Seagate to launch groundbreaking 4TB hard drives by 2026

In the USA, Seagate has announced plans to advance its hard disk drive technology with the introduction of 4TB Mozaic HDDs utilizing HAMR technology. Customer qualifications for these HDDs are set to begin in the third quarter of 2025, with production expected to commence in the first half of 2026. Overall, Seagate predicts that more than 50% of its Exabyte shipments will be comprised of Mozaic HDDs by late 2026. The company is optimistic regarding revenue growth, anticipating a mid-teens percentage increase alongside an expansion in gross margins. The company's strategy appears to be informed by an anticipated significant increase in data generation, estimating 394 zettabytes by 2028. Data center storage demand is projected to rise accordingly, reaching 2.4 zettabytes. Seagate's focus on high-capacity HDDs aims to maintain a competitive edge against solid-state drives (SSDs), which are increasingly popular but do not yet offer the same cost-effectiveness for mass storage. Seagate's ability to develop advanced laser integration technology is expected to drive down costs and improve manufacturing efficiency, allowing for competitive pricing and performance. Seagate has also implemented a more strategic approach by securing long-term contracts with major customers, especially following significant downturns in HDD and memory products during 2022 and 2023. This approach aims to prevent oversaturation of the market and enable the company to respond flexibly to any sudden changes in demand. The introduction of Mozaic HDDs with varying capacities will also provide customers with a streamlined offering, reducing the number of HDD platforms available. Looking ahead, Seagate projects further advancements in capacity, with plans for 80TB+ HDDs set for 2031 and continued development of products utilizing HAMR technology. This evolution in HDD technology highlights a clear trend in the data storage industry toward maximizing data density while reducing costs, solidifying hard disk drives' role in mass storage solutions for data centers in the coming decade.