With 26TB WD Red Pro 3.5-Inch HDD Western Digital Boosts Capacity for NAS, Creative Professionals and Content Creators

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

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

Expanding NAS HDD

The introduction of the 26TB WD Red Pro 3.5-inch HDD ($569.99) is designed to address the growing storage demands of NAS environments by delivering enhanced performance, scalability, and reliability for high-intensity workloads in multi-bay, RAID-optimized systems. This model offers a substantial storage capacity increase, providing scalable, durable solutions for businesses and creative professionals. Rated for up to 550TB/year workloads and boasting an 2.5M hours MTBF, it’s designed for 24/7 multi-user environments, supporting everything from creative workflows to enterprise-level NAS systems. Equipped with OptiNAND technology for improved data tracking and efficiency, the 26TB WD Red Pro HDD redefines data storage capabilities.

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HDD Capacity and Performance for Creative Workflows
The company has unveiled higher capacities across its Professional product suite. Solutions feature enterprise-class Ultrastar 7200 RPM HDDs for high performance, reliability and fast RW speeds.

G-RAID SHUTTLE 8

• 208TB ^(*) G-RAID SHUTTLE 8 ($8,199.99) – A transportable 8-bay hardware RAID solution designed for massive storage and 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 1,700MB/s read and 1,500MB/s write in default RAID-5, this solution combines power, flexibility, and efficiency for demanding workflows. The solution includes 8 removable enterprise-class HDDs and can be daisy-chained with up to five additional devices for maximum connectivity and efficiency.

G-RAID SHUTTLE 4

• 104TB G-RAID SHUTTLE 4 ($4,499.99) – A compact and transportable 4-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 solution for demanding creative workflows. Can be daisy-chained with up to 5 additional devices. Includes 4 removable enterprise-class HDDs.

G-RAID PROJECT 2

• 52TB G-RAID PROJECT 2 ($1,699.99) – 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 (10Gb), this 52TB G-RAID PROJECT 2 two-bay drive enables quick data transfers and daisy-chaining for connecting multiple devices.

G-DRIVE PROJECT

• 26TB G-DRIVE PROJECT ($999.99) – Compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C (10Gb), 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 ($649.99) – The G-DRIVE delivers reliable storage with a USB-C (10Gb) 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.

“At Western Digital, we are constantly redefining what’s possible to meet the evolving storage demands of creatives and professionals, from 4K and 8K video production to AI analytics and critical workload storage,” said Nitin Kachhwaha, director, product management, Western Digital. “With the introduction of our expanded 26TB-based Professional lineup and WD Red Pro HDDs, 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 empower creativity and drive digital transformation.”

Western Digital will showcase these products and more at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, NV, on April 5th-9th, at booth SL3916 in the South Hall Lower building.

^(*) One terabyte (TB) is equal to one trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may vary depending on the operating environment.