I know you’re looking for the best hybrid drive laptops in 2023; please read this latest update carefully before purchasing!
Important update 17/09/2022: This post was originally published in 2018. Since then, lots have changed. Don’t be misled by someone recommending a laptop with a hybrid drive or SSHD. SSHDs used to be inexpensive and efficient, but SSD prices have declined sharply, so it doesn’t make much sense. If you still need a vast capacity drive, a laptop with a traditional HDD with SSD is the best option.
We have removed all the SSHD notebooks and updated this list with top-rated laptops of 2023 that offer an SSD + HDD combination; check them out.
If you’re in a hurry, check out our top choice: Lenovo Legion 5
Despite intense competition among the manufacturers, SSDs are still costly. Hybrid storage is the best choice for taking advantage of bigger capacity and faster speed. They are a bit more expensive than traditional HDDs but far cheaper than the latest SSDs. This post will discuss the best laptops with hybrid hard drives and SSHDs.
There are two options for setting up hybrid storage on laptops; if you read this article, you’ll get all the answers to your questions.
So, let’s get started!
Also read: best laptops with IPS screen
Best Laptops with Hybrid Storage in 2023
Why do we need hybrid storage on our laptops?
Cost-effectiveness is the primary advantage of having a laptop with hybrid storage. You don’t need to invest in the high-capacity SSD, and you can take benefit of speed and storage on a budget.
There are two types of hybrid storage laptops available.
- SSHD (not recommended after 2022)
- SSD + HDD (still cost-efficient)
So, let’s talk one by one to understand which circumstance we can use the SSHDs or (SSD + HDD).
1. Hybrid Drive Laptops (SSHD)
Before discussing more, first, we need to know what an SSHD is.
SSHD is a hybrid hard drive comprised of SSD and HDD technology. An SSHS is a large HDD with small SSD storage; you get ample storage and faster speed. An SSHD automatically caches the frequent files you use and stores them on the SSD portion of the drive.
You don’t have to manage what should and shouldn’t be on the SSD portion of SSHD. That’s why; you won’t even see the SSD part of your SSHD on your laptop, which remains hidden.
As you can see, an SSHD is a single drive consisting of an HDD and SSD technology managed by its firmware. If your laptop only has one hard disk slot, the SSHD would be the best choice for an upgrade.
However, if you want to speed up your old laptop, it doesn’t solely depend on the storage technology; it might be the memory or processor.
2. Hybrid storage laptops with SSD + HDD
Some laptops already offer it, or we can also make the hybrid storage on our own using an SSD drive with an HDD per requirements. This method is also cheaper than choosing a large SSD, but you’ll need two drive slots in your laptop – PCIe and SATA.
Usually, most laptops come with a single hard drive slot, but there is still a way to crack this equation. If your notebook has an optical drive, you can use a second storage drive in its place. Some SATA optical bays available in the market allow using an SSD or HDD in the position of an optical drive slot.
General FAQs
Are hybrid hard drives good?
Hybrid hard drives are a combination of small SSD and ample HDD storage. It might be viable if you want a cost-efficient machine with higher performance.
Which is better, SSHD or HDD?
SSHD is better than an HDD; it can provide enhanced performance with caching technology.
Which storage is better, SSD or HDD?
SSD works on the flash storage, and there is no moving part inside them. That’s why SSDs are the best whether we talk about speed, reliability, power consumption, or weight.
Is a hybrid drive better than an SSD?
An SSD storage is always a better choice than hybrid drives since an SSHD has only a tiny portion of SSD which only work for caching. Without caching, an SSHD almost works as a traditional HDD.
What is a hybrid storage laptop?
If a notebook uses either SSD + HDD or an SSHD for storage, we can call it a hybrid storage laptop.
Is a 2TB SSD worth it?
Unless you have a large budget, 2TB SSD isn’t a viable choice; it’s only available in premium laptops. That’s why laptops with hybrid hard storage are always a great choice.
Are hybrid hard drives good for gaming?
According to several benchmarks and studies, a hybrid hard drive works great with gaming. However, SSDs are cheaper nowadays, which is a far better option.
