The best SSD for PS5 is a must if you own lots of PS5 games. Many of the most popular titles on the platform now require more than 100GB of storage space, with some coming in even higher. On my personal PS5, I have more than 300GB taken up by just Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone alone.
Installing a PS5 SSD is quick and easy (just see my rapid-fire guide at the bottom of this page) and gives you a lot more storage space to work with. If you frequently finding yourself having to delete games to make space for new ones, then it's definitely time to invest in an upgrade.
As Hardware Writer at TechRadar, it's my job to test all kinds of PS5 storage devices including the best PS5 external hard drives and compatible SSDs. I've put together this guide to the best models on the market today using my own hands-on testing, comparing performance, design, and cost to ensure that there are great options every use case.
The Quick List
Best overall
Best overall
This officially-licensed PS5 SSD from Seagate is the best overall option for the majority of PS5 players. Tailor-made for the console, it offered superb speeds in our testing and comes in at a decent price.
Best budget
The Lexar NM790 with Heatsink is a superb value choice for PS5, especially if you're after a 4TB model that doesn't break the bank.
Best high-end
The Samsung 990 Pro is our top choice if you have the cash to spend. It's a little pricey, but is supremely high-quality and offers ultra-fast performance.
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Best high capacity
The WD Black SN850P is a decently performing licensed drive that comes in an 8TB capacity variant for those seeking a truly massive PS5 storage upgrade.
Best endurance
If you want to save money by picking up an older model, the Samsung 980 Pro still holds up as an excellent SSD for PS5 and features exceptional endurance that's hard to beat at this price.
The best SSDs for PS5 in 2025
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The best overall SSD for PS5
✅ You want a straightforward decision: We tested all of the models on this list to ensure full PS5 compatibility, but the Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD is also officially licensed by Sony for added peace of mind.
✅ You want smooth performance: The Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD impressed in our testing, achieving a 6,459 MB/s reading on the PS5's in built SSD read speed test.
❌ You want more than 2TB: The Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD unfortunately does not come in a 4TB configuration. This means that it's unsuitable for those who want a massive drive to store bigger libraries.
You really can't go wrong with Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5. This officially licensed drive offers great speeds at a reasonable price, especially in its 1TB configuration. It performed very well in a range of real-world tests, transferring everything from small titles like Asphalt Legends Unite to the gigantic Final Fantasy 16 without noticeable speeds dips even over extended periods of use.
This drive offers better speeds than other licensed options around the same price such as our old favorite the WD Black SN850, which was previously featured in this guide. As it includes a chunky pre-installed heatsink, this drive is also fully compatible with the PS5 right out of the box making it a perfect choice for those new to upgrading their console's storage.
The 1TB model should be more than enough for most players, though those with larger libraries should pick the 2TB variant instead. To put these numbers in context, a 1TB drive can store over six complete installations of a massive game like Horizon Forbidden West, which comes in at roughly 150GB. The 2TB model can then store over 13. Of course, these numbers would be even bigger when it comes to smaller games.
Even so, the only real issue with the Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5 right now is the lack of any 4TB option. Owners of hefty libraries crammed with some of the biggest titles around might require more space and should therefore choose other options.
- Read more: Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD review
The best budget SSD for PS5
✅ You want the best value: The Lexar NM790 with Heatsink offers a fantastic storage upgrade at a price that undercuts the competition.
✅ You want 4TB: The 4TB variant of this SSD drive is particularly good value. You should definitely consider it if you're after a drive in that large capacity.
❌ You want the most consistent performance: As a HMB drive (that means no DRAM present), the Lexar NM790 can suffer occasional performance hitches that you wouldn't get with more expensive options.
I was very impressed by the Lexar NM790 in my testing, finding it to be an absolutely excellent value choice. The 4TB model is particular is substantially cheaper than the competition and frequently goes on sale, making it a top contender if you want a large SSD drive that doesn't strain your wallet.
It performed excellently in the PS5's internal benchmark, scoring 6,526MB/S. That beats my scores for not only the WD Black SN850P but also comes in a little higher than the Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5. In fact, it's not too far away from the results I got with the Samsung 990 Pro - so pretty excellent overall. The drive also performed very well on my copy test, with over 100GB of games copied in just under 45 seconds.
