HPE Alletra Storage vs Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Lenovo are both solutions in the All-Flash Storage category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #2 with an average rating of 9.1, while Lenovo is ranked #21 with an average rating of 10.0. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 9.2% mindshare in AFS, compared to Lenovo’s 2.1% mindshare. Additionally, 98% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Lenovo users who would recommend it.

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 18, 2024

The Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series and HPE Alletra Storage are two leading storage solutions. Users are happier with the pricing and support of the Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series, but HPE Alletra Storage is seen as a superior product due to its features.

Features: The Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series offers scalability, high performance, and robust data protection. HPE Alletra Storage provides advanced data management, integration capabilities, and superior automation features.

Room for Improvement: The Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series can improve its data encryption, remote management functionalities, and user interface. HPE Alletra Storage could benefit from enhanced reporting tools, more straightforward upgrade processes, and better initial setup options.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series has a straightforward deployment process and strong customer service feedback. HPE Alletra Storage, although slightly more complex to deploy, includes detailed documentation and a responsive support team.

Pricing and ROI: Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series is often more affordable in terms of setup costs and delivers quick ROI. HPE Alletra Storage, despite higher initial costs, offers better long-term ROI due to advanced features and reliability.

To learn more, read our detailed HPE Alletra Storage vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

HPE Alletra Storage vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series

December 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Pure FlashArray X NVMe

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the All-Flash Storage category, the mindshare of Pure FlashArray X NVMe is 1.4%, up from 0.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE Alletra Storage is 9.2%, up from 6.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series is 2.1%, down from 2.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

All-Flash Storage Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
HPE Alletra Storage	9.2%
Pure FlashArray X NVMe	1.4%
Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series	2.1%
Other	87.3%

All-Flash Storage

Featured Reviews

Jaehoon Oh

Chief Technology Officer at Lambda256

Supports efficient storage management through volume snapshots and offers reliable non-disruptive upgrades

I have no specific improvements to suggest for Pure FlashArray X NVMe at this time. The performance statistics could be enhanced. I can see the performance statistics in the Pure Storage console, but it does not show the performance by 4K byte unit. It displays IOPS and bandwidth, but IOPS is about real use, and I want to know how many IOPS are currently running in 4K byte units. I cannot see that IOPS because most storage systems report their performance by 4K byte unit. I want to see Pure Storage performance by 4K byte unit to compare with other storage or other internal NVMe SSD.

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Toby Lutter

Systems Specialist at a comms service provider with 201-500 employees

Data management operations are streamlined with impressive metrics and responsive support

Improving HPE Alletra Storage is challenging to answer because there are several different metrics to consider. From a performance perspective, the improvements and large jumps are fantastic as is. From a deployment perspective, I was a big fan of the on-premise deployment model and then connecting it afterward to GreenLake. Now that's being sunsetted. From a sensor and metric standpoint, there is just enough data without getting useless metrics, where you become blind to what it provides. The HPE Storage Technical Assistance Center is still probably the best out of all the storage vendors. It's difficult to improve upon being able to call in and get assistance almost instantly.

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Giorgio Pozzi

System Administrator at PORTGUARDIAN.COM SRL

Performance and cost-effectiveness are maximized with seamless setup and significant ROI

I use Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series to replace the old storage in our infrastructure. Additionally, I use it in customer infrastructures to migrate from the old storage to the new one On the M storage, I find the best features to be deduplication and compression. On the DE storage, the most…

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Pure FlashArray X NVMe helps to improve our processing speed. It is user-friendly and easy to use."

"The latency is good."

"It is very easy to install and configure. It has got excellent diagnostics. If you really need to see how the box is performing, the console gives you a lot of information. You can set thresholds as well as alerts based on the thresholds, which is a very powerful functionality. They are very proactive. They know how to monitor and manage the systems. They see a problem, and they are all over it before us. They see the problem before we see it, which is very good."

"The solution is very straightforward to set up."

"The high availability of the product is the most valuable feature."

