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The Samsung 870 EVO is the best all-around SSD choice for Eufy HomeBase 3, provided you buy a genuine 2.5-inch SATA model at a sensible price. For continuous or especially frequent recording, choose the WD Red SA500 instead. The Kingston KC600 is a strong alternative, while the Crucial BX500 is the budget pick.
HomeBase 3—officially the S380 HomeBase—accepts an internal 2.5-inch SATA SSD or HDD. Eufy’s current guidance supports drives up to 16TB, operating at 5V with peak power of approximately 6W (5V, 1.2A). Do not buy an M.2 NVMe drive, a 3.5-inch drive, or a 12V-only model.
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Quick comparison
| SSD | Best for | Practical capacity | Workload positioning | Warranty or endurance information | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 870 EVO | Best overall | 1TB or 2TB | Mainstream TLC consumer SSD | Five years or applicable TBW limit, whichever comes first | Can be overpriced at some retailers |
| WD Red SA500 | Frequent or continuous recording | 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB | NAS-oriented, endurance-focused SSD | Published endurance up to 2,500TBW for 4TB; five-year warranty material | Often costs more than needed for motion-only use |
| Kingston KC600 | Feature-rich alternative | 1TB or 2TB | 3D TLC NAND with DRAM cache | Five-year limited warranty; up to 1,200TBW at 2TB | Must be the 2.5-inch version, not mSATA |
| Crucial BX500 | Budget installations | 500GB or 1TB | Entry-level consumer SSD | Warranty and TBW vary by capacity and product terms | Less compelling when priced close to better TLC models |
| Samsung 870 QVO | High-capacity value | 4TB or 8TB | QLC-oriented, capacity-first option | Samsung material identifies a shorter warranty than the 870 EVO | Less suitable for heavy sustained writing |
These are recommended candidates based on Eufy’s published requirements and manufacturer specifications—not drives independently tested in every HomeBase 3 hardware or firmware revision. Eufy recommends brands including Western Digital, Seagate, Samsung, Kingston, PNY, and Crucial, but it does not publish a model-by-model “best SSD” ranking. See Eufy’s compatibility guidance before ordering.
What SSD does HomeBase 3 require?
Choose an SSD meeting all of these requirements:
- Interface: 2.5-inch SATA, commonly advertised as SATA III or SATA 6Gb/s.
- Physical size: 2.5-inch, normally 7mm thick.
- Power: 5V operation, with peak power no higher than approximately 6W or 1.2A at 5V.
- Capacity: no more than 16TB under Eufy’s current support guidance.
- Type: SSD or HDD; this guide focuses on SSDs.
The phrase 2.5-inch SATA matters. An M.2 SATA drive may use the SATA protocol but has the wrong physical format for the HomeBase bay. M.2 NVMe drives use a different interface, and mSATA drives are physically different. Neither is the straightforward internal-storage choice.
#1 Best Overall
- Designed for HomeBase S380 (HomeBase 3): Purpose-built expansion drive that seamlessly integrates with your security system for reliable video storage.
- Ample Storage for Recordings: Expand capacity to store more days, weeks, or months of HD security footage without worrying about running out of space.
- Easy Plug & Play Installation: No software or configuration required-simply connect the drive to your HomeBase S380, format, and recording starts automatically.
- Reliable BUSlink Quality: Backed by BUSlink’s reputation for durable storage solutions, ensuring dependable 24/7 operation in security environments.
- Compact & Quiet Operation: Slim, low-profile design that operates silently-ideal for home, office, or professional security setups.
Eufy confirms that the S380 HomeBase has 16GB of built-in eMMC storage and provides a SATA bay for expansion. Its official expansion instructions are available in the HomeBase 3 storage guide.
1. Samsung 870 EVO: best overall
The Samsung 870 EVO is the safest mainstream default for most HomeBase 3 owners. It is a 2.5-inch SATA SSD, Samsung is among Eufy’s recommended brands, and Samsung publishes a five-year limited warranty plus capacity-specific TBW limits.
Samsung lists sequential performance of up to 560MB/s read and 530MB/s write. Those figures are more than sufficient on paper for a HomeBase storage appliance; the important factors here are the correct interface, power behavior, endurance documentation, warranty, and price. Product information is available on Samsung’s 870 EVO page, with warranty conditions in Samsung’s storage warranty documentation.
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Buy it if: you want a well-documented, conventional SATA SSD for several cameras and do not need the lowest possible cost per terabyte.
