While all pre-built desktops and laptops come with a hard drive, it is not uncommon for users to look for a more mobile way to store their data rather than carrying their entire machine everywhere they go. External hard drives have long been the answer to this lack of mobility and, while many users already have their needs met by existing storage solutions, the technology industry’s constant push for devices that are bigger, faster, and cheaper continues as Seagate unveils the Innov8.
The Seagate Innov8 is first in its class in several ways. Its 8TB capacity is something rarely seen in portable external drives and the main reason for this has traditionally been transfer speed limitations. External hard drives usually connect through USB, and with the transfer rates of older USB 2.0 and even USB 3.0 standards, uploading and accessing such a massive quantity of data could become impractical.
Seagate has addressed this challenge by becoming one of the first manufacturers to fully embrace USB Type-C not only for data transfer, but also for power delivery. The Innov8 eliminates the additional power brick normally required for high-capacity external drives by being energy efficient enough to run entirely from a single USB Type-C connection.
Additionally, with the release of USB 3.1 and transfer speeds reaching up to 10Gbps, handling an 8TB external drive is no longer the overwhelming task it once was.
Aside from the technical specifications, the drive itself is visually impressive. Innov8’s premium all-aluminum enclosure is sturdy and well balanced, helping reinforce the durability and focused design of the device.
Many manufacturers, including companies like Apple, are beginning to move toward a future where a single connection type handles nearly everything, and USB Type-C appears positioned to become that standard. This transition is still expected to take several more years, but products like the Innov8 demonstrate how quickly the ecosystem is evolving.
Source: Seagate