"Offers excellent features like efficient data reduction, a reliable SafeMode, and a great support model for continuous assistance and updates."

"The most valuable features of this solution are its ease of use and performance."

"I use the tool for Oracle databases, Oracle virtual machines, and Oracle Linux databases. I'm on the storage side, not a database administrator."

More Pure FlashArray X NVMe pros

"It offers rich features and high speed for transferring data."

"The feature of HPE Alletra Storage that I appreciate the most is manageability; it has reduced the time I spend on capacity planning by about 50%."

"The features of the HPE Alletra Storage benefit my organization by providing space saving through dedupe."

"Technical support is excellent."

"Since the deduplication and replication parts are there, the data is compressed and stored, which is why users are happy with the storage performance."

"The most valuable feature is the integration with vCenter with the HPE multi-storage plugin. That makes it more comfortable to use the storage with just a few clicks."

"HPE Alletra Storage is simple."

"The initial setup process with HPE Alletra Storage is very easy, and I find it straightforward."

More HPE Alletra Storage pros

"We have been working with the solution for around a year and so far it has shown itself to be stable."

"The solution's initial setup process is easy."

"This solution is good for virtualization and meets the need for CPU and RAM requirements."

"The solution is very easy to troubleshoot. It's one of the most valuable features. It also doesn't take long to deploy and normally it comes with a three-year warranty."

"Its initial setup process is easy."

"The most valuable features of the Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series are the dual controllers, available installation documentation, and the option of multiple host bus adapter interfaces."

"Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series is simple to use"

"Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series is highly reliable, especially for block-level storage. It is stable, with minimal downtime and no issues beyond user errors."

More Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series pros

Cons

"We have run into a couple of instances recently where we are running out of space. So we have had to buy some more packs for it and they have deployed fine and it has increased smoothly."

"One point I'd like to improve is that the tool should start selling small boxes again. It discontinued some products and is focusing on bigger, more capable boxes, neglecting the SMB market. Even though it's not a big market, it shouldn't have removed them."

"The tool's pricing is higher than competitors."

"Adding some functions to the product would be beneficial."

"You cannot tag a LUN with a description, and that should be improved. What I like on the Unity side is that when I expand LUNs or do things, there is an information field on the LUN. This is the Information field that you can tag on your LUNs to let yourself know, "Hey, I've added this much space on this date". Pure lacks that ability. So, you don't have a mechanism that's friendly for tracking your data expansions on the LUN and for adding any additional information. That's a downside for me."

"Many options to check performance, like read, writes, random writes, and random reads, are missing in Pure FlashArray X NVMe."

"In terms of what needs improvement, the dashboard and management could be simplified."

"I would like to see replication and DR features in the next release of this solution."

More Pure FlashArray X NVMe cons

"I don't know how HPE Alletra Storage can be improved; I will have to ask my team what they want next."

"More training videos would help. We could learn some best practices. Sometimes, people may not follow the best practices and reach out to support, who will tell them that they need to follow these best practices to get this performance or result."

"We have more than traditional use cases. If they could explore new configurations for data storage, it would be ideal."

"I'd like the solution to offer more free training."

"Reducing the price for HPE Alletra Storage would be fantastic."

"I need the protocol expected. I want them to include NVMe protocol in VMware compatibilities."

"I have not seen a return on investment with the HPE Alletra Storage."

"Everything is performing well with no major problems or complaints and complete data protection. However, it could benefit from integrating an AI assistant module to streamline data migration between different vendor arrays in a more automated fashion."

More HPE Alletra Storage cons

"The product could support advanced software integrations."

"In the next release, I would like to see more functionality. But, again, it is an entry-level product."

"ThinkSystem could be better integrated with backup software like Commvault, Veritas, or Symantec."

"The solution could be more scalable, although it suits our present needs."

"The type of connection that is used in Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series should be improved."

"The features are limited."

"It would be useful to have structured solutions replicated to other sites."