Skip it if: the exact capacity is heavily marked up. Direct-store pricing can be far above normal market pricing, so compare reputable retailers and verify the model number.
2. WD Red SA500: best for heavy recording
The WD Red SA500 is the stronger choice when the HomeBase will record frequently or continuously. It is a 2.5-inch, 7mm SATA SSD designed for NAS-oriented workloads, making its published endurance particularly relevant to a surveillance appliance.
Western Digital’s cited product brief lists endurance from 350TBW for the 500GB model to 2,500TBW for the 4TB model. It also lists a five-year warranty period in the relevant support material. TBW is a manufacturer endurance rating, not a promise that the SSD will last a particular number of years in your HomeBase.
Buy it if: you use 24/7 recording, have multiple cameras, or place a high value on write-endurance specifications.
Skip it if: your cameras record only occasional motion clips and the SA500 costs substantially more than a suitable mainstream TLC SSD.
See the WD Red SA500 product brief and current manufacturer product information.
3. Kingston KC600: best feature-rich alternative
The Kingston KC600 combines a 2.5-inch SATA interface with 3D TLC NAND and a DRAM cache. Kingston’s specification lists capacities up to 2TB, a five-year limited warranty, and up to 1,200TBW for the 2TB model. Its maximum published write power of 3.2W is comfortably below Eufy’s approximate 6W peak guidance.
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It is a persuasive alternative when priced below the 870 EVO or WD Red SA500. Check the listing carefully: Kingston also sells physically different mSATA versions, which are not the correct direct-fit choice for the HomeBase 3 bracket.
Rank #2
- Designed for HomeBase S380 (HomeBase 3): Purpose-built expansion drive that seamlessly integrates with your security system for reliable video storage.
- Ample Storage for Recordings: Expand capacity to store more days, weeks, or months of HD security footage without worrying about running out of space.
- Easy Plug & Play Installation: No software or configuration required-simply connect the drive to your HomeBase S380, format, and recording starts automatically.
- Reliable BUSlink Quality: Backed by BUSlink’s reputation for durable storage solutions, ensuring dependable 24/7 operation in security environments.
- Compact & Quiet Operation: Slim, low-profile design that operates silently-ideal for home, office, or professional security setups.
Buy it if: you want TLC NAND, documented endurance, and a five-year warranty without choosing Samsung.
Skip it if: the seller does not clearly identify the 2.5-inch drive-only version and its capacity.
Consult the Kingston KC600 product page and official datasheet.
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The Crucial BX500 is a sensible low-cost option for a smaller system that records mainly motion clips. Crucial is one of the brands Eufy lists, and the BX500 is available in the required 2.5-inch SATA format.
This is an entry-level choice rather than an endurance specialist. Crucial’s published product information shows that warranty terms and TBW limits depend on the exact capacity and product terms. If the BX500 is meaningfully cheaper, it can be appropriate; if its price is close to a five-year TLC model such as the 870 EVO or KC600, the stronger model is the better buy.
Buy it if: price matters most and your cameras record intermittently.
Skip it if: you plan continuous recording or the price difference from a higher-end TLC SSD is small.
Verify the exact capacity and regional terms on Crucial’s BX500 page and its product flyer.
5. Samsung 870 QVO: best high-capacity alternative
The 870 QVO is worth considering when you need 4TB or 8TB and find it at a substantial discount. It uses the required 2.5-inch SATA format, and Samsung is a brand listed by Eufy.
Its appeal is capacity and price—not superior sustained-write endurance. Samsung’s cited material identifies a shorter warranty for the 8TB 870 QVO than for the 870 EVO. QLC-based storage can be a less attractive fit for a workload dominated by continuous writing, so this is a conditional recommendation rather than the premium choice.
Buy it if: you need high capacity for moderate recording and the price per terabyte is clearly better.
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Rank #3
- Designed for HomeBase S380 (HomeBase 3): Purpose-built expansion drive that seamlessly integrates with your security system for reliable video storage.
- Ample Storage for Recordings: Expand capacity to store more days, weeks, or months of HD security footage without worrying about running out of space.
- Easy Plug & Play Installation: No software or configuration required-simply connect the drive to your HomeBase S380, format, and recording starts automatically.
- Reliable BUSlink Quality: Backed by BUSlink’s reputation for durable storage solutions, ensuring dependable 24/7 operation in security environments.
- Compact & Quiet Operation: Slim, low-profile design that operates silently-ideal for home, office, or professional security setups.
