Western Digital Ships World's Highest Capacity ePMR HDDs, Including 32TB UltraSMR and 26TB CMR Drives

WDC
September 21, 2025
Western Digital announced on October 15, 2024, it is now shipping the world's highest capacity UltraSMR HDD with up to 32TB, leveraging energy-assisted PMR (ePMR) recording technology. The company is also shipping the world's highest-capacity ePMR CMR HDD with up to 26TB for enterprise and channel customers. These new drives feature the industry's first commercially available 11-disk design and utilize multiple technological innovations, including OptiNAND, ArmorCache, and a triple-stage actuator (TSA). This advancement allows data centers to maximize storage efficiency and supports the growing demand for cost-effective deep content storage at scale. The 32TB Ultrastar DC HC690 UltraSMR HDDs offer up to 257 MiB/s sequential performance and use as little as 5.5W power idle, while the 26TB Ultrastar DC HC590 CMR HDD delivers up to 288 MiB/s sustained transfer rate with 5.6W idle power. These products are being qualified and integrated into the company's Ultrastar Data60 and Data102 JBOD hybrid storage platforms, with availability beginning by year-end. The content on BeyondSPX is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. We are not financial advisors. Consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. Any actions you take based on information from this site are solely at your own risk.