- Conner returns to CES 2026 with portable storage instead of hard drives
- The former HDD pioneer is now targeting mobile users with SSD-based products.
- Long-missing repository name tests whether legacy brands matter
A familiar name from the early days of personal computing has suddenly popped up on CES 2026.
ConnerOnce the defining force in PC storage, it's back, albeit with a completely different set of products.
Conner Peripherals was founded in 1986 and became one of the most prominent storage device companies of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Work on compact hard drives helped make the 3.5-inch format the standard for desktop PCs.
Who could be next?
The company later faded from view as the hard drive industry consolidated and flash storage grew in popularity. For many years, the Conner name was largely absent from consumer equipment.
Conner at CES 2026 presented a line that is not aimed at traditional hard drives but rather portable digital storage.
The products shown are aimed primarily at mobile users rather than desktop systems.
The range includes small external drives designed for backing up data from a pocket-sized smartphone. portable solid state drivesand hybrid devices that combine data storage with battery charging.
Some models also come with card readers, allowing users to expand storage using MicroSD cards.
The company now appears to be focusing on convenience and portability rather than production capacity.
“Conner helped define the early era of personal data storage, and we are thrilled to bring that legacy back to life,” said Hasi Jin, CEO of Conner. “As digital content expands and mobility becomes more important, our mission remains the same as Conner's decades ago: to provide reliable, forward-thinking storage solutions that make it easy for people to protect and manage their data.”
In addition to appearing at CES 2026, the company plans to introduce some products through crowdfunding platforms, suggesting an initial focus on early adopters and creators rather than an immediate return to mass-market distribution.
How the firm's income will be generated remains to be seen. The storage market is crowded, competitive, and the Conner brand will likely be unfamiliar to many of today's consumers.
However, it does raise some interesting questions about whether other long-dormant storage brands might try to revive their products.
Names like Maxtor, Iomega and SyQuest once defined consumer storage, and it's hard not to wonder what a modern reboot of any of them might look like.
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