Seagate's largest-ever hard drive, the 32TB Exos M, is finally here, featuring the company's new Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) technology via the Mozaic 3+ platform.
After years of anticipation since experimenting with HAMR in 2007, Seagate's Mozaic 3+ based hard drives are now available to a wider audience, with mass production underway. The product page is for "Exos M" drives, and an official YouTube video also calls it the "Exos M." However, the URL and video title include "Exos M 3+", which might suggest there is confusion at Seagate.
The Exos M lineup includes a 32TB model utilizing Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) and a 30TB model using Conventional Magnetic Recording (CMR). Unlike initial Mozaic 3+ releases, the Exos M drives are compatible with existing computer systems, paving the way for wider adoption.
While Seagate was the first to produce a 32TB HAMR drive, Western Digital launched its own 32TB ePM-based drive, the two companies are now competing head-to-head in the high-capacity hard drive market. Seagate's HAMR technology could give it an edge for future releases.
