CES 2021: Western Digital Debuts New 4TB SSDs From SanDisk and WD

[MacRumors]

Western Digital today announced the upcoming launch of several new consumer-oriented portable SSDs with 4TB capacities, with new offerings from the SanDisk, WD, and WD_Black brands. The new 4TB SSDs are designed for gamers, content creators, and creative professionals who need additional storage space to work with.

The SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable NVMe SSD offers up to 2000MB/s read and write speeds, and its aluminum chassis serves as a heatsink to deliver higher sustained speeds. The SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD will be available later this quarter for $750.

Also under the SanDisk brand, Western Digital is offering the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD with read speeds up to 1050MB/s and write speeds up to 1000MB/s. The Extreme Portable SSD features two-meter drop protection and IP55 water and dust resistance. The new SSD will be available later this quarter for $700.

For gamers, the WD_Black offers read speeds up to 2000MB/s, and it is compatible with PCs, PlayStations, and Xbox One game libraries. It will be available later this quarter for $750.

Under the WD brand, Western Digital debuted the latest MyPassport SSD, which offers read speeds up to 1050MB/s and write speeds up to 1000MB/s. It features a shock and vibration resistant metal design that is drop resistant up to 6.5 feet, and it comes in colors that include blue, gray, red, gold, and silver. It will be available later this quarter for $680.

All of the new SSDs will be available from the Western Digital Store and other major retailers when they launch.

Article Link: CES 2021: Western Digital Debuts New 4TB SSDs From SanDisk and WD

 

[Populus]

Great for carrying around all the data from all my four 2.5" HDD in my pocket. But I personally am not willing to spend 600 or 700$ for that. I guess I'll have to get a couple of 1TB units, if their price is competitive enough.

EDIT: I'm curious to know if any of this new models are made with QLC NAND cells, because in that case the cost production is much lower, as it is their lifespan, and those prices don't seem much lower compared with what we had. Maybe I should just get one of the old Samsung T5s when I see them on a sale.

 

[nutmac]

Finally! I've been eagerly waiting for 4TB SSD with USB-C. I use 2TB USB-C for Photos library and I estimate it will be exceeded in 3 years. By then, these SSDs should be much more affordable.

Now if someone would make larger bus powered external HDD. 2.5" HDD have been stuck at 5TB for 4 years.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Very nice indeed.

If the stated specs live up to to normal day to day MR usage, these new drives could be big sellers for many people.

 

[Duncan-UK]

It’s disappointing to see that 4TB SSDs remain stubbornly expensive. I’d have thought they would have started to come down in price by now.

 

[nutmac]

It’s disappointing to see that 4TB SSDs remain stubbornly expensive. I’d have thought they would have started to come down in price by now.

2TB consumer SSD came out in 2015 at $1000 MSRP. 4TB came out in 2018 at $1600 MSRP. So I think this is a good progress. At this rate, they should be under $400 in 3 years.

 

[LeadingHeat]

I understand that these are SSDs with blistering speeds, but jeez I don’t think I can justify $750 for just 4TB. Definitely can see others needing/wanting them but I hope they weren’t looking to actually target the “gaming” market with that. It’s gonna price out a lot of people. The entire Xbox is about half that price if you get a good deal.

 

[Mizouse]

Interesting. Are there any devices out there yet with USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (20Gbps)?

 

[JPack]

Probably not QLC? At least I hope not.

 

[AGreenOlive]

Strange to market these to gamers when these aren’t fast enough to run games for the new consoles.

Then again, these would be solid for holding older games while the actual internal SSD can just be dedicated to holding new games.

 

[vagos]

Great/cheaper/portable alternative to getting your mac with maxed SSD.

 

[BlendedFrog]

And to think I still have my original 128MB thumb drive that I bought all those years ago. Still has a warm place in my heart.

 

[collin_]

2TB consumer SSD came out in 2015 at $1000 MSRP. 4TB came out in 2018 at $1600 MSRP. So I think this is a good progress. At this rate, they should be under $400 in 3 years.

Hopefully! Can't wait until those 8 TB QLC drives get cheap.

 

[collin_]

Probably not QLC? At least I hope not.

The price and physical size are consistent with 4 TB TLC drives. However, I don't think QLC is that bad. I would wager that ~99% of users would never hit the endurance limit and ~90% of users wouldn't exhaust the SLC cache more than a handful of times. Most of us are enthusiasts though so I guess it matters more to us than the general population.

 

[hunapu]

Why is it always mentioned that things are designed for gamers, content creators, and creative professionals? Is it to make people see them self in these descriptions, and make them want the product more?

 

[justperry]

And to think I still have my original 128MB thumb drive that I bought all those years ago. Still has a warm place in my heart.

Here's a page which will make your eyes water...not thumb drives, just an example that there are still low capacity expensive flash cards available.

https://nl.farnell.com/c/semiconductors-ics/memory/flash-memory-cards?brand=siemens

Example, not even the most expensive ones...12 MB

 

[karatekidk]

Just bought a 2TB Extreme a few days ago for $259. I hope the 4TB version will be cheaper someday, hopefully soon.

 

[macduke]

This hits the speed, capacity, and price point (barely) that I've been looking for in a portable SSD. Will be ordering unless Samsung comes out with something more compelling soon.

 

[SnarkyBear]

I see on Amazon that 4TB internal SSDs run about $450. Wonder why externals are running double that price?

 

[bousozoku]

2TB consumer SSD came out in 2015 at $1000 MSRP. 4TB came out in 2018 at $1600 MSRP. So I think this is a good progress. At this rate, they should be under $400 in 3 years.

I still remember paying nearly US$500 for a 72 MB 5.25 inch Seagate hard drive back in 1990, my first, for my Atari 1040 ST.

 

[Arctic Moose]

This hits the speed, capacity, and price point (barely) that I've been looking for in a portable SSD. Will be ordering unless Samsung comes out with something more compelling soon.

I’ve been waiting for a 4 TB X5 for years, hopefully it’s right around the corner.

 

[Darth-Kylie]

Compatible with “PlayStations” is correct but uncomfortably broad. Not sure why it doesn’t qualify as being compatible with Xbox SeriesX and S.

 

[ninethirty]

Is this compatible with PS5 then, for playing games off of? Like additional storage? Because I've almost filled out my PS5 SSD already.

 

[intrepkid21]

Eh, I'll just continue using my 1st gen iPod Shuffle. At least it's wearable.

 

[Solomani]

I wonder if they would easily be TimeMachine compatible. They should, right? Unless they are using some left-field proprietary.