Upgrading to a solid-state drive (SSD) for your PC or device is now more affordable than ever. With favorable pricing, SSDs are now a must-have, leaving traditional hard drives only suitable for long-term storage. The PlayStation 5 now supports the addition of an additional SSD, with Windows 11 also incorporating Direct Storage — promising the same rapid loading times experienced in the Xbox Series X. Meanwhile, PC users can enjoy top-notch performance with the latest technologies in PCIexpress 4.0 and 5.0. The Steam Deck is also well suited for an upgraded SSD to accommodate larger game libraries.
Whether you need an internal storage upgrade or an external storage solution, SSDs deliver fast and reliable read and write speeds. Flash memory used in these devices makes them faster than traditional hard drives. However, not all SSDs are created equal. To make sure you’re getting the fastest transfers, you need one of the best SSDs. Luckily, we’ve tested various SSDs to create a definitive list of what you should be purchasing today.
Samsung 990 Pro
Pros
- Superfast sequential read/write speeds
- Relatively affordable
- Great for gaming
Cons
- Not as durable as larger models
The Samsung 990 Pro is the latest high-end consumer drive from Samsung, offering impressive features. It enjoys high sequential read/write speeds of 7,450 MBps and 6,900 MBps, limited by PCIe 4 speeds, yet still a considerable upgrade over its predecessor. For general use and gaming, it stands out with high random read and write IOPS ratings of 1,550,000, over 50% higher than the 980 Pro. The 2TB model is relatively affordable at around $200, offering the best performance of the range.
