Seagate Breaks Storage Barriers With 32TB SkyHawk AI, Exos, and IronWolf Pro Drives

Seagate has significantly raised the bar for high-capacity storage with its simultaneous release of 32TB hard drives across three professional product lines: the Exos for data centers, IronWolf Pro for NAS systems, and SkyHawk AI for surveillance applications. All models leverage Seagate's Mozaic 3+ platform featuring heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) technology, previously deployed in enterprise 30TB models but now extending to broader professional markets.

The technological breakthrough stems from Seagate's plasmonic laser writer, which heats microscopic recording areas on conventional magnetic recording (CMR) platters. This enables unprecedented areal density - packing more data into the same physical space. While all three series share core Mozaic 3+ architecture including helium-filled enclosures and 2.5-million-hour MTBF ratings (rated for 550TB/year workloads), Seagate has optimized firmware and electronics for distinct workloads.

SkyHawk AI ($699.99) targets intelligent surveillance systems, prioritizing video stream handling with sustained transfer rates up to 285MB/s. Its AI-optimized firmware processes multiple high-resolution video feeds simultaneously while maintaining moderate power consumption (8.2W average). Compared to previous 22TB SkyHawk models, this 45% capacity jump reduces per-TB costs significantly for security installations requiring massive retention periods.

Exos X Series ($729.99) caters to hyperscale data centers where power efficiency dominates purchasing decisions. Seagate tuned these drives for minimal watt-per-terabyte consumption during 24/7 operations. When benchmarked against earlier 30TB Exos models, the 32TB variant delivers 6.6% more capacity within identical power envelopes – crucial for operators managing thousands of drives.

IronWolf Pro ($849.99) commands a price premium for NAS-specific enhancements. Its AgileArray firmware incorporates RV sensors to dampen vibration in multi-drive enclosures, while advanced error recovery controls prevent NAS array drops during rebuilds. The 32TB model doubles the maximum capacity of 2023's IronWolf Pro line, offering significantly faster volume rebuild times than shingled magnetic recording (SMR) alternatives.

For context, these drives compete against Western Digital's 26TB Ultrastar DC HC690 (HAMR) and Toshiba's 22TB MG10 series (CMR). Seagate's 32TB offerings provide 23-45% more raw capacity than current alternatives, though direct performance comparisons require independent testing. All three Seagate models ship January 14, 2026 via authorized retailers including Amazon.

Practical Recommendations:

• Surveillance integrators should prioritize SkyHawk AI for NVR systems handling 64+ cameras
• Data center operators will find Exos models deliver the best $/TB/watt metric
• NAS users requiring maximum reliability should opt for IronWolf Pro despite its premium

While SSD prices continue falling, these mechanical drives dominate cost-sensitive bulk storage scenarios. At roughly 2.2 cents per gigabyte, Seagate's 32TB lineup establishes new benchmarks for high-density cold storage – though users should verify compatibility with existing enclosures given increased platter density and helium design.