Seagate BarraCuda 2.5-inch 1TB
- Capacity:
- 1000 GB
- Height:
- 7mm
- RPM:
- 5400
- Recording Technology:
- SMR
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Manufacturer: Seagate Last updated: 2026-09-30
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Seagate BarraCuda 2.5-inch 1TB Review
The Seagate BarraCuda 2.5-inch 1TB (ST1000LM048) is a 7mm 2.5-inch SATA hard drive with 1TB of capacity, spinning at 5400 rpm with a 128MB cache.
It suits laptops with a 2.5-inch bay that need cheap bulk storage. It uses SMR recording, so it is a storage drive rather than a system drive.
Will it fit your laptop
At 7mm it fits every 2.5-inch laptop bay, including the thin 7mm bays in most laptops from the last decade. Your laptop needs a 2.5-inch SATA bay, and most laptops sold since 2020 have only M.2 slots. Many budget laptops ship with an empty bay but no SATA cable or bracket, so check both before ordering. Our laptop upgrade checker lists the laptops we know have a bay.
Speed and recording
It spins at 5400 rpm with a 128MB cache, and Seagate rates it at up to 140 MB/s sustained transfer. That is fine for storing and streaming files, and slow next to any SSD.
It uses SMR (shingled magnetic recording), which the datasheet states. Reads behave normally, but long continuous writes, such as copying a whole backup at once, slow down sharply once the drive's cache fills. For a photo, video or game library that is rarely a problem; as the drive Windows runs from, it is.
What to use it for
Use it as a second drive for bulk storage next to an SSD, not as the only drive. If 1TB is all you need, a 2.5-inch SATA SSD fits the same bay and is several times faster. Compare them in our SSD listings.
Other capacities in this series
- Seagate BarraCuda 2.5-inch 500GB (ST500LM030): 500GB, 7mm
- Seagate BarraCuda 2.5-inch 2TB (ST2000LM015): 2TB, 7mm
Our verdict
Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.
Best for
- Bulk storage in a laptop with a 2.5-inch bay
- Photo, video and game libraries
Not for
- Laptops with only M.2 slots
- Use as the main Windows drive
Specifications
| Brand | Seagate |
|---|---|
| Model Number | ST1000LM048 |
| Series | BarraCuda 2.5 |
| Release Year | 2016 |
| Form Factor | 2.5-inch |
| Height | 7mm |
| Capacity | 1000 GB |
| RPM | 5400 |
| Cache | 128 MB |
| Interface | SATA 6Gb/s |
| Recording Technology | SMR |
| Max Sustained Transfer Rate | 140 MB/s |
| Average Operating Power | 1.6 W read, 1.7 W write |
| Load/Unload Cycles | 600,000 |
| Weight | 90 g |
| Warranty | 2 Years |
FAQs
Will the ST1000LM048 fit my laptop?
Yes, if your laptop has a 2.5-inch SATA bay. At 7mm it fits both 7mm and 9.5mm bays.
Is it CMR or SMR?
SMR, per Seagate's datasheet.
How fast does it spin?
5400 rpm, with a 128MB cache.
What warranty does it have?
2 years.