Western Digital now sells its officially licensed WD_BLACK SN850P for the PS5 in capacities up to 8TB, which means the console’s single M.2 slot can finally hold a library larger than most PC gamers’ main drives. Meanwhile SSD pricing has stayed elevated through 2026 because of the NAND shortage, so picking the right capacity matters more than it did a year ago. The six drives below all use PCIe Gen4 x4, which is what the PS5 requires.
| Spec | WD_BLACK SN850P 2TB (PS5 licensed) 9.3/10 | Samsung 990 PRO 1TB 9/10 | WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB with Heatsink 8.8/10 | Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 2TB 8.5/10 | WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB 8.4/10 | Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB 7.9/10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 2TB (also sold in 1TB, 4TB and 8TB) | 1TB (2TB and 4TB also sold) | 4TB | 2TB (4TB also sold) | 1TB (2TB and 4TB also sold) | 2TB (1TB and 4TB also sold) |
| Interface | PCIe Gen4 x4, NVMe, M.2 2280 | PCIe Gen4 x4, NVMe 2.0, M.2 2280 | PCIe Gen4 x4, NVMe, M.2 2280 | PCIe Gen4 x4, NVMe 1.4, M.2 2280 | PCIe Gen4 x4, NVMe, M.2 2280 | PCIe Gen4 x4 or Gen5 x2, NVMe, M.2 2280 |
| Sequential read | Up to 7,300 MB/s | Up to 7,450 MB/s | Up to 7,300 MB/s | Up to 7,100 MB/s | Up to 7,300 MB/s | Up to 7,250 MB/s |
| Sequential write | Up to 6,600 MB/s | Up to 6,900 MB/s | — | — | Up to 6,300 MB/s | — |
| Heatsink | PS5-shaped, factory installed | None on this model | Included, low-profile | Pre-installed low-profile aluminum heatspreader | None on this model | None on this model |
| Warranty | 5 years, 1,200 TBW | — | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | — |
| Rating | 9.3/10 | 9/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.4/10 | 7.9/10 |
Prices change daily — tap Check Price for the current Amazon price.
Prices change daily — tap Check Price for the current Amazon price.
Quick Picks
- Best overall: WD_BLACK SN850P 2TB: the licensed PS5 drive, with a heatsink made for the console and a 7,300 MB/s read rating.
- Fastest Gen4 pick: Samsung 990 PRO 1TB: 7,450 MB/s read, but you supply the heatsink.
- Best for a big library: WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB with Heatsink: heatsink included, 4TB of space.
Buying Guide: What the PS5 Requires
Sony’s published requirements for the M.2 expansion slot are straightforward, and they rule out a lot of drives that look fine on paper.
- Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 with a Key M connector. Gen3 drives do not qualify.
- Speed: Sony requires at least 5,500 MB/s sequential read and recommends 7,000 MB/s or faster. Every drive in this roundup is rated above 7,000 MB/s.
- Size: the drive including its heatsink cannot exceed 110mm long, 25mm wide, and 11.25mm high. The height limit is the one buyers most often miss, because tall PC heatsinks will not fit under the console’s cover.
- Heatsink: the PS5 does not cool a bare drive well in its M.2 bay, and Sony expects a heatsink on any drive you install. A drive with a factory heatsink removes that risk. If you buy a bare drive, see our NVMe SSD heatsink roundup and check the height against the 11.25mm limit.
- PS5 Pro: it uses the same M.2 Gen4 slot as the original PS5, so any drive that meets the spec works in both consoles.
Capacity is the other decision. A 1TB drive is a modest upgrade over the console’s built-in storage. Most owners buying today pick 2TB as the sweet spot, and 4TB if they keep many large games installed at once. If you plan to move the drive to a PC later, see our best 2TB NVMe SSDs and best SSDs for gaming for PC-focused options, and SSD form factors explained if M.2 2280 is new to you.
Detailed Reviews
1. WD_BLACK SN850P 2TB: Best Overall
The WD_BLACK SN850P is the first officially licensed PS5 SSD, and that is its main advantage: it is a drive and a heatsink sized together for the console. According to the manufacturer, it reaches 7,300 MB/s read and 6,600 MB/s write, with a five-year warranty and 1,200 TBW of endurance on the 2TB model.
