Western Digital has pushed the boundaries of portable storage technology with two groundbreaking announcements at the Future Memory and Storage Conference (FMS2024). The company revealed plans for the world's first 8TB SD card and a massive 16TB external SSD, setting new benchmarks for high-capacity portable storage.
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| Western Digital showcases new storage technology, including the world's first 8TB SD card |
Unprecedented Storage in a Tiny Package
The star of the show is undoubtedly the 8TB SDUC UHS-I card, which offers an astonishing amount of storage in the familiar SD card form factor. For perspective, this single card could theoretically store:
- Approximately 165,000 24MP RAW image files
- Hundreds of hours of 4K video footage
- An entire professional photographer's multi-day shoot
Alongside this behemoth, Western Digital also announced a 4TB microSDXC UHS-I card, bringing previously unheard-of storage capacity to smartphones, drones, and portable gaming devices.
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| Western Digital introduces unprecedented storage options with the new 8TB SD card and 4TB microSD card |
Speed Considerations
Both cards will offer read speeds of up to 100MB/s. While this is respectable for UHS-I cards, it's worth noting that these aren't the fastest options on the market. Professional users working with large files or high bitrate video may need to factor in longer transfer times compared to lower-capacity, higher-speed cards.
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| The new SD cards from Western Digital promise respectable read speeds, catering to professional storage needs |
The Rise of Massive External SSDs
Western Digital is also pushing the envelope with external SSDs. The company announced a 16TB version of its SanDisk Desk Drive, doubling the capacity of its current largest offering. A portable version is in development, likely destined for the Extreme Portable SSD line.
Pricing and Availability
Western Digital has not yet announced pricing or release dates for these products. However, given the premium nature of high-capacity storage, consumers should expect significant price tags. For reference, the current 8TB SanDisk Desk Drive retails for $700, while a 1TB high-performance SD card can cost around $180.
The Future of Storage
These announcements showcase Western Digital's commitment to expanding storage capacities across various form factors. While the average consumer may not need 8TB of SD card storage, these advancements will be particularly exciting for professionals in fields like photography, videography, and data-intensive scientific research.
As storage needs continue to grow with higher-resolution cameras and more data-hungry applications, it's clear that Western Digital is positioning itself at the forefront of portable storage innovation.