Our picks · Hardware facts first
Best SSDs for PS5, Xbox and Steam Deck
The drives we would put in a PS5, the expansion cards for an Xbox Series X|S and the M.2 2230 drives for a Steam Deck or similar handheld, each chosen from its own tested review and the maker’s data sheet. The PS5 picks meet the bar Sony states on its support page. For why each console wants a different kind of drive, read Console and Handheld Storage. There are no prices here: every link goes to the retailer, where the current price is shown.
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Best pick in each tier
PS5 M.2 drives · Heatsink included
Photo: Sandisk Sandisk Optimus GX PRO 850P
Sandisk calls it officially licensed for the PS5 and PS5 Pro, with a heatsink built for the console’s M.2 slot. Tom’s Hardware found the 2TB drive cool-running with that heatsink and called the heatsink excellent.
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PS5 M.2 drives · Bare drive, add a heatsink
Photo: Lexar Lexar NM790
Lexar’s product sheet says the NM790 is compatible with the PS5 and lists it as single-sided from 1TB to 4TB. Tom’s Hardware found the 4TB model single-sided too, and said it would work well in a PS5.
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Xbox Series X|S · Expansion cards
Photo: Sandisk WD_BLACK C50 Expansion Card for Xbox
Western Digital’s data sheet calls it officially licensed for Xbox Series X|S and gives a 5-year warranty. Windows Central saw no observable difference in load or transfer times between it, the console’s internal SSD and the Seagate card.
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Handhelds · M.2 2230 drives
Photo: Sandisk Sandisk Optimus GX 7100M
Tom’s Hardware called the 2TB drive as good as it gets for M.2 2230 and the most power-efficient 2230 drive it has tested, with TLC flash. Sandisk’s data sheet names the Steam Deck and the MSI Claw.
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Handhelds · M.2 2242 drives
Photo: Corsair Corsair MP700 Micro
Tom’s Hardware called it the best drive you can get in M.2 2242, with TLC flash, and found it single-sided even at 4TB. It is a PCIe 5.0 drive, which Corsair says runs at reduced performance on PCIe 4.0 hosts such as the Legion Go.
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PS5 M.2 drives
PS5 M.2 drives · tier 1 of 2
Heatsink included
Drives sold with a heatsink on them, so the PS5 slot needs nothing else. Each must meet Sony’s published bar: a PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe drive, 5,500MB/s read or faster, and a drive with its cooling no wider than 25mm and no thicker than 11.25mm.
2 picks, best first
Best pick
Sandisk Optimus GX PRO 850P 2TB
Photo: Sandisk Sandisk calls it officially licensed for the PS5 and PS5 Pro, with a heatsink built for the console’s M.2 slot. Tom’s Hardware found the 2TB drive cool-running with that heatsink and called the heatsink excellent.
Suits you if
- You want a drive licensed for the PS5 and PS5 Pro with the heatsink already fitted.
- You want DRAM and TLC flash.
Skip it if
- You want the lowest cost: Tom’s Hardware calls the pricing steep.
- Interface
- PCIe 4.0 NVMe with DRAM and TLC flash, per Tom’s Hardware
- Speed
- Up to 7,300MB/s sequential read, per Sandisk
- Cooling
- Heatsink built for the PS5 and PS5 Pro slot, officially licensed, per Sandisk
- Also sold as
- Tom’s Hardware calls it the WD_BLACK SN850P by another name
Specs from Sandisk Optimus GX PRO 850P product page; tested in Tom’s Hardware, Sandisk Optimus GX Pro 850P 2TB review.
Check price at Amazon Paid link2nd pick
Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink 2TB
Photo: Samsung Samsung’s data sheet lists the PlayStation 5 as a usage application for the heatsink model. Tom’s Hardware, reviewing the 2TB 990 Pro without the heatsink, called it in many respects the fastest SSD it had tested.
Suits you if
- You want a heatsink model that Samsung itself lists for the PS5.
