Best SSDs under $75 for console

Best Pick

Samsung PM9B1

31.6 Consoles Score
256GBPCIe 4.0 x4M.2 2280
View Details & Prices

Best SSDs under $150 for console

Best Pick

Samsung PM981

31.1 Consoles Score
256GBPCIe 4.0 x4M.2 2280
View Details & Prices

Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

Samsung Samsun

30.3 Consoles Score
256GBPCIe 4.0 x4M.2 2230
View Details & Prices

Best SSDs under $300 for console

Best Pick

Samsung 990 PRO

83 Consoles Score
1TBPCIe 4.0 x4M.2 22807,450 MB/sDRAM cache
Why we recommend this

The PCIe 4.0 x4 interface delivers 7,450 MB/s reads and 6,900 MB/s writes, with random IOPS up to 1,400K/1,550K, making it one of the fastest Gen4 drives available. Its nickel-coated controller improves thermal control and power efficiency, offering up to 50% better performance per watt than the 980 PRO. Best for gamers and power users upgrading laptops or desktops, especially for PS5 and DirectStorage titles.

View Details & Prices

Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

Samsung 9100 PRO

81.7 Consoles Score
1TBPCIe 5.0 x4M.2 228014,700 MB/sDRAM cache
Why we recommend this ▼

The PCIe 5.0 interface delivers 14,700 MB/s reads and 13,300 MB/s writes, making this 1TB M.2 drive twice as fast as the 990 PRO for heavy workloads. Its 2,600K random write IOPS and 5nm controller with improved power efficiency suit AI tasks and large file transfers. Best for gamers and workstation users who need top-tier speed for 4K/8K editing and AI workloads, though it is not portable.

View Details & Prices

Samsung 990 EVO Plus

79.3 Consoles Score
1TBPCIe 4.0 x4M.2 22807,150 MB/s
Why we recommend this ▼

The 7,150 MB/s read and 6,300 MB/s write speeds, paired with a nickel-coated controller that cuts power use by 16%, make this a fast and efficient PCIe 4.0 drive. Its DRAM-less design with Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 supports up to 4TB capacity, and the 600 TBW endurance plus 5-year warranty add long-term reliability. Best for laptop users who edit large video files or transfer big data sets and want a budget-friendly, power-efficient upgrade.

View Details & Prices
Samsung 990 EVO Plus ssd
Price $239

Samsung 990

74.4 Consoles Score
1TBPCIe 4.0 x4M.2 22807,150 MB/s
Why we recommend this ▼

The PCIe 4.0 x4 interface delivers up to 7,150 MB/s reads and 6,450 MB/s writes, with 1,100K random write IOPS for fast game loading and file transfers. Its DRAM-less TLC design improves performance per watt by up to 38% over the 990 PRO, making it efficient for laptops and desktops. Best for gamers and DIY builders who want a reliable 1TB drive with hardware encryption and a 3-year warranty.

View Details & Prices

Premium SSDs for console

Best Pick

Samsung 9100 PRO

100 Consoles Score
8TBPCIe 5.0 x4M.2 228014,800 MB/sDRAM cache
View Details & Prices

Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

Samsung 990 PRO

98.5 Consoles Score
4TBPCIe 4.0 x4M.2 22807,450 MB/sDRAM cache
Why we recommend this ▼

The 4TB Samsung 990 Pro hits 7450 MB/s sequential reads and 6900 MB/s writes on PCIe 4.0, backed by TLC NAND, a DRAM cache, and Samsung's in-house controller for efficient heat management. It offers 2400 TBW endurance, a 5-year warranty, and hardware encryption, making it a top-tier choice for high-end builds. Best for gamers and workstation users who need maximum sustained throughput for large file transfers and demanding workloads.

View Details & Prices

Samsung 980 PRO

89.6 Consoles Score
2TBPCIe 4.0 x4M.2 22807,000 MB/sDRAM cache
Why we recommend this ▼

The 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive hits 7000 MB/s reads and 5100 MB/s writes, backed by TLC NAND, a DRAM cache, and Samsung's nickel-coated Elpis controller for sustained throughput. Its integrated heatsink and slim 8.6mm housing fit the PlayStation 5 directly, while Samsung Magician software adds drive health monitoring and firmware updates. Best for PS5 owners or PC builders who need a high-capacity, thermally controlled SSD for heavy gaming and graphics workloads without performance drops.

View Details & Prices

Samsung 990 EVO Plus

87.2 Consoles Score
2TBPCIe 5.0 x4M.2 22807,250 MB/s
Why we recommend this ▼

The Samsung 990 EVO Plus hits 7,250 MB/s reads and 6,300 MB/s writes with a nickel-coated controller that cuts power use by 73%, keeping thermals low. It supports both PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2, and its 2TB capacity pairs with Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 for large-file transfers. Best for laptop users and budget-conscious builders who need fast, efficient storage for daily tasks and gaming.

View Details & Prices

Samsung PM9A1

64.5 Consoles Score
2TBPCIe 4.0 x4M.2 22807,000 MB/s
View Details & Prices

Samsung 970 PRO

37.2 Consoles Score
1TBPCIe 3.0 x4M.2 22803,500 MB/sDRAM cache
Why we recommend this ▼

The Samsung 970 PRO pairs a Phoenix controller with V-NAND to hit 3,500 MB/s reads and 2,700 MB/s writes, backed by a 1,200 TBW endurance rating. Its Dynamic Thermal Guard and nickel-coated controller manage heat to sustain performance during long workloads, while Samsung Magician simplifies drive management. This drive suits workstation users and 4K/3D content designers who need reliable, high-throughput storage for intensive tasks.

View Details & Prices

Samsung 980

36.6 Consoles Score
1TBPCIe 3.0 x4M.2 22803,500 MB/s
Why we recommend this ▼

The 980 hits 3,500 MB/s reads and 3,000 MB/s writes over PCIe 3.0, using HMB technology to compensate for its DRAM-less design, plus Full Power Mode for sustained performance. It adds AES 256-bit encryption and a 600 TBW endurance rating, making it a dependable pick for everyday builds. Best for budget-conscious PC builders upgrading from SATA drives who want NVMe speed for gaming and heavy file work without paying a premium.

View Details & Prices

Samsung 970 EVO

31.3 Consoles Score
1TBPCIe 3.0 x4M.2 22803,400 MB/sDRAM cache
View Details & Prices

Samsung Portable SSD T9

30.3 Consoles Score
2TBUSB 3.2 Gen 2x2External2,000 MB/s
Why we recommend this ▼

The Samsung Portable SSD T9 hits 2,000 MB/s read and 1,950 MB/s write over USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, with MLC NAND and hardware encryption for sustained creative workloads. Its Dynamic Thermal Guard keeps temperatures controlled during long transfers, while Magician Software adds firmware updates and drive health monitoring. Best for video editors and photographers who need fast, reliable external storage for large 4K files on the go.

View Details & Prices

Samsung 960 PRO

30.3 Consoles Score
1TBPCIe 3.0 x4M.23,500 MB/s
View Details & Prices