What is 8GB SSHD?
The 8GB indicates the SSD capacity of an SSHD; it will be utilized for caching through the software and provide better performance than a traditional HDD.
Does hard drive RPM matter?
Yes, it does; RPM defines how many times the platter of the hard drive is spinning within a minute. You should always choose the higher RPM to ensure better speed.
Is SSD faster than 7200rpm?
Of course, an SSD is a lot faster than even a 7200 RPM drive.
QUICK OVERVIEW:
Best hybrid drives laptops at a glance
| ACER ASPIRE 5
CHEAPEST |
|
View at Amazon |
| ASUS VIVOBOOK 17 F712DA
BEST BUDGET |
|
View at Amazon |
| DELL INSPIRON 15 3501
BUDGET PORTABLE |
|
View at Amazon |
| VIVOBOOK 15 X512
BUDGET POWERFUL |
|
View at Amazon |
| LENOVO LEGION 5
BUDGET GAMING |
|
View at Amazon |
|
DELL INSPIRON 15 i3511 TOUCH SCREEN |
|
View at Amazon |
|
ACER PREDATOR HELIOS 300 BEST GAMING |
|
View at Amazon |
|
MSI GF75 GIANT AND THIN |
|
View at Amazon |
Best Laptops with Hybrid Drives in 2023 – Reviews
1. Acer Aspire 5 (Cheapest Hybrid Storage Laptop in 2023)
Weight: 4.19 lbs | Processor: i3-1115G4 @4.1GHz | GPU: Intel UHD | Memory: 8GB | Storage: 128GB PCIe SSD + 1TB HDD | Screen: 15.6-inch , 1920 x1080 | Battery Life: 7-hours | OS: Windows 11 Home
If you’re tight on budget and looking for a laptop with faster and large storage capacity, Acer Aspire 5 is a fantastic option.
This notebook is powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, and you can choose storage and memory per your needs. I have listed the 8GB model with 128GB PCIe SSD + 1TB HDD storage configuration; it provides snappy performance with a larger capacity.
This notebook is ideal for daily browsing, watching movies, or light gaming.
Acer Aspire 5 features a full HD 15.6-inch panel which ensures a decent picture and is excellent for general tasks. It offers an 82.58% screen-to-body ratio, so it’s portable and gorgeous. However, the weight is slightly higher than the latest slim notebook, but it’s still ideal for carrying.
It offers enough connectivity options on both sides; USB Type-C, USB Type-A, HDMI, LAN ports, and a headphone jack are available. You won’t face any issues whether you want to connect a display or flash drive.
The battery life of this laptop is also good, considering its price.
Overall, Acer Aspire 5 is a great budget laptop for daily use and comes with whopping storage and great features.
PROS
- Good full HD display
- Excellent performance for the price
- PCIe SSD
- Versatile connectivity options
- Slim design
- Considerable battery life
CONS
- Not ideal for heavy tasks
- Slightly heavy
- Average build quality
- Low color gamut display
- No backlit keyboard
2. ASUS VivoBook 17 (Best Budget Laptop with Dual Storage)
Weight: 5.07 lbs | Processor: i5-8265U @3.9GHz | GPU: Intel UHD | Memory: 8GB | Storage: 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD | Screen: 17.3-inch , 1600 x 900 | Battery Life: 5-hours | OS: Windows 10 Home
If you’re looking for a cheap laptop with a large display and storage capacity, Asus VivoBook 17 could be a solid choice in 2023.
This notebook is powered by an Intel Core i5-8265U processor, which is a bit dated but is still great value for the money. It’s paired with 8GB memory and a 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD combo to ensure smoother performance. The performance is pretty solid; whether you want to use it for office or homework, it can play all roles wisely. It allows multitasking to enhance productivity.
The massive display HD+ resolution provides immersive viewing whether you watch movies or play games. Also, it’s great for multitasking because you can manage different programs side by side easily. The display quality is average, but it won’t bite when using it for general tasks.