- You want DRAM and TLC flash from a maker that publishes its heatsink’s size.
Skip it if
- You want a review of the heatsink model itself: Tom’s Hardware tested the bare drive.
- Interface
- PCIe Gen 4.0 x4, NVMe 2.0, with Samsung V-NAND TLC, per Samsung
- Speed
- Up to 7,450MB/s sequential read, per Samsung
- Size
- At most 24.3mm wide and 8.2mm tall with the heatsink, per Samsung
- Tested as
- The review covers the bare 990 Pro; the heatsink model adds Samsung’s heatsink
Specs from Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink data sheet; tested in Tom’s Hardware, Samsung 990 Pro review.
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PS5 M.2 drives · tier 2 of 2
Bare drive, add a heatsink
Drives sold without a heatsink, which Sony says the console needs: you add one that stays inside Sony’s 25mm width and 11.25mm thickness limits. A single-sided drive leaves the most room for it. Each still meets the same PCIe Gen4 x4 and 5,500MB/s bar.
2 picks, best first
Best pick
Lexar NM790 1TB
Photo: Lexar Lexar’s product sheet says the NM790 is compatible with the PS5 and lists it as single-sided from 1TB to 4TB. Tom’s Hardware found the 4TB model single-sided too, and said it would work well in a PS5.
Suits you if
- You already own a PS5 heatsink or want to pick your own.
- You want a single-sided drive.
Skip it if
- You want the heatsink included: this listing is the bare drive.
- Interface
- M.2 2280, PCIe Gen 4x4 NVMe, per Lexar
- Speed
- Up to 7,400MB/s sequential read, per Lexar
- Layout
- Single-sided from 1TB to 4TB, per Lexar
- Heatsink
- Not included on this listing: you add one that fits Sony’s limits
Specs from Lexar NM790 product sheet; tested in Tom’s Hardware, Lexar NM790 review.
Check price at Amazon Paid link2nd pick
WD_BLACK SN7100 2TB
Photo: Sandisk Sandisk’s data sheet rates it at 7,250MB/s read, above Sony’s 5,500MB/s recommendation, with a height of 2.38mm. Tom’s Hardware found it single-sided with no DRAM and called it largely unimpressive aside from its power efficiency. Sandisk does not list the PS5 on the sheet.
Suits you if
- You want a thin, cool-running bare drive and will fit your own heatsink.
- You want TLC flash.
Skip it if
- You want a maker that names the PS5: Sandisk’s sheet does not.
- Interface
- M.2 2280, PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe with TLC 3D NAND, per Sandisk
- Speed
- Up to 7,250MB/s sequential read, per Sandisk
- Height
- 2.38mm without a heatsink, per Sandisk
- Layout
- Single-sided with a controller, no DRAM and one NAND package, per Tom’s Hardware
Specs from Sandisk WD_BLACK SN7100 data sheet; tested in Tom’s Hardware, WD Black SN7100 review.
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Xbox Series X|S
Xbox Series X|S · tier 1 of 1
Expansion cards
The Xbox expansion slot takes only a licensed card, not an M.2 drive. Both picks are made for Xbox Series X and Series S, and both run games optimized for Xbox Series X|S at the console’s own speed.
2 picks, best first
Best pick
WD_BLACK C50 Expansion Card for Xbox 1TB
Photo: Sandisk Western Digital’s data sheet calls it officially licensed for Xbox Series X|S and gives a 5-year warranty. Windows Central saw no observable difference in load or transfer times between it, the console’s internal SSD and the Seagate card.
Suits you if
- You want the longer warranty of the two Xbox cards.
- You want a 2TB option: the data sheet lists one.
Skip it if
- You want to use the drive in a PC or a PS5: the card fits only the Xbox expansion slot.
- Fits
- Xbox Series X and Series S expansion slot, officially licensed, per Western Digital
- Capacities
- 512GB, 1TB and 2TB, per Western Digital
- Speed
- Console speed in games optimized for Xbox Series X|S, with Quick Resume, per Western Digital
- Warranty
- 5 years limited, per Western Digital
Specs from WD_BLACK C50 Expansion Card for Xbox data sheet; tested in Windows Central, WD_BLACK C50 Expansion Card review.