The build quality is far better than you would expect for the price too. You get a massive, effective heatsink fitted right out of the box that, despite its large size, fits perfectly in a PS5. The manufacturer also claims fantastic endurance, so expect this drive to last for quite some time.
That said, there is one drawback that stops me from crowning the Lexar NM790 my overall winner. It's the lack of DRAM, a small bit of separate memory used to store mapping information. This is present in more expensive drives and not only improves performance but is also recommended by Sony. It doesn't make much of a difference in real terms, but I did notice some very, very minor stutters in more intense games: most notably the final few hours of Marvel's Spider-Man 2. I think the saving is worth this trade off, but this with a larger budget might prefer more consistent alternatives.
- Read more: Lexar NM790 with Heatsink review
The best high-end SSD for PS5
✅ You want the best speeds: The Samsung 990 Pro delivers the best performance of any SSD on this list.
✅ You want the best build quality: The build quality is also a cut above the rest, offering a reliable and durable PS5 storage solution.
❌ You're on a strict budget: There's no getting around the fact that the Samsung 990 Pro is pricey. The older Samsung 980 Pro could be a better buy if you've got limited funds.
The Samsung 990 Pro maxes out what's possible with NVMe Gen 4.0 technology in a way that few other SSDs for PS5 can. Available in either 1TB or 2TB configurations, this high-speed drive is seriously impressive across the board when stacked up against the competition.
In our testing, we found that the Samsung 990 Pro was able to achieve read and write speeds of 7,465.49MB/s of 6,887.68MB/s respectively. That's a considerable improvement on the brand's previous flagship model - increasing the drive's speed by around 50%. Loading times and file transfer times are equally impressive. In our testing, around 10GB of data made the jump to this NVMe SSD in less than four seconds which is incredibly fast.
Keep in mind that the Samsung 990 Pro is a little pricier than some other SSDs for PS5 at the moment. That price tag is what keeps this drive from reaching the top spot in our roundup, but it is worth bearing in mind that this model often receives substantial discounts during sales events.
It also happens to run quite hot when pushed to its limits, so be sure to get the version with the PS5 compatible heatsink installed (or even fit your own) if you intend to use it with the console.
- Read more: Samsung 990 Pro review
The best high capacity SSD for PS5
✅ You're craving loads of storage space: The WD Black SN850P is one of the few licensed 8TB drives on the market. It's perfect if you just want a no-fuss giant storage boost.
✅ You want to keep it official: The WD Black SN850P if officially licensed, so you know that you're getting a product designed specifically for the PS5 console.
❌ You want the fastest speeds: The WD Black SN850P is fast enough for PS5 gaming, but there are much speedier drives out there for those craving the best speeds.
I wasn't particularly impressed with the 1TB model of the WD Black SN850P, which is pretty overpriced for what you get. Don't get me wrong, it performed decently enough in my testing and will be more than good enough for most PS5 owners, but it only really presents a great value proposition when it's on sale. This is also the case for the 2TB model, which is just a bit too expensive to be truly competitive at RRP.
Things become a lot more compelling when you consider the 4TB and 8TB options, however. The recently introduced 8TB WD Black SN850P in particular is quite good value, thanks in no small part to the almost universally sky high prices of such high capacity drives. It frequently receives discounts of around $50 / £50 too, which puts its price in line with non-licensed PS5 compatible alternatives. This means that I would fully recommend the 8TB model for those seeking a high capacity drive.
An 8TB PS5 SSD is going to be nothing short of the ultimate storage upgrade, offering more than enough space to store a vasty library of games. It is the investment to make if you don't want to have to think about any further storage upgrades for the remainder of the console generation.
- Read more: WD Black SN850P review
The best endurance SSD for PS5
✅ You want a competitively priced SSD for PS5: The price of this drive has decreased massively now there is a newer model on the market.
✅ You're after a drive with great endurance: Our testing found that the Samsung 980 Pro has some of the strongest write endurance that we've seen to date.
❌ You want the fastest SSD for PS5: The Samsung 980 Pro is no longer the flagship SSD it once was. It has since been replaced by the 990 Pro, which offers better speeds.
