Western Digital and Seagate are two of the mainstays of the hard drive industry. Both of these manufacturers offer a wide catalog of hard disk drives, including internal, external, and portable HDDs. These hard drives cater to different user needs. There are basic hard drives for everyday storage, and then there are specialized hard drives for users such as gamers or enterprise use cases.
In this article, we will compare WD and Seagate HDDs across key performance factors such as capacity, speed, reliability, and security. We will cover the entire catalogs of WD and Seagate across their internal and portable HDD ranges, including consumer- as well as enterprise-grade drives. We will analyze which brand provides higher-capacity drives, faster performance, and advanced security features. By breaking down these key differences, this guide will help you choose the best internal or portable HDD based on your specific storage requirements.
WD vs Seagate HDD Comparison – Methodology
It is not always straightforward to compare hard drives from two manufacturers. We have tried our best to ensure that our comparisons are fair. Here is a quick overview of the methodology we have used in this comparison.
- We will begin with an overview of the entire hard drives catalog from both WD and Seagate. We will focus on the internal hard disk drives for PCs and laptops, and portable hard drives.
- Then, we will compare Western Digital and Seagate products on the three most important factors that matter to consumers: capacity, data transfer speed, and reliability & durability. This comparison will be done for both internal and portable hard drives.
- Next, we will focus on the most popular internal and portable drives from WD and Seagate and compare them on factors such as power consumption, security features, and warranty.
- Finally, we will compare both manufacturers in terms of the innovations they are leading in the hard disk data storage space.
Overview of Western Digital and Seagate HDDs
Both Western Digital and Seagate manufacture HDDs for different user needs. Primarily, their internal HDDs target five main use cases: cloud and data centers, network-attached storage, personal storage, video analytics, and gaming. The capacity of internal hard disks starts from 500 gigabytes for entry-level drives and can go up to 30 terabytes for enterprise-grade hard disks. The spindle speeds start from 5,400 RPM in budget drives and go up to 5,900 RPM for NAS drives, and can even be 7,200 RPM in hard drives that are built to deliver fast data transfer speeds. In terms of encryption options in internal hard disks, the basic models do not have any encryption, but high-security enterprise drives have SED-FIPS.
When we compare WD and Seagate portable HDDs, we find that the capacities range from 1TB to 9.9TB. Basic portable hard drives have USB 3.0 as the standard interface, while newer, faster models have USB-C interfaces. Users can find portable HDDs with different connector types, such as Micro-B, which is the old USB standard and is found in budget portable HDDs, to USB-C.
So, both WD and Seagate target a diverse range of users, from casual consumers to businesses. The focus with internal hard disks is on capacity and speed for gaming and enterprise use cases. The internal hard drives push for higher performance. With portable hard drives, both manufacturers offer enough options with different capacities and connection types to suit the needs of different users.
Next, we will give an overview of the HDD catalogs for both of these manufacturers across their internal and portable hard drive ranges.
WD Internal HDD Catalog (Consolidated)
| Model Name | Capacity Range | Notes |
| WD Red Pro NAS | 2TB - 26TB | High-performance NAS drive, optimized for 24/7 operation |
| WD Red Plus NAS | 2TB - 12TB | NAS-optimized HDD with enhanced durability |
| WD Blue PC Desktop | 500GB - 8TB | Standard desktop HDD for everyday PC use |
| WD Purple Pro Smart Video | 8TB - 24TB | Designed for AI-powered surveillance systems |
| WD Purple Surveillance | 1TB - 6TB | Optimized for security cameras and surveillance recording |
| WD_BLACK Performance Mobile | 500GB - 1TB | High-performance mobile HDD for gaming and workstation laptops |
| Ultrastar DC Series | 1TB - 32TB | Enterprise-grade HDDs for data centers, high reliability and endurance |
WD Portable HDD Catalog
| Model Name | Capacity Range | Notes |
| My Passport (USB-C) | 2TB - 5TB | Standard My Passport drive with USB-C support, good for modern devices |