Check the exact model, warranty, and availability rather than assuming every 870 QVO listing has identical terms. Samsung’s cited price/specification file is dated March 2025 and should not be treated as a current street-price guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How much SSD capacity do you need?
There is no universal “days of footage” figure. Retention depends on the number of cameras, resolution, bitrate, motion frequency, recording mode, and how footage is deleted. Use these as purchasing guidelines:
- 500GB: Light motion-only use or a small camera system.
- 1TB: A practical default for many homes with several cameras.
- 2TB: Better for multiple cameras, frequent events, or 24/7 recording.
- 4TB: Appropriate for heavier recording and longer retention.
- 8TB–16TB: Justified only when the system generates enough footage to use the capacity; the additional cost may exceed the value of retaining more video.
Eufy advertises expansion up to 16TB and gives an example in which the built-in 16GB storage can hold up to three months based on 500 seconds of recording per day. That example is not a general retention guarantee. Continuous recording requires an installed hard drive for supported cameras, as explained in Eufy’s IndoorCam storage FAQ.
SSD or HDD?
An SSD is usually the better fit for a compact indoor hub: it has no moving parts, is silent, resists vibration, and often uses less power and produces less heat. It also provides quick access during formatting and playback.
A 2.5-inch HDD can still be rational when capacity per dollar is the priority. It is generally more economical at larger capacities, but it is mechanical, noisier, more sensitive to movement, and may have more demanding startup behavior. Whichever type you choose, it must meet Eufy’s 5V and approximate 6W peak requirement.
Do not choose based on headline sequential speed alone. HomeBase 3 is not a gaming PC or video-editing workstation. A SATA SSD rated around 550MB/s is already fast enough on paper; endurance, power compatibility, warranty, authenticity, and price matter more.
How to install an SSD in HomeBase 3
- Back up important data on the SSD. HomeBase 3 may initialize or format the drive.
- Power off HomeBase 3 completely before installing or removing the drive.
- Push down and remove the HomeBase 3 top lid.
- Loosen the screw securing the drive bracket.
- Pull out the bracket.
- Use the supplied screws to secure the 2.5-inch SSD to the bracket.
- Insert the bracket back into the HomeBase.
- Tighten the screw and replace the lid.
- Power on HomeBase 3.
- In the Eufy Security app, open HomeBase → Storage Management → Storage → HD.
- Format or initialize the drive when prompted.
- Confirm that the drive appears as available storage.
Formatting destroys existing data. Existing recordings should not be assumed to migrate automatically. Eufy states that the extended drive receives video recordings first; once it is full, recordings are stored in the built-in storage.
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The SSD is not detected
- Confirm HomeBase 3 was fully powered off during installation.
- Reseat the bracket and SATA connection.
- Verify that the drive is 2.5-inch SATA—not NVMe or mSATA.
- Check its voltage and peak power requirements.
- Try a known-compliant drive if available.
- Update the Eufy Security app and HomeBase firmware before contacting support.
- Contact Eufy if a compliant drive remains invisible.
The drive appears but is unavailable
Open the storage-management area in the Eufy app and initialize or format the drive if prompted. Export anything important first because formatting erases existing data.
Recordings stop or the drive disappears
Possible causes include a failing or counterfeit drive, a loose connection, excessive heat, power instability, an app or firmware problem, unsupported power requirements, or a drive formatted by another system. Check storage status periodically and export critical footage. HomeBase storage is not an independently protected backup against theft, electrical damage, HomeBase failure, deletion, or drive failure.
Replacing an existing SSD
- Export important clips.
- Power off HomeBase 3.
- Remove the old drive and install the replacement.
- Format the replacement in the Eufy Security app.
- Confirm that new recordings are being written to it.
Do not assume recordings on the old drive will remain readable in a computer or another HomeBase. Eufy documents the initialization and formatting process but does not establish a general cross-device recovery workflow.
Important compatibility distinctions
HomeBase 3 is not HomeBase Professional S1. The Professional S1 uses a 3.5-inch bay and different power requirements, so a drive suitable for that product is not automatically suitable for the S380 HomeBase. Also, ordinary USB storage is not a replacement for the internal SATA drive used for primary HomeBase recording; Eufy describes USB storage separately for backup functions.
Buy from the manufacturer or an established retailer. Used, refurbished, or counterfeit SSDs may report false capacity, have depleted write life, or fail during initialization.
Quick Recap
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