Check price at Amazon Paid link2nd pick
Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S 2TB
Photo: Seagate The original Xbox card, built with Microsoft. Windows Central called it extremely reliable after several years of use, with game performance and loading times on par with the internal SSD. Seagate’s data sheet gives a 3-year warranty.
Suits you if
- You want the card that Microsoft and Seagate designed together.
- You value a long record of reliable use.
Skip it if
- You want the longest warranty: Seagate’s is 3 years, against 5 on the other card.
- Fits
- Xbox Series X and Series S expansion slot, per Seagate
- Capacities
- 1TB and 2TB on the data sheet we saved, per Seagate
- Speed
- Console speed in games optimized for Xbox Series X, with Quick Resume, per Seagate
- Warranty
- 3 years limited, per Seagate
Specs from Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S data sheet; tested in Windows Central, Seagate Storage Expansion Card review.
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Handhelds
Handhelds · tier 1 of 2
M.2 2230 drives
Small 22mm by 30mm M.2 drives for the Steam Deck and handhelds like the ROG Ally that take the 2230 size. Each pick names its flash type, because QLC and TLC behave differently, and each fits the 2230 size on its maker’s sheet. Check your own handheld’s slot size before you buy.
2 picks, best first
Best pick
Sandisk Optimus GX 7100M 2TB
Photo: Sandisk Tom’s Hardware called the 2TB drive as good as it gets for M.2 2230 and the most power-efficient 2230 drive it has tested, with TLC flash. Sandisk’s data sheet names the Steam Deck and the MSI Claw.
Suits you if
- You want TLC flash and the best power efficiency measured in a 2230 drive.
- You have a Steam Deck or another handheld that takes the 2230 size.
Skip it if
- You want the coolest-running option: Tom’s Hardware measured sensor peaks up to 85°C against a 90°C throttle rating and lists hot-running among its drawbacks.
- Interface
- M.2 2230, PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe 2.0, per Sandisk
- Flash
- TLC, 218-layer, single-sided at 2TB, per Tom’s Hardware
- Speed
- Up to 7,250MB/s sequential read, per Sandisk
- Endurance
- 1,200 terabytes written at 2TB, with a 5-year warranty, per Sandisk
Specs from Sandisk Optimus GX 7100M data sheet; tested in Tom’s Hardware, Sandisk Optimus GX 7100M 2TB review.
Check price at Amazon Paid link2nd pick
PNY CS2342 2TB
Photo: PNY Tom’s Hardware called the 2TB drive an excellent M.2 2230 SSD with good performance in a single-sided package, with TLC flash. PNY’s sheet names the ROG Ally and the Steam Deck.
Suits you if
- You want 2TB of TLC flash in a single-sided 2230 drive.
- You have a ROG Ally or a Steam Deck.
Skip it if
- You want the best power efficiency: Tom’s Hardware calls it efficient but on the lower end compared to newer drives.
- Interface
- M.2 2230, PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe, per PNY
- Flash
- TLC, 162-layer, per Tom’s Hardware
- Speed
- Up to 7,300MB/s sequential read, per PNY
- Endurance
- 1,200 terabytes written at 2TB, per Tom’s Hardware, with a 5-year limited warranty, per PNY
Specs from PNY CS2342 sell sheet; tested in Tom’s Hardware, PNY CS2342 2TB review.
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Handhelds · tier 2 of 2
M.2 2242 drives
Longer 22mm by 42mm M.2 drives for handhelds whose slot takes the 2242 size, such as the Lenovo Legion Go, which Lenovo lists with an M.2 2242 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot. The extra length leaves room for a second flash package. Each pick names its flash type and fits the 2242 size on its maker’s sheet. A 2230 slot will not take these, so check your handheld’s slot before you buy.
