One of the best SSDs in 2025

In case your pc is beginning to really feel a bit sluggish, otherwise you’re uninterested in ready for video games and apps to load, upgrading to probably the greatest SSD choices on the market generally is a game-changer. Strong-state drives (SSDs) are a lot quicker than conventional onerous drives, serving to your system boot up in seconds, load giant recordsdata immediately and make on a regular basis duties really feel snappier. Whether or not you’re upgrading a laptop computer, constructing a gaming PC or simply need additional storage for work or artistic initiatives, the best SSD can severely enhance efficiency.

However with so many specs to think about — PCIe Gen 4, Gen 5, SATA, NVMe — it’s simple to get misplaced within the jargon. That’s the place we are available in! We’ve rounded up the very best SSD choices that will help you discover the best steadiness of velocity, capability and worth, so you will get the improve you want with out overpaying for options you received’t use.

Desk of contents

Greatest SSDs in 2025

Essential

Capability: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | Connection: M.2 | Learn velocity: 11,700MB/s | Write velocity: 9,500MB/s

I don’t suggest shopping for a Gen5 NVMe, even in case you have the {hardware} wanted to run one. The learn speeds may look spectacular on paper, however the actuality is that few video games and apps can benefit from these capabilities proper now.

Nonetheless, for those who’re set on outfitting your pc with the quickest potential storage, I believe the Crucial T700 affords a compelling mixture of worth and efficiency. The T700 is likely one of the quickest NVMe drives available on the market proper now, and after launching at $180, it’s potential to seek out it on sale for about $143. Be aware that in case your motherboard didn’t include a heatsink to your NVMe drives, you’ll need to purchase the T700 mannequin that features one, which additional will increase the fee.

Execs

• Very quick
• Helps DirectStorage
• 5-year guarantee

$140 at Adorama

WD_BLACK

Capability: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB | Connection: M.2 | Learn velocity: 7,300MB/s | Write velocity: 6,300MB/s

Supplied you personal the mandatory {hardware}, Gen4 NVMe drives provide fairly good worth proper now. After testing just a few completely different fashions, I ended up shopping for the Western Digital WD_Black SN850X for my very own system. It’s very quick, delivering learn speeds of as much as 7,300MB/s, and I used to be in a position to pay lower than $100 for the 1TB mannequin throughout a sale.

In case you’re set on shopping for a Gen4 mannequin, however need to avoid wasting cash, Western Digital affords the extra reasonably priced SN770. It’s not as quick because the SN850X, but when your system has one Gen4 NVMe slot, it’s nice for storing Home windows and your most essential apps.

Execs

• Quick
• DirectStorage assist
• 5-year guarantee

$94 at Amazon

Essential

Capability: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | Connection: M.2 | Learn velocity: 3,500MB/s | Write speeds: 3,000MB/s

A earlier model of this information really helpful the Essential P2 as a fantastic price range Gen 3 NVMe decide, however as Gen4 and now Gen5 NVMe drives have entered the market, producers like Micron have discontinued a few of their entry-level Gen4 fashions. The excellent news is that their previous high-end Gen3 drives are actually extra reasonably priced than ever. Take the Crucial P3, as an illustration. Micron initially priced the 1TB mannequin at $90, however in latest months, it’s been on sale for as little as $40. That’s nice worth for a drive that gives 3,500MB/s learn speeds.

Execs

• Reasonably priced and often on sale
• 5-year guarantee

Cons

• May very well be quicker
• Endurance stats aren’t the very best

$60 at Adorama

SABRENT

Capability: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Connection: M.2 | Learn velocity: 5,000MB/s | Write velocity: 4,300MB/s

In case you’re assured sufficient to open your Steam Deck to put in a brand new, increased capability NVMe, the Sabrent Rocket 2230 is a good small-sized NVME. It can slot into the Steam Deck’s M.2 slot with out difficulty, and also you don’t want to fret about it overheating. With latest reductions on this mannequin, it’s dropped sufficient in worth the place you could possibly get monetary savings by shopping for the 512GB Steam Deck OLED mannequin and putting in extra storage later.

