What is the best PS5 SSD and which PS5 SSD should you buy?
Expanding your PS5's storage might seem like a daunting task with so many different SSD options available on the market, but this guide aims to simplify the process, showing you exactly which SSD products are the best available and which ones are the best for your specific needs.
It's important that any SSD you buy meets the technical requirements set out by Sony, ensuring that it's compatible with your console. Every SSD shown on this page meets those requirements for your peace of mind, but we also go into more detail on this in our FAQ section at the bottom of the page if you were wanting to shop elsewhere.
Ready to explore? Using our table below, you can either explore the best value SSDs on the market right now at a quick glance, or read our more detailed thoughts on SSDs we consider to be the best picks:
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The Quick Answer: Best Value PS5 SSDs
Just looking for the best-priced SSD that can be used with your PS5? This table has you covered.
Here, we're tracking the best value prices on PS5 SSDs based on the amount of storage you get for your buck. Models shown here might not necessarily be our favourite SSDs on the market (we go into full detail on our top picks below), but you still can't go wrong choosing anything shown here:
Best PS5 SSDs: Our Top Recommendations
If you've made it to this section of our guide, you're probably wanting to know a little more about the SSD you're buying and what makes it so worth your money. And we don't blame you.
All of the SSDs we've linked to in our recommendations below come with a heatsink included and are fantastic choices depending on your specific needs and budget – just make sure to read our thoughts on each before making your decision.
1) WD_Black SN850 / SN850X / SN850P SSD
Our top choice for PS5 SSDs would be Western Digital's WD_Black SN850 SSD series – the newest model, of which, has now been fully endorsed by Sony itself.
One of the most popular choices on the market, the SN850 range boasts impressive speeds (7,000MB/s read / 5,300MB/s write for the original SN850, and 7,300MB/s read / 6,300MB/s write for the newer X and P models), and it has proven to be a fantastically simple to install and reliable performer during our extensive testing.
The original SN850 is slowly being replaced by the newer and improved SN850X and SN850P – we'd urge you to go with one of these if you can. The only real difference between these newer two models is that the P is an officially licensed partnership with Sony (it features the PlayStation logo on the device itself and has Sony's official endorsement). The X is usually the cheaper of the two as a result, but boasts the same great features.
2) Samsung 980 Pro SSD
The Samsung 980 Pro SSD is another great choice when it comes to PS5 SSDs and, again, is one of the most popular models on the market.
Its speeds are a little slower than the newer SN850 models from WD_Black that we've highlighted as our top choice above (7,000MB/s read speed and 5,100 MB/s write speed) but it's just as reliable, just as easy to install, and often finds itself being featured in retailer promotions that make it surprisingly affordable.
The only real downside is that it doesn't come in sizes any bigger then 2TB – this is because it's slowly being replaced by a newer 990 Pro model which does come in larger sizes. We'd still recommend the 980 over the 990 for now, however, as the 990's improved speeds aren't really necessary for PS5 owners.
3) Corsair MP600 PRO LPX SSD
Very similarly to the Samsung 980 Pro above, this SSD from Corsair doesn't quite match the lofty performance heights demonstrated by WD_Black's SN850, but does often appear at retail at very welcome prices that could make it more tempting.
The 1TB model achieves 7,100MB/s read speeds and 5,800MB/s write speeds at a very affordable price point; jumping up to the 2TB model gives you a boosted 6,800MB/s write speed, too, which again is an impressive level of performance for the price.
4) Crucial T500 SSD
We've placed the Crucial T500 on our list mostly thanks to the fact that it is widely regarded as being the best PS5 SSD for the budget-conscious.
Naturally, prices fluctuate all the time, but historically Crucial's T500 – and the older P5 model that came before it – have been available at some of the best price-to-power values on the market.
Like all of the SSDs we've highlighted, the T500 is more than capable of achieving everything you'd need it to, with surprisingly high speeds of up to 7,300/6,800MB/s being promised. For the price point, that's quite the feat.
5) Kingston FURY Renegade SSD
Want speed? We'll give you speed.
The Kingston Fury Renegade is a pretty furious SSD indeed; the 1TB version boasts speeds of 7,300MB/s read and 6,000MB/s write, while the 2TB option bumps that write speed to a whopping 7,000MB/s.
So why is it 5th of our top five SSDs? Well, the reality is that most users aren't really going to need that much performance when gaming and transferring files on their PS5, and the slightly higher price point therefore makes the recommendation a little tougher to make.
Still, if you want one of the fastest SSDs around that's safe to use with your PS5, this is your answer.
PS5 SSD Heatsinks
If you've already purchased a PS5 M.2 SSD without a heatsink, then it's essential that you add one before installing it into your console.
Heatsinks are necessary to keep your SSD cool, and Sony has designed the air flow of the PS5 to accommodate for the internal PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVMe SSD slot in the console. Fortunately, these are cheap to purchase and easy to install.
The most important thing is whether your heatsink will fit. It can't exceed 110 x 25 x 11.25 millimetres in size, and must not take up more than 2 millimetres beneath the SSD and 8 millimetres above it. That's a lot to take into account, but here are some options that meet the specifications:
PS5 SSD: Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we've answered some of the most common questions PS5 players tend to have when it comes to buying and learning about SSDs.
PS5 SSD Tech Requirements
In order to install and use a PS5 M.2 SSD to expand your next-gen console's internal storage space, you'll need to purchase a Solid State Drive that meets the following requirements, as specified by Sony:
Attribute | Requirement |
---|---|
Format | PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVMe SSD |
Capacity | 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB |
Read Speed | 5,500MB/s or faster |
Size | 110 (Length) x 25 (Width) x 11.25 millimetres (Thickness) (* All with heatsink) |
Heatsink | Required |
One thing you'll need to bear in mind is that your heatsink cannot exceed a height of 2.25 millimetres beneath the M.2 SSD, and 8 millimetres above the SSD, otherwise it won't fit in the slot. You should pay close attention to these requirements if you're planning to purchase an SSD with a heatsink pre-installed. Remember, you can buy a heatsink separately to your chosen SSD, and install it yourself before putting it in your PS5. This may even be the most cost effective approach, so it's worth doing some research.
You'll also need to ensure your PS5's system software is on firmware version 21.02-04.00.00 or later before you can install a compatible PS5 M.2 SSD drive. To be certain, double check your console's firmware is up-to-date by going to: Settings > System > System Software Update and Settings > Update System Software > Update Using Internet. If you make sure your PS5 is on the latest firmware, it'll definitely be ready for SSD installation.
How To Install A PS5 SSD
Once you've picked up a shiny new PS5 SSD, it's time to install it!
We're here to help: refer to the following page for instructions on how to install your PS5 SSD, or watch the video below — PS5 SSD: How to Install an Internal SSD and Expand Your Storage.
Are USB External Hard Drives Compatible with PS5?
Yes, you can use an existing USB External Drive for PS5. However, you won't be able to directly play PS5 games from it.
Instead, you'll be able to store PS5 games there, but will need to move them back onto the main drive or one of the PS5 SSDs we've linked to above to actually play it. You will be able to play backwards compatible PS4 games from these devices, though, so if you're thinking of bringing over your existing PS4 HDD for use on a PS5, it's not totally useless.
For more on external hard drives, make sure to consult our full guide: