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Seagate Exos X16 vs WD Red Pro 12TB

Get the WD Red Pro. It's confirmed CMR.

Compared on 10 specs from the makers' datasheets and Backblaze's failure data, and a group only gets a winner when the gap between the two is clear-cut.

Side by side

SpecSeagate Exos X16WD Red Pro
Reliability Only the Seagate Exos X16 is in Backblaze's data
Backblaze failure rateLifetime, 95% interval in brackets 1.00% (0.93%–1.08%) No data
Warranty and workload Level
Warranty 5 years 5 years
Workload ratingReads and writes a year 550 TB/yr 550 TB/yr
Where it fits WD Red Pro wins
Line Data-centre NAS Pro
Rated NAS bays Not stated Any number
Recording Not stated CMR (better)
Noise and speed Level
Spindle speedFaster reads quicker, slower is quieter 7,200 rpm 7,200 rpm
Noise on the datasheetIdle / seeking, the maker's figure 28 / 32 dB 34 / 39 dB
Power The Seagate Exos X16 draws less at idle
Power at idleMaker's average 5 W (better) 6.1 W
Power in useMaker's average Not published 8.8 W

The Backblaze figures are lifetime annualised failure rates (Source: Backblaze), and we only call reliability when the two 95% intervals don't overlap.