| My Passport | 1TB - 6TB | Popular portable HDD, reliable for general use |
| WD_BLACK P10 Game Drive | 4TB - 5TB | Gaming-focused external HDD, optimized for performance |
| WD Elements Portable | 1TB - 6TB | Budget-friendly, plug-and-play portable HDD |
| My Passport for Mac | 2TB - 6TB | Mac-optimized portable HDD, pre-formatted for macOS |
| G-DRIVE ArmorATD | 1TB - 6TB | Rugged, durable drive for outdoor and travel use |
| WD_BLACK P10 Game Drive for Xbox | 2TB - 6TB | Xbox-optimized version of P10 Game Drive |
| G-DRIVE ArmorATD (Clearance) | 4TB | Clearance version of the rugged ArmorATD |
| My Passport Ultra (20th Anniversary Edition) | 2TB - 6TB | Premium edition of My Passport Ultra, stylish design |
Seagate Internal HDD Catalog
| Model Name | Capacity Range | Notes |
| Exos M | 30TB - 36TB | Enterprise-grade, extreme high-capacity storage |
| Exos X24 | 12TB - 24TB | High-performance enterprise HDD, optimized for large-scale data |
| SkyHawk | 1TB - 8TB | Optimized for surveillance, supports 24/7 recording |
| BarraCuda 3.5” | 1TB - 8TB | Standard consumer HDD for desktops, general use |
| SkyHawk AI | 8TB - 24TB | AI-driven surveillance storage, optimized for deep learning applications |
| BarraCuda 2.5” | 500GB - 5TB | Laptop HDD, suitable for portable computing and slim devices |
| FireCuda | 4TB - 8TB | Gaming-focused HDD, hybrid performance (SSHD-like) |
| Exos 2X18 | 16TB - 18TB | Enterprise-grade high-capacity drive with advanced caching |
| Exos 7E10 | 2TB - 10TB | Enterprise storage solution, high durability |
| Exos X20 | 18TB - 20TB | Data center-focused high-capacity drive |
| Exos X18 | 10TB - 18TB | Enterprise HDD for large storage applications |
Seagate Portable HDD Catalog
| Model Name | Capacity Range | Notes |
| Seagate Portable Drive | 1TB - 5TB | Standard portable HDD for general use, budget-friendly |
| Ultra Touch External Hard Drive | 2TB - 5TB | Security-focused, includes encryption & fabric design |
| Seagate Backup Plus Portable | 1TB - 5TB | Popular portable HDD with backup software support |
| Basic | 1TB - 5TB | No-frills external HDD, plug-and-play functionality |
| Expansion Portable | 1TB - 5TB | Affordable, high-capacity portable HDD |
| Photo Drive | 2TB | Designed for photographers, optimized for photo storage |
| One Touch External Hard Drive | 1TB - 5TB | Premium portable HDD with backup and security features |
WD vs Seagate HDD Comparison: Capacity, Speed, Reliability
In this section, we will compare Western Digital and Seagate HDDs on three key parameters: capacity, data transfer speed, and reliability and durability. For each of these categories, we will select one internal HDD and one portable HDD from each manufacturer. We have attempted to select hard drives for our comparison that can be considered state-of-the-art from that particular manufacturer.
WD vs Seagate – Capacity Comparison
Enterprise & High-Capacity Storage
Seagate’s Exos M (30TB-36TB) edges out WD’s Ultrastar DC HC690 (30TB-32TB) in terms of maximum capacity. So, for businesses with large-scale data storage, Seagate is a better option than WD because of their ability to manufacture high-capacity HDDs.
Consumer HDDs
Both WD and Seagate offer similar consumer-grade storage capacities. WD’s Blue PC Desktop is available in the 500GB-8TB storage capacity range. Seagate’s BarraCuda 3.5” (1TB-8TB) offers comparable alternatives. Interestingly, we did not find a 500GB option from Seagate in internal HDDs. In terms of portable HDDs, both WD and Seagate have comparable capacities, with the My Passport range from WD offering one terabyte to six terabytes, and the basic Seagate portable drive range offering capacities from one terabyte to five terabytes.
| Category | WD Internal | Seagate Internal | WD Portable | Seagate Portable |
| High-Capacity | Ultrastar DC HC690 (30TB-32TB) | Exos M (30TB-36TB) | My Passport (1TB-6TB) | Seagate Portable Drive (1TB-5TB) |
| Consumer Grade | WD Blue PC Desktop (500GB-8TB) | BarraCuda 3.5” (1TB-8TB) | My Passport (1TB-6TB) | Seagate Portable Drive (1TB-5TB) |
WD vs Seagate – Data Transfer Speed Comparison
Western Digital has a dedicated hard drive for users who desire fast performance in the form of their WD Black Performance Mobile 500GB internal hard drive. It offers 227 megabytes per second data transfer speeds, which is much higher than the 160 megabytes per second speed offered by Seagate's Barracuda 2.5 inches one terabyte drive.
For both manufacturers, hard drives with higher capacities are available with a slightly lower data transfer speed of about 140 megabytes per second.
