Western Digital Unveils 2 Cutting-Edge External Hard Drives Ahead of IBC2023

Western Digital Reinforces its Storage Dominance with Thunderbolt 3 Pro-Grade External Drives

As the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC2023) draws near in Amsterdam, Western Digital, the storage giant, has unleashed two formidable additions to its extensive lineup of storage solutions. These cutting-edge pro-grade products aim to fill a void in Western Digital’s storage offerings, and they go by the names of SanDisk Professional G-Drive PROJECT and G-RAID Mirror, formerly part of the renowned G-Technology family.

The Thunderbolt 3 Prowess

Both the SanDisk Professional G-Drive PROJECT and the G-RAID Mirror come equipped with Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, offering the ability to daisy-chain up to five devices. Western Digital is backing these new arrivals with an impressive five-year warranty, ensuring peace of mind for users. Moreover, users can opt for configurations featuring one or two hard disk drives, with capacities soaring to a staggering 22TB, thanks to the Ultrastar Enterprise-class hard drives, which are expected to be the Ultrastar DC HC570 models.

A standout feature in both these offerings is the inclusion of a PRO-BLADE SSD mag slot, a feature that allows for efficient content management using this SSD-based storage device.

The SanDisk Professional G-Drive PROJECT

Available in a range of capacities starting from 6TB ($369.99) and scaling up to a remarkable 22TB ($849.99), the SanDisk Professional G-Drive PROJECT promises impressive read/write speeds, peaking at 260MB/s. While this speed falls slightly short of the HC570’s maximum transfer rate of 291MB/s, it still ensures brisk data handling for professional users.

The G-RAID Mirror – Versatile and Robust

On the other end of the spectrum lies the G-RAID Mirror, boasting a colossal 44TB capacity when equipped with two drives. However, this cutting-edge storage solution comes with a hefty price tag of $1499.99. Out of the box, it operates in RAID-1 “mirroring” mode, offering enhanced data redundancy—a crucial feature for professionals dealing with valuable content. For users seeking more performance, it can easily be switched to RAID-0. Alternatively, it can operate as JBOD (Just a Bunch of Drives) by merely flipping a switch, providing flexibility to match diverse storage needs.

Comparing the Competition

In a comparison with the consumer-oriented My Book Duo, the Western Digital pro-grade offerings shine. The My Book Duo retails for just under $1,200, offering a shorter warranty, lacking the PRO-BLADE SSD mag slot, and utilizing USB 3.2 Gen 1. The price disparity between the 22TB WD Elements and the 22TB PROJECT is even more striking, with the PROJECT commanding a $450 premium, a 70% difference in cost.

A Glance at Seagate and LaCie

In the competitive arena of external hard drives, Western Digital’s arch-rival, Seagate, does not offer a direct equivalent to these pro-grade offerings. Seagate’s focus primarily revolves around consumer external hard drives, represented by the Expansion and One Touch family ranges. To find a competitor that matches Western Digital’s pro-grade solutions, one must turn to LaCie, Seagate’s premium storage brand, which maintains a distinct identity from its parent company.

LaCie’s 2Big Dock emerges as a contender against the G-RAID Mirror, albeit with a higher price point of $1899. Despite the cost, it delivers a formidable performance package. While it offers a slightly lower storage capacity of up to 40TB, it compensates with two Thunderbolt ports, compatibility with CFexpress Type B, CFast 2.0, and SD cards, a USB hub, and a full-size DisplayPort. The 2Big Dock caters to demanding professional needs, making it a robust alternative for users seeking premium storage solutions.