Analysts attribute the shift in leadership to the growing demands of AI systems for data access speed.
In the first half of 2026, solid-state drives (SSDs) for the first time accounted for a larger share of the server market than hard disk drives (HDDs). According to the analytical department of OCS, SSDs accounted for 55% of sales in physical terms, compared to 45% for HDDs. A year earlier, the ratio was different: the share of solid-state solutions was 43%.
One of the reasons for the change in demand was the active adoption of artificial intelligence. AI systems require high computational resources and fast data access, so companies are increasingly equipping servers with high-performance SSDs.
From January to June, server SSD sales in units increased by 20% year-on-year. HDD sales, on the contrary, decreased by 5%. At the same time, the growth in demand for solid-state drives continues despite a noticeable increase in component prices. By the end of 2025, server SSDs were 80–100% more expensive than before the crisis period.
SSDs are primarily used for operating systems, databases, virtualization, and other information that requires fast access. HDDs maintain their position in tasks related to archives, backups, and storage of rarely used data.
OCS notes increased business interest in high-capacity SSDs — in particular, 7 and 15 TB models. According to analysts, the further spread of AI may support the trend of replacing server HDDs with solid-state drives.
