2023 could finally be the year when 2TB PS5 SSDs might actually be worth the upgrade. Last year, 1TB PS5 SSDs averaged around $150, while 2TB SSDs were closer to $300. This year we’re seeing 1TB SSDs drop below $100 in price and 2TB SSDs below $200. The reason PS5 SSD upgrades are expensive is because you can’t use an old SSD and expect it to work well on the PS5 console. You should get a PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 solid state drive with a read speed of 5,500MB/s to match the PS5’s internal drive. That means, for better or for worse, choosing a top-of-the-line SSD.
Note that Sony recommends a heatsink attached to your SSD. Not all SSDs listed here come with pre-installed heatsinks. For those who do, we’ll be sure to mention it. For those who don’t, all you have to do is buy your own heatsink (we recommend this one for $10) and install it yourself. It’s very easy.
Adata Premium 1TB M.2 SSD for PS5 for $76.49
Including heat sink
Amazon Lightning Deal
ADATA Premium 1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD (up to 6100MBps) with heatsink
This is an Amazon Lighting deal that expires today 1/25. This might be the lowest price we’ve seen for a 1TB PS5-compatible SSD so far, and it even includes a heat spreader. The Adata Premium SSD offers transfer speeds of up to 6,100MB/s, which is more than fast enough to surpass the PS5’s minimum recommended speed threshold of 5,500MB/s. Yes, there are faster SSDs out there, but if you’re going to put them in your PS5 then that extra speed is worthless as you’ll be blocked by the stock PS5 SSD. It is better to save the money and use it more wisely.
Crucial P5 Plus 2TB M.2 SSD for $161.99
Crucial P5 Plus 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD (up to 6600Mbps)
Crucial’s latest M.2 SSD ticks all the boxes for your PS5 SSD upgrade. It supports transfer speeds of up to 6,660 MB/s, which is well above the minimum threshold of 5,500 MB/s. Yes, there are faster SSDs out there, but if you’re looking to put them in your PS5, that extra speed is worthless as you’ll be blocked by the original PS5 SSD. If you’re worried about opening your PS5 case, don’t worry, it’s very simple. Crucial has an official YouTube PS5 SSD installation guide to walk you through the process.
Samsung 980 Pro 2TB M.2 SSD for $179.99
Samsung 980 PRO 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD (up to 7000MB/s)
Samsung SSDs need no introduction. They have made some of the most popular and reliable PS5 SSDs out there. The 980 Pro has been around for a while and is still Samsung’s fastest M.2 PCIe SSD. It’s fully PS5 compatible in terms of form factor and performance, and boasts blazing speeds of up to 7,100MB/s. It goes head-to-head with other well-known options like the WD Black SN850 and the Seagate Firecuda 530.
WD Black SN850X 2TB PS5 SSD for $199.99
Pre-installed heatsink
PS5 compatible
WD Black SN850X 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD (up to 7300MB/s) with heatsink
PS5 compatible
WD Black SN850X 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD (up to 7300 MBit/s)
Amazon has the latest WD Black Series SN850X M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD at the best price we’ve seen. The SN850X is the successor to the SN850 SSD. It features newer flash chips (BiCS5 vs. BiCS4) and updated firmware that combine to offer improved sequential and random read/write speeds. For PC gamers, there is also an updated Game Mode 2.0 utility that can optimize the SSD for better performance during gaming sessions.
More PS5 SSD deals
There may be other SSD offerings, but these are the PS5 SSDs that we’ve tried ourselves and highly recommend. They also serve as excellent boot drives for your gaming PC in case you don’t need extra storage space for your PS5 console.
XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade 1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD (up to 7400MBps) with heatsink
1TB for $89.99
Adata Premium 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD (up to 6100MBps) with heatsink
Kingston FURY Renegade 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD (up to 7300 MBit/s)
Acer Predator GM7000 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD (up to 7400MB/s)
PNY XLR8 1TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD (up to 7500MBps) with heatsink
INLAND Gaming Performance Plus 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD (up to 7000MBps) with heatsink
Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD (up to 7100MBps) with heatsink
Lexar NM800 Pro 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD (up to 7500MB/s) with heatsink
Seagate Game Drive 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD (up to 7300MBps) with heatsink
Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD (up to 7100MB/s)
How easy is it to install the SSD?
It’s easy! Removing the housing cover is completely tool-free. In fact, the only screw you need to remove is the one holding the SSD bay cover in place. You don’t even put it back when you’re done. Sony has a quick and easy YouTube video guide.
What if the SSD I bought doesn’t have a heatsink?
MHQJRH M.2 2280 SSD heatsink
Sony recommends installing an SSD with the heatsink attached. If the SSD you buy doesn’t include one, it’s easy enough to buy one off Amazon for around $10 and add it yourself. Most of these heatsinks are simply attached with an adhesive such as thermal tape.
For more deals, check out our daily deals for today.
