Accessories: 7 out of 10
On the one hand offering two years of backup recovery services for only $15 is impressive. On the other, it should be included (at least one years’ worth) for free, and the Desktop Expansion series does not come with any Adobe or Mylio free subscription offers. Mix in the usual odds ‘n’ sods, and the end result is a decent but not spectacular list of accessories.
Read performance: 23.5 out 25
Thanks to its faster rotational speed, faster onboard controller, and just plain better 3.5-inch Seagate Archive HDD the Seagate Expansion 8TB model is fast and stays fast for a very, very long time. We doubt many will be disappointed on this front.
Write performance: 34 out of 40
Unlike the read performance, the write performance of the Seagate Expansion 8TB is decent but not spectacular. This is because the Seagate Archive HDD v2 used relies upon Shingle Magnetic Recording technology which is noticeably slower than PMR. By the same token this drive is going to be faster than just about any 2.5-inch, USB powered external storage device available. As such it is good overall, but merely decent for its class.
Warranty: 6.5 out of 10
This is where the Seagate Desktop Expansion series misses a step or two. With only a 1-year warranty it is short. Considering drive failure rates are a classic bathtub curve… does it really matter? Some will say no, others will find the lack of reassurance (and peace of mind) to be disappointing.
Value: 19 out of 20
Overall the value the Seagate Desktop Expansion 8TB is pretty darn good. Yes there are few missteps, like no power button and a short warranty, but counteracting these minor to moderate issues is the low asking price. A price noticeably lower than the Seagate Archive HDD v2 housed inside goes for. With such a reasonable asking price it really is hard to not like this model.
Final Score: 81%
For some the great capacity combined with good to excellent performance is going to be winning combination. For others the short warranty, lack of on/off switch, and over-reliance on plastic will be this drives downfall. Either way, Seagate Desktop Expansion 8TB does deserve serious consideration as its asking price is awfully tempting.