Cons

• Costly relative to full-sized NVMe drives

$100 at Amazon

Corsair

Capability: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB | Connection: M.2 | Learn velocity: 7,100 MB/s | Write velocity: 6,800MB/sec

Engadget has a separate information devoted to the best PlayStation 5 SSDs, however for those who got here to this web page on the lookout for a suggestion on what NVMe to purchase to your PS5, look no additional than the Corsair MP600 Pro LPX. It meets all of Sony’s compatibility necessities and comes with a pre-installed heatsink, that means all you’ll want to do is set up it into your PS5 and also you’re good to go.

Execs

• Excellent PS5 compatibility
• Pre-installed heatsink
• Simple to put in

Cons

• Cheaper so as to add your individual heatsink

$170 at Amazon

Essential

Capability: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | Connection: USB-C | Learn velocity: 1,050MB/s | Write velocity: 975MB/s

For carrying recordsdata on the go, the Crucial X9 Pro is a transportable SSD with the right combination of efficiency, options and value. There are technically quicker choices on the market, however its 10 Gbps speeds ought to be fast sufficient for the backups and file transfers most individuals do with an exterior drive, and it outpaced most different fashions inside its efficiency class in our benchmark assessments. It’s tremendous tiny and sufficiently rugged on prime of that, with an IP55-rated case produced from aluminum and rubber. A five-year guarantee helps as nicely. Simply be aware that the included USB-C cable is pretty quick, and there’s no adapter for USB-A ports within the field. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter, Shopping for Recommendation

Execs

• IP55-certified water and mud safety
• 5-year guarantee

Cons

• No USB-A cable included
• Not the quickest

$89 at Amazon

SAMSUNG

Capability: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | Connection: USB 3.1 | Learn velocity: As much as 400MB/s relying on the mannequin | Write velocity: As much as 400MB/s

The Samsung Fit Plus has about all of the options you could possibly need on a USB drive. It connects to your pc over USB 3.1 and helps file switch speeds of as much as 300MB/s. The Match Plus can be compact and has a helpful slot for attaching it to your keychain. The one draw back of Samsung’s USB drive is that it’s on the expensive aspect.

Execs

• USB 3.1
• Glossy design
• 5-year guarantee

Cons

• Could be too small
• No indicator gentle

$23 at Adorama

How we check SSDs

I’ve both examined or personally use every day each storage drive really helpful on this record. Out of our prime picks, I purchased 4 with my very own cash after doing a few dozen hours of analysis. Individually, Engadget Senior Reporter Jeff Dunn has additionally examined a handful of our suggestions, together with the Essential X9 Professional listed above.

What to search for in a PC SSD

Probably the most reasonably priced means so as to add quick cupboard space to a pc is with a 2.5-inch SATA drive. It’s additionally one of many best for those who don’t need to fear about compatibility since virtually each pc made within the final twenty years will embody a motherboard with Serial ATA connections. For that purpose, the very best SATA SSDs are a wonderful alternative if you wish to prolong the lifetime of an older PC construct. Set up is simple, too. When you’ve secured the inner SSD in a drive cage, all you’ll want to do is to attach it to your motherboard and energy provide.

The one draw back of SATA drives is that, when it comes to responsiveness, they’re slower than their high-performance NVMe counterparts, with SATA III limiting information transfers to 600MB/s. However even the slowest SSD will likely be considerably quicker than the very best mechanical drives. And with high-capacity, 1TB SATA SSDs costing about $100, they’re bulk-storage possibility.

In case your PC is newer, there’s likelihood it contains house for a number of M.2 SSDs. The shape issue represents your ticket to the quickest SSDs available on the market, however the tough half is navigating all of the completely different requirements and specs concerned.

M.2 drives can function both a SATA or PCIe connection. SSDs with the latter are referred to as Non-Risky Reminiscence or NVMe drives and are considerably quicker than their SATA counterparts, with Gen3 fashions providing sequential write speeds of as much as 3,000MB/s. These drives depend on NVMe NAND expertise for his or her superior efficiency and sturdiness. You will get twice the efficiency with a Gen4 SSD, however you’ll want a motherboard and processor that helps the usual.

