WD has announced that it will begin to produce its first HDDs with heat assisted magnetic recording technology (HAMR) in 2027, with capacities of up to 44TB in the Ultrasmr version.
According to the company’s CEO, Irving Tam, the first lot will be qualified by data centers sector clients by the end of 2026. Such discs are actually an important step in the evolution of storage, with possible capabilities of up to 100TB to the end of decade, which would be an extraordinary feat.
The market movement currently follows towards high density solutions, accompanying competitors such as Seagate, which had already revealed 36TB HDDs.
Western Digital, however, seeks to stand out with additional innovations, such as the Optinand technology and improvements in record mechanics, which will allow the number of platters to increase.
Complex transition to HAMR
Although Digital Western is consolidating its bet on HAMR, the journey so far has been full of twists.
Initially, the company bet on Microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR)but changed strategy in 2019 by developing EPMR technology for commercial products. Since then, the company has advanced to launch CMR HDDs of up to 26TB and 32TB Ultrasmr, as detailed in recent releases.
Irving Tam pointed out that two major data centers providers are already testing the HAMR technology records, but has not disclosed detailed specifications:
We plan to start the transition to HAMR with 36TB in CMR and 44TB Ultrasmr. We are already engaged with our customers in this development for some time
Irving Tam, CEO of Western Digital, during the company’s Investor Day 2025
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Unpublished capabilities and the future of HDDs
Western Digital expects HDDs to evolve significantly in the coming years, exceeding twice the current capacity.
According to Tam, “the transition to HAMR will allow you to create a product tree that takes advantage of learning from previous technologies.” By 2030, the company plans Offer 80TB discs in CMR and 100TB format on Ultrasmrconsolidating its position in the high density storage market.
We plan to start the transition to HAMR with 36TB in CMR and 44TB Ultrasmr. We are already engaged with our customers in this development for some time
Irving Tam, CEO da Western Digital
With this evolution, the HDD market aligns with increasing demand for storage, especially in the server and data centers sector.
Western Digital also competes with emerging technologies, such as Ultra -Compact SSDs presented by Seagate, showing that companies are diversifying their efforts to meet the different needs of consumers and corporations.
Source: Western Digital
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Source: https://www.adrenaline.com.br/hardware/western-digital-revela-hdd-44-tb-100-tb-2030/