Despite its age, the Samsung 980 Pro continues to be an excellent SSD for PS5. This is in large part thanks to its excellently designed heatsink and solid write endurance. If you're after an NVMe storage drive that's going to be able take a lot of punishment, the thick aluminum chassis of this model has enough strength to bear some very intense workloads - just don't try and throw it out of a window or something as that probably wouldn't end very well.
The Samsung 980 Pro is quoted by Samsung as being able to reach sequential read speeds of up to 7,000 MB/s and we found in our testing that this model came very close and could achieve 6,783 MB/s. That's more than fast enough for file transfers and puts this drive far above the recommended 5,500 MB/s speeds that the PS5 console requires.
Thanks to the arrival of an even new model, the Samsung 990 Pro, the Samsung 980 Pro has received a series of welcome price cuts. You can regularly find it available for around $150 when shopping for the 1TB model or between $199 and $220 for the 2TB variant if you need that extra storage space. With a 5-year warranty, you also have peace of mind knowing it is guaranteed for a fair chunk of the PS5 console generation.
- Read more: Samsung 980 Pro review
PS5 SSD Requirements
PS5 games can only be played from a compatible internal NVMe SSD or the console's own native storage. Below you will find the key requirements that need to be met in order to be compatible with the system's M.2 port:
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Header Cell - Column 1 |
|---|---|
Format | PCIe Gen 4.0 (x4) M.2 NVMe SSD |
Capacity | 250GB, 500GB, 1Tb, 2TB or 4TB |
Read Speed | 5500MB/s or faster |
Total size with heatsink | 110 x 25 x 11.25 mm |
Form factor | 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 or 22110 |
Heatsink | Required |
All the SSDs in our roundup meet or exceed the recommended requirements set by Sony and are natively PS5-compatible. Keep in mind that regardless of which drive you choose, you will need a PS5 SSD heatsink. This is because the console has no way to dissipate heat built into the M.2 port. Without a heatsink, the temperature of your SSD could become dangerously hot and not only potentially damage the SSD but also your console.
Recommended heatsinks
A heatsink is required on any internal PS5 SSD in order to prevent any potential damage from overheating. While every entry on this list comes with the option for a heatsink out of the box, making for a very easy and convenient setup process, you can often save some cash by picking up a model that does not come with one fitted. While we wouldn't recommend that those less experienced with fitting an SSD ever go down this route, here are three solid options if you do happen to be in need of a separate heatsink.
Like the heatsink found in the PNY XLR8 Gaming Kit, the Sabrent M.2 NVMe PS5 heatsink replaces the PS5's stock M.2 port shield in its entirety. This makes for an incredibly easy installation process, with thousands of satisfied buyers leaving five star reviews on Amazon. This model hovers around $20, but can frequently be found for even less on sale.
Another model that replaces the M.2 port shield, the ElecGear PS5 NVMe SSD Heatsink comes in slightly more expensive but is made of solid aluminium and boasts a sizeable surface area for enhanced cooling performance. Just be aware that the sheer size of this model means that it is only compatible with the original PS5 and not the more recent PS5 Slim.
If you're looking for a more traditional heatsink that is fitted to the SSD itself, then consider the icepc M.2 Heatsink for PS5. Its constructed using copper and comes in at a very affordable price. It is installed using a set of included rubber bands, making for quite an easy process, and sits snugly against your SSD drive.
How to install a PS5 SSD
To install your SSD, you will need: your PS5 console, a Phillips #1 or similar cross-head screwdriver, and your PS5 compatible SSD. For safety reasons, make sure that your console is completely powered off and fully unplugged before starting the installation process.
First, place your console with the power button facing towards you and the PlayStation logo facing down. If you own the launch PS5 model, remove the top console cover by pulling it upwards slightly and sliding it to the right. If you have the newer PS5 Slim, look for the section of the cover labelled with a small triangle and pull it away from the console until you hear a click.
With the outside cover completely removed, locate the expansion slot cover. Use your screwdriver to remove it and set it to one side. Then, remove the screw and standoff (a small metal ring that supports the SSD) that is already fitted in the expansion slot bay and place them to one side too.
Next, you need to hold the SSD at an angle and slot it into the exposed M.2 port. When its contacts are in place, push it down gently and screw it in with the screw and the standoff. Once it has been fitted, replace the expansion slot cover and screw that in too.