Similarly, even in the portable HDDs category, WD’s Black P10 offers 625 MB/s (or 5 GB/s) data transfer speed, which is many times more than the 137 MB/s offered in Seagate’s Ultra Touch portable HDD. So, for users who prefer high data transfer speeds, WD’s range is more impressive than Seagate’s.
| Category | WD Internal | Seagate Internal | WD Portable | Seagate Portable |
| Performance HDD | WD Black Performance Mobile (500GB) - 227 MB/s | BarraCuda 2.5” (1TB) - 160 MB/s (up to 5TB: 140 MB/s) | WD Black P10 (5Gb/s) | Ultra Touch (5TB) - 137 MB/s |
WD vs Seagate – Reliability & Durability Comparison
Reliability of NAS HDDs
Both WD and Seagate offer high-reliability NAS drives. Typically, the reliability of an HDD can be judged from parameters such as TB/year workloads and MTBF (mean time between failures).
Both WD and Seagate offer NAS-focused internal HDDs with comparable TB/yr workloads and MTBF. However, WD’s Red Pro NAS comes with design features that make it better for use in sensitive applications like NAS. Some of these features are multi-axis shock sensors and vibration mitigation, which can enhance stability in multi-drive environments.
Durability of Portable HDDs
WD’s G-Drive ArmorATD stands out with its shock resistance, IP54 rating (dust & water resistance), and crush resistance up to 1000 lbs. In comparison, we were not able to find any focused attention on durability features during our research of Seagate portable HDDs. In fact, even for the highest-priced Seagate portable HDDs, the product brochures and data sheets had no reference to durability features.
So, while WD and Seagate are comparable in terms of HDD reliability, WD is much more innovative in terms of durability in the portable HDD category.
| Category | WD Internal | Seagate Internal | WD Portable | Seagate Portable |
| NAS & High Reliability | WD Red Pro NAS (550TB/year workload, 2.5M hours MTBF)* | IronWolf Pro (550TB/year workload, 2.5M hours MTBF, optimized for NAS) | G-Drive ArmorATD (Crush-resistant, shock-resistant, IP54 rating) | Ultra Touch (TBD) |
* ‘Rated for 550TB/year workloads’ means a hard drive can handle transferring 550 terabytes of data annually without excessive wear, ideal for heavy-duty use like in servers. "2.5 million hours MTBF" stands for Mean Time Between Failures, indicating the average time a device is expected to operate before failing, based on statistical testing. Here, it suggests high reliability, with a failure expected after about 2.5 million hours across many units, not a single drive’s lifespan.
In the next section, we will focus on the most popular models of internal and portable HDDs from both WD and Seagate. We will compare them on Power Consumption, Warranty, and Security Features.
WD vs Seagate HDD Comparison: Power consumption, Security, and Warranty
For our comparison, we have identified the following models from WD and Seagate:
Internal HDDs:
- WD Blue PC 3.5”
- Seagate BarraCuda 3.5”
Portable HDDs:
- WD My Passport
- Seagate Basic
WD vs Seagate – Hard Drive Power Consumption Comparison
Internal hard drives connect directly to the power supply unit (PSU) inside desktops. This makes their power usage a factor in system energy consumption, heat output, and even component longevity.
Portable drives draw power directly from the device they’re plugged into (like a laptop or desktop) via USB. USB ports provide a fixed amount of power (typically 2.5W for USB 2.0 and up to 4.5W for USB 3.0+). Portable drives are designed to function within this limit, so their power needs are already optimized.
| Model | Power Consumption (W) – Read/Write |
| WD Blue PC 3.5” 4TB | 4.7 (at room ambient temp) |
| BarraCuda 3.5” | 3.7 |
| My Passport | N/A (USB-powered) |
| Seagate Basic | N/A (USB-powered) |
WD vs Seagate – Hard Drive Security Features Comparison
Basic internal HDD models like the WD Blue PC and Seagate BarraCuda 3.5” rely on the host system for protection. They don't have special built-in security features. However, both Western Digital and Seagate offer robust security in their enterprise-grade and external drive lines.
Key Points:
- WD Enterprise-Grade HDDs have features like error recovery controls and self-encrypting drives (SED).
- Seagate Exos Enterprise HDDs also offer strong security with self-encrypting drives and instant secure erase.
- WD My Passport (Consumer-Grade Portable HDDs) provides good security with 256-bit AES hardware encryption, password protection, and an auto-unlock option for secure access. This makes. WD My Passport a better alternative to the Seagate Basic Portable hard disk, which does not offer any security features.