A wide range of ports is available for connecting different peripherals, such as HDMI, USB Type-C, and LAN. Also, it supports a backlit keyboard which is helpful for working in the dark.
The design is somewhat identical to the previous notebook, but it’s a more giant machine and heavier. It’s not ideal for on-the-go use, and the battery life is slightly less. However, it provides around 5 hours of running with a single charge.
You can choose ASUS VivoBook 17 – if your budget is limited and you need a large laptop to handle low-to-moderate computational tasks.
PROS
- Cheaper
- Larger screen
- Good performance
- A wide array of ports
- Backlit keyboard
- Slim design
CONS
- Heavy
- Average battery
- No PCIe SSD
- Poor display quality
- Not for heavy gaming
3. Dell Inspiron 15 3501 (Portable Budget Laptop with SSD and HDD Drives)
Weight: 3.8 lbs | Processor: i5-1135G7 @4.2GHz | GPU: Intel Iris Xe | Memory: 16 GB | Storage: 256GB PCIe SSD+1TB HDD | Screen: 15.6-inch , 1920 x 1080 | Battery Life: 6-hours | OS: Windows 11 Home
After spending a few more extra dollars than the previous notebook, Dell Inspiron 15 offers pretty great features. It’s equipped with the 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, which provides terrific performance and is also quite energy-efficient. It’s clamped with 16GB memory and 128GB PCIe SSD + 1TB HDD storage to ensure a breezing working experience.
You’re good to go from light gaming to dozens of Chrome tabs. It’s a great everyday companion whether you use it personally or professionally.
The display quality is far better than previous recommendations; it features a 15.6-inch full HD panel with LED-backlit technology and anti-glare coating. You can use it for professional work, such as editing or designing.
It comes with 3x USB Type-A (2x 3.1 Gen 2 and 1x 2.0), HDMI ports, and a headphone jack. Type-C port addition would have been great.
Dell Inspiron 15 3501 is a slim, portable notebook that makes it perfect for on-the-go use.
This notebook might be a perfect choice for those looking for a portable and powerful laptop at a lower price.
PROS
- Great performance
- Slim and lightweight design
- Good display
- PCIe SSD
- Reasonable price
- Decent battery life
CONS
- No type-C port
- No backlit keyboard
4. ASUS Vivobook 15 (Budget Powerful Laptop with Hybrid Drives in 2023)
Weight: 3.9 lbs | Processor: i7-1065G7 @3.9GHz | GPU: Intel UHD 6000 | Memory: 8GB | Storage: 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD | Screen: 15.6-inch , 1920 x1080 | Battery Life: 8-hours | OS: Windows 10 Home
Do you remember the previous VivoBook 17? Asus Vivobook 15 is its younger brother. It’s lightweight, smaller, and comes with enhanced performance. Also, it’s a bit pricey.
It’s backed with a 15.6-inch full HD LED-backlit display which can deliver fantastic picture quality. However, the brightness is slightly lower, especially considering outdoor use.
In terms of performance, it won’t let you down because it’s packed with an i7-1065G7 processor, 8GB memory, and 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD. The performance is robust and reliable; you can do heavy multitasking or editing without any issues. However, it’s not a laptop for intense graphics processing due to a lack of dedicated GPU, such as high-end gaming or video editing.
We have listed some great laptops for you but if you’re interested in a gaming laptop with dual hard drives, the next laptop might be a good choice.
This budget notebook offers USB Type-C, HDMI, and USB Type-A ports to ensure hassle-free connectivity. However, the backlit keyboard isn’t available, which isn’t very appreciated.
Design-wise, this laptop is lightweight and easy to carry compared to the VivoBook 17. Also, the battery life is slightly better, which makes it a perfect companion.
ASUS Vivobook 15 is a solid laptop for the budget that offers robust performance, more extensive storage, a beautiful display, excellent battery life, and a portable design.
