5 best PS5 SSDs in 2024
The best PS5 SSDs can strongly impact your gaming experience by allowing you to store more games and expand your library. If you've been using the PS5's internal storage of around 660GB, then you've most likely become accustomed to deleting and reinstalling games constantly. This is almost inevitable since modern AAA games have really large file sizes. The only option you have if you want to avoid this hassle is to get more space to work with on your console.
This article lists some of the best PS5 SSDs you can get right now. Not all SSDs are compatible with Sony's console since it has a minimum read speed requirement of 5,500 MB/s. You'll also ideally want to buy an SSD with a heatsink, which is a precautionary measure to avoid damaging both your console and your drive.
Note: This list is subjective and solely reflects the opinions of the writer. The entries are in no particular order.
What are the 5 best PS5 SSDs in 2024?
1) Seagate FireCuda 530 - 2TB ($219.90)
According to Redditors, the Seagate FireCuda 530 is one of the best PS5 SSDs. Several players in the r/playstation subreddit have had good experiences with this SSD and seem to agree that it is simple to set up.
Seagate provides 'Rescue Data Recovery Services' for the FireCuda 530, which is a special feature of this product. If your drive becomes defective or the data becomes corrupted within three years of purchase, you can send it in for repair. Seagate will then either fix the drive or deliver the retrieved data on a secured storage device.
The FireCuda 530 boasts rapid transfer rates of approximately 7300MB/s and is available in four different options, varying from 500GB to 4TB. It has a slightly greater TBW (Terabytes Written) compared to the other choices in the list.
Pros
- Seagate's Rescue Services ensure that your data is always safe
- Quick installation and lots of YouTube tutorials
- Popular on the PlayStation subreddit
Con
- Appears to have a higher failure rate than the other options on this list
Quick specs
2) Samsung 990 PRO (with heatsink) - 2TB ($204.99)
The Samsung 990 PRO is one of the best PS5 SSDs. It has extremely slim dimensions even with the attached heatsink. In the center of this heatsink is an LED indicator that turns on whenever the drive is being used.
It is a step up from the 980 PRO, a popular SSD choice among PS5 users. The 990 PRO provides a more efficient performance in terms of power compared to the 980 PRO at 1,319 MB/Watt. If 2TB isn't enough, you can choose the 4TB version for additional space.
Even though the 990 PRO is one of the pricier options, the drive runs cool. Samsung is a reliable brand, so the performance gains and peace of mind will be worth it for hardcore gamers.
Pros
- Heatsink is efficient and the drive runs cool
- Performance is a step above the competition
- Five-year warranty
Con
- One of the pricier options
Quick specs
3) WD_BLACK SN850X - 2TB ($174.99)
The SN850X is one of the best SSDs in 2024 for the PS5. Western Digital states on its website that this SSD is built to handle gaming tasks and is capable of incredibly fast read speeds exceeding 7,300 MB/s. There are also no reports of users running into hardware or software issues while using it with their PS5 console.
Certain online retailers have it listed at $174.99, but it is possible to get the 2TB variant for as low as $156, which is one of the better price-to-performance ratios for a PS5 SSD.
Pros
- Good build quality
- No performance issues due to thermal throttling
Con
- Price keeps increasing
Quick specs
4) Crucial T500 - 2TB ($169.99)
The Crucial T500 has a functional heatsink and minimal branding on its face that includes only the company name and model. Crucial states that is able to reach speeds of up to 7,400/7,000 MB/s for sequential read/write operations. But there are disappointed users on the PlayStation subreddit who have complained about getting lower speeds than this on their PS5s.
There isn't a 4TB version of the Crucial T500 yet. PS5 users will want to either get the 1TB or 2TB variant of the Crucial T500 since the 500TB SSD doesn't include a heatsink. Overall, it is a reliable drive that covers all bases, which places it among the best PS5 SSDs.
Pros
- High R/W speeds
- Reliable heatsink
Con
- 4TB variant not available
Quick specs
5) XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade - 2TB ($149.99)
The XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade offers incredible read/write speeds of 7,400/6,800 MB/s at a low price of $149.99. These speeds rival that of the Samsung 990 PRO, which is priced much higher. It is also built to last with a 740 TBW, which is higher than SSDs costing much more.
The problem with this SSD is that the heatsink is barely even there. It is just a thin sheet of aluminum, and this is clearly where XPG is cutting corners to offer the competitive price tag. Despite this drawback, it is one of the best PS5 SSDs with great transfer speeds and performance.
Pros
- R/W speeds are similar to the Samsung 990 PRO
- Very reasonable pricing
Cons
- Only two variants, with a max storage space of 2TB
- Heatsink isn't very functional
Quick specs
This concludes the list of the best PS5 SSDs in 2024. We've included the prices for 2TB drives, but you can go for the 1TB models if you're on a tight budget. You won't lose out on performance, but with the insane file sizes of AAA games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (140 GB on the Playstation) a 1TB drive may not always get the job done.