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Seagate’s 30TB HAMR Hard Drives: What AI Data Center Builders Need to Know

Seagate’s 30TB Exos M and IronWolf Pro drives use Mozaic 3+ HAMR, but serve different systems. Here’s what the 2025 launch means for data-center and NAS buyers.
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Seagate announced global channel availability of 30TB Exos M and IronWolf Pro hard drives on July 15, 2025, positioning the Mozaic 3+ HAMR products for data-intensive storage, including AI infrastructure. The announcement’s $599.99 price for each 30TB model was a launch price in 2025—not a verified price today. The key distinction for buyers is deployment: Exos M is aimed at enterprise and data-center systems, while IronWolf Pro is the NAS-oriented model.

What Seagate announced

Seagate said its 30TB Exos M and IronWolf Pro drives were globally available through its online store and authorized resellers beginning July 15, 2025. The company announced 28TB versions alongside them. Its release connected the higher capacities to AI workloads and other data-intensive uses, including edge analytics and data-center deployments. These are Seagate’s stated use cases and rationale, not independent proof of performance or lower total cost of ownership. Seagate’s announcement does not establish current stock, a current selling price, or a listing at any particular retailer.

How the two 30TB drives differ

Drive Intended deployment Model number What to check before buying
Exos M 30TB Enterprise and data-center deployments ST30000NM004K Server, controller, and operating-system support for 30TB drives; workload and vibration requirements
IronWolf Pro 30TB NAS applications ST30000NT011 NAS compatibility list, maximum supported drive capacity, and workload requirements

The model numbers and reported specifications are included in Tom’s Hardware’s launch-day report. The two families are intended for different environments; their shared capacity and recording platform do not make them interchangeable in every system.

What HAMR does—and does not do

HAMR stands for heat-assisted magnetic recording. Seagate’s Mozaic 3+ platform uses the recording approach to increase areal density, allowing more data to fit on a disk. Seagate’s January 2024 description of Mozaic 3+ cited areal density above 3TB per platter and outlined a roadmap for further increases; roadmap targets should not be confused with shipped product capacities. Seagate’s Mozaic 3+ overview.

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#1 Best Overall
Seagate Exos 28TB Internal Hard Drive HDD - 3.5 in CMR SATA 6Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 512MB Cache, 2.5M MTBF - ST28000NM000C (Renewed)
  • MASSIVE 28TB CAPACITY – Store and manage enormous datasets with ease. Ideal for data centers, servers, NAS systems, cloud storage, and large-scale backup solutions.
  • ENTERPRISE-CLASS PERFORMANCE – 7,200 RPM spindle speed, SATA III 6Gb/s interface, and large cache deliver fast, consistent throughput for demanding 24/7 workloads
  • CMR TECHNOLOGY (CONVENTIONAL MAGNETIC RECORDING) – Designed for predictable performance, reliability, and compatibility in RAID and enterprise storage environments.
  • BUILT FOR 24/7 OPERATION – Engineered for continuous use with enterprise-grade durability, making it suitable for mission-critical applications and high-density storage arrays.
  • STANDARD 3.5” SATA FORM FACTOR – Seamlessly integrates into most enterprise servers, workstations, and NAS enclosures that support 3.5-inch SATA hard drives.

More capacity helps store large datasets in a given drive footprint. It does not, by itself, make a hard drive a low-latency device for compute or model-serving tasks. Seagate included an IDC analyst’s comments in its announcement describing high-capacity HDDs as strategic mass storage for AI development, rather than as low-latency storage. Capacity, performance, and workload fit are separate considerations.

Reported hardware specifications

Tom’s Hardware reported the 30TB models as 3.5-inch, 7,200 RPM, CMR drives with 512MB cache and a SATA 6Gbps interface. It also described their use of HAMR and a plasmonic writer. Those details are reported specifications; they are not independent testing results here. The report’s discussion of vendor benchmarks should likewise be read as attributed results, not as a separate comparative lab test.

Rank #2
Seagate Skyhawk AI 32TB Video Internal Hard Drive HDD – 3.5 Inch SATA 6Gb/s 512MB Cache for DVR NVR Security Camera System with in-House Rescue Services (ST32000VE000)
  • Video-optimized CMR drive up to 32TB for NVRs with AI for edge applications.
  • ImagePerfect AI firmware delivers zero dropped frames while supporting heavier workloads
  • Adapts intelligently with support for up to 64 HD video streams and 32 AI streams.
  • Peace-of-mind with SkyHawk Health Management and 3 years of in-house Rescue Data Recovery Services.
  • Designed for 550TB/year workloads and 2.5M hours MTBF, backed by 5-year limited warranty.

Will a 30TB drive work in your NAS or server?

