Samsung SSD Guide

Samsung SSD Comparison 2026

Complete guide to Samsung's SSD lineup — from flagship 990 Pro to budget-friendly 870 QVO. Compare speeds, lifespans, and prices to find your perfect match.

15+
Models Covered
7,450 MB/s
Top Speed
5-Year
Warranty

Last Updated: July 2026

Samsung SSD Series Overview

Why Choose Samsung SSDs?

Samsung is one of the world's largest NAND flash memory manufacturers, giving them a complete supply chain advantage from chips to finished products. Their SSDs consistently rank highest for reliability, with industry-leading TBW (Terabytes Written) ratings and comprehensive 5-year warranties on most consumer models. Samsung's Magician software provides robust health monitoring, performance optimization, and firmware updates.

Quick Buying Guide

Use CaseRecommended SeriesWhy
Gaming (PS5/PC)990 Pro / 980 ProFast load times, high endurance
Content Creation990 Pro / 980 ProHigh sustained write speeds
Office Work980 / 870 EVOReliable, cost-effective
Budget Upgrade870 QVO / 970 EVO PlusBest value for money
Portable StorageT7 / T5Fast, compact, durable

Samsung NVMe SSD Comparison

ModelCapacityRead SpeedWrite SpeedTBW (1TB)WarrantyPrice (1TB)Best For
990 Pro1TB / 2TB / 4TB7,450 MB/s6,900 MB/s600 TBW5 years$130-$180Gaming, Creation, PS5
980 Pro250GB-2TB7,000 MB/s5,000 MB/s600 TBW5 years$100-$150Gaming, Power Users
980250GB-2TB3,500 MB/s3,000 MB/s600 TBW5 years$70-$100Everyday Use
970 EVO Plus250GB-2TB3,500 MB/s3,300 MB/s600 TBW5 years$80-$120Budget NVMe

Key Differences

990 Pro vs 980 Pro: The 990 Pro offers higher sequential write speeds (6,900 vs 5,000 MB/s) and is optimized for PS5 compatibility. The 980 Pro provides excellent performance at a lower price point.

980 Pro vs 980: The 980 Pro uses PCIe 4.0 with speeds up to 7,000 MB/s, while the 980 uses PCIe 3.0 at 3,500 MB/s. Choose 980 Pro for gaming and power use, 980 for everyday tasks.

970 EVO Plus: A classic model being phased out. Good value for budget-conscious users, but verify firmware is updated to avoid known issues.

Samsung SATA SSD Comparison

ModelCapacityRead SpeedWrite SpeedTBW (1TB)WarrantyPrice (1TB)Best For
870 EVO250GB-4TB563 MB/s533 MB/s600 TBW5 years$80-$120SATA Upgrades
870 QVO1TB-8TB560 MB/s530 MB/s360 TBW3 years$60-$90Bulk Storage

When to Choose SATA SSDs?

  • Older laptop upgrades (no NVMe slot available)
  • Large capacity storage needs (870 QVO up to 8TB)
  • Budget-conscious builds
  • SATA-only devices (some NAS, PS4)

870 EVO vs 870 QVO: The 870 EVO has higher endurance (600 TBW vs 360 TBW) and a longer warranty (5 years vs 3 years). Use EVO for system drives with frequent writes, QVO for pure storage with infrequent writes.

Samsung Portable SSD Comparison

ModelCapacityRead SpeedWrite SpeedInterfaceWeightPrice (1TB)Best For
T7500GB-2TB1,050 MB/s1,000 MB/sUSB 3.2 Gen 258g$90-$140Portable Storage
T7 Shield1TB-4TB1,050 MB/s1,000 MB/sUSB 3.2 Gen 298g$100-$180Rugged Use
T5250GB-2TB540 MB/s515 MB/sUSB 3.1 Gen 251g$70-$110Budget Portable

Portable SSD Features

T7 Series: Features AES 256-bit hardware encryption, compatible with PC, Mac, Android, and gaming consoles. The T7 Shield adds IP65 dust and water resistance for rugged use.

T5 Series: Classic reliable portable SSD, great value for daily backups and file transfers.

Samsung Enterprise SSDs

SeriesInterfaceCapacityUse CaseKey Features
PM9A3PCIe 4.0 NVMe960GB-7.68TBData CenterHigh density, low latency
PM983PCIe 3.0 NVMe960GB-3.84TBEnterprise ServerCost-effective NVMe
PM893SATA 3.0960GB-7.68TBEnterprise StorageHigh reliability SATA

Enterprise vs Consumer SSDs

Enterprise PM series drives offer higher endurance (up to 3 DWPD), power loss protection, and 24/7 reliability for data centers and servers. These are typically sold through enterprise channels, not consumer retail.

When to consider enterprise SSDs: 24/7 high-load servers, data centers, enterprise storage arrays, applications requiring maximum reliability.

Samsung SSD Lifespan & Health

TBW (Terabytes Written) Data

TBW indicates the total data you can write during the warranty period. Higher TBW means longer lifespan under heavy write workloads.

