Seagate SkyHawk AI 16TB vs Western Digital WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB
Western Digital WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB is at least the equal of the other on every measure that decides this, and ahead on at least one.
| Specification | SeagateSkyHawk AI 16TB | Western DigitalWD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity (GB) | 16000 | 16000 |
| Current best price | £609.00at Amazon.co.uk · captured 2026-09-14 | £575.00betterat Amazon.co.uk · captured 2026-09-13 |
| Price per TB | £38.06 | £35.94better |
| RPM | 7200 | 7200 |
| Cache (MB) | 256 | 512better |
| Form factor | 3.5-inch | 3.5-inch |
| Warranty (years) | 5 | 5 |
How these two compare
Sequential throughput
Seagate SkyHawk AI 16TB is rated 250 MB/s read and 250 MB/s write; Western Digital WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB, 262 MB/s read and 262 MB/s write. On a mechanical drive read and write track closely — platter speed and data density set the rate, not the direction — so it is the read figure that separates them, and Western Digital WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB carries the higher one.
Price
Seagate SkyHawk AI 16TB is £609.00 (£38.06 per TB); Western Digital WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB is £575.00 (£35.94 per TB).
Spindle speed
Seagate SkyHawk AI 16TB and Western Digital WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB both spin at 7200 RPM, so neither reaches data sooner than the other; at that shared speed the usual trade — quicker access against more power draw and noise — falls the same way for both.
Cache
Seagate SkyHawk AI 16TB ships with 256 MB of cache built in, Western Digital WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB with 512 MB. The buffer lets the drive take in a burst of writes before the platter catches up and keeps recently read data close — useful under mixed, stop-start load, less so for a single large copy.
Warranty
Seagate SkyHawk AI 16TB is warranted for 5 years, Western Digital WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB for 5. The cover is the maker's own commitment; a longer one usually signals a drive built for heavier duty, though it is the mechanism, not the paperwork, that has to last.
Which to buy
Against the other, Western Digital WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB is even or ahead on every tracked measure and behind on none, the one case where the choice needs no compromise.
Common questions about this pair
- Which is faster, Seagate SkyHawk AI 16TB or Western Digital WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB?
- Seagate SkyHawk AI 16TB is rated 250 MB/s read and 250 MB/s write; Western Digital WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB, 262 MB/s read and 262 MB/s write. On a mechanical drive read and write track closely — platter speed and data density set the rate, not the direction — so it is the read figure that separates them, and Western Digital WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB carries the higher one.
- Which costs less per terabyte, Seagate SkyHawk AI 16TB or Western Digital WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB?
- Seagate SkyHawk AI 16TB is £609.00 (£38.06 per TB); Western Digital WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB is £575.00 (£35.94 per TB).
- Should you buy Seagate SkyHawk AI 16TB or Western Digital WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB?
- Against the other, Western Digital WD Ultrastar DC HC550 16TB is even or ahead on every tracked measure and behind on none, the one case where the choice needs no compromise.