- However, in the portable HDD category, Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Touch includes 256-bit AES encryption and password protection.
| Model | Security Features |
| WD Blue PC 3.5” 4TB | None (Relies on system security) |
| BarraCuda 3.5” | None (Standard models lack encryption) |
| WD My Passport | 256-bit AES hardware encryption, password protection, auto-unlock option, WD Security software |
| Seagate Basic | None (No built-in security features) |
WD vs Seagate – Warranty Comparison
A hard drive's warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship for a set period. Internal HDDs like WD Blue and BarraCuda typically have a 2-year warranty. Portable drives like My Passport and Seagate Basic offer a 3-year warranty. Please note that the warranty excludes damage from misuse or unauthorized modifications.
| Model | Warranty Details |
| WD Blue PC 3.5” 4TB | 2-year limited warranty |
| BarraCuda 3.5” | 2-year limited warranty |
| WD My Passport | 3-year limited warranty |
| Seagate Basic | 3-year limited warranty |
WD vs Seagate – Latest HDD Innovations: HAMR & Helium-Based Drives
As the demand for storage grows, both Western Digital and Seagate are investing heavily in new HDD technology. Among these technologies, the two key ones are HAMR (Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording) and helium-sealed drives. There are slight differences in the strategies of both manufacturers and the progress they've been able to achieve in both of these innovations. Here is an overview:
HAMR Technology
HAMR uses a laser to heat the surface of the disk inside the hard drive. The purpose of doing this is to reduce the resistance of the disk to data being written to it. HAMR allows for smaller and more stable magnetic grains, which enables manufacturers to achieve higher storage densities on the disks inside a hard drive.
Western Digital plans to introduce HAMR-based hard drives by late 2026 or early 2027. These hard drives are expected to be 36 terabytes to 44 terabytes in capacity. They also target 80 terabyte-plus drives by 2030 by progressing from HAMR to Heat-Assisted Dot Magnetic Recording (HDMR) technology.
Seagate has been able to progress faster than Western Digital in HAMR deployment. Their Mozaic 3+ platform allows densities above 3TB per platter. The Exos M32TB hard disk already uses HAMR technology. Seagate expects to launch fifty terabyte models using this technology by 2028.
Helium-Based HDDs
In helium-filled drives, helium is used instead of air. This reduces friction between the components, allows for more platters per drive, and lowers the power consumption of the drive.
Western Digital's Ultrastar DC HC520 series already uses HelioSeal technology. Hard drives of up to 12 terabytes storage with a 2.5M-hour MTBF rating are available from Western Digital.
Seagate also uses this technology in its Exos series hard drives, with capacities ranging from 10 terabytes to 18 terabytes. For some Exos series hard drives, Seagate offers a 5-year warranty, which is testimony to the success of helium-filled drives in reliability.
Overall, Seagate is leading in HAMR adoption while WD is still developing that technology. In helium-based drives, both brands offer high efficiency and high reliability models, but Seagate offers larger capacities. It seems that Seagate has the edge in terms of innovation in the latest hard drive technologies over Western Digital.
WD Vs Seagate: Overview of Market Share
Market share data for hard drives is fragmented, but it provides a clear picture of how Western Digital and Seagate compete across different segments.
- External HDDs: In Q2 2024 Seagate led the market with a 49% share, while WD followed at 37%. Seagate’s advantage comes from its affordable, high-capacity drives. However, WD saw strong growth of 28% from the previous quarter, indicating intense competition.
- Surveillance HDDs: WD leads with 48%, compared to Seagate’s 37%. This highlights WD’s expertise in adding high-end security features to its HDD products.
- Enterprise HDDs: WD dominates this segment with a 60% market share, reinforcing its strength in high-reliability business storage solutions.
Conclusion
In this comparative guide, we saw that both Western Digital and Seagate offer diverse HDD options tailored to different needs.
For general consumers, both brands provide reliable desktop and portable HDDs, but they prioritize different aspects:
- WD focuses more on security and specialized use cases.
- Seagate prioritizes capacity and affordability.
Choosing between them depends on whether you value performance, reliability, or storage size. Ultimately, the right choice between WD and Seagate depends on how well you understand your usage needs and how they will evolve over the next five years.
Choose wisely to ensure you avoid unexpected data loss and the need for expert data recovery services.
For more tips on troubleshooting Seagate external hard drives, see our guides on Seagate External Hard Disk Light Not Blinking and Seagate Backup Plus Slim 1TB Not Detected.
If you're facing issues with WD hard drives, check out How To Recover Data From WD Blue Hard Drive Not Recognized and How To Fix WD My Passport Hard Drive Not Detected.
WD vs SEAGATE: FAQ Answers
The reliability and lifespan are one of the most important factors when comparing Seagate vs Western Digital hard drives. Yes, factors like speed are important. But the more reliable the hard drive is, the lesser the chances of drive failure.
On a comparative study of various parameters, WD’s WD Gold Enterprise Class SATA HDD is found to be the most reliable HDD.
The rated AFR is a good indicator. Lower the FR, the better it is. WD’s hard drives’ AFR was found to be lower than that of comparable Seagate HDDs.
The typical lifespan of hard drives is 3-5 years. This is especially so in the case of external hard drives. So in case you're storing sensitive information in your hard drive, it’s best to make a backup of it.
Hard drives are made of magnetic fields. These wear down over time when it’s not used. So yes, hard drives can fail if they’re not used regularly.
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