The best PS5 SSDs in 2022

The bestPS5SSDs will turn your Sony console into a true gaming library, impressively expanding on your PlayStation’s storage capacity while maintaining the blistering load times and transfer rates that we’ve come to enjoy. While Sony’s default storage offering of 825GB is a sizable amount to play with, the actual amount of that storage you can use is a different matter. After taking into account the OS, firmware and numerous console updates, you’re more likely to be left with around 667GB of space. That’s still a fair amount, but not in contrast with the rising file size of modern games.

Games likeGhost of Tsushima, NBA 2K22 andThe Last of Us 2all have install sizes that are creeping towards triple digits in gigabytes. What’s more, that’s slowly becoming the norm. As this console generation continues, expect this trend to speed up rather than slow down, and this results in your 667GB of storage being rapidly consumed by just a fraction of your game library. Expanding your PS5 storage is quick and easy, and with Sony currently allowing up to 4TB of additional storage to be fitted into the console, you can keep the majority of your digital and disc-based games installed without hassle.

Looking to expand your storage but don’t know where to start? At Laptop Mag, we’ve done some of the legwork for you, tracking down the best SSD storage options for PS5 currently available. Haven’t managed to pick up aPlayStation 5yet? Don’t worry, we have you covered there, too. You can always check out ourPS5 U.K. stock watchorPS5 U.S. stock watchpages or followLaptop Mag on Twitterwhere we do our best to post any news on retail stock when available. Plus, you can check outhow to install an M.2 SSD in a PS5with our handy guide.

However, for those looking for a way to boost their console capacity without sacrificing those next-gen load times, here are the best PS5 SSDs of 2022.

The best PS5 SSDs: What to look for

+Good read speeds+Recommended by those in the know+Included heatsink+-Middling lifespans-Pricey

The Western Digital Black SN850 was one of the first SSDs to meet Sony’s compatibility requirements for the PS5, and it remains one of the best options to choose from when it comes to expanding your storage. The SN850 strikes a great balance between sequential read/write and random read/write performance, which translates to faster opening and loading times for your games. The 1GB model hits the sweet spot in terms of read/write speeds if you’re after peak performance, but all models include a heatsink option — which, while more expensive, means you can install it right out of the box.

One downside to the WD Black SN850 SSD is its relatively low SSD endurance. When compared to other options on our shortlist, Western Digital’s SSD lifespan isn’t going to wow. However, while these numbers seem small, they still promise a sizable window of use. Taking the smallest capacity model (500GB / 300TBW) as an example, to max out the lifespan of the SSD you’d need to write over 150GB of data to the drive every day for five years. A final feather in the cap of Western Digital’s spritely SSD comes from PS5 lead system architect Mark Cerny, who has personally recommended the WD Black SN850.

The best high-capacity SSD for PS5

Capacity: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TBSequential read speed: 7000MB/s (500GB), 7300MB/s (1TB, 2TB), 7250MB/s (4TB)Sequential write speed: 3000MB/s (500GB), 6000MB/s (1TB), 6900MB/s (2TB, 4TB)Lifespan: 640TBW (500GB), 1275TBW (1TB), 2550TBW (2TB), 5100TBW (4TB)Dimensions: 80.16 x 24.2 x 9.84-11.04 millimetersWarranty: 5 yearsRRP: $149.99 - $999.99 / £159.99 - £724.20+Good sequential read/write speeds+Incredible SSD lifespan+Included heatsink-Weak 500GB option-Expensive

When it comes to upgrading your PS5’s storage the Seagate FireCuda 530 is one of the most popular options available. Not only does it boast some of the fastest sequential read/write speeds of any PS5 compatible SSD, but the FireCuda 530 also has the best lifespans we’ve seen. Across the 500GB, 1TB and 2TB options, the FireCuda 530 doubles the endurance of similar SSDs like the WD Black SN850 or Samsung 980 Pro. With an endurance of up to 5100TBW, you would have to write almost 2.8TB of data to the drive every day for the entire five-year warranty period to reach the drive’s lifespan.