Model250GB500GB1TB2TB4TB
990 Pro-300 TBW600 TBW1,200 TBW2,400 TBW
980 Pro150 TBW300 TBW600 TBW1,200 TBW-
980150 TBW300 TBW600 TBW1,200 TBW-
970 EVO Plus150 TBW300 TBW600 TBW1,200 TBW-
870 EVO150 TBW300 TBW600 TBW1,200 TBW2,400 TBW
870 QVO--360 TBW720 TBW1,440 TBW

How to Check Samsung SSD Health

Method 1: Online Tool

Recommended

1

Use our free SSD Health Check tool for instant health estimate. No installation required.

Check SSD Health Now

Method 2: Samsung Magician

Official Samsung Tool

2

Official tool for Windows with health monitoring, firmware updates, and performance optimization.

Download Samsung Magician

Method 3: CrystalDiskInfo

Third-Party Tool

3

Free utility that reads SMART data from any SSD brand. Shows health percentage and temperature.

Learn More

Samsung Magician Features

FeatureDescription
Drive HealthView health percentage and TBW usage
Performance BenchmarkTest read/write speeds
Firmware UpdateUpdate drive firmware
Secure EraseSafely wipe all data
EncryptionManage encryption settings
Rapid ModePerformance acceleration (select models)

Buying Guide - Scenario-Based Recommendations

Choose the right Samsung SSD based on your specific needs and use case.

🎮

Competitive Gaming

Recommended
Samsung 990 Pro 2 TB

Maximum PCIe 4.0 speeds (7,450 MB/s reads) minimize game loading times. The large capacity holds the OS plus multiple AAA games. 1,200 TBW endurance ensures years of use even with frequent game installs and patches.

Alternative: Samsung 980 Pro 2 TB (similar performance at lower cost)
🎬

Video Editing and Content Creation

Recommended
Samsung 990 Pro 2 TB or 4 TB

Fast sequential writes (6,900 MB/s) handle 4K/8K video files efficiently. The large SLC cache absorbs burst writes during export. DRAM cache ensures consistent performance in Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and other creative applications.

Alternative: Samsung 980 Pro for budget-conscious creators
💼

General Office Work

Recommended
Samsung 870 EVO 1 TB

SATA interface provides plenty of speed for document work, web browsing, and light applications. Lower cost than NVMe alternatives. 5-year warranty and 600 TBW ensure reliability. Works in older systems without NVMe support.

Alternative: Samsung 980 1 TB for systems with NVMe slots
🖥️

Budget Gaming PC

Recommended
Samsung 980 1 TB or 970 EVO Plus 1 TB

PCIe 3.0 speeds (3,500 MB/s) are still much faster than SATA SSDs and sufficient for gaming. More affordable than PCIe 4.0 drives. 600 TBW endurance provides long-term reliability.

Alternative: Samsung 870 EVO 1 TB for SATA-only systems
📁

High-Capacity Media Storage

Recommended
Samsung 870 QVO 4 TB or 8 TB

Lowest cost per GB among Samsung SATA SSDs. QLC NAND is fine for media libraries, game storage, and backups where writes are infrequent. Large capacities store extensive photo/video collections. 3-year warranty covers normal use.

Alternative: Samsung 870 EVO 4 TB for better endurance
Important: Not recommended for primary system drives with frequent writes.
🎒

Portable Workflow and On-the-Go Storage

Recommended
Samsung T7 2 TB

Fast PCIe NVMe speeds (1,050/1,000 MB/s) over USB enable quick file transfers between devices. Compact metal design withstands travel. Works with Windows, Mac, Android, and cameras. Optional hardware encryption protects sensitive data.

Alternative: Samsung T5 for budget-conscious users who don't need maximum speed
🎮

PS5 Storage Expansion

Recommended
Samsung 980 Pro 1 TB or 990 Pro 1 TB with heatsink

PCIe 4.0 interface meets Sony's requirements (minimum 5,500 MB/s sequential reads). Samsung drives are among the most commonly recommended for PS5 expansion. Add a compatible heatsink since bare drives don't include one.

Alternative: Samsung 980 Pro with heatsink (more affordable option)
Note: Sony recommends M.2 NVMe SSDs with at least 5,500 MB/s sequential read speeds.
🔧

Older System Upgrades (SATA only)

Recommended
Samsung 870 EVO 1 TB

Works in any system with SATA ports. Dramatic speed improvement over hard drives. Samsung's reliability track record provides confidence. 5-year warranty for peace of mind.

Alternative: Samsung 870 QVO 1 TB for budget upgrades

By Budget

BudgetRecommended ModelCapacityUse Case
$50-$80870 QVO1TBStorage, Budget Upgrade
$80-$120980 / 870 EVO1TBOffice, Everyday Use
$100-$150980 Pro1TBGaming, Power Users
$120-$180990 Pro1TBGaming, Content Creation
$150-$250990 Pro2TBLarge Game Library, Video Editing

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Check Your Samsung SSD Health?

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