Which port could be used to connect a new external hard drive?

Using Thunderbolt to connect a new external hard drive is a viable option due to its high-speed data transfer capabilities. Thunderbolt technology combines data, video, and power in a single connection, making it well-suited for external storage devices that require fast read/write speeds. This is especially beneficial for large files or applications that demand high bandwidth, such as video editing or data-intensive tasks.

While USB 2.0 could also be used to connect external hard drives, it has much lower transfer speeds compared to Thunderbolt, making it less ideal for performance-intensive tasks. HDMI is primarily used for video and audio output and is not suitable for connecting storage devices. Ethernet is designed for network connections and would not typically be used for direct connections to external storage. Thus, Thunderbolt stands out as the best choice among the given options for connecting a new external hard drive.