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Seagate Backup Plus Hub for Mac 4TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD – USB 3.0, 2 USB Ports, for PC Mac 2 USB Ports 2 Months Adobe CC Photography (STEM4000400)
Seagate

Seagate Backup Plus Hub for Mac 4TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD

Bottom line: The Seagate Backup Plus Hub for Mac 4TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD ($237.12 on Amazon as of 2026-10-07): Pre-formatted for Mac and Time Machine-ready with no reformatting; main trade-off: desktop form factor needs external power, so it is not travel-friendly.

$237.12

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Buy on Amazon — $237.12 Compare to similar external storage

By , Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated

Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014. For external drives and portable storage, synthesises manufacturer specs and independent reviews rather than first-hand lab testing. Core beat: GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference.

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-07. Price and availability subject to change.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ Pre-formatted for Mac and Time Machine-ready with no reformatting
  • ✓ Two front USB 3.0 ports charge and connect devices without using a Mac port
  • ✓ 4TB capacity handles large photo and video libraries on one desktop drive
  • ✓ HFS+ driver lets the same drive work on Windows without reformatting

Cons

  • ✗ Desktop form factor needs external power, so it is not travel-friendly
  • ✗ USB 3.0 spinning HDD, not an SSD - top speed listed at 160 MB/s
  • ✗ Windows use requires downloading and installing Seagate's HFS+ driver
  • ✗ The bundled 2-month Adobe CC Photography membership expired January 31, 2020

Manufacturer description

The Seagate Backup Plus Hub for Mac gives you 4TB of desktop storage that works with your Mac out of the box, no reformatting and no setup detour. It arrives pre-formatted for macOS and is compatible with Time Machine immediately, so your first backup can start minutes after you plug it in. What separates this Seagate drive from a plain external HDD is the hub: two front-facing USB 3.0 ports let you charge a phone, offload a camera card, or run a second peripheral without stealing a port from your Mac. Transfers run over USB 3.0 at speeds up to 160 MB/s, fast enough to move large photo and…

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SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored Seagate Backup Plus Hub for Mac 4TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the external storage category. Seagate's external storage lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for external storage of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this Seagate drive work with Time Machine?

Yes. The Backup Plus Hub for Mac ships formatted for macOS and is compatible with Time Machine right out of the box, so no reformatting is needed before your first backup.

Can I use it with a Windows PC too?

Yes, but not out of the box. Install Seagate's HFS+ driver for PC, which has to be downloaded, and you can then use the drive interchangeably between Windows and Mac without reformatting.

How fast is it?

Seagate lists max speeds of 160 MB/s over the USB 3.0 connection. It also supports USB 2.0 for plug-and-play use on older machines.

What are the two USB ports on the front for?

They are integrated high-speed USB 3.0 ports that let you connect and recharge other USB devices, so the drive doubles as a powered hub instead of consuming a port on your Mac.

Can I back up my phone to it?

Yes. Install the free Seagate Mobile Backup app on an iOS or Android device and back up photos and videos from that device to the drive or to the cloud.

Key Features

  • Two integrated high speed USB 3.0 ports on the front allow you to connect and recharge your other USB devices
  • Fully compatible with Time Machine right out of the box
  • Install the HFS+ driver for PC and you can use the drive interchangeably between Windows and Mac computers without reformatting
  • Install the free Seagate Mobile Backup app on an iOS or Android mobile device, and back up all of the photos and videos from your device to your Seagate drive or to the cloud. Max Speeds 160 MB/s. Windows PC driver has to be downloaded.
  • Includes 2 month complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan. Must redeem by January 31, 2020.
  • The available storage capacity may vary.

Full Specifications

ASINB01JP2ACP6
BrandSeagate
SeriesSegate Backup Plus Hub
Hard Drive4 TB Mechanical Hard Disk
Item Weight2.34 pounds
ManufacturerSEAGATE
Model NumberSTEM4000400
Hard Disk Size4 TB
Special FeatureDual front-facing USB 3.0 ports for connecting and recharging devices
Flash Memory Size4
Hardware PlatformMac, PC
Installation TypeExternal Hard Drive
Item model numberSTEM4000400
Compatible DevicesDesktop
Product Dimensions4.65 x 1.61 x 7.8 inches
Hard Disk InterfaceUSB 3.0
Date First AvailableAugust 4, 2016
Hard Drive InterfaceUSB 3.0
Item DimensionsLxWxH4.65 x 1.61 x 7.8 inches
Hard Disk DescriptionMechanical Hard Disk
Full listing titleSeagate Backup Plus Hub for Mac 4TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD – USB 3.0, 2 USB Ports, for PC Mac 2 USB Ports 2 Months Adobe CC Photography (STEM4000400)

Ready to buy?

Seagate Backup Plus Hub for Mac 4TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD – USB 3.0, 2 USB Ports, for PC Mac 2 USB Ports 2 Months Adobe CC Photography (STEM4000400) is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

Buy on Amazon — $237.12

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-07. Price and availability subject to change.

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Seagate Backup Plus Hub for Mac 4TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD – USB 3.0, 2 USB Ports, for PC Mac 2 USB Ports 2 Months Adobe CC Photography (STEM4000400)
$237.12
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