PROS
- Beautiful display
- Robust performance
- Good I/O options
- Slim and handy design
- Impressive battery life
CONS
- No fingerprint sensor
- No backlit KB
- M.2 SATA is slower than PCIe
- Not for heavy graphics use
5. Lenovo Legion 5 (Best Budget Gaming Laptop with Hybrid Storage)
Weight: 5.07 lbs | Processor: Ryzen 5 4600H @4GHz | GPU: GTX 1650Ti 4GB | Memory: 8GB | Storage: 128GB PCIe SSD + 1TB HDD | Screen: 15.6-inch 120Hz , 1920 x1080 | Battery Life: 6-hours | OS: Windows 10 Home
Unlike previous recommendations, Lenovo Legion 5 offers a dedicated GPU, it’s perfect for high-end graphics tasks such as gaming, designing, or editing. This machine provides fantastic features at a great price compared to its rivals.
Legion 5 is a 15.6-inch gaming notebook supported by full HD screen resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 5ms response time, and anti-glare coating. The display is fantastic for gaming, but its color accuracy isn’t very impressive. Don’t worry if you’re not into highly-color-sensitive tasks; you’ll be fine.
Under the hood, it has an AMD Ryzen 5 4600H processor, 8GB memory, 256GB PCIe, and Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti 4GB discrete GPU. The performance is mind-blowing, whether you use it for office, home, or entertainment.
The sound quality of Legion 5 is excellent; it’s backed with Harman and Dolby Atmos. Also, it comes with a white backlit keyboard that looks great.
Many connectivity ports are available, including HDMI, 4x USB 3.2 Type-A, USB 3.2 Type-C, Ethernet ports, and a headphone combo jack. You can hook up two external displays quickly and connect everything you want.
This laptop is heavy and might not be comfortable to carry. However, it’s not much surprising for a gaming notebook.
PROS
- Superb performance
- Tons of connectivity options
- Amazing display for gaming
- Backlit keyboard
- USB Type-C
- Reasonable battery life
CONS
- Heavy
- No fingerprint
- Only 45% NTSC color gamut
6. Dell Inspiron 15 i3511 (Best Touchscreen Laptop with Hybrid Drives in 2023)
Weight: 3.8 lbs | Processor: i7-1165G7 @ 4.7GHz | GPU: Intel Iris Xe | Memory: 16 GB | Storage: 256GB PCIe SSD+1TB HDD | Screen: 15.6-inch touch , 1920 x 1080 | Battery Life: 7-hours | OS: Windows 10 Home
Another member of the Dell Inspiron clan, the Dell i3511 boasts a touch screen display with the latest features.
It’s a slim, lightweight notebook packed with an 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, 16GB memory, and 56GB SSD + 1TBHDD storage to ensure stable performance.
It offers a 15.6-inch full touchscreen supported by LED-backlit and anti-glare coating, which can provide fantastic picture quality. You can also take advantage of its touchscreen to enhance productivity.
Inspiron i3511 comes with only 3x USB Type-C, HDMI ports, and a headphone jack. The USB Type-C is missing here. Also,
Aesthetically, this laptop looks very professional and clean. It’s available in dark grey with a backlit keyboard which looks excellent. If you often use your notebook on the go, then it won’t let you down.
If you need a touch-enabled laptop with robust performance and massive storage capacity, the Dell Inspiron i3511 might be a viable option.
PROS
- Great touchscreen
- Easy to carry
- Impressive performance
- Keyboard with backlit
- Enough battery life
- Fingerprint in the power button
CONS
- No Type-C port
- Display brightness could have been better
7. Acer Predator Helios 300 (Overall Best Gaming Laptop with Hybrid Storage)
Weight: 5..51 lbs | Processor: i7-11800H @4.6GHz | GPU: RTX 3060 6GB | Memory: 16GB | Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD + Extra slot | Screen: 15.6-inch 144Hz , 1920 x 1080 | Battery Life: 6-hours | OS: Windows 11 Home
The latest Acer Predator Helios 300 has even more fabulous features than its successful predecessor. It’s one of the most powerful gaming laptops liked by professional gamers. However, it’s a bit expensive.
The Helios 300 is an Intel i7-11800H powered machine clamped with 16GB of memory, 512GB PCIe SSD, and a mighty RTX 3060 Nvidia GPU. It doesn’t matter which type of game or application you run; it can handle them effortlessly.
