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

Western Digital is saying goodbye to the SSD market, choosing instead to pivot its focus to producing hard disk drives, specifically for AI-related applications. This shift marks a significant change in the company’s strategy.

Western Digital’s SSD business is being handed over to SanDisk, which is likely to lead to a rebranding of popular lines such as WD_BLACK to SD_BLACK. The storage sector seems to be facing challenges in capturing consumer interest, and Western Digital, a major player in the SSD arena, is stepping back. TechSpot reports that the company is now channeling its efforts into its core hard disk technology, with SanDisk taking over the SSD operations. Fans of WD’s high-performance SSDs, known for their speed alongside brands like Samsung and Crucial, might find this news unexpected. However, while the Western Digital name will no longer be present, SanDisk will continue to offer these products, so the quality is expected to stay the same.

The reasoning behind Western Digital’s withdrawal from the SSD sector isn’t entirely clear. Yet, the company seems optimistic about its future in the HDD market, particularly those used for AI purposes. CEO Irving Tan recently highlighted in a blog post that there’s a promising outlook for HDD shipments, given the growing market demands. It seems their focus will remain on HDDs as long as the AI boom continues.

For consumers, the transition of operations to SanDisk suggests that they will also handle areas like supply chain logistics and customer support. There’s also talk of a rebranding, switching “WD” to “SD” in product names, which might pique some interest. In conclusion, Western Digital has left a positive legacy in the SSD market, and its impact will be managed under SanDisk’s stewardship.