Western Digital brings a breath of fresh air to the storage industry and presents a whole range of high-performance storage solutions at the Media Production & Technology Show in London. Whether for 8K video editing, data-intensive AI applications or simply for huge photo and music archives – the new products deliver unprecedented capacities and speeds. Particularly in focus: the introduction of 26 TB hard drives for consumers and professional applications.
The most important innovations at a glance:
- 26 TB capacity in the new WD My Book and G-DRIVE series for consumers and professionals
- G-RAID SHUTTLE 8 with 208 TB and RAID support for studio backups
- Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C connectivity for fast data transfer and flexible use
- SanDisk PRO-BLADE integration for modular SSD expansion
New standards for professional workflows
Western Digital is targeting its new products at creative professionals, studios and technical users with extremely high storage requirements. At the heart of the new product range is the G-RAID SHUTTLE 8, a portable RAID system with eight 26 TB HDDs. With a total capacity of up to 208 TB and transfer rates of up to 1700 MB/s (read), the system is ideal for large video productions, VR projects and AI-based analysis processes. Thanks to support for RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50 and 60, it offers maximum flexibility and data redundancy.
For users who prefer a more compact solution, the 104TB G-RAID SHUTTLE 4 is an excellent option. It was specially developed for multi-stream workflows in 4K and 8K resolution and is already preconfigured with RAID 5. Both systems can be connected to up to five other devices via daisy chain, which is particularly advantageous in a studio setup.
The G-RAID PROJECT 2 with 52 TB and two Ultrastar HDDs, on the other hand, was designed for performance-oriented environments where fast file transfer is required. RAID 0 ensures maximum speed here, while Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C guarantee optimum connectivity.
Compact solutions for desktop and project work
Western Digital also offers practical tools for demanding users beyond the large RAID systems. The G-DRIVE PROJECT with 26 TB combines a robust design with clever expandability: The integrated PRO-BLADE SSD-Mag slot allows modular SSD units to be inserted, making workflows even more flexible. Also included: Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C for maximum compatibility.
For everyday tasks and large backups at home or in the office, the classic G-DRIVE® with 26 TB capacity delivers solid performance. With transfer speeds of up to 270 MB/s, it is ideal for data-intensive backups, media libraries or as external storage for professional applications. The anodized aluminum enclosure is stackable and ready for mounting on DIT carts or workstations.
More storage for your home
Home users also get their money’s worth: The latest version of the WD My Book now offers an incredible 26 TB capacity in a compact desktop format. The included Acronis True Image software makes it easy to schedule and manage automatic backups – ideal for large photo, video or music collections. The sales launch has been announced for this month.
Conclusion
With the introduction of 26 TB hard disks in several product categories, Western Digital is setting new standards for storage capacity and speed. Whether in the studio, on the road or at home – the new solutions offer sophisticated features, high reliability and future-proof technology. Prices range from €939.99 for the G-DRIVE 26 TB to €15,470.99 for the G-RAID SHUTTLE 8 with 208 TB. Availability and further technical details can be found on the official Western Digital website.
