Choosing the best PS5 SSD can be tricky these days, particularly with so many different options available. It doesn’t help that sites like Amazon sometimes return sponsored ads together with search results, allowing less reputable manufacturers to buy their position at the top of the page. As such, those looking for the best PlayStation 5 M.2 drives will likely need to do a bit more digging to ensure that they don’t get burnt.
Officially, the PlayStation 5 supports PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 NVMe SSDs up to 8 TB in size. Although it’s possible that slower SSDs may still work, Sony recommends using drives with sequential read speeds of 5,500MB/s or faster. It’s not quite as simple as just finding the cheapest drive that meets these requirements though, as prospective buyers will also need to factor things like heat dissipation, reliability, and after-sales service into their decision.
1. The Best PS5 SSD #1 – Samsung 990 Pro
SAMSUNG 990 PRO w/ Heatsink SSD
Brand Samsung
Transfer rate 7,450 MB/S Read, 6,900 MB/S Write
MTBF 1.5 million hours
DRAM LPDDR4
Warranty 5 Years
Those trying to find the best PS5 SSD need look no further than the Samsung 990 Pro with heatsink. The 2TB model can regularly be picked up for under $150 during sales and the speeds are lightning-fast; even when compared to some of the more expensive options. It’s also one of the most highly-rated PlayStation 5-compatible M.2 drives on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.8 stars after more than 2,400 user ratings. The 980 Pro is also a solid option, although given how similarly priced it is and its faster sequential reads and write speeds, the 990 Pro will make a lot more sense to most players.
2. The Best PS5 SSD #2 – Corsair MP600 PRO LPX
Corsair MP600 PRO LPX
Brand Corsair
Transfer rate 7,100MB/S Read, 5,800MB/S Write
MTBF 1.7 million hours
DRAM LPDDR4
Warranty 5 Years
The Corsair MP600 PRO LPX can’t quite keep up with the 990 Pro when it comes to random and sequential read and write speeds but is still more than fast enough for use in a PlayStation 5. Better still, these drives are incredibly reliable, with only a very small percentage of users reporting issues with them after purchase. For whatever reason, the white heatsink model can usually be picked up for a lot less than the black one, making it a much better option for those looking for a decent PS5 SSD. This is because the drive won’t be visible after installation due to the console’s outer casing, so the color makes no difference whatsoever.
3. The Best PS5 SSD #3 – WD Black SN850X
Brand Western Digital
Transfer rate 7300 MB/S Read, 6350 MB/S
MTBF 1,750,000 Hours
DRAM LPDDR4
Warranty 5 Years
The list price of the WD Black SN850X is quite a bit higher than both the 990 Pro and the MP600. It boasts better read speeds than either of the aforementioned drives though, resulting in marginally faster loading times. The odd second here and there may not seem like much to many, but in games with a lot of loading screens or those that make use of higher-resolution textures, this can quickly start to add up. Like the aforementioned Samsung and Corsair offerings, the SN850X also has a heatsink option and comes with a five-year warranty, providing players with some additional peace of mind.
4. Brands to Avoid – Sabrent
It’s never nice when a hard drive fails, particularly within the first few months after purchase. Sadly, looking at Amazon reviews for Sabrent’s Rocket line of SSDs, this seems to happen fairly frequently, with more than a few PS5 owners having been left disappointed by the reliability of these discounted drives. Worse still, despite selling its Rocket and Rocket Plus line of SSDs in numerous countries, international purchasers hoping to claim a replacement under warranty will need to return their faulty drives to the US; all at their own expense.
Doing so can quickly wipe out any savings one might have made by choosing a Sabrent drive over one from Samsung, WD, or Corsair. Worse still, there’s no guarantee that Sabrent will even honor the warranty once the drive has been returned, with several Amazon reviews claiming that the seller did all that they could in order to avoid issuing a refund or replacement. With this in mind, those looking for a budget PS5 SSD would arguably be better off going with a cheap Chinese brand, as there are usually much better savings to be had.
However, when it comes to memory, it’s generally better to spend a little more and go with a reputable brand. No amount of money can protect against random drive failures, but consumers can at least take comfort in the knowledge that should their drive die prematurely, respectable companies generally offer excellent after-sales service, allowing customers to get a replacement drive quickly and with minimal fuss. It may be little more than an afterthought for many, but this is something that anyone planning to increase the storage space in their PS5 should take into account when planning their purchase.
