WD releases 6TB 2.5-Inch External Hard Drives: A Long-Awaited Upgrade After Seven Years

The dominance of solid-state drives (SSDs) in the laptop market has led to a slowdown in the development of higher-capacity 2.5-inch hard drives. However, Western Digital (WD) has just introduced a range of new external storage products that breathe new life into the 2.5-inch form factor. These products are powered by a new 6 TB 2.5-inch hard drive, offering users increased storage capacity.

WD’s latest 6 TB spinner is utilized in upgraded versions of their popular portable storage products, including My Passport, Black P10, and G-DRIVE ArmorATD. It’s worth noting that the 2.5-inch drive is not available for standalone purchase at this time, as it is exclusively reserved for use in external storage.

Unfortunately, WD has not provided much information about the 6 TB hard drive itself. The maximum read speed matches that of WD’s existing external drives at 130 MB/sec, while write performance details remain undisclosed.

Interestingly, the new 6 TB devices are thicker than their 5 TB counterparts, suggesting that WD has achieved the increased storage capacity by adding another platter to their existing drive platform rather than improving areal density. This explains why these new drives are specifically designed for external storage, as the 5 TB 2.5-inch drives are already at the maximum standard thickness of 15mm, making them incompatible with many portable devices. External drives are the only suitable option for accommodating these even thicker 2.5-inch drives.

WD’s specifications also fail to mention whether these drives utilize shingled magnetic recording (SMR) technology. Given that WD was already using SMR for their 5 TB drives to achieve the required storage density, it is highly likely that they continue to employ this technology for their 6 TB drives. This may explain why write performance specifications are not provided, as SMR drives have demonstrated lower speeds, sometimes as low as 10 MB/second, when rewriting data.

The external storage drives come with either a USB-C or USB Micro-B 3.0 connector, depending on the specific model. Regardless of the physical connector, all drives feature a USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) interface, which is more than sufficient considering the limited transfer speeds imposed by the physical limitations of the drives.

According to WD, these new drives are now available for purchase. The WD My Passport Ultra and WD My Passport Ultra for Mac with USB-C are priced at $199.99, while the WD My Passport and WD My Passport for Mac retail for $179.99. The WD My Passport Works With USB-C is priced at $184.99, the gaming-focused WD_Black P10 Game Drive sells for $184.99, and the SanDisk Professional G-Drive ArmorATD is priced at $229.99. All of Western Digital’s external storage drives are backed by a three-year limited warranty.

Background Information

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About SanDisk:

SanDisk, established in 1988, is a important American company specializing in flash memory and storage solutions. They are for their memory cards, USB drives, and solid-state drives (SSDs). SanDisk has played a vital role in the development of portable data storage solutions, catering to the needs of both consumers and businesses with reliable and innovative storage products.

  

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About Western Digital:

Western Digital, established in 1970, is a important data storage solutions provider known for its wide range of hard drives and solid-state drives. Catering to various applications, from personal computers to enterprise storage systems, Western Digital emphasizes data management and security. With a reputation for reliability and innovative solutions, the company has been pivotal in shaping the storage industry. Their products are trusted by individuals, businesses, and data centers worldwide

  

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Technology Explained

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USB-C: USB-C is a new type of USB connector that is quickly becoming the industry standard for connecting devices to computers. It is a reversible connector, meaning it can be plugged in either way, and it is capable of transferring data at speeds up to 10 Gbps. It is also capable of providing up to 100 watts of power, making it ideal for charging laptops and other devices. USB-C is quickly becoming the go-to connector for connecting peripherals to computers, such as external hard drives, monitors, and printers. It is also being used to connect smartphones and tablets to computers, allowing for faster data transfer and charging. USB-C is quickly becoming the industry standard for connecting devices to computers, and its applications are only expected to grow in the future.

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