Why are external HDD's so much cheaper than internal?

[RejZoR]

I was just looking for 5TB 2.5" drives for mass storage of random less important stuff, both from Seagate and both same capacity, internal is almost 170€ where external one is 99€. Would think external to be more expensive since it has extra case, extra PCB with USB controller and connector, cable and yet that's not the case. I'm almost at a point of buying external drive and cannibalizing its drive and then plugging it directly to PC via SATA (like they are connected inside external cases anyway) and saving 70€. They both seem to be 5400 RPM too, so what's the deal with that? 70€ difference is A LOT.

[williamcll]

I think because most 2.5in internal HDDs are OEM and replacement parts so they sell at a premium while packing the same hardware.

[nick name]

You can find similarly priced drives if you look.  What they slap into those external products are white label drives with mediocre specs they would need to list if sold as a regular internal drive.  But those drives they put into those external products can be found (or very similar) if you look.  

 

 

[nick name]

Hmmmm it seems much harder to find a cheaper drive in the 2.5" range.  I've been looking at external and internal 3.5" drives and gave my opinions based off of my shopping experience.  Though after looking at 2.5" drives there is far less to be found.  And when I found the same drive they put into those external drives the internal drive was about $10 more.  

[Lady Fitzgerald]

The actual drive in external drives are lower quality than internal type drives. Manufacturers justify this practice by saying external drives are not as heavily used as external drives. I've always preferred using internal type drives in external enclosures or docks, or in internal hot swap bays.

[RejZoR]

I've also realized all the big 2.5" drives are 15mm thick, meaning none of them would even fit into my toolless cages in Silverstone Kubla KL-07 case. I'll have to stick it into 3.5" bay.