Samsung’s new SSD aims to make flash storage cheap as hard drives

Save a ton of cash on an SSD on Amazon Prime Day (Image credit: Samsung)

It's finally happening. Samsung is aiming to make solid-state drives as affordable as hard drives with its latest line of 860 QVO SSDs.

The Samsung 1TB 860 QVO SSD will only cost $149 (about £120, AU$210), which makes the price closer to that of the budget-friendly WD Black 1TB hard drive at $99. Sure, there’s still a price gap, but the Samsung 860 QVO operates at much faster read and write speeds of 550 MB/s and 520 MB/s, respectively.

Samsung has managed to bring solid-state storage to never before seen levels of affordability by utilizing high-density 4-bit multi-level cell NAND flash architecture. This form of memory can essentially pack in more data into its substrate and is cheaper for the Samsung to manufacture. The 860 QVO also comes fitted with a MJX controller and integrated Intelligent TurboWrite technology to enable its fast transfer speeds.

The Samsung 860 QVO SSD line is available now with 1TB models starting at $149 (about £120, AU$210). The 2TB version is $249 (about £200, AU$350), and $499 (about £390, AU$690) for 4TB.

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Kevin Lee was a former computing reporter at TechRadar. Kevin is now the SEO Updates Editor at IGN based in New York. He handles all of the best of tech buying guides while also dipping his hand in the entertainment and games evergreen content. Kevin has over eight years of experience in the tech and games publications with previous bylines at Polygon, PC World, and more. Outside of work, Kevin is major movie buff of cult and bad films. He also regularly plays flight & space sim and racing games. IRL he's a fan of archery, axe throwing, and board games.