26TB High-Capacity CMR HDDs Extend Across the Company’s WD and G-DRIVE®/G-RAID® Professional Portfolio for Expanded Data Storage and Greater Workflow Productivity

By : Wael Magdy

Technology advancements in AI, video, analytics, VR, photography, and media and entertainment (M&E) have rapidly increased the demand for more data storage. Every stage of professional workflows — production, analysis, editing, collaboration and archiving — demand more capacity, performance and flexibility.

In response, Western Digital ( WDC) is unveiling several new product enhancements built to meet the growing need for higher capacity storage solutions for today’s data-driven demands.

HDD Capacity and Performance for Creative Workflows

Western Digital has unveiled higher capacities across its Professional product suite. Solutions feature enterprise-class Ultrastar® 7200 RPM HDDs for high performance, reliability and fast read/write speeds.

·       208TB* G-RAID® SHUTTLE 8 – A transportable eight-bay hardware RAID solution designed for massive storage and seamless backup consolidation—whether on location or in the studio. Supporting versatile RAID configurations (0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60) and delivering blazing transfer speeds of up to 1700MB/s read and 1500MB/s write in default RAID 5, this solution combines power, flexibility, and efficiency for demanding workflows. The solution includes eight removable enterprise-class HDDs and can be daisy-chained with up to five additional devices for maximum connectivity and efficiency.

·       104TB G-RAID SHUTTLE 4 – A compact and transportable four-bay hardware RAID solution built for real-time video editing and super-fast data access. Supports multi-stream 4K, 8K and VR workflows. Preconfigured in RAID 5 for optimal performance and redundancy, it also supports versatile RAID 0, 1, and 10 setups, making it the ideal solution for demanding creative workflows. Can be daisy-chained with up to five additional devices. Includes four removable enterprise-class HDDs.

·       52TB G-RAID PROJECT 2 – Delivers high-performance storage with two enterprise-grade Ultrastar® hard drives for rapid data access and sustained transfer speeds. Pre-configured with RAID 0 for optimal performance, this system ensures fast data transfer in high-speed scenarios. Compatible with Thunderbolt™ 3 and USB-C™ (10Gbps), this 52TB G-RAID PROJECT 2 two-bay drive enables quick data transfers and daisy-chaining for connecting multiple devices.

·       26TB G-DRIVE® PROJECT – Compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C (10Gbps), the 26TB G-DRIVE PROJECT is designed to backup and protect valuable project work. Additionally, the 26TB G-DRIVE PROJECT features a SanDisk® Professional PRO-BLADE™ SSD Mag slot, enabling modular SSD performance that enhances workflows with fast, efficient file sharing and seamless editing across devices.

·       26TB G-DRIVE – The G-DRIVE delivers ultra-reliable storage with a USB-C (10Gbps) interface for fast backups and efficient workflows. It features speeds up to 260MB/s read and 270MB/s write. Now available in 26TB capacity, the stackable, anodized all-aluminum enclosure includes anchor points for attaching to a DIT cart, mounting plate, or other gear from your production needs.

Milestone Capacity For Everyday Consumers

For consumers looking to protect their digital world, Western Digital is announcing a new capacity for its popular My Book desktop external storage solution. The WD My Book^TM Desktop Hard Drive 26TB provides seamless storage for archiving collections of photos, videos, music and more, as well as backing up your entire computer system. Scheduling backups is easy with the included Acronis® True Image™ for Western Digital software. Your dependable desktop storage companion helps keep your files private and safeguards what matters most. The WD My Book will become available later this month.

“At Western Digital, we are constantly redefining what’s possible to meet the evolving storage demands of the zettabyte age - from 4K and 8K video production to AI analytics and critical workload storage,” said Owais Mohammed, Sales Director, IMEA of Western Digital. “With the introduction of our expanded 26TB-based lineup, we’re offering the capacity and reliability that today’s consumers and businesses need to stay ahead in an increasingly data-driven world. These solutions represent our ongoing commitment to delivering innovative storage solutions that drive digital transformation.”