Compare WD Red Plus vs Red Pro – when you should you it?

Compare WD Red Plus vs Red Pro

Compare WD Red Plus vs Red Pro – when you should you it? These drives add value to your business by enabling your employees to quickly share their files and back-up folders reliably in your NAS solution. They are ideal for archiving and sharing, as well as RAID array rebuilding on extended operating systems such as ZFS or other file systems.

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Specifications – WD Red Plus vs Red Pro

WD Red Plus

Capacity: 10 TB
Cache Size: 256 MB
Disk Speed (RPM): 7200rpm
Interface: SATA
Cache Size (MB): 256MB
Transfer Rate: up to 215MB/s
Compatibility: Designed with CMR technology for small or medium-sized businesses in RAID-optimized NAS systems with up to 8 bays. Perfect for handling increased workloads, including expanded OS compatibility and ZFS.

Recording Technology: CMR
Dimensions (L x W x H): 5.787″ x 4″ x 1.028″

WD Red Pro

Capacity: 10 TB
Cache Size: 256 MB
Disk Speed (RPM): 7200rpm
Interface: SATA
Transfer Rate: up to 265MB/s
Compatibility: Designed with CMR technology for medium or large-sized businesses in RAID-optimized NAS systems with up to 24 bays. Perfect for archiving, sharing and handling high-intensity workloads.

Recording Technology: CMR
Dimensions (L x W x H): 5.79″ x 4″ x 1.03″

Product numbers

WD Red™ Plus NAS Hard Drive 3.5″

  • 1 TB WD10EFRX
  • 2 TB WD20EFZX
  • 3 TB WD30EFZX
  • 4 TB WD40EFZX
  • 6 TB WD60EFZX
  • 8 TB WD80EFBX
  • 10 TB WD101EFBX
  • 12 TB WD120EFBX
  • 14 TB WD140EFGX

WD Red Pro NAS Hard Drive

  • 2 TB , 64 MB WD2002FFSX
  • 4 TB , 256 MB WD4003FFBX
  • 6 TB , 256 MB WD6003FFBX
  • 8 TB , 256 MB WD8003FFBX
  • 10 TB , 256 MB WD102KFBX
  • 12 TB , 256 MB WD121KFBX
  • 14 TB , 512 MB WD141KFGX
  • 16 TB , 512 MB WD161KFGX
  • 18 TB , 512 MB WD181KFGX

What is good in WD Red Plus vs Red Pro?

Exclusive NASware™ 3.0 Technology

Our exclusive advanced firmware, NASware 3.0 improves storage performance by increasing compatibility, integration, upgradeability, and reliability for NAS systems operating under heavy demand.


For Small or Medium Business

Stream, backup, share, and organize your digital content with a NAS and WD Red Plus drives designed to effortlessly share content with the devices at your home or busi-ness

8TB storage capacity

Provides ample storage space for your documents, movies, and other files. The 7200 rpm spindle speed ensures standard read/write times.

3D Active Balance Plus

Our enhanced dual-plane balance control technology significantly improves the overall drive performance and reliability. Hard drives that are not properly balanced may cause excessive vibration and noise in a multi-drive system, ultimately reducing their lifespan.

NASware 3.0 technology

Enables seamless integration, robust data protection, and optimal performance for NAS systems operating under heavy demand.

Error Recovery Prevention

WD Red Plus drives come equipped with error recovery controls as part of NASware 3.0 technology to help reduce drive fallout in RAID applications.

Native Command Queuing (NCQ)

Organizes incoming commands in a more efficient order to complete tasks quickly.

CMR technology

Perfect for handling increased workloads, including expanded OS compatibility and ZFS.

High levels of reliability

Made for the 24/7 environment of a NAS or RAID system.

256MB cache buffer

Offers rapid processing speeds.

Error recovery controls

Help reduce failures within the NAS system.

3D Active Balance Plus

Reduces noise and vibration present in a multibay NAS system environment.

Small or medium business ready

Gives you the flexibility, versatility, and confidence in storing and sharing your precious home and work files.

