Western Digital Exits SSD Market; SanDisk Takes Over Current and Future Products

Western Digital has made a surprising move by stepping away from the SSD market to focus on hard disk drives (HDDs), particularly those tailored for AI applications. This marks a pivotal shift for the company, which has long been a prominent name in SSD technology.

Now, the operation of Western Digital’s SSDs will be transferred to SanDisk. This transition means popular series like the WD_Black will be produced by SanDisk under a possibly new name, SD_Black. It’s a notable turn of events for tech enthusiasts and consumers accustomed to Western Digital’s high-performance SSDs. The brand has been a strong competitor alongside giants like Samsung and Crucial, so witnessing its departure from this sector is a twist many didn’t anticipate.

Despite this change, Western Digital products won’t vanish from shelves. SanDisk will uphold the legacy, and consumers can expect the same level of quality in their SSDs. It’s reassuring to know that the excellence WD is known for will still be maintained under SanDisk’s management.

The reasons for Western Digital’s strategic pivot remain a bit of a mystery, but it seems the company sees a robust future in the HDD sector, particularly for AI workloads. In recent communications, CEO Irving Tan emphasized an anticipated rise in HDD shipments, bolstered by increasing demand in AI fields. This focus suggests that Western Digital is aligning its efforts with emerging market trends.

For consumers, the transition will mean that SanDisk will now manage production and distribution, ensuring continuity in support and services. The SSDs that once bore the “WD” label might soon feature an “SD” prefix, signaling a new chapter under SanDisk. It’s the end of an era, but one that reassures us of continued innovation and reliable storage solutions.