It will be mandatory for PC makers to switch from hard disk drives to solid-state drives for all Windows 11 PCs launching in 2023. The information comes from publication Tom’s Hardware which reported that the Redmond-based tech giant is pushing OEMs to drop HDDs as their primary storage and instead shift to SSD.
Currently, a large number of Windows laptops come with hybrid storage systems that include a HDD as well as SSD. The former is used for bulk storage whereas the latter offers performance enhancements like fast loading times, data transfers etc. The report adds that the exact date of shifting from HDDs to SSD is not clear yet but Microsoft had plans of making it a requirement this year. The switch to SSDs is now likely pushed to the second half of 2023.
PCs with hybrid storage systems and only SSDs are quite costly. Apart from this, leading brands including Dell, HP, Lenovo, and more also offer affordable models with only HDD as the storage option. There are also models with eMMC storage for those on a tight budget.
The move to switch to SSD from HDD would result in increased prices of PCs as SSDs are expensive compared to the traditional spinning drives. The additional costs are likely to be transferred to the customers by raising the prices of the laptops and PCs.
Microsoft’s rival Apple already uses SSDs in its MacBook and Mac range of computers.
Related:
- Samsung’s T7 Shield SSD is a more durable version of the T7, starts at $143.99
- Lenovo Yoga AIO 7 desktop with 27-inch 4K display, Ryzen 7 5800H launched in India
- Windows 11 Android app support to soon expand to these countries