Differences – WD Red Plus vs Red Pro

WD 2TB Red Plus 5400 rpm SATA III 3.5″ InternalWD 2TB Red Pro 7200 rpm SATA III 3.5″ Internal NAS
Drive Capacity2.0 TB2.0 TB
Cache Memory64 MB64 MB
InterfaceSATA III (6 Gb/s)SATA III (6 Gb/s)
Maximum Read Speed147 MB/sNot Specified
Maximum Write Speed147 MB/sNot Specified
Sequential Read SpeedNot Specified164 MB/s
Sequential Write SpeedNot Specified164 MB/s
Drive TypeHDDHDD
Form Factor3.5″3.5″
Noise Level24.0 dB (Active)
23.0 dB (Idle)
31.0 dB (Active)
29.0 dB (Idle)
Spindle Speed (RPM)5400 RPM7200 RPM
Endurance (Total Bytes Written)180 TB300 TB
Power Draw4.1 W (Active)
2.7 W (Idle)
0.4 W (Standby)
7.8 W (Active)
6.0 W (Idle)
1.4 W (Standby)
Operating Shock65 G / 2.0 ms30 G / 2.0 ms
Storage Shock250 G / 2.0 ms300 G / 2.0 ms
Operating Temperature32 to 140°F / 0 to 60°C32 to 149°F / 0 to 65°C
Storage Temperature-40 to 158°F / -40 to 70°C-40 to 158°F / -40 to 70°C
Dimensions (W x H x D)4 x 1.03 x 5.79″ / 101.6 x 26.1 x 147 mm4 x 1 x 5.8″ / 101.6 x 25.4 x 147.32 mm

Compare WD Red Plus vs Red Pro vs Seagate IronWolf NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD

Western Digital 2TB WD Red Pro NAS Internal Hard Drive HDDWestern Digital 4TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDDSeagate IronWolf 8TB NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD
Cache Memory Installed Size64.00128.0256
Digital Storage Capacity2 TB4 TB8 TB
Hard Disk Rotational Speed7200 rpm5400 rpm7200 rpm
Hard Disk Size2.0 TB4 TB8 TB
Hard Disk Form Factor3.50 inches3.50 inches3.50 inches
Hardware InterfaceSATA 6.0 Gb/sSATA 6.0 Gb/sSATA 6.0 Gb/s
Item Dimensions6.1 x 4.33 x 1.18 inches5.79 x 4 x 1.03 inches
Item Weight1.50 lbs1.32 lbs
Size2TB4TB8TB

When should I buy a WD Red Pro NAS Drive?

WD Red for Small Business

Should you buy WD Red Pro Drives or Ordinary WD Red NAS drives - Featuring the 3

 Businesses thrive on productivity and efficiency – two of the guiding principles built into the design of WD Red. It’s the hard drive of choice for 1 to 8 bay systems. NASware 3.0 allows for seamless integration with your existing network so WD Red can share and backup files at the speed of your business. And for larger businesses with up to 16 bays, count on WD Red Pro.

WD Red for Home

Should you buy WD Red Pro Drives or Ordinary WD Red NAS drives 5

 Stream, backup, share and organize your digital content at home with a NAS and WD Red drives designed to effortlessly share content to the devices in your home. Red NASware increases your drives’ compatibility with your devices, TV, stereo and more. Live in a connected world. So for those looking for a discreet and small NAS solution for home and media use, the you should stick with the standard WD Red series of Hard Drives. 

WD Red Pro for Big Business

Should you buy WD Red Pro Drives or Ordinary WD Red NAS drives - Featuring the

 If you’re looking for maximum performance in a heavy use NAS, WD Red Pro delivers the same exceptional performance for the business customer. For NAS environments with 8 to 16 bays, WD Red Pro is designed to handle an increase in workload and comes with a 5-year limited warranty.

Customer reviews

Solid NAS Drive

Picked this up after a drive died suddenly in my NAS box. Generally speaking have been very happy with the drive. My one hesitation is that this particular drive runs at ~52C versus my other 3 WD NAS 8 TB drives which are all running 47C-49C. Not significant and likely just fine, but being this is the only new drive, hoping there aren’t any long term reliability issues that will be associated with the slightly higher operating temperature.

By KBoer at Best Buy on WD Red Plus 8TB Internal SATA NAS Hard Drive for Desktops

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