Recording technology for the WUH721816ALE6L4 is not stated in any WD document we have checked (WD Ultrastar DC data center drives, checked October 2026). The nearest model with a sourced answer is the WD161KFGX (CMR).
WUH - Ultrastar DC HC series, helium-filled. (Western Digital - Ultrastar model-number nomenclature)721816 - Capacity and generation field. The leading digits encode capacity in the family's own scheme; each model's own specification sheet states its exact capacity. (Western Digital - Ultrastar model-number nomenclature)ALE - SATA 6Gb/s interface, 512e sector format. (Western Digital - Ultrastar model-number nomenclature)6L4 - we have not found a WD document defining this segmentNearest model with a sourced answer: WD161KFGX (WD Red Pro 16TB, CMR). Listed for comparison only - two part numbers can use different recording methods, so its answer is not WUH721816ALE6L4's.
Part-number reference: WUH721816ALE6L4 — decoded segments, sibling variants and the warranty check. Live rankings this model belongs to: every 16TB hard drive. Product pages for this part number: WD Ultrastar 16TB SATA WUH721816ALE6L4 · WD DC HC550 16TB SATA 7200RPM Enterprise (no current offer) · WD Ultrastar DC HC560 16TB SATA (no current offer).
Checked, and it does not state this part number's recording technology: WD Ultrastar DC data center drives · Checked
Without a manufacturer document we can cite, we cannot tell you whether this drive shingles its tracks, and that is the field that decides whether it belongs in an array. Treat it as unverified rather than as probably fine: if the drive is going into a NAS or anything that rebuilds, buy a model whose recording technology is sourced. If it is a single drive holding replaceable data, the recording technology is largely academic and this is a reasonable purchase either way.
| Model number | WUH721816ALE6L4 |
| Brand | WD |
| Family | Ultrastar DC |
| Capacity | 16TB |
| Form factor | 3.5" |
| Rotational speed | 7200 RPM |
| Cache | 512 MB |
| Recording technology | — |
| Workload rate | — |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Status | Current |
| Replaced by | — |
A dash means we have not found a manufacturer document stating that field for this exact model. We leave it blank rather than filling it from a retailer listing.
We checked WD Ultrastar DC data center drives and it does not state this part number's recording technology, so we do not state one. The nearest model with a sourced answer is the WD161KFGX, which is CMR.
The recording technology is unsourced, so we cannot clear it for arrays either way. What the spec table does say: no stated workload rating and a 5-year warranty. For an array, prefer a 16TB drive whose recording technology is sourced, such as the WD161KFGX (CMR).