What is a disadvantage of traditional hard drives when compared to solid state drives?

Traditional hard drives, often referred to as hard disk drives (HDDs), use mechanical components such as spinning disks and read/write heads to access data. This mechanical nature makes them more susceptible to physical damage, especially from drops or impacts, which can lead to data loss. In contrast, solid state drives (SSDs) do not have moving parts and use flash memory to store data, making them inherently more robust and resistant to physical damage.

While cost and power consumption are relevant factors in comparing HDDs and SSDs, traditional hard drives are typically less expensive and consume more power than SSDs. Additionally, HDDs generally have higher storage capacities compared to SSDs, which does not support the idea that they store less data. Thus, the primary disadvantage highlighted in the context of the question is the fragility and potential for damage associated with traditional hard drives.