There are a lot of great games to play on PS5, but the console’s meager built-in storage means you’ll only be able to play a few at a time, depending on their file size. If you’re looking for the best PS5 SSD that will let you use as many of the best PS5 games, updates, apps, screenshots, and storage options as you want, then you’ve come to the right place.
Expanding your PlayStation 5’s storage isn’t that expensive (or if difficult) as you may fear. And best of all, many M.2 SSDs are compatible, so you can buy the one that fits your budget. However, there are some requirements. First is speed. Per Sonythe one you choose must be one PCIe 4.0 model with a sequential read speed of at least 5,500MB/s. All of our options below meet that criterion.
Second, while the PS5 can handle one M.2 SSD of a minimum of 250 GB and a maximum of 4 TB in capacity, the SSD needs its own heat sink to work properly. Most of our picks come with one pre-installed, a convenience that usually results in a slightly higher price than their non-heatsink counterparts. But if you find a lot on a model without a heatsink, this low-profile heatsink is only $10.99 at Amazon and can be installed in minutes.
We’ve listed manufacturer specs for each SSD, but it’s important to note that their speed may not directly affect load times or gameplay.
PS5 SSDs with the best price
Corsair MP600 Pro LPX
The Corsair MP600 Pro LPX SSD is a good choice when the price is as low as it is currently. The MP600 delivers a slightly faster read speed than Samsung’s 980 Pro below. You can use the 1 TB version SSD for $84.99 (normally $184.99). You get about 11 GB per dollar spent, which is one of the best values on this page. The 2TB version costs $156.99 (normally $209.99).
Samsung 980Pro
The Samsung 980 Pro M.2 SSD is probably the most popular option, as it is one of the first PCIe 4.0 SSDs on the market. It’s good value too, thanks to its great performance, falling price and wide availability. You can currently buy 1 TB or 2 TB models from Amazon $89.99 And $159.99respectively.
Crucial P5 Plus
If you want a lot of fast storage for less than $100, check out Crucial’s P5 Plus. But don’t forget to grab this M.2 SSD heatsink to fix it before installing it in your PS5. For $89.99, you get just over 12 GB per dollar spent.
Fastest PS5 SSDs
WD_Black SN850X
WD_Black, an offshoot of Western Digital, also makes an M.2 SSD for PlayStation 5, modeled after the SN850X series of SSDs. At this point you can 2TB SN850X with a heatsink at Amazon for $179.99 (originally $334.99). That’s about 11 GB per dollar spent, which is good value.
You will also find the 1 TB version at Amazon for $109.20 (originally $179.99).
The newer ones Samsung 990Pro promises even higher sequential read speeds of up to 7,450 MB/s; however, it is significantly more expensive than the WD_Black recommendation above. The 1TB version (without heatsink) starts at $99.99 (a 2TB model costs a whopping $289.99), so the only recommendation we want to make is that you wait patiently for the price to drop a bit , or just buy the WD_Black model. Here are more details about the 990Pro from our sister site, The Verge.
4 TB PS5 SSDs
WD_Black SN850X
If you are cool with installing a M.2 heatsink, the heatsinkless version of the SN850X is just as fast as the above option, but cheaper. Plus, it’s one of the most affordable (yet fastest) 4TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 drives we’ve seen to date. Bee $399.99you get 10 GB per dollar spent.
Corsair MP600 Pro LPX
The Corsair MP600 Pro LPX reappears here. The 4 TB model costs $480. That’s not quite as cheap as the SN850X above, but it’s not terrible considering the slightly faster speed and built-in heatsink. At the current price of $534.99, you get about 7.5 GB per dollar spent.
Seagate FireCuda 530
The Seagate FireCuda 530 SSD is available in sizes ranging from 500 GB to 4 TB, and the 4 TB model goes for $479.99 (normally $959.99). It seems like a good drive, although we wouldn’t recommend going this route for a 4TB drive when the SN850X is so affordable by comparison.
Kingston Fury renegade
The Kingston Fury Renegade SSD is available in sizes from 500 GB to 4 TB. If you’re looking for a larger size, B&H Photo currently has the 4TB M.2 SSD for a whopping $451.86 (normally $749.99). Again, it’s not a great value, but it exists and it’s pretty fast.
External PS5 hard drives
There are even larger hard drives that can be connected to your PS5 via USB. However, these can only be used to store the installation files of a PS5 game, not actually play it (although PS4 games can be saved as well as played from an external hard drive). To play PS5 games you’ve offloaded, you’ll need to transfer the files from the external storage to the console’s internal SSD. This may not sound like a great solution, but it’s a smart alternative to downloading games over and over again.
WD_Black D30
The WD_Black D30 Game Drive is a rugged, external drive available in 500GB, 1TB, or 2TB configurations. The Game Drive uses a USB-C to A interface that offers transfer speeds of up to 900MB/s. 1 TB and 2 TB configurations are also available for $119.99 ($149.99 normally), and $179.99 (normally $239.99).
WD_Black P40
The WD_Black P40 Game Drive SSD offers a slimmer storage solution than the slightly more expensive D30, due to its slimmer design and faster transfer speeds of up to 2,000MB/s. Best Buy currently has the 1TB WD_Black P40 model available for $119.99 (normally $179.99), and the 2TB SSD costs $189.99 (normally $329.99).
Crucial X8 SSD
While it’s not quite as fast as the P40 above, the Crucial X8 SSD is still a solid option for giving you more storage space for your PS5 without spending a ton. Plus, it’s a bit thinner and more modest in its design than the gamer-focused P40. Currently you will find the 1TB Crucial X8 at Amazon and Best Buy for $79.99 (normally $119.99).
Update (April 3): Checked prices for correctness.