Owner ratings on Amazon average about 4.8 stars across several thousand reviews, which is a strong signal for a storage product. The tradeoff is cost: the licensed branding and bundled heatsink typically put it above a comparable unlicensed Gen4 drive. If you want the least effort and zero fit questions, this is the one.
2. Samsung 990 PRO 1TB: Fastest Gen4
The Samsung 990 PRO is rated for 7,450 MB/s read and 6,900 MB/s write, the highest numbers in this roundup. It sits on a standard Gen4 x4 link, so it satisfies Sony’s recommendation of 7,000 MB/s or faster.
The catch is the missing heatsink. You have to buy a low-profile one that stays under the 11.25mm height limit. For a PS5-only buyer that adds a purchase and a fit check; for someone who may move the drive to a PC, the bare drive is easier to reuse. The 1TB size is the lightest capacity here, so treat it as an entry point.
3. WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB with Heatsink: Best High Capacity
The WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB with Heatsink takes the SN850X platform, rated up to 7,300 MB/s read, and ships with a heatsink so you do not have to source one. Four terabytes is the practical choice if you keep a large library installed, since many current releases take up well over 100GB each.
Check the heatsink dimensions against Sony’s 11.25mm height limit before you order; a heatsink variant designed for PC use is not automatically PS5-safe. This is also the most expensive option here, so it only makes sense if you will use the space.
4. Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 2TB: Low-Profile Heatspreader
The Corsair MP600 PRO LPX was built with the PS5 in mind and comes with a low-profile aluminum heatspreader pre-installed. Corsair rates it at up to 7,100 MB/s read, above Sony’s 5,500 MB/s floor and just past the 7,000 MB/s recommended mark.
It is an older design than the SN850P and 990 PRO, so its rated speeds are slightly lower, and it can be harder to find in stock. If it is available in the capacity you want, it is a solid alternative to the licensed WD drive.
5. WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB: Best PC Crossover
The WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB is a bare drive rated for 7,300 MB/s read and 6,300 MB/s write. On paper it matches the licensed SN850P’s read speed, so the difference is the heatsink and the branding rather than the flash.
It makes sense if you already have a PS5-compatible heatsink, or if the drive is destined for a PC where a motherboard heatsink will do the job. Otherwise, the licensed SN850P or the heatsink-equipped 4TB are simpler for a console build.
6. Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB: Check Fit First
The Samsung 990 EVO Plus uses a Gen4 x4 or Gen5 x2 interface and is rated up to 7,250 MB/s read. On the spec sheet it clears Sony’s 5,500 MB/s minimum, but Samsung does not market it as a PS5 drive and it is DRAM-less, using the host memory buffer instead.
We include it because 2TB at this tier is attractive and the numbers fit Sony’s requirements. Confirm recent owner reports on PS5 use and add a low-profile heatsink before relying on it. If you want certainty, pick one of the first four drives instead.
FAQ
Do I need a heatsink on a PS5 SSD? Yes. Sony expects a heatsink on any drive you install, and the total height including the heatsink cannot exceed 11.25mm. The SN850P, Corsair MP600 PRO LPX and the 4TB SN850X with Heatsink include one.
Does a PS5 Pro use the same SSDs? Yes. The PS5 Pro uses the same M.2 Gen4 expansion slot as the original PS5, so any drive that meets Sony’s requirements works in both.
How fast does a PS5 SSD need to be? Sony requires at least 5,500 MB/s sequential read and recommends 7,000 MB/s or faster. All six drives above are rated at 7,000 MB/s or higher.
Can I move a PS5 SSD to my PC later? Yes, they are standard M.2 2280 NVMe drives. A bare drive is easiest to reuse, since a console heatsink may not fit your motherboard’s M.2 slot.
The Bottom Line
For most owners, the WD_BLACK SN850P 2TB is the simplest and safest choice, with a heatsink made for the console and a 7,300 MB/s read rating. If you want maximum speed and are happy to add your own cooler, take the Samsung 990 PRO; if you keep a huge library installed, take the WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB with Heatsink.