At the CEATEC 2008 in Japan, TDK showed off new density record, thus creating a benchmark for the world's highest surface recording density at 803GB/inch2, which exceeds Toshiba's highest density of 378Gbit/inch2.

This means that 260GB can be packed into 1.8-inch form factor hard disk drive. TDK uses its TMR (Tunneling Magnetoresistance) head prototype with perpendicular magnetic recording technology, which results in to more than 80 percent increase of the magneto resistance ratio.

Katsumichi Tagami, director of the SQ Research Center, TDK Technology Group mentioned, "We got a feeling that we will be able to achieve up to 1Tbit/inch2 with TMR elements."The TMR elements don't support reading at higher speeds as their resistance increases when downsized for higher track density. Hence, it's a possibility that CPP-GMR (Current Perpendicular to Plane-Giant Magnetoresistive) elements might replace the TMR elements to achieve the density of 1TB per square inch.

While storage has become vital for everyone, in few years to come, small form factor HDDs or SSDs with higher storage capacity can become mainstream. However, implementing researches to mainstream involves a lot of investment and risk, which companies usually resist. Nevertheless, in the long run, smaller HDDs with higher surface recording density will become necessity.