Freecom unveils world's smallest 3.5in external hard drive

The 3.5in Hard Drive XS weighs just 860g

Storage firm Freecom has unveiled what it claims is the world's smallest 3.5in external hard drive, offering capacities of up to 1TB.

The Hard Drive XS is a fanless system weighing in at 860g. It has been created in collaboration with acclaimed Belgian designer Sylvain Willenz, using a form-fitting rubber enclosure to help reduce vibration and improve grip on surfaces.

The drive boasts a Turbo USB 2.0 connection which promises upload and download transfer speeds up to 30 per cent faster than other similar drives, according to the firm.

"Whether at home or in the office, space is one of the things we value most, " said Axel Lucassen, co-founder and executive senior vice president of product line management and marketing at Freecom.

"With the explosion of Web 2.0 applications and new media, from digital photos and home videos to downloaded music and TV programmes, computer users are running out of places to store their data."

The Hard Drive XS is available in 500GB or 1TB capacities, costing €79 (£70) and €109 (£97) respectively.