In case you’re operating an AMD system, which means at the least a Ryzen 3000 or 5000 CPU and an X570 or B550 motherboard. With Intel, in the meantime, you’ll want at the least an eleventh or twelfth Gen processor and a Z490, Z590 or Z690 motherboard. Understand that Gen4 SSDs usually price greater than their Gen3 counterparts as nicely.

Costlier nonetheless are the most recent Gen5 fashions, which provide sequential learn speeds of as much as 16,000MB/s. Nevertheless, even when your pc helps the usual, you’re higher off shopping for a extra reasonably priced Gen4 or Gen3 drive. In the intervening time, only a few video games and functions can benefit from Gen3 NVMe speeds, not to mention Gen4 and Gen5 speeds. What’s extra, Gen5 NVMe drives can run sizzling, which may result in efficiency and longevity points. Your cash is healthier spent on different elements, like upgrading your GPU, for now.

As for why you’d purchase an M.2 SATA drive over a equally specced 2.5-inch drive, it comes right down to ease of set up. You add M.2 storage to your pc by putting in the SSD immediately onto the motherboard. That will sound intimidating, however in follow the method entails a single screw that you simply first take away to attach the drive to your pc after which retighten to safe the SSD in place. As an added bonus, there aren’t any wires concerned, making cable administration simpler.

Be aware which you could set up a SATA M.2 SSD into an M.2 slot with a PCIe connection, however you possibly can’t insert an NVMe M.2 SSD right into a M.2 slot with a SATA connection. Except you need to proceed utilizing an previous M.2 drive, there’s little purpose to benefit from that function. Talking of backward compatibility, it’s additionally potential to make use of a Gen4 drive via a PCIe 3 connection, however you received’t get any of the velocity advantages of the quicker NVMe.

One very last thing to think about is that M.2 drives come in several bodily sizes. From shortest to longest, the frequent choices are 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 and 22110. (The primary two numbers symbolize width in millimeters and the latter denote the size.) For probably the most half, you don’t have to fret about that since 2280 is the default for a lot of motherboards and producers. Some boards can accommodate a couple of measurement of NVMe SSD due to a number of standoffs. That mentioned, test your pc’s documentation or firmware earlier than shopping for a drive to make sure you’re choosing up a suitable measurement.

In case you’re shopping for a substitute SSD for the Steam Deck or Steam Deck OLED, issues are simpler. For Valve’s handheld, you’ll need a 2230 measurement NVMe. Easy. In case you don’t need to open your Steam Deck, it’s additionally potential to broaden its storage by putting in a microSD card. Engadget has a separate guide dedicated to SD card storage, so test that out for extra shopping for recommendation.

I alluded to this earlier, however the very best shopping for recommendation I can provide is don’t get too caught up about being on the bleeding fringe of storage tech. The sequential learn and write speeds you see producers record on their drives are theoretical and real-world efficiency benchmark assessments fluctuate lower than you assume.

In case your price range forces you to decide on between a 1TB Gen3 NVMe and a 512GB Gen4 mannequin, go for the higher-capacity one. From a sensible standpoint, the worst factor you are able to do is purchase a sort of SSD that’s too small for wants. Drives can gradual dramatically as they method capability, and you’ll in all probability find yourself buying one with the next gigabyte capability sooner or later.

What to search for in moveable and USB flash drives

Transportable SSDs are a considerably completely different beast to their inside siblings. Whereas learn and write speeds are essential, they’re virtually secondary to how an exterior drive connects to your PC. You received’t get probably the most out of a mannequin just like the SanDisk Excessive Professional V2 with out a USB 3.2 Gen 2 x 2 connection. Even amongst newer PCs, that’s one thing of a premium function. For that purpose, most individuals are greatest off shopping for a transportable drive with a USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Thunderbolt connection. The previous affords switch speeds of as much as 10Gbps. One of the best exterior onerous drives additionally can help you switch information out of your Home windows PC to a Mac, or different gadget, if suitable. You should definitely contemplate this beforehand for those who plan to make use of your moveable drive throughout a number of gadgets.

