Toshiba Announces 40TB HDD for 2027, Faces Stiff Competition

BREAKING: Toshiba has just announced plans to launch a groundbreaking 40TB hard disk drive (HDD) by 2027, utilizing innovative 12-disk stacking technology combined with Microwave-Assisted Magnetic Recording (MAMR). However, the timing raises concerns as rival Seagate is already testing its own 40TB HAMR drives and has plans for even larger models.

Toshiba’s design is designed to enhance storage density while maintaining stability and reliability. The company is betting on this technology to meet the ever-growing demands of data centers. With the HDD market rapidly evolving, Toshiba’s new drives will use glass substrates instead of aluminum, allowing for thinner platters and improved durability.

Seagate is not standing still. Earlier this year, it confirmed the shipment of limited units of its 40TB HDDs, built on the Mozaic HAMR platform. Full-scale production is set to begin in the first half of 2026. During a recent Investor and Analyst Conference, Seagate’s CEO, Dr. Dave Mosley, highlighted the advantages of their ten-disk configuration, which optimizes efficiency for data centers.

By the time Toshiba’s drives hit the market, Seagate is expected to roll out 44TB models by 2027 and even 50TB drives by 2028. This rapid progression puts Toshiba in a precarious position, potentially leading it to play catch-up in a highly competitive landscape.

The implications of this development are significant. As data demands soar, Toshiba aims to offer larger capacities while keeping a lower total cost of ownership (TCO). Yet, with Seagate’s advancements, Toshiba’s announcement may feel like a case of “too little, too late” for many in the tech community.

As Toshiba navigates these challenges, its engineers are also exploring how the new 12-disk configuration could integrate with HAMR technology, hinting at potential hybrid products in the future.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops, and follow TechRadar for the latest in tech news and insights. Don’t miss out on vital updates—make sure to follow us on Google News and TikTok for real-time information.