Western Digital releases new, larger Red Pro and Purple drives

Enlarge / Prices aren't yet announced for the new 16TB and 18TB Red Pro, which are expected to be available in October. (credit: Western Digital)

Earlier this month, Seagate announced an 18TB entry in its Ironwolf Pro lineup. Western Digital answered Wednesday morning with 18TB versions of its Red Pro and Purple consumer-targeted lines. The new 18TB Red Pro and Purple drives follow the company's first 18TB CMR drive, a Gold released in mid-July.

Both NAS (Network Attached Storage) drives—Seagate's Ironwolf Pro and Western Digital's Red Pro—are CMR drives and not the more performance-problematic SMR technology. Western Digital's announcement of the 18TB Purple did not mention either SMR or CMR at all, which we must assume means it is an SMR drive.

Seagate's 18TB Ironwolf Pro is available for ordering at select retailers now for $580 retail, but actual stock isn't expected until mid-October. Western 18TB Gold drives are available now for $593; the 18TB Red Pro and Purple drives are expected sometime in October, but no prices have been announced yet.