Seagate is getting ready to release its biggest hard drive yet, offering a 32 TB storage capacity. This is made possible by their Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) technology, which has been in development for over 15 years. The first tests of HAMR technology began in 2007, and Seagate has since made several promises about its release, although delays have pushed the timeline until now.
The new hard drives are part of Seagate’s Exos M lineup, based on the Mozaic 3+ platform. These drives have been available in small numbers for select customers, but they are now being mass-produced. Seagate recently added a product page for the Exos M series, revealing two models—a 32 TB drive using Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) and a 30 TB drive with Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR). These drives boast a 3 TB per platter density, which helps achieve their high storage capacity.
One key improvement in these drives is their ability to work with current systems. Earlier versions of the Mozaic 3+ drives needed new hardware to function, making upgrades difficult for users. Seagate has addressed this issue, allowing the new Exos M drives to be used with existing setups. However, detailed technical information about how the new drives differ from the older ones is still limited.
This launch is a big step for Seagate, as it finally brings their HAMR technology to the market after years of work. The timing is notable, as other companies are also introducing high-capacity drives. In October, Western Digital released a 32 TB drive using energy-assisted perpendicular magnetic recording (ePMR), while Toshiba has demonstrated similar technologies like HAMR and microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR).
Seagate’s new Exos M drives show progress in storage technology, offering users more capacity while making it easier to adopt these advancements with their current systems.
