URGENT UPDATE: Toshiba has just announced plans to launch a 40TB hard disk drive by 2027, utilizing innovative 12-disk stacking technology. This comes as Seagate leads the market with its own 40TB HAMR drives, already in testing and expected to hit full-scale production in 2026.
The race for storage capacity is intensifying. Seagate has confirmed it is also developing 44TB models which could arrive just as Toshiba’s drives do, leaving the latter at risk of falling behind. Seagate’s CEO Dr. Dave Mosley highlighted that the ten-disk configuration of their HDDs offers enhanced efficiency for data centers, significantly impacting operational costs as data storage needs surge.
Toshiba’s upcoming drives will leverage Microwave-Assisted Magnetic Recording (MAMR), enhancing storage density while ensuring stability and reliability. The new design replaces aluminum with glass substrates, resulting in thinner platters and greater durability. This innovation marks a significant step forward for Toshiba, which aims to support data centers in managing soaring data demands while keeping costs low.
However, the timing raises concerns. By the time Toshiba’s 40TB HDDs reach the market, Seagate may already be pushing towards 50TB drives by 2028, positioning Toshiba to play catch-up in a rapidly evolving market.
In the past, Toshiba has struggled to gain traction with its innovations. For instance, in May 2025, it unveiled a setup using 78 hard drives to achieve PCIe 5.0 speeds, but this breakthrough went largely unnoticed.
While Toshiba is optimistic about its new HDDs, the industry is watching closely as Seagate continues to expand its lead. With its investment of $135 million in a European photonic center aimed at developing 100TB hard drives by 2030, Seagate’s trajectory seems poised for dominance.
As the competition heats up, the outcome of this technological race remains uncertain. Toshiba’s engineers are exploring how their new 12-disk configuration might integrate with HAMR technology, hinting at a future that could combine their innovations for even greater capacity.
Stay tuned for further developments as this story evolves. The implications for data centers and tech consumers alike are tremendous, making this a critical moment in the storage industry. Follow TechRadar for the latest updates and expert insights in your feeds.
