A magnetic head for writing data to and reading data from a magnetic recording medium includes an inductive-type writer, an anisotropic magneto-resistive (AMR) reader, and a giant magneto-resistive (GMR) reader. The AMR reader is used to read data from "high magnetic flux" recording mediums which have been recorded for use with AMR sensors. The GMR reader is used to read data from "low magnetic flux" recording mediums which have been recorded for use with GMR sensors. As such, the magnetic head provides for backward compatibility between the previously prevalent "high magnetic flux" recording mediums and the expected future prevalent "low magnetic flux" recording mediums. The magnetic head may be configured such that the writer and the AMR and GMR readers share sensor shields in various configurations in order to carry out their writing and reading functions.