Brandwave

Samsung vs Western Digital:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Samsung had more branded searches than Western Digital among hard drive brands in New Zealand. Samsung had about 390 branded searches, while Western Digital had 210. Samsung made up 36.1% of all hard drive brand searches we track, and Western Digital accounted for 19.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about hard drive brands, Western Digital appeared in four of the five answers and Samsung in one. Western Digital was mentioned before Samsung in every answer.

Among hard drive brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Samsung, about 86% more searches than Western Digital

Samsung 390 searchesWestern Digital 210 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Western Digital, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Samsung in 1

Western Digital in 4 of 5Samsung in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Western Digital, named ahead of Samsung in every answer

Western Digital first in 4Samsung never first

Follow Samsung vs Western Digital and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

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. Samsung was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Western Digital was listed before Samsung in every answer.

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.

Is Samsung or Western Digital more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Samsung and Western Digital by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all three hard drive brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Samsung and Western Digital among hard drive brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for 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%

How has the Samsung and Western Digital comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 4 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Western Digital took it in January 2026, Samsung took it in March 2026, Western Digital took it in May 2026, Samsung took it in July 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Samsung’s share of searches among hard drive brands in New Zealand moved from 33.3% to 36.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 390.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Western Digital’s share of searches among hard drive brands in New Zealand moved from 21.4% to 19.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 250 to 210.

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

2 changes

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

  2. 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 branded searches counted?

4 search terms

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

Samsung

1 branded search term

  • samsung odyssey

Western Digital

3 branded search terms

  • western digital
  • western digital disk
  • westerndigital

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among hard drive brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.

Start free