2 picks, best first
Best pick
Corsair MP700 Micro 4TB
Photo: Corsair Tom’s Hardware called it the best drive you can get in M.2 2242, with TLC flash, and found it single-sided even at 4TB. It is a PCIe 5.0 drive, which Corsair says runs at reduced performance on PCIe 4.0 hosts such as the Legion Go.
Suits you if
- You want the most capacity in a single-sided 2242 drive.
- You have a handheld with a 2242 slot, such as the Lenovo Legion Go.
Skip it if
- Your handheld’s slot is PCIe 4.0: Corsair says performance is reduced on Gen 4 platforms, so the extra speed goes unused.
- Interface
- M.2 2242, PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe, per Corsair
- Flash
- TLC, 218-layer, per Tom’s Hardware
- Speed
- Up to 9,400MB/s sequential read at 4TB on PCIe 5.0, per Tom’s Hardware
- Endurance
- 2,400 terabytes written at 4TB, per Tom’s Hardware, with a 5-year warranty, per Corsair
Specs from Corsair MP700 Micro 4TB product page; tested in Tom’s Hardware, Corsair MP700 Micro 4TB review.
Check price at Amazon Paid link2nd pick
Sabrent Rocket 2242 (SB-2742) 4TB
Photo: Sabrent Sabrent’s newer 2242 drive, with the Phison E27T controller and TLC flash, rated up to 7,300MB/s read and 6,400MB/s write. Sabrent designs it for systems that take the 2242 size, handheld gaming systems among them. No outlet has published a tested review of this model yet.
Suits you if
- You have a Lenovo Legion Go or another handheld with a 2242 slot and want 4TB in it.
- You want TLC flash and the newer Phison E27T controller at this size.
Skip it if
- You want a drive an outlet has tested: no tested review of this model is out yet.
- You want the full warranty without registering: Sabrent gives 2 years unless you register within 90 days.
- Interface
- M.2 2242, PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe, per Sabrent
- Flash
- TLC with a Phison E27T controller, per Sabrent
- Speed
- Up to 7,300MB/s read and 6,400MB/s write, per Sabrent
- Warranty
- 2 years, extended if you register within 90 days, per Sabrent
Specs from Sabrent Rocket 2242 product page (SB-2742); no tested review of this model yet.
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How we pick
A drive or card becomes a pick when its maker publishes a data sheet or product page that states what it is and what it fits, and a published review of that exact model, by Tom’s Hardware or Windows Central, is saved in our library. Each tier has a stated bar. For the PS5 it is Sony’s own: a PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe drive, 5,500MB/s read or faster as Sony recommends, and a drive with its cooling no wider than 25mm and no thicker than 11.25mm. Sony also says the console needs a heatsink or similar cooling, so the PS5 picks are split into drives sold with one and bare drives you fit one to. The Xbox bar is a card made for the Xbox expansion slot, because the slot takes nothing else. The handheld bar is the M.2 2230 size, with the flash type named on every card, because the QLC drives behave differently from the TLC ones. Every spec on a card comes from the maker’s own page; what a reviewer measured or found is credited to the review by name. One pick is the exception to the review rule: the Sabrent Rocket 2242 (SB-2742) is on the list by our own choice before any outlet has tested it, and its card says so.
Popularity and commission play no part: a drive is here because of its data sheet and a test (or, for the one exception above, our own choice), not because it sells well. We check the picks again when new reviews come out.
Reading the cards
A faster drive does not always load games faster. Sony says not all games play exactly as they do on the console’s internal storage even when a drive reads faster than 5,500MB/s. A handheld can use less of a drive’s speed still: Tom’s Hardware notes the Steam Deck is limited to PCIe 3.0, while the ROG Ally can use PCIe 4.0. Where a review tested the bare drive and the pick is the heatsink model, the card says so.
For larger drives for a desktop, see Best SSDs. This page does not show prices, because a page built once cannot keep a price current.
Also considered
Products the reviews we read tested that did not make the cut, and the reason each one missed.
