SanDisk rebrands WD Black SN8100 as Optimus GX Pro 8100

SanDisk’s transition away from the WD BLACK branding is now visible in U.S. retail channels.

The company previously announced it would phase out WD_BLACK and WD Blue SSD naming in favor of a new gaming-focused lineup under the SanDisk Optimus brand. The first high-end model in that shift — the Optimus GX Pro 8100 — has now appeared on Amazon.

Technically, however, this is not a new drive.

Same hardware, new branding

The Optimus GX Pro 8100 is effectively a rebranded WD Black SN8100. Publicly listed specifications — controller, NAND configuration, interface, and performance targets — match the previous model. There are no announced changes to endurance ratings or core architecture.

In practical terms, buyers should expect identical performance to the SN8100. The visible changes are cosmetic and branding-related.

Pricing is the real story

Where things diverge is cost.

On SanDisk’s official U.S. storefront, the Optimus GX Pro 8100 is listed at:

• $919 (2TB)
• $1,799 (4TB)

On Amazon, early listings show higher pricing:

• $499 (1TB)
• $999 (2TB)
• $1,949 (4TB)

That places Amazon pricing roughly 8–10% above SanDisk’s own direct listings, depending on capacity. Heatsink variants carry an additional small premium.

For comparison, WD Black SN8100 models have historically retailed at lower effective street prices, particularly once discounts were applied. In some retail channels, older 4TB inventory has been seen well below current Optimus pricing.

While official MSRPs for the new Optimus line appear modestly higher than prior WD pricing, the larger gap currently visible on Amazon likely reflects early retail markups rather than permanent pricing strategy. Street prices may normalize over time.

WD Black isn’t gone yet

SanDisk has confirmed that existing WD Black and WD Blue SSDs will continue to be sold until inventory is depleted. Warranty and support remain intact even after discontinuation.

This overlap creates a temporary value window.

If performance between the SN8100 and GX Pro 8100 is identical — and current specifications indicate that it is — discounted WD Black inventory may offer better price-to-performance while supplies last.

More Optimus models on the way

SanDisk has also announced:

• Optimus GX 7100 (successor to WD Black SN7100)
• Optimus 5100 (successor to WD Blue SN5100)

The shift signals a broader consolidation of SanDisk’s consumer SSD branding under a single gaming-focused identity.

What this means for buyers

1. From a performance standpoint, nothing changes.
2. From a pricing standpoint, timing may matter.

Early adopters paying launch pricing for Optimus drives are not receiving upgraded hardware over the previous WD Black generation. Buyers primarily concerned with performance per dollar may find better value in remaining WD inventory while it is still available.

Longer term, final street pricing — not initial Amazon listings — will determine how competitive the Optimus line becomes in a PCIe Gen 4 and Gen 5 market that already includes aggressive pricing from Samsung, Crucial, and Solidigm.