Seagate SkyHawkAI 16TB
Surveillance HDD
Part number ST16000VE000 · SkyHawkAI series · 3.5" SATA HDD. If your machine is listed below, this drive is officially supported — not a forum workaround.
Part of the Seagate SkyHawkAI series →
Check ST16000VE000 price on Amazon partner link
No series-level recording rating is on file for this part number yet — check the exact model for CMR vs SMR before buying it as a large cold copy (SMR is the one trait that makes a 16 TB+ backup copy painfully slow). The 3-2-1 guide and the backup tools encyclopedia cover what to schedule it with.
Compatibility verdict
It appears on the official compatibility lists of 287 machines and series — 79 Synology, 208 QNAP. This is a Surveillance-class drive: rated for heavier sustained workloads than desktop drives. It is a strong pick for a NAS running 24/7, large-array rebuilds or camera workloads, and enterprise lines are also the drives most widely listed across all five vendors' HCLs. No series-level recording rating is on file for this part number yet, so check CMR vs SMR on the exact model before buying for an array.
Compatible NAS models
Same-capacity alternatives
Other drives listed at 16 TB capacity, ranked by how many machines list them:
Quick answers
Is the ST16000VE000 officially compatible with my NAS?
It appears on the official compatibility lists of 287 machines and series — 79 Synology, 208 QNAP. Every machine page linked below shows the vendor's own list entry, refreshed daily.
Is the ST16000VE000 a good NAS drive?
This is a Surveillance-class drive: rated for heavier sustained workloads than desktop drives. It is a strong pick for a NAS running 24/7, large-array rebuilds or camera workloads, and enterprise lines are also the drives most widely listed across all five vendors' HCLs. No series-level recording rating is on file for this part number yet, so check CMR vs SMR on the exact model before buying for an array.
Can I use the ST16000VE000 for a 3-2-1 cold backup copy?
No series-level recording rating is on file for this part number yet — check the exact model for CMR vs SMR before buying it as a large cold copy (SMR is the one trait that makes a 16 TB+ backup copy painfully slow). The 3-2-1 guide and the backup tools encyclopedia cover what to schedule it with.
What are alternatives to the ST16000VE000?
At the same capacity, the most widely listed alternatives are Seagate ST16000NM001G (314 machines), Toshiba MG08ACA16TE (299 machines), Seagate ST16000NE000 (294 machines). The full ranked list is below.