It features another extra slot for PCIe SSD and a 2.5-inch HDD upgrade which is commendable. You can take the storage capacity to the extreme.
The latest model has several improvements in display quality. It comes with a 144Hz refresh rate and 3ms of quicker response time, which is excellent for gaming or other tasks. It’s an IPS panel; therefore, the view angles and color accuracy are also terrific.
With the 5th Gen dual Acer’s Aeroblade 3D Fan, the Helios 300 has +45% better airflow, which ensures consistent performance even in intense processing.
There is no compromise in the connectivity; you get almost all the I/O ports you need. It offers a Thunderbolt 4, a Mini DisplayPort, and all standard connectivity options. However, this notebook is heavy, but we can’t complain while considering its superior capabilities.
Gaming laptops don’t have a good relationship with battery life. However, we didn’t expect around 6 hours of run time on general usage from this buddy.
PROS
- Paramount performance
- Splendid gaming design
- Highly responsive, brighter, and vivid display
- Extra slots for HDD and PCIe
- Vast connectivity options
- Thunderbolt 4
- Great sound quality
CONS
- Heavy, not ideal for carrying
- Slightly expensive
8. MSI GF75 (Giant and Thin Notebook with Hybrid Storage)
Weight: 4.85 lbs | Processor: i5-10300H @4.5GHz | GPU: GTX 1650 Ti 4GB | Memory: 8 – 32GB | Storage: 512GB – 1TB PCIe SSD + 1/2TB HDD | Screen: 17.3-inch , 1920 x 1080 | Battery Life: 5-hours | OS: Windows 11 Pro
If you need a large laptop for handling multiple windows or immersive gaming, MSI GF75 might be a perfect choice. The best thing about this laptop is that despite being a giant size, it’s pretty compact and lightweight, and you can carry it anywhere.
Under the hood, it’s offering an Intel Core i5-10300H processor with 32 GB memory, 1TB SSD + 2TB hybrid storage, and Nvidia GTX 1650Ti 4GB discrete GPU. It’s a complete package for performance and portability; whether into editing, designing, or gaming, MSI GF75 would be proved as a good machine.
The MSI GF75 doesn’t lack connectivity options. Along with all standard ports, this model has a USB Type-C, which allows 4K display output and faster data transfer speed.
It features a single backlit keyboard with Anti-Ghost key+ silver lining feature, perfect for gaming and handy for general use.
However, most people use external headphones or other devices to listen to audio, but this notebook has excellent sound quality with Nahimic 3 / Hi-Res Audio.
The display department boasts a 17-inch panel equipped with full HD resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, which is perfect for gaming and can also deliver a crisp and vivid image quality.
PROS
- Giant screen
- Dominant performance
- Backlit keyboard
- Slim and lightweight
- A plethora of connectivity options
- Satisfying sound quality
CONS
- A noisy fan
- Average battery
Best Hybrid Drive Laptops of 2023
As you’re looking for a laptop with a hybrid hard drive; therefore, one thing is presumable, you don’t care much about portability. It’s very evident for a computer with an SSD + HDD combination.
Hopefully, you have got some helpful information after reading this post. No doubt, there are plenty of laptops available in the market, but I have listed which offer more value for the money. Most laptops in this list are budget-friendly, which is the real motive behind choosing a laptop with an SSD + HDD combination. If you have any questions or suggestions, comment below.
I already know about the SSD and HDD combination concept, but I didn’t familiar with the SSHD till yet. What about the SSD and SSHD combination, that would be great, isn’t it? I have a MacBook Air and an old MSI laptop. I carry my Macbook most of the time, while I am using MSI as a desktop at home, I have connected an external monitor, keyboard, and a mouse with it. After upgrading the memory of my MSI laptop, I think I should also change its hard drive since I am getting proper performance. I have a large music and photo collection, therefore I need big storage as well along with faster speed. Luckily my notebook has an optical drive, and I will try to put a new drive as per your method. Thank you for this valuable information because now I don’t need to purchase a new laptop.