Finally, reattach the console cover and connect the console back to its power supply, your display, any accessories, and turn it on. Follow any on-screen prompts that appear and you're good to go.
If you run into any issues or want to browse a more detailed walkthrough with pictures of each individual step, be sure to consult our dedicated guide on how to install a PS5 SSD.
The best SSD for PS5 - Glossary
Shopping for a new SSD for your PS5 can be pretty overwhelming, thanks in no small part to the number of specialist terms that are used throughout store pages and guides like this. Here's a brief glossary explaining some of the most commonly used terms that crop up when you're buying a PS5 SSD.
Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
SSD | An SSD (short for Solid State Drive) is an electronic device used to store data. The PS5 uses an SSD for its internal storage and offers an expansion slot so that you can fit your own. Unlike a traditional hard drive (HDD), SSD storage does not rely on moving parts so is often more durable. SSD drives can also be much faster. |
HDD | A HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is another type of storage device. While older consoles like the PS4 used HDD internal storage, it has since been superseded by faster and less fragile SSDs. |
Read speed | An SSD's read speed is a general measure of how quickly a particular drive can access the data that has been stored on it. |
Write speed | An SSD's write speed is a general measure of how quickly a particular drive can store information. |
Heatsink | A heatsink is something that takes heat away from a particular component or device. Many SSDs come fitted with heatsinks which contain conductive materials to absorb excess heat. |
Thermal throttling | Thermal throttling describes how an SSD drive will slow down when it's at a high temperature. It's an important feature built into many SSD drives. It is intended to prevent a drive from becoming too hot. |
Form factor | The form factor of an SSD most often refers to its physical size. There are loads of different SSD form factors on the market, but the ones you should pay attention to are 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 or 22110 as these are PS5 compatible. |
NVMe | NVMe (or Non-Volatile Memory Host Controller Interface Specification) is an interface specification used on many SSD drives. |
Storage capacity | The storage capacity of an SSD denotes the amount of data that can be stored on a drive. In the context of PS5 SSDs, all you need to know is that drives with a higher storage capacity will have more room storing games. |
TB | 1TB (terabyte) is 1,000GB, a measure of digital information. |
The best SSD for PS5 - FAQs
Can I use a PS5 SSD with the PS5 Slim?
The short answer is "yes". Any SSD that is compatible with the original PS5 will also work with the more recent PS5 Slim. Both consoles feature an identical M.2 storage bay, meaning that any compatible SSD will fit both systems. Just be aware that some third-party heatsinks that replace the M.2 storage bay cover, such as the ElecGear PS5 NVMe SSD Heatsink, might not fit in the PS5 Slim due to their size.
What capacity PS5 SSD do I need?
The minimum size that we would recommend when buying an SSD for PS5 would be 1TB. Given the large installation requirements of many games, anything smaller than this is likely to fill up incredibly quickly. If you are somebody who downloads lots of recently released games, then you should definitely consider larger sizes like 2TB instead.
Which SSDs are compatible with the PS5?
The only SSDs that will work in the PS5 are Gen 4.0 NVMe models with heatsinks. Gen 3.0 models are too slow to reach the minimum recommended read speeds of 5,500 MB/s. If you're worried about picking the right one, rest assured that every model on this list has been tested to ensure PS5 compatibility out of the box.
Do I need a heatsink for my SSD on PS5?
Yes, you absolutely need a PS5 SSD heatsink in order to use an SSD properly on the console as they help keep the SSD cool. Excessive heat for prolonged lengths of time can damage or corrupt the drive which is the last thing you would want after splashing out on new hardware. Installing your own heatsink, while often cheaper, is a bit of pain so we recommend picking up an SSD which has one installed already.
How we test SSDs for PS5
We test SSDs for PS5 by recording the file transfer times in a range of tests in addition to the loading times in popular games. The official Sony benchmark tool also gives us a consistent way to measure the sequential read and write performance. After that, we compare how the PS5 SSD that we are testing stacks up against the console's internal storage drive to see if it is on par or surpasses what the system does as standard. We also look at the asking price for the drives and compare them with the performance from competing products, which factors into our overall verdict.
