Samsung 990 Pro

The Samsung 990 PRO 4TB hits 7,450 MB/s reads and 6,900 MB/s writes, landing in the 91st percentile for speed. It pairs that with 4TB of space and 2,400 TBW endurance. Prices swing from USD 793 to USD 929, so hunt for the lower end.

Sequential reads at 7,450 MB/s and writes at 6,900 MB/s are the headline numbers, and they're among the best PCIe 4.0 drives we've tracked. Samsung claims a more than 55% improvement in random performance over the 980 PRO, and while our random metric puts this drive in the 74th percentile, that's still well above average for real-world mixed workloads. The TLC NAND and DRAM cache keep sustained transfers steady, and the nickel coated controller helps avoid thermal throttling during long sessions.

For gamers and editors, the 4TB capacity means you can keep massive libraries and project files on one drive. The speed percentile of 91st means it's a standout, though a few Gen5 drives like the Crucial T705 will outrun it on paper. But for PCIe 4.0, this is about as fast as it gets.

Against the WD_BLACK SN850X, the 990 PRO trades blows on sequential speeds but the SN850X often edges it out in random performance, which matters for everyday snappiness. The Kingston KC3000 is usually cheaper and nearly as fast, making it a value pick. The Seagate FireCuda 530R brings strong endurance numbers that can top Samsung's 2,400 TBW. And the Crucial T705 is a Gen5 drive that will smoke this on raw throughput, but you'll pay more and need a Gen5 motherboard to see it. For PCIe 4.0 buyers, the 990 PRO is a top-tier choice, just not the only one.

Pricing in the US runs from USD 793 to USD 929 across two listings, and that USD 136 spread is worth paying attention to. Best Buy's everyday pricing tends to sit on the lower end, and with their price match guarantee, you can push for the better deal. For a 4TB flagship PCIe 4.0 drive with this speed and endurance, the lower end of that range feels fair. At the higher end, you're paying a premium for the Samsung name and the Magician software ecosystem.

The Samsung 990 PRO 4TB hits 7,450 MB/s sequential reads and 6,900 MB/s writes, which puts it in the 91st percentile for speed in our database. That's near the ceiling of what PCIe 4.0 can do, and it shows. Load times shrink, file transfers feel instant, and the 4TB capacity lands in the 93rd percentile, so you're not juggling installs anytime soon.

Samsung pairs that speed with a 2,400 TBW endurance rating and a 5-year warranty. The endurance number sits in the 83rd percentile, which is solid but not chart-topping. The nickel coated controller keeps thermals in check, and the drive carries hardware encryption plus Samsung's Magician software for monitoring. It's a flagship drive with flagship specs, and the 4.8 out of 5 rating across 594 reviews backs that up.

If you're building a portable external drive, look elsewhere. The portable use case scores just 29.6 out of 100, so this isn't the drive to toss in an enclosure for travel. And if your workload is heavy on random reads and writes, the 74th percentile random performance means drives like the WD_BLACK SN850X might serve you better. Gen5 early adopters should also skip this and look at the Crucial T705 instead.

The Samsung 990 PRO 4TB is one of the best PCIe 4.0 drives you can buy right now. The 7,450 MB/s read speed, 4TB capacity, and 2,400 TBW endurance make it a no-brainer for gamers and creators who want speed and space without jumping to Gen5. The 4.8-star rating from 594 reviews says buyers are happy. Just shop the price spread and grab it closer to USD 793 than USD 929.