Brandwave

How popular isWestern Digital?

In September 2026, people searched for Western Digital by name about 370 times in New Zealand, a 17.8% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 19.4% of all New Zealand hard drive brand searches, placing Western Digital third out of three brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about hard drive brands, Western Digital appeared in four of the five answers and was the most recommended of the three.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Western Digital is the third most searched of 3 competitors and the most recommended in AI answers.

  1. SeagateShare of searches 44.4%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. SamsungShare of searches 36.1%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  3. Western DigitalShare of searches 19.4%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
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Top hard drive brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Western Digital was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Western Digital is the most recommended of the three.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Western Digital1st
  2. Seagate2nd
  3. Samsung3rd

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Seagate5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Western Digital4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Samsung1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about hard drive brands

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Which hard drive brands compete with Western Digital?

Western Digital against hard drive brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Seagate, Samsung, Western Digital. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthSeagateSamsungWestern Digital
Oct 202545.3%33.3%21.4%
Nov 202543.1%35%21.9%
Dec 202549.3%33.8%16.9%
Jan 202648.1%24.4%27.5%
Feb 202643%21.5%35.6%
Mar 202643.9%29.5%26.5%
Apr 202645.7%30.2%24%
May 202651.4%22.5%26.1%
Jun 202647.7%24.6%27.7%
Jul 202641%33.3%25.6%
Aug 202643.5%36.6%19.8%
Sep 202644.4%36.1%19.4%

  1. 1.Seagate

    44.4%

    Held 1st. 480 estimated branded searches, -15.8% vs prior month. Share +0.9 points.

  2. 2.Samsung

    36.1%

    Held 2nd. 390 estimated branded searches, -18.8% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  3. 3.Western Digital

    19.4%

    Held 3rd. 210 estimated branded searches, -19.2% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

Compare popularity between Western Digital and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Western Digital

8 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Western Digital changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Western Digital in New Zealand fell from 450 to 370.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Western Digital’s share of searches among hard drive brands in New Zealand decreased from 21.4% to 19.4%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Western Digital’s share of searches among hard drive brands in New Zealand peaked at 35.6% in February 2026 and was lowest at 16.9% in December 2025.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand hard drive brands in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, Seagate gained share of searches among hard drive brands in New Zealand, from 43.5% to 44.4%.

  2. In September 2026, Samsung lost share of searches among hard drive brands in New Zealand, from 36.6% to 36.1%.

  3. Western Digital’s share of searches among hard drive brands in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 27.7% to 19.4% in September 2026.

How are Western Digital’s branded searches counted?

6 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Western Digital’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • wd hard drive
  • western digital
  • western digital disk
  • western digital ssd
  • westerndigital
  • westerndigital ssd

Do you work for Western Digital? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does Western Digital compete?

Western Digital is ranked in two competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Storage drive and memory card brands5th of 80.13%Show ranking
Hard drive brands3rd of 319.4%Shown above
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