What's Happening?
Seagate has announced its roadmap for the development of high-capacity hard drives, aiming to release 50-terabyte drives using Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) technology by 2027. This announcement was made during Seagate's quarterly report for the fourth
fiscal quarter of 2026. The company plans to achieve a data density of 10 terabytes per disk by 2028, potentially reaching near 100-terabyte capacities. Seagate's current Mozaic-4+ platform supports up to 44 terabytes, and the upcoming Mozaic 5+ platform is expected to increase this capacity further. The company targets large tech industry clients and enterprise customers, with consumer availability expected much later.
Why It's Important?
The development of higher-capacity hard drives is crucial for data centers and enterprise clients who require large-scale storage solutions. Seagate's advancements in HAMR technology could significantly reduce the cost per terabyte, maintaining the relevance of magnetic storage in an era dominated by SSDs. This move positions Seagate ahead of competitors like Toshiba and Western Digital, who are also exploring HAMR technology. The increased storage capacity could support the growing demands of AI and big data applications, providing a competitive edge in the tech industry.
What's Next?
Seagate plans to deliver the first Mozaic-5+ drives to customers for validation in 2027, followed by a broader rollout after OEM and data center validation. The company aims to surpass the 80-terabyte mark by 2031 or 2032. As Seagate accelerates its HAMR development, competitors may also advance their technologies to keep pace. The success of these high-capacity drives will depend on their adoption by enterprise clients and the ability to meet performance and reliability standards.
