WD Debuts 32TB 11-Platter Drives, Surpasses Seagate in Storage Capacity

October 16, 2024

WD Debuts 32TB 11-Platter Drives, Surpasses Seagate in Storage Capacity

Western Digital (WD) has introduced several new hard drives featuring an innovative 11-platter design, marking a significant advancement in storage technology and positioning the company as a formidable contender in the data storage industry. This cutting-edge design allows for greater storage capacities without the need to increase the physical size of the drives. Among the most noteworthy announcements is a 32TB Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) drive specifically designed for data centers. This particular model is noteworthy as it is WD’s first drive to surpass the 30TB mark, setting a new benchmark for the company. Alongside this, WD also unveiled two new Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR) drives: the 26TB Ultrastar DC HC590 and the 26TB WD Gold SATA drive, further enhancing their product lineup.

By introducing these new drives, WD is significantly boosting its storage capabilities compared to previous models. Last year, the company had achieved storage capacities of up to 28TB for SMR and 26TB for CMR drives. The addition of up to 4TB in capacity sets a new industry standard and underscores WD’s commitment to innovation. While WD is leading the pack with its unique 11-platter design, the company is trailing behind its competitor Seagate in the adoption of Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) technology. Seagate has already made strides in this area by releasing a 32TB HAMR drive, with plans for further advancements to 36TB, 40TB, and eventually 50TB capacities. Seagate even harbors ambitions to reach a groundbreaking 100TB by 2025, placing them at the forefront of HAMR technology.

Competitive Landscape

Western Digital (WD) has unveiled a series of new hard drives based on an innovative 11-platter design, representing a significant leap in storage technology. This design enables higher storage capacities while maintaining the same physical dimensions. One of the standout announcements is a 32TB Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) drive aimed at data centers. This particular drive is notable as it marks WD’s first entry past the 30TB threshold, establishing a new high for the company. In addition, WD introduced two new Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR) drives: the 26TB Ultrastar DC HC590 and the 26TB WD Gold SATA drive, thereby enriching its product lineup.

These new drives significantly enhance WD’s storage capabilities compared to their earlier models. Last year, the company offered up to 28TB for SMR and 26TB for CMR drives. Adding an extra 4TB in capacity sets a new industry standard and underscores WD’s commitment to innovation. Despite leading with an 11-platter design, WD lags behind Seagate in Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) technology. Seagate has already launched a 32TB HAMR drive and plans to extend capacities to 36TB, 40TB, and even 50TB. Seagate also aims for a groundbreaking 100TB by 2025, positioning them as HAMR technology pioneers.

Explore more

Is the Mistic Backdoor Hiding in Your Security Tools?

June 26, 2026

Introduction The emergence of the Mistic backdoor represents a sophisticated advancement in the arsenal of modern cybercriminals, specifically those operating within the niche of Initial Access Brokering (IAB). This malicious software, also identified by some security researchers as MLTBackdoor, has been actively infiltrating corporate environments throughout the first half of 2026. Its primary strength lies in its ability to camouflage

Is the Redmi 17C the New King of Budget Smartphones?

June 26, 2026

Dominic Jainy is a seasoned IT professional with a deep understanding of how hardware evolution impacts the budget mobile market. Today, he breaks down Xiaomi’s latest strategic move with the Redmi 17C, a device that surprisingly leaps over a generation to deliver high-refresh-rate displays and massive battery life to the entry-level segment. We explore the balance between essential utility features,

How Can PowerTool Speed Up Business Central Data Migrations?

June 26, 2026

Modern enterprises frequently encounter significant friction during ERP transitions because traditional data migration methods often fail to accommodate the sheer volume and complexity of contemporary datasets. In 2026, the demand for agility within Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has reached a point where standard configuration packages, while functional for small tasks, often act as a bottleneck for larger implementations. The

How to Move Beyond the Portal to a True Developer Platform?

June 26, 2026

Dominic Jainy stands at the forefront of the modern cloud-native movement, possessing a deep technical mastery of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain architectures. With years of experience navigating the complexities of large-scale IT infrastructures, he has become a leading voice in the evolution of platform engineering. His perspective is shaped by the practical realities of moving beyond simple automation

Will AI Token Costs Soon Surpass Developer Salaries?

June 26, 2026

Recent financial projections indicate that the cost of maintaining high-frequency artificial intelligence interactions is rapidly approaching the median annual compensation of experienced software engineers in the global market. As the software development industry undergoes a radical transformation, the traditional overhead associated with human labor is being challenged by the sheer volume of data processed through large language models. This shift