"Usually, when a part fails, we have to replace it and it takes a while. It would be better if the part could be available locally here in Kenya so we don't have to wait so long to repair the solution."

More Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Pure FlashArray X NVMe’s pricing is cheaper than other products."

"Pretty much everything that you need is licensed when you buy the product. Licensing to me is different than the maintenance cost, but they can bleed into one another. We buy the product, and we expect three years of support bundled into what we negotiate on our storage arrays. I would start to see maintenance costs going into the fourth year, but we're not there yet."

"The licensing is on a yearly basis."

"Our licensing fees are $500,000+ USD."

"As far as the licensing costs, everything is included in the license."

"The tool's pricing is cheap; I rate it a six to seven out of ten. Most of our sales are not subscription-based. We sell the hardware, and customers keep using it. They only renew the service part annually. The support can be a bit pricey, but the solution is more cost-effective than anything else out there."

"We pay approximately $50,000 USD per year in licensing fees."

"The tool is an investment that we've budgeted for. While the prices may be higher than those of other vendors, we see it as a market leader with benefits. We don't regret purchasing it."

More Pure FlashArray X NVMe pricing and cost advice

"Its pricing is very competitive."

"HPE was a clear winner on price per terabyte. It was very smooth."

"Overall, it was good. It had a good price per gigabyte."

"Its price can be optimized."

"The pricing is somewhat high, but when customers choose HPE, they often prioritize the brand value over pricing. The pricing is higher compared to other vendors."

"The solution is expensive and can cost around five lakhs."

"The main competitor in the market for HPE Alletra Storage is Dell Storage, as they are selling at a low price."

"There is a license. HPE Alletra uses a cloud-based model."

More HPE Alletra Storage pricing and cost advice

"All of the features are bundled together, and you can renew the bundle with all of the features included."

"For an all-flash setup, the cost is around $20,000 for a decent configuration."

"The pricing is fair and low compared to other products in this category."

"The pricing for this solution is good compared to HP or Dell EMC."

"The best thing about this solution is its price, which reduces our costs."

"The solution's price could be better."

"We have a five-year contract for providing support."

"It is an expensive solution."

More Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Government

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Government

Computer Software Company

16%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	15
Midsize Enterprise	11
Large Enterprise	12

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	30
Midsize Enterprise	25
Large Enterprise	36

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	10
Midsize Enterprise	3

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Pure FlashArray X NVMe?

Pure FlashArray X NVMe helps to improve our processing speed. It is user-friendly and easy to use.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Pure FlashArray X NVMe?

The price of Pure FlashArray X NVMe is very expensive, though I do not know the actual price because I am using the E...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Pure FlashArray X NVMe?

I have no specific improvements to suggest for Pure FlashArray X NVMe at this time. The performance statistics could ...

See all answers

What do you like most about HPE Alletra?

It offers rich features and high speed for transferring data.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HPE Alletra?

The cost overall depends on the competition; normally, the price is competitive for HPE Alletra 5000. However, for th...

See all answers

What needs improvement with HPE Alletra?

I would like to see improved in HPE Alletra Storage in the future the introduction of more performance-centric contro...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series?

The price of Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series is very good. We chose this type of storage for the performance and the price.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series?

The type of connection that is used in Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series should be improved.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series?

I use Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series to replace the old storage in our infrastructure. Additionally, I use it in custom...

See all answers

Comparisons

Dell PowerStore vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe

Compared 18% of the time

Dell PowerMax vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe

Compared 12% of the time

TrueNAS R-Series vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe

Compared 10% of the time

Pure Storage FlashBlade vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe

Compared 8% of the time

NetApp AFF vs Pure FlashArray X NVMe

Compared 7% of the time

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Dell PowerStore vs HPE Alletra Storage

Compared 27% of the time

Pure Storage FlashArray vs HPE Alletra Storage

Compared 10% of the time

HPE Primera vs HPE Alletra Storage

Compared 8% of the time

NetApp AFF vs HPE Alletra Storage

Compared 6% of the time

NetApp ASA vs HPE Alletra Storage

Compared 2% of the time

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Dell PowerStore vs Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series

