Western Digital Exits SSD Market; SanDisk to Handle Current and Future Products

Western Digital has reportedly taken a significant step by exiting the SSD market to focus solely on manufacturing HDDs for AI applications, marking the conclusion of a notable chapter.

Western Digital is handing over its SSD operations to SanDisk. This shift means popular lineups like WD_Black may soon be rebranded as SD_Black. It appears that the storage industry is facing challenges in making headway in consumer markets. Following in the footsteps of Solidigm, Western Digital, a prominent name in SSD manufacturing, has chosen to step away. As reported by TechSpot, Western Digital will channel its efforts towards its core strength—hard disk technology—while its SSD division is being transferred to SanDisk. Consequently, products like WD_BLACK will be produced by SanDisk rather than Western Digital, leading to the phasing out of the Western Digital brand in this segment.

This move comes as a surprise, especially for users who have a preference for Western Digital’s SSD offerings. WD has always been ranked alongside industry giants like Samsung and Crucial, known for their high-performing SSDs with impressive speeds. Witnessing this brand’s exit from the SSD scene is unexpected. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that WD products will vanish. Instead, SanDisk will oversee their production, likely maintaining the quality that consumers have come to trust.

While the specific reasons for Western Digital’s decision remain unclear, it appears that the company envisions a more promising future within the HDD market, particularly for AI-related demands. In a blog post some weeks back, WD’s CEO, Irving Tan, expressed optimism about an increase in HDD shipments, driven by market necessities. This is where the company will focus its energies moving forward, at least while the AI boom persists.

For the everyday user, with SanDisk now helming operations, we anticipate they will handle supply chain logistics, including after-sales service. Meanwhile, WD’s SSDs will undergo a rebranding, transitioning from using “WD” to “SD” in their naming—an intriguing development to watch. It’s fair to say that Western Digital has made a strong impact during its tenure in the SSD arena.