Huawei's OceanStor Arctic: Could Magneto‑Electric Drives Revolutionize Data Storage?

Huawei has announced a new ultra‑precise storage device called OceanStor Arctic, which uses magneto‑electric disk (MED) technology.

Compared with traditional hard‑disk drives and tape, the MED‑based system promises over 10 PB of rack capacity while consuming less than 2 kW of power, potentially cutting total cost of ownership by 20% and reducing power usage by up to 90%.

The company has not disclosed detailed technical specifications, but reports suggest the technology could be mass‑produced and may hit the market in the first half of 2025.

For context, a typical 42U rack equipped with 288 30 TB HAMR drives stores about 8.64 PB and draws roughly 2.88 kW, whereas a 4U server with 100 drives can hold 3 PB at 1 kW, highlighting the significant power savings claimed by Huawei’s MED solution.

The MED principle relies on the magneto‑electric effect, linking magnetic and electric properties of the material, though Huawei has not explained how it achieves the claimed 90% power reduction compared with conventional rotating‑media drives.

If realized, MED storage would represent a major milestone, as no comparable product currently exists in the global market.