Compared 23% of the time

IBM FlashSystem vs Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series

Compared 11% of the time

NetApp AFF vs Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series

Compared 10% of the time

Lenovo ThinkSystem DM Series vs Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series

Compared 9% of the time

Dell Unity XT vs Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series

Compared 6% of the time

More Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Pure FlashArray X NVMe

January 2026

Download Pure FlashArray X NVMe product report

Buyer's Guide

HPE Alletra Storage

January 2026

Download HPE Alletra Storage product report

Buyer's Guide

All-Flash Storage

January 2026

Download Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series product report

Also Known As

Pure FlashArray//X NVMe, Pure FlashArray//X, FlashArray//X

No data available

ThinkSystem DE Series

Overview

Pure Storage FlashArray//X is the world’s first enterprise-class, all-NVMe flash storage array. It represents a new class of storage – shared accelerated storage, which is a term coined by Gartner – that delivers major breakthroughs in performance, simplicity, and consolidation.

Pure Storage

HPE Alletra Storage provides on-premises cloud-like operations, delivering high-performance NVMe drives, VMware integration, data deduplication, and compression. It's known for simplicity, management ease, and capacity efficiency.

HPE Alletra Storage stands out for its scalability and comprehensive features, benefiting diverse workloads and scenarios. Users report faster IOPS, reduced provisioning time, and fewer support tickets. Its guarantee of data availability and strong support network ensure high operational reliability and cost-efficiency. However, it could improve NVMe compatibility, setup, and connectivity. Enhancing intuitive design and monitoring capabilities while reducing internet dependency and refining integration with existing software would increase user satisfaction. Cost efficiency and streamlined licensing are ongoing concerns, with demands for file-based storage, better scalability, and customizability improvements.

What are the key features of HPE Alletra Storage?

Cloud-like Operations: Provides on-premises cloud-like experiences.
High-Performance NVMe: Utilizes NVMe drives for enhanced speed.
VMware Integration: Seamlessly integrates with VMware environments.
Data Deduplication: Efficiently reduces data redundancy.
Compression: Optimizes storage capacity through compression.

What benefits and ROI should be evaluated in reviews?

Reliability: High data availability guarantee and strong support network.
Scalability: Benefits workloads with flexible scaling options.
Speed: Reports of faster IOPS and reduced provisioning time.
Efficiency: Fewer support tickets and efficient resource management.
Cost-Effectiveness: Operational reliability leads to lower costs.

HPE Alletra Storage is widely used in virtualization, VMware, and data center block storage, particularly in financial and healthcare sectors. Organizations utilize it for VM storage, cloud infrastructure, and databases. It supports VDI, hyper-converged infrastructure, and high-performance computing. Businesses leverage its capabilities for data backup, compression, and deduplication, integrating seamlessly with existing environments to meet enterprise storage needs with high throughput and low-latency performance.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

The DE All-Flash Series delivers the performance of more than 2,000 15k rpm HDDs, yet requires only 2% of the rack space, power, and cooling. Because it consumes 98% less space and power, DE Series can significantly improve the overall efficiency of your IT operations while continuing to meet your performance requirements.

Lenovo

Sample Customers

Fremont Bank, Judson ISD, The Nielsen Company

Accenture, Aetna, AIG, Airbus, Allianz, American Express, ATT, Bank of America, Barclays, BASF, Bayer, Berkshire Hathaway, Boeing, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Coca Cola, Comcast, Credit Suisse, Dell, Deutsche Bank, ExxonMobil, Ford Motor Company, General Electric, Google, HSBC, IBM, Intel, JPMorgan Chase, Kroger, L'Oreal, Merck

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

HPE Alletra Storage vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series

December 2025

Free Report: HPE Alletra Storage vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series

Find out what your peers are saying about HPE Alletra Storage vs. Lenovo ThinkSystem DE Series and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.

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