18TB Lowest Index Median, 14TB Best Listing
This week's read: capacity medians and buyable listings split. 18TB is the lowest median $/TB capacity tier in the index, while the sharpest named row is Toshiba MG07 MG07ACA14TE 14TB refurb at ServerPartDeals for $369.00 ($26.36/TB). Capacity tiers are index medians; named rows are current buyable listings with condition data. Data through Oct 16, 2026.
Notable capacity moves
18TB is the lowest current median $/TB capacity tier in the index at $41.61/TB. No qualified capacity tier got meaningfully cheaper this week; 18TB stayed closest to flat at -0.9%. The lowest-median index tier is not the same as the cheapest named listing; use the tier view for market shape and the listing rows for actual buy decisions.
Current best-value drives
Current rows with clear condition data: Toshiba MG07 MG07ACA14TE 14TB refurb at ServerPartDeals for $369.00 ($26.36/TB); Seagate Exos ST25000NM000E 25TB recert at ServerPartDeals for $699.00 ($27.96/TB); Seagate Expansion STKP16000400 16TB new at Newegg for $449.99 ($28.12/TB); Seagate ST12000NM002G 12TB refurb at ServerPartDeals for $339.00 ($28.25/TB). If recertified or refurbished drives are off the table, compare against Seagate Expansion STKP16000400 16TB new at Newegg for $449.99 ($28.12/TB) and Seagate Expansion STKP28000400 28TB new at BestBuy for $849.99 ($30.36/TB). These are not interchangeable: condition and recording tech matter before the lowest $/TB row becomes a buyable recommendation.
Market lows
18TB has the lowest 30-day index median at $41.51/TB. Listing-level lows worth checking now: Seagate Expansion STKP16000400 16TB new at Newegg is at $28.12/TB; HGST Ultrastar HUH721212AL4200 12TB refurb at Newegg is at $29.58/TB. These rows are useful because the current listings are at or below their own tracked lows; high-priced historical lows are filtered out.