While there are many hard drives that can work with the power from a traditional USB port, some special configurations make an external power supply mandatory. With the advancement of the USB Type C specification, that situation is changing, and one of the latest products to demonstrate it is the Innov8 external hard drive that Seagate will launch this month. In addition to doing away with the power supply, this drive will also offer a capacity of 8 terabytes.
The needs of each user vary according to their activity in front of the computer, but one thing is certain: the capacity of storage media must continue to grow. External hard drives gained particular prominence since all-in-one systems, laptops and hybrids traded expansion room for reduced volume, not to mention the fact that they can be moved from one system to another very easily. Of course, not everything is rosy. External hard drives with greater capacity also carry a higher power demand, which cannot be met by conventional USB connections. This forces manufacturers to add an extra power supply, further reducing the portability factor. With the USB Type C specification and the new Seagate Innov8 drive, all these details should be left aside.
From a technical standpoint, it is not the first 8-terabyte external hard drive, but Seagate has emphasized in its announcement that it is the first of its kind without a dedicated power supply, courtesy of a single USB Type C port on its casing. If my memory doesn't fail me, USB-C supports a maximum of 3A as long as it follows the rules of USB 3.1 and USB Power Delivery 2.0. The Seagate Innov8 is indeed USB 3.1, and it comes with its own certified cable, therefore there will be no issues regarding stability and safety.
If we follow the official specifications, the Seagate Innov8 measures 208 by 123.6 by 36 millimeters, weighs 1.5 kilograms, and its warranty is 24 months. The drive will hit shelves this month, and it is estimated that the average price will be around $350.