Moreover, for those who plan to take your drive on journeys and commutes, it’s worthwhile to purchase a mannequin with IP-certified water and mud proofing. Some firms like Samsung provide rugged variations of their hottest drives, together with the Samsung SSD T7 Protect, with a excessive endurance ranking. For extra peace of thoughts, 256-bit AES {hardware} encryption will assist stop somebody from accessing your information for those who ever lose or misplace your exterior SSD.

A number of the similar options contribute to a fantastic thumbstick drive. Our favourite picks for greatest price range exterior SSD fashions function USB 3.0 connections and a few type of {hardware} encryption.

A be aware on console storage

If PC gaming isn’t your factor and also you personal an Xbox Collection X|S or PS5, outfitting your fancy new console with the quickest potential storage is way extra simple than doing the identical on PC. With a Collection X or Collection S, your choices are restricted to choices from Seagate and Western Digital. The previous affords 512GB, 1TB and 2TB fashions, with probably the most reasonably priced beginning at a not-so-trivial $90. Western Digital’s Growth Playing cards are cheaper, with pricing beginning at $80 for the 512GB mannequin. The excellent news is that each choices are often on sale. Your greatest wager is to set an alert for the mannequin you need by utilizing a worth tracker like CamelCamelCamel.

With Sony’s PlayStation 5, upgrading the console’s inside storage is barely extra concerned. As a substitute of using a proprietary resolution, the PS5 makes use of NVMe storage. Fortunately, there aren’t as many potential configurations as you’d discover on a PC. Engadget maintains a comprehensive guide to the best SSDs for PS5; briefly, your greatest wager is a high-capacity Gen4 drive with a built-in heatsink. Try that information for a full record of gaming SSD suggestions, however for a fast go-to, contemplate the Corsair MP600 Professional LPX I like to recommend above. It meets all of the reminiscence specs for Sony’s newest console and also you received’t run into any clearance points with the heatsink. Corsair affords 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB and 8TB variations of the drive. Count on to pay about $110 for the 1TB variant and about $200 for 2TB.

For these nonetheless enjoying on a earlier technology console, you will get barely quicker sport load instances from a PlayStation 4 by swapping the included onerous drive to a 2.5-inch SSD, however going out of your means to take action in all probability isn’t price it at this level and also you’re higher off saving your cash for one of many new consoles and updating your working system as a substitute.

SSD FAQs

What measurement SSD is greatest?

There isn’t a one measurement matches all rule for SSDs, however we usually suggest getting at the least a 1TB SSD for those who’re seeking to improve PC or sport console storage, or trying so as to add an exterior drive to your toolkit. A 1TB drive will likely be loads for most individuals who want additional cupboard space for images, paperwork and applications. In case you’re a hardcore gamer, you might need to spend money on much more storage contemplating many high-profile titles as we speak can take up a ton of house.

Is a 256GB SSD higher than a 1TB onerous drive?

The quick reply is that it is determined by what you want your drive for. Basically, SSDs are quicker and extra environment friendly than HDDs, however HDDs are often cheaper. We suggest springing for an SSD for many use instances as we speak — upgrading a PC, saving essential images and paperwork, storing video games long run, and so on. However for those who’re targeted on getting probably the most quantity of additional house potential (and sticking to a price range), an HDD may very well be possibility for you.

Does larger SSD imply quicker?

Getting a much bigger SSD doesn’t at all times translate right into a quicker drive general. An even bigger SSD will present the next storage capability, which implies extra space for storing digital recordsdata and applications. To know how briskly an SSD will likely be, you’ll need to have a look at its learn/write speeds: learn speeds measure how briskly a drive can entry info, whereas write speeds measure how briskly the drive can save info. Most SSDs record their approximate learn/write speeds of their specs, so remember to try these numbers earlier than you make a purchase order.