The massive-capacity WD Purple Pro is purpose-built for modern surveillance systems.
Ahead of NAB 2025, Western Digital has introduced a new 26TB WD Purple Pro hard drive for high-capacity smart video solutions. As the largest capacity drive within this enterprise-class series, the 26TB model aims to address increasing storage demands driven by AI-enabled recorders, video analytics, and cloud-based systems. Built on an 11-disk platform, the 26TB WD Purple Pro HDD uses CMR technology to provide durable, high-performance storage for large-scale surveillance applications. With its enhanced capacity, the drive is geared towards managing extensive video data streams and maintaining reliable accessibility.
WD Purple Pro 26TB Features
The 26TB model has various features tailored to demanding video recording and AI analysis environments. Notably, the drive supports AllFrame AI technology, which enables compatibility with up to 64 single-stream HD cameras or 32 AI streams. This optimization helps reduce frame drops, ensuring critical video footage is captured and stored accurately.
Ideal for large-scale surveillance systems, the 26TB WD Purple Pro HDD is built to handle demanding workloads with a rating of up to 550TB per year. Its integration of Western Digital Device Analytics (WDDA) further enhances reliability by providing proactive drive health monitoring, enabling systems to address potential issues before they impact performance.
WD Purple Pro 26TB Design, Durability, and Performance
The WD Purple Pro series is built with OptiNAND flash-enabled technology, which enhances reliability by improving the integrity of data stored on the drive. Additionally, the use of tarnish-resistant components helps maintain performance in harsh environmental conditions, making it suitable for a wide range of deployment scenarios.
The device’s durability is highlighted by an MTBF of up to 2.5 million hours and a five-year limited warranty. This level of reliability is particularly crucial for applications that demand 24/7 operation, such as deep-learning servers and enterprise-level surveillance systems.
The 26TB WD Purple Pro HDD has a 512MB cache and a rotational speed of 7200 RPM, driving a maximum internal transfer rate of a quoted 287MB/s.
The drive’s power consumption is modest, with an average read/write power draw of 6.2 watts, idle power usage of 5.7 watts, and standby/sleep power consumption of 1.1 watts. The drive’s shock resistance can withstand up to 40Gs during operation and up to 200Gs when not in use.
WD Purple Pro 26TB Specifications
| Attribute | Specification |
| Model Number | WD260PURP |
| Formatted Capacity | 26TB |
| Form Factor | 3.5-inch |
| Interface | SATA |
| Recording Technology | CMR (Conventional Magnetic Recording) |
| Drive Technology | Helium-based |
| RV Sensors | Yes |
| RoHS Compliant | Yes |
| Firmware Feature Name | AllFrame AI |
| Maximum Drive Bays Supported | No Limit |
| Camera Support | Up to 64 HD cameras |
| AI Streams Supported | 32 |
| Cache | 512MB |
| RPM | 7200 |
| Interface Transfer Rate (Max) | 6Gb/s |
| Internal Transfer Rate (Max) | 287MB/s |
| Load/Unload Cycles | 600,000 |
| Annualized Workload Rate | Up to 550 TB/year |
| Non-Recoverable Read Errors | <1 in 10¹⁵ bits read |
| MTBF | 2,500,000 hours |
| Limited Warranty | 5 years |
| Power Consumption (Read/Write) | 6.2 W |
| Power Consumption (Idle) | 5.7 W |
| Power Consumption (Standby/Sleep) | 1.1 W |
| Operating Temperature Range | 5°C to 65°C |
| Non-Operating Temperature Range | -40°C to 70°C |
| Shock Resistance (Operating) | 40Gs (Read/Write) |
| Shock Resistance (Non-Operating) | 200Gs |
| Acoustic (Idle) | 25 dBA |
| Acoustic (Seek) | 32 dBA |
| Physical Dimensions (Height) | 1.028 in. / 26.1 mm |
| Physical Dimensions (Length) | 5.787 in. / 147 mm |
| Physical Dimensions (Width) | 4 in. / 101.6 mm |
| Weight | 1.48 lb / 0.67 kg |
As Western Digital celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Purple storage line, the release of the 26TB WD Purple Pro HDD stands out as a nice step forward in capacity, offering a reliable, purpose-built solution for modern surveillance and AI-driven environments.
Engage with StorageReview
Newsletter | YouTube | Podcast iTunes/Spotify | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | RSS Feed