The Seagate FireCuda 530 is also one of the largest-capacity SSDs that are PS5-ready right out of the box, offering up to 4TB of storage — the maximum capacity currently allowed by Sony. While that increase in capacity also increases the size of the SSD and heatsink, with a height ranging between 9.84 and 11.04mm, the FireCuda 530 will still fit the PS5 expansion port without fuss, keeping the double-sided SSD cool over even over long periods of play.

The best premium SSD for PS5

Capacity: 1TB, 2TBSequential read speed: 7000MB/s (1TB, 2TB)Sequential write speed: 5000MB/s (1TB), 5100MB/s (2TB)Lifespan: 600TBW (1TB), 1200TBW (2TB)Dimensions: 80 x 24 x 8.6 millimetersWarranty: 5 yearsRRP: $249.99 - $449.99 / £193 - £362+Good sequential read speeds+Included heatsink+Good random read/write speeds-Slower write speeds-High entry price

Samsung is well known for making some of the best SSDs the market has to offer, and the 980 Pro is at no risk of tarnishing that reputation. At a glance, Samsung’s SSD might not seem overly impressive, its sequential read and write speeds are good, though the slower write speed does hamper its overall potential. Where the 980 Pro begins to shine is in its random read and write speeds, offering above-average performance that can impact gaming performance considerably — especially when it comes to loading times.

Purchasing the Samsung 980 Pro with the optional heatsink means you can install the SSD right out of the box. Even with the heatsink attached, the 980 Pro measures in at a height of just 8.6 millimeters — comfortably below the 11.25mm limit. The endurance of Samsung’s SSD might not match that of the Seagate FireCuda 530, but even with its lower count of 600TBW, you can expect to write well over 300GB per day for the entire five-year warranty period before you approach the end of the drive's lifespan.

The best 2TB SSD for PS5

Capacity: 1TB, 2TBSequential read speed: 7000MB/s (1TB, 2TB)Sequential write speed: 5500MB/s (1TB), 6850MB/s (2TB)Lifespan: 700TBW (1TB), 1400TBW (2TB)Dimensions: 80.5 x 23.5 x 11.25 millimetersWarranty: 5 yearsRRP: $209.99 - $389.99 / £189.99 - £311.48+Good sequential read/write speeds+Good SSD lifespan+Included heatsink+Great 2TB model-Pricey

Picking up the Gigabyte Aorus 7000s will net you some solid performance, especially with the 2TB model’s 6,850MB/s sequential write speed almost parallelling the 7,000MB/s sequential read rate. Drive endurance is also good with a lifetime of up to 1,400TBW, or 750GB+ per day throughout the five-year warranty period.

The Aorus 7000s comes pre-fitted with a heatsink, which means you won’t have to make any adjustments before installing it in your PS5. The heatsink does add considerable height to the SSD, raising its profile to the 11.25mm height limit. While that’s still within the acceptable measurements laid out by Sony, the heatsink is replaceable and a smaller one can be used in its place if preferred. However, the nanocarbon-coated aluminum heatsink is more than capable on its own and should pose no harm to your PS5 system.

The fastest SSD for PS5

Capacity: 1TB, 2TBSequential read speed: 7400MB/s (1TB, 2TB)Sequential write speed: 5500MB/s (1TB), 6800MB/s (2TB)Lifespan: 1000TBW (1TB), 2000TBW (2TB)Dimensions: ‎80 x 22 x 8 millimetersWarranty: 5 yearsRRP: $209.99 - $454.99 / £164.99 - £314.99+Great SSD lifespan+ Lightning fast read/write speeds+Slim design+Included heatsink-Pricey

The Patriot Viper VP4300 is one of the best SSDs you can buy if you’re looking for a fair balance between speed and endurance. It features some of the best sequential read rates available with both the 1TB and 2TB models allowing speeds of up to 7,400MB/s, and also impresses in the other direction with the 2TB model able to reach sequential write speeds of up to 6,800MB/s. This sort of performance easily places the Patriot Viper VP4300 at the top of our list when it comes to sequential performance, but middling random write/read speeds do take some of the shine away from its otherwise great showing.

