179

9. WD My Cloud

WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra(offers  up to 12TB of storage, and you can also buy the chassis empty and install your own drives for custom storage. Buy online here for $569 or at Shopbot for A$251

10. SanDisk Connect Wireless USB 2.0 Flash Drive 32GB

SanDisk’s Connect is a pocket-friendly little memory stick that provides up to 200GB of storage. It uses Wi-Fi to connect to your iOS devices, and the SanDisk app has a handy back-up option that will automatically copy any new photos and videos from your Camera Roll straight on to the Connect. You can also plug the Connect into a USB port on a PC too. Buy online here for AU$32

11. SanDisk iXpand

The iXpand opts for a Lightning connector for plugging straight into your iOS devices and only goes up to 64GB of storage, but the Lightning connector provides faster transfer speeds than wifi for 4K videos and other large files. It’s also got a speedy USB 3.0 interface so that you can use it with a Mac or PC as well. You can buy at AU$49.99 from here or from Harvey Norman

Also other online storage services, include Apple’s own iCloud, or Dropbox,, Google Drive and Microsoft’s OneDrive which synchronize well with your iPad data.