Western Digital unveils massive 40TB HDD with energy-assisted recording tech — plans 100TB HAMR hard drives by 2029

Western Digital has revealed plans to introduce a 40TB UltraSMR hard drive in the latter half of this year, with a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) version anticipated for 2027. By 2029, the company aims to offer 100TB HAMR-based HDDs. The company also announced the extension of its energy-assisted perpendicular magnetic recording (ePMR) technology to 60TB drives, ensuring a range of high-capacity options in the coming years. Western Digital's strategy involves a transition from ePMR to HAMR drives as capacities increase, with a focus on seamless scalability and capacity growth.