The WD Elements 16TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive Black costs $0.0168/GB while the WD Purple Pro 12TB 7200 RPM 512MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5' Internal Hard Drive - WD122PURP costs $0.0479/GB. WD Elements 16TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive Black offers 65% better value per gigabyte as of July 2026. Both products are available on BuyPerUnit with prices from Amazon, Best Buy, and Newegg.
WD Elements 16TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive Black vs WD Purple Pro 12TB 7200 RPM 512MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5' Internal Hard Drive - WD122PURP — Which Is Better Value?
WD Elements 16TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive Black
Specification Comparison
| Spec | WD Elements 16TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive Black | WD Purple Pro 12TB 7200 RPM 512MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5' Internal Hard Drive - WD122PURP |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Western Digital | Western Digital |
| Capacity | 16TB | 12TB |
| $/GB | $0.0168 | $0.0479 |
| Price | $268.94 | $575.00 |
| Retailer | Newegg | Newegg |
| Category | Hard Drives (HDD) | Hard Drives (HDD) |
| Subcategory | hdd | hdd |
Price Across Retailers
Which Should You Buy?
Based on current pricing data, the WD Elements 16TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive Black offers better value at $0.0168//GB compared to the WD Purple Pro 12TB 7200 RPM 512MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5' Internal Hard Drive - WD122PURP at $0.0479//GB — that's roughly 65% less per gigabyte.
The best deal for the WD Elements 16TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive Black is $268.94 at Newegg, while the WD Purple Pro 12TB 7200 RPM 512MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5' Internal Hard Drive - WD122PURP starts at $575.00 at Newegg.
However, price per gigabyte isn't everything — consider factors like warranty, performance specs, brand reliability, and your specific capacity needs. Check each WD Elements 16TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive Black and WD Purple Pro 12TB 7200 RPM 512MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5' Internal Hard Drive - WD122PURP product page for detailed specifications and price history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WD Elements 16TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive Black or WD Purple Pro 12TB 7200 RPM 512MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5' Internal Hard Drive - WD122PURP a better deal?
As of July 2026, WD Elements 16TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive Black offers better value at $0.0168//GB compared to WD Purple Pro 12TB 7200 RPM 512MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5' Internal Hard Drive - WD122PURP at $0.0479//GB. That is approximately 65% better value per gigabyte.
What is the price per GB of WD Elements 16TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive Black?
The WD Elements 16TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive Black is currently priced at $0.0168/GB ($268.94 for 16TB) at Newegg.
Where can I buy WD Purple Pro 12TB 7200 RPM 512MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5' Internal Hard Drive - WD122PURP for the cheapest price?
The cheapest price for the WD Purple Pro 12TB 7200 RPM 512MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5' Internal Hard Drive - WD122PURP is $575.00 at Newegg, which works out to $0.0479/GB.