Seagate Expansion STEA5000402 5 TB Hard Drive - 2.5" External - USB 3.0
Status: Seagate Expansion STEA5000402 5 TB Hard Drive… (5TB hard drive): Unavailable on Amazon as of . Closest in-stock match (same 5TB hard drive): Western Digital WD 5TB Elements Portable…, $219.89 on Amazon as of 2026-10-21 12:20 UTC (price may vary). eBay sellers may still list this model new or used.
Bottom line: The Seagate Expansion STEA5000402 5 TB Hard Drive: 5 TB capacity in a 2.5-inch portable enclosure, top of the bus-powered class; main trade-off: spinning 2.5-inch platter drive, so far slower than an external SSD.
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Currently unavailable on Amazon. Not the same product — 2 in-stock alternatives with matching specs:
Same 5TB hard drive: Western Digital WD 5TB Elements Portable… — $219.89 on Amazon as of 2026-10-21 12:20 UTC (price may vary).
Same 5TB hard drive: Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD — $219.99 on Amazon as of 2026-10-21 12:20 UTC (price may vary).
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ 5 TB capacity in a 2.5-inch portable enclosure, top of the bus-powered class
- ✓ USB-cable powered - no AC adapter or wall outlet needed
- ✓ Single-cable setup: connect and the drive mounts, no software install step
- ✓ USB 3.0 interface works with older USB 2.0 ports as a fallback
Cons
- ✗ Spinning 2.5-inch platter drive, so far slower than an external SSD
- ✗ Moving parts make it more shock-sensitive than flash storage
- ✗ USB 3.0, not USB 3.2 Gen 2 or USB-C - transfer ceiling is lower
- ✗ Listing does not specify rotation speed or sustained transfer rate
Manufacturer description
The Seagate Expansion STEA5000402 packs 5 TB of storage into a 2.5-inch external hard drive that connects over a single USB 3.0 cable. That single-cable design is the point: the drive draws power directly from your computer's USB port, so there is no wall adapter to pack, no outlet to hunt for, and nothing extra to carry when you move the drive between a desktop, a laptop, and a console. Setup is straightforward - plug it in and the drive mounts, ready to receive files. At 5 TB, this Seagate Expansion sits at the upper end of what bus-powered portable drives offer, which makes it a practical…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored Seagate Expansion STEA5000402 5 TB Hard Drive 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 the Seagate Expansion 5TB need a separate power adapter?
No. The drive is powered from the USB cable itself, so there is no external power supply to plug in or carry.
How much storage does the STEA5000402 actually hold?
It is a 5 TB drive in a 2.5-inch external enclosure. As with all drives, formatted capacity shown by your operating system will be somewhat lower than the 5 TB rating.
Is this a hard drive or an SSD?
It is a 2.5-inch mechanical hard drive, not an SSD. Expect higher capacity per dollar but slower transfers and more sensitivity to drops than flash-based portable storage.
What warranty does Seagate include with the Expansion STEA5000402?
Warranty terms are not listed in the product specs here. Check the current Amazon listing or Seagate's support site for the coverage period that applies to your unit.
Key Features
- STEA5000402
- SEAGATE
- Setup is simple and straightforward; simply connect a single USB cable and you are ready to go
- The drive is powered from the USB cable, so there is no need for an external power supply
Full Specifications
| Brand | Seagate |
|---|---|
| Color | Black |
| Model Name | Seagate Expansion |
| Read Speed | 130 megabytes_per_second |
| Unit Count | 1 count |
| Form Factor | 2.5-inch |
| Media Speed | 65 megabytes_per_second |
| Connectivity | USB |
| Model Number | STEA5000402 |
| Built-In Media | Seagate Expansion STEA5000402 5 TB Hard Drive - 2.5" External - USB 3.0 |
| Hard-Drive Size | 5 TB |
| Mfr Part Number | STEA5000402 |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Special Feature | Portable |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Installation Type | External Hard Drive |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop |
| Data Transfer Rate | 6 gigabits_per_second |
| Additional Features | Portable |
| Hard Disk Interface | USB 3.0 |
Ready to buy?
Amazon shows no buyable offer for Seagate Expansion STEA5000402 5 TB Hard Drive… at the last check. The closest in-stock match with the same 5TB hard drive is Western Digital WD 5TB Elements Portable…. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
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