PS5 M.2 drives · Heatsink included
- Crucial T500 with heatsink. Tom’s Hardware notes a PS5-friendly heatsink option, but Crucial’s data sheet cannot be saved, so no maker sheet stands behind it here. Tom’s Hardware, Crucial T500 2TB review
Handhelds · M.2 2230 drives
- Crucial P310 2230. Tom’s Hardware lists 7,100MB/s read from QLC flash, but the Steam Deck is limited to PCIe 3.0 speed and Crucial’s data sheet cannot be saved, so it is not a pick. Tom’s Hardware, Crucial P310 review
- WD_BLACK SN770M. Tom’s Hardware calls it the least efficient PCIe 4.0 2230 drive it has tested, and says its successor, the Sandisk Optimus GX 7100M, does not have that power issue. Tom’s Hardware, Sandisk Optimus GX 7100M 2TB review, page 2
- Corsair MP600 Mini (E27T). Tom’s Hardware tested the TLC drive at 1TB and called it the best M.2 2230 drive you can buy at the time, but the 7100M review says TLC drives with the Phison E27T controller are harder to find and do not quite match its random read performance. Tom’s Hardware, Corsair MP600 Mini 1TB (E27T) review
- TeamGroup MP44S. Tom’s Hardware says it uses QLC flash, which has lower endurance and performance than TLC, so the two TLC picks come first. Tom’s Hardware, best SSD for the Steam Deck
- Sabrent Rocket 2230. Tom’s Hardware called it fast and efficient but limited to 1TB, and Sabrent gives 5 years only when you register, with 2 years if you do not. Tom’s Hardware, Sabrent Rocket 2230 review
- Sabrent Rocket Q4 2230. Tom’s Hardware says it is good enough for the PCIe 3.0 Steam Deck but that its QLC flash holds it back from being the best. Tom’s Hardware, Sabrent Rocket Q4 2230 2TB review
Handhelds · M.2 2242 drives
- Sabrent Rocket Nano 2242 (SB-2142-1TB). Tom’s Hardware tested this earlier model and called it one of the best choices out there for M.2 2242, but it is sold at 1TB only, and the newer SB-2742 is the pick here. Tom’s Hardware, Sabrent Rocket Nano 2242 1TB review
Questions before you buy
Does a PS5 SSD need a heatsink?
Yes. Sony says an M.2 SSD in the console needs effective heat dissipation, such as a heatsink and a heat transfer sheet, and that some drives come with a cooling structure built in. Sony also limits the drive and its cooling to 25mm wide and 11.25mm thick, so check a heatsink’s size before you buy one. Console and handheld storage.
Can any NVMe drive go in a PS5?
No. Sony requires an M.2 NVMe drive (Key M) that supports PCIe Gen4 x4, and says M.2 SATA drives are not supported. It recommends 5,500MB/s sequential read or faster, and adds that not every game plays exactly as it does on the internal storage even then. Console and handheld storage.
Can I put a regular SSD in an Xbox Series X|S?
Not in the expansion slot. It takes only a Storage Expansion Card made for Xbox, and Xbox says these match the console’s internal storage performance. Both picks on this page are that kind of card, so an M.2 drive from the PS5 sections will not fit. Console and handheld storage.
Which M.2 size does a Steam Deck take, and what about the Legion Go?
The Steam Deck uses the small 22mm by 30mm M.2 2230 size, which is why the first handheld group is 2230 drives. Tom’s Hardware notes the Steam Deck is limited to PCIe 3.0 speed, while the ROG Ally can use PCIe 4.0. Lenovo lists the Legion Go with an M.2 2242 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot, the longer 42mm size, so the second group is 2242 drives. Other handhelds can take a longer drive, so check your model’s slot before you buy. Console and handheld storage.
Do these picks include prices?
No. A page built once cannot keep a price current, so every link goes to the retailer, where the current price is shown. The picks come from the maker’s data sheet and a tested review, not from what sells or pays. Best SSDs.