Not necessarily. A 3.5-inch SATA drive may fit the bay and connect to a SATA interface, yet the NAS, server, controller, or operating system may still have a limit that prevents it from addressing a 30TB disk correctly. Check the exact host’s compatibility list and documented maximum drive capacity before purchase. The cited launch-day report specifically cautions that a storage system must support 30TB drives.

  • Find the exact NAS or server model and hardware revision.
  • Check the manufacturer’s drive-compatibility list for the specific Exos M or IronWolf Pro model.
  • Confirm the system, controller, and operating system can address a drive of at least 30TB.
  • Match the drive family to the workload and environment; do not choose on capacity alone.
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Launch pricing and the later capacity roadmap

Seagate listed a July 2025 launch price of $599.99 for each 30TB model and $569.99 for the 28TB versions. These are historical launch prices, not confirmed October 2026 prices or evidence of current availability. Check a seller’s current listing and stock independently.

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Rank #3
Seagate Exos 26TB Internal Hard Drive HDD - 3.5 in CMR SATA 6Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 512MB Cache, 2.5M MTBF (ST26000NM000C) (Renewed)
  • 26TB ultra-high capacity for large-scale storage
  • 7,200 RPM for sustained enterprise workloads
  • SATA 6Gb/s interface for wide system compatibility
  • Enterprise-class reliability for continuous operation
  • High workload rating for data-intensive applications
Announcement Capacity or milestone Status described at the time
July 15, 2025, Seagate 30TB Exos M and IronWolf Pro Global channel availability announced
January 21, 2025, Seagate Exos M capacities up to 36TB Samples announced, not the same as a generally available 36TB retail product
March 3, 2026, Seagate Mozaic 4+ Seagate said the platform was qualified and in production with two hyperscale cloud providers

The January milestone was an announcement about Exos M samples, while the March 2026 statement concerned a later platform’s qualification and production with two hyperscale cloud providers. Neither changes what Seagate announced as available in the 30TB Mozaic 3+ launch. See Seagate’s January 2025 36TB announcement and its March 2026 Mozaic 4+ announcement for the distinct milestones.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 2
Seagate Skyhawk AI 32TB Video Internal Hard Drive HDD – 3.5 Inch SATA 6Gb/s 512MB Cache for DVR NVR Security Camera System with in-House Rescue Services (ST32000VE000)
Seagate Skyhawk AI 32TB Video Internal Hard Drive HDD – 3.5 Inch SATA 6Gb/s 512MB Cache for DVR NVR Security Camera System with in-House Rescue Services (ST32000VE000)
Video-optimized CMR drive up to 32TB for NVRs with AI for edge applications.; ImagePerfect AI firmware delivers zero dropped frames while supporting heavier workloads
$1,339.99
Bestseller No. 3
Seagate Exos 26TB Internal Hard Drive HDD - 3.5 in CMR SATA 6Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 512MB Cache, 2.5M MTBF (ST26000NM000C) (Renewed)
Seagate Exos 26TB Internal Hard Drive HDD - 3.5 in CMR SATA 6Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 512MB Cache, 2.5M MTBF (ST26000NM000C) (Renewed)
26TB ultra-high capacity for large-scale storage; 7,200 RPM for sustained enterprise workloads
$809.99
Bestseller No. 4
Seagate 32TB IronWolf Pro Internal NAS Hard Drive | SATA (ST32000NT000)
Seagate 32TB IronWolf Pro Internal NAS Hard Drive | SATA (ST32000NT000)
32TB of high-capacity storage optimized for rich media and analytics; Accelerates decision support workloads with sustained performance
$1,399.99
Bestseller No. 5
Seagate Exos ST28000NM001C 28TB 7200 RPM SATA 6Gb/s 512e 3.5in Enterprise Hard Drive (Renewed)
Seagate Exos ST28000NM001C 28TB 7200 RPM SATA 6Gb/s 512e 3.5in Enterprise Hard Drive (Renewed)
28TB Massive Enterprise Capacity; 7200 RPM Performance; SATA 6Gb/s Interface; 512e Sector Format 3.5-Inch Enterprise Form Factor
$839.99
Best Value
Seagate Exos ST28000NM001C 28TB 7200 RPM SATA 6Gb/s 512e 3.5in Enterprise Hard Drive (Renewed)
  • 28TB Massive Enterprise Capacity
  • 7200 RPM Performance
  • SATA 6Gb/s Interface
  • 512e Sector Format 3.5-Inch Enterprise Form Factor
  • 2.5M-hours MTBF enterprise rating
Rank #4
Seagate 32TB IronWolf Pro Internal NAS Hard Drive | SATA (ST32000NT000)
  • 32TB of high-capacity storage optimized for rich media and analytics
  • Accelerates decision support workloads with sustained performance
  • Engineered for 24×7 availability in high-demand enterprise environments
  • Delivers efficiency at scale for AI, machine learning, and big data systems
  • Includes a 5-year limited warranty for long-term data confidence

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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