The Seagate Innov8 uses a stylish enclosure to entice users to backup data to a massive 8TB desktop hard drive. The enclosure takes advantage of a single cable to provide both power and data transmission in a bid to simplify high-capacity external storage.

If there was ever an external hard drive to get excited about, the Seagate Innov8 is it. The product looks amazing with a theme reminiscent of the art deco era. I'm not talking about the building or interior designs, but the cars from the 1920's built by specialty coachbuilders with the large grill openings that swoop from one side to the other.
Form meets function with the Innov8; it's more than just a pretty box that holds legacy technology. The drive features USB Type-C technology that provides ample power and data throughput with a single cable. The Innov8 differs from other desktop external hard drives we've tested because it uses a single cable connection. Other solutions require an additional power source, usually a wall wart or a power brick, but who has an empty power plug next to a computer?
Seagate pushed the capacity envelope for the last two years and managed to reach higher areal density measurements, which provides more capacity, faster than the competing hard disk drive manufacturers. The push to 10TB (and soon 12TB) capacities have left the 8TB models a step behind the leading edge, but it provides a price point that is low enough for use in other categories, like external storage. The eight in Innov8 refers to the massive 8TB drive inside the system that provides a storage capacity boost to desktop systems.
Specifications
Seagate Innov8 8TB

$349.99
Amazon
Capacity
8TB
Connection
USB 3.1 Type-C
Length
208mm
Width
123.6mm

Seagate Innov8 8TB
Seagate doesn't disclose a lot of information on the Innov8 other than its size, weight, and type of data connection. Seagate nestled a 5,400-RPM ST8000AS0002 8TB HDD inside of the sealed case. Desktop hard drives require 12V power, in contrast to the 2.5" models that require just 5V. A 12V connection was not available directly until the USB 3.1 Type-C specification came about, and the 5-volt line didn't provide enough amps for a conversion. The new Type-C external connection provides ample power to utilize a 3.5-inch disk drive and other power hungry accessories.
The Innov8 weighs roughly three pounds, so it's not ideal for portable usage. It is small enough to travel if you have a briefcase, large travel bag or another similar carryall. I wouldn't want to lug it around in a purse or backpack, but it does fit.
Pricing And Warranty
There is only one model to discuss so we can drive right in. The Seagate Innov8 ships with a three-year warranty and sells for $329.99 at Newegg. Most resellers still carry the drive at the original $349.99 MSRP.
Accessory Package

Inside the box, you receive a USB 3.1 Type-C cable and a product manual that also covers the warranty terms. The software package is on the drive, and we'll examine it later in the review.
Packaging
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There is a market for price-conscious shoppers, but the Innov8 is not in that class. The Seagate Innov8 8TB external hard disk drive ships in premium packaging that reflects its premium price--this isn't a cookie cutter plastic box from Taiwan or China.
A Closer Look
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I haven't been to the Innov8 case manufacturing facility, but the enclosure looks like it was sand cast from aluminum like a Ferrari or Ducati engine. Seagate machined the sides to give a smooth, shiny edge that reminds me of the art deco era cars from the 1920s. The pictures don't do the drive justice; it really does look amazing.
A small machined face houses the USB Type-C connector. Type-C is reversible, so you can just plug and play with either side of the cable facing up. You will notice there is no power connector. USB 2.0 doesn't provide enough power for the drive and using the Innov8 with a legacy port is not an option.
Software Interface

We found the software already on the drive, and it has a simple-to-use executable file for Windows. Seagate also includes a similar setup file for MacOS in a DMG file. The drive also carries a warranty PDF. Seagate offers a special MacOS driver for the NTFS file system, but users have to download the driver from Seagate's website.

The software package is impressive, and you shouldn’t overlook it. The software provides two years of OneDrive services that include 200GB of cloud data storage. The OneDrive credit is worth $95 alone, which all but covers the cost of the hardware. The Seagate Dashboard handles data backup duty, but it doesn't stop there. The Dashboard also integrates with social platforms like Facebook and YouTube for easy multimedia file sharing. Lyve brings a NAS-like component to the Ultra Slim so you can share your content across all of your devices, even mobile platforms.