Thanks to a sizable lifespan of up to 2,000TBW, the VP4300 can easily handle over a terabyte of data written to the drive daily for the entirety of its five-year warranty before its lifetime is up. As with our other listed items, the Patriot Viper VP4300 is already outfitted with a heatsink and slides well under the 11.25mm height limit at just 8mm tall — making it a fantastic no-fuss solution to those seeking a speedy SSD that’s good for years of service.

The best value SSD for PS5

Capacity: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4GBSequential read speed: 7100MB/s (500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB)Sequential write speed: 3700MB/s (500GB), 5800MB/s (1TB), 6800MB/s (2TB, 4TB)Lifespan: 350TBW (500GB), 700TBW (1TB), 1400TBW (2TB), 3000TBW (4TB)Dimensions: ‎80 x 22 x 11 millimetersWarranty: 5 yearsRRP: $109.99 - $784.99 / £104.99 - £744.99+Good value+Good sequential read/write speeds+Great 4TB model+Included heatsink-Middling lifespans

The Corsair MP600 PRO LPX is a great option for those looking at a high-capacity storage upgrade for the PS5. While the Corsair MP600 PRO LPX is available in densities from 500GB, the 2TB and 4TB options are where it showcases some excellent speeds and endurance. Both of the higher capacity options allow write speeds of up to 6.800MB/s, which will make for speedy installs and data transfer. In terms of endurance, the 4TB option has a sizable lifespan of 3,000TBW, which would allow over 1.5TB of data to be written to the drive every day throughout the five-year warranty period before further writing is an issue.

Squeezing in just below Sony’s height limitation at 11mm tall, the Corsair MP600 PRO LPX comes outfitted with an aluminum heatsink to dissipate any heat buildup and prevent performance throttling throughout play sessions. With no assembly required, the Corsair MP600 PRO LPX can be immediately fitted into the PS5 and used to house dozens of your favorite titles.

The best 1TB SSD for PS5

Capacity: 500GB, 1TB, 2TBSequential read speed: 7400MB/s (500GB, 1TB, 2TB)Sequential write speed: 2600MB/s (500GB), 5500MB/s (1TB), 6700MB/s (2TB)Lifespan: 370TBW (500GB), 740TBW (1TB), 1480TBW (2TB)Dimensions: ‎80 x 22 x 4.3 millimetersWarranty: 5 yearsRRP: $159.99 - $329.99 / £80.99 - £340.26+Good SSD lifespan+Great sequential read/write speeds+Included heatsink-Weak 500GB model-Requires some assembly

A little assembly is required with the super-slim ADATA S70 Blade, making it the only one of our picks that isn’t ready right out of the box. Thankfully, this assembly isn’t very taxing, requiring some backing film to be placed onto the SSD before applying the temperature-resistant aluminum heatsink on top. Once the heatsink is in place, you’re good to go, and the S70 Blade can be fitted into the PS5’s expansion port without hassle.

ADATA’s S70 Blade is capable of lightning-fast sequential read speeds of up to 7,400MB/s across all capacities, though sequential write speeds will differ. The 500GB model does have a particularly poor sequential write speed of only 2,600MB/s, which could noticeably slow installs or data transfers to the drive. However, the 1TB and 2TB options allow for much healthier speeds or 5,500MB/s and 6,700MB/s respectively. Drive endurance ranges from 370TBW (500GB) to 1480TB (2TB) which translates to 200GB-800GB+ per day for the five-year warranty, which is more than enough for the vast majority of gamers to enjoy this SSD for years to come.

The best PS5 SSDs: Honorable mentions

Our shortlist for the best PS5 compatible SSDs focused on the no-fuss, straight out of the box options that are currently available. However, for those not worried about doing a little extra work, there’s a host of other options available that could see you saving money. We’ve highlighted a few Gen 4x4 M.2 storage options that require some adjustments from stock to be PS5 ready, which may mean adding a heatsink of choice or replacing one to ensure it meets Sony’s SSD height limits.