If you're wanting to upgrade the storage on your Sony PlayStation 5 then you're going to want one of the best PS5 SSDs on the market. The upgrade process isn't too difficult, and just about anyone should be able to do it: we've put together a step-by-step guide you can follow, or check out the video at the bottom of this page.
The benefits of adding more storage to your console are obvious: it means you're going to be able to have more games installed simultaneously, and won't have to spend as much time swapping them around. You can put all of that saved time into some actual gaming.
If the install is pretty straightforward, choosing one of the best PS5 SSDs isn't quite as easy – there are just so many excellent options out there now. Here we're going to give you the lowdown on our favourite picks and what makes them so good, in order that you can pick the SSD that's right for you.
Best PS5 SSD 2023: The top 3
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The best all-round PS5 SSD is the WD Black SN850. It's perfectly sized for the PS5, heatsink and all, and it comes with speeds you can rely on.
The best PS5 SSD for outright speed is the Seagate FireCuda 530. It's a gem of an SSD, and you can get it in capacities of up to 4TB for less money than you might think.
The best PS5 SSD for speed vs price (value for money in other words), which is the Corsair MP600 Pro LPX. It's not easy to find a PS5 SSD that gives you quite as much bang for your buck.
The best PS5 SSD with heatsink included? That's the WD Black SN850 1TB Heatsink.
If you like the idea of ludicrous read and write speeds that smoke the minimum PS5 criteria, but also want to buy a drive that comes with a heatsink attached for easier plug-and-play installation, then the WD Black SN850 1TB Heatsink is a superb pick.
In actual fact this is the PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD that Sony PlayStation exec Mark Cerny himself said he was going to use in his own PS5 console, which tells you everything you need to know. If this drive is favoured by the PS5's lead system architect then you can be confident that it's going to deliver.
And with a 7,000MB/s read speed and 5,300MB/s write speed, the specs back Cerny up – this is a seriously fast drive, and one that comes in a range of capacities, too. As with most with heatsink drives, though, you have to pay extra for it. This is one of the most expensive SSDs for PS5 on the market today.
The Seagate FireCuda 530 is insanely fast. It's the quickest PS5 SSD on the market today.
This is the fastest PS5 compatable SSD on the market today, period. It delivers a world-ending maximum read speed of 7,300 MB/s, which smokes every other drive here, including our number one pick of SSD for PS5, the Samsung 980 Pro.
It also comes in a with heatsink model, too, meaning that if you drop the cash (which is a lot) then you get plug-and-play convenience, too. This drive also comes loaded with 3D TLC NAND memory for added awesomeness, too. Capacities start at 500GB and extend right up to monstrous 4TB drives.
We think the heatsink is pretty much a work of art, with Seagate commissioning EKWB to forge each one from a high-grade aluminium block before adding a finely textured anodized finish to maximise cooling efficiency. Basically, this is the most premium, luxe and fast SSD-with-heatsink for PS5 on the market today.
For big capacity go for the Corsair MP600 Pro LPX 2TB.
If your primary goal is to go big in terms of extra storage capacity on your PS5 then our top pick for your PS5 SSD is the Corsair MP600 PRO LPX 2TB. it comes from one of the most respected component makers in the world, has a 5 year warranty and also has one of the best heatsinks attached. As such, you really do just have to take the drive out of its box and slot it into the PS5 – installation really is that simple.
When we tested this drive it performed as well or slightly better than the PS5 SSD that comes in the system as standard, and while it isn't the out-and-out fastest PS5 SSD you can buy, it's a quality all-round package that offers plug-and-play ease and – most importantly for many gamers no doubt – big capacity at an affordable price.
The 2TB model is definitely the sweet spot in terms of capacity to spend in our eyes at this space level, giving you plenty of extra room for games without breaking the bank. However, if you like the design of this model, but don't need quite as much storage, the range does include 1TB and 500GB models too.
Best PS5 SSD 2023: The best of the rest
The best SSD for PS5? That's the Samsung 980 Pro. You will need a third-party heatsink, though.
The Samsung 980 Pro is our top recommendation for a PS5 SSD without a heatsink, as it not only obliterates the required read speed criteria set by Sony, it also does so in terms of data transfer rate. As you can see in this guide, there are a few drives that deliver a read speed of 7,000 MB/s or more but not all deliver that level in terms of data transfer.
And then when you factor in that this drive prices in towards the more affordable end of 1TB PS5 SSDs, it becomes evident as to why we think it is such a good buy. You get a premium drive that offers insane speeds for a competitive price point, and as it is made by Samsung, you're getting a drive from a maker with huge pedigree.
The obvious down side to buying this drive is that it does not come with a heatsink. As such, you will need to buy a heatsink from a third party. Not a difficult thing to do, but it does add on a bit more in terms of spend and installation time. There is also a more expensive version of this drive with heatsink attached too, which is another option.
Everything about the Addlink AddGame A95 SSD makes you sit up and take notice, from the smartly designed heatsink to the read/write speeds to the price that you're going to have to pay to get hold of it. Admittedly it's at the pricier end of the spectrum for these SSDs, but we reckon that it's worth the investment if you've got the budget.
The stick offers read and write speeds of 7,300MB/s and 6,000MB/s respectively, which by the way is on a par with the internal storage that Sony has fitted in the PS5 – so you know it's going to be up to par. You'll certainly have no complaints when it comes to how long games take to transfer or load up, as this SSD offers one of the best specs lists around.
Addlink says the shark fin design of the heatsink has been specially engineered to dissipate heat effectively, while the drive can also be used in computers as well as consoles (and there's some configuration software to go with it too). Add in the choice of capacities (a whopping 4TB size is available), and it's easy to see why this is one of the best PS5 SSDs.
If you want to go big in terms of both speed and capacity, then the Kingston FURY Renegade is a great option.
The Kingston FURY Renegade is clearly a PS5 SSD put out there for enthusiasts, as it delivers a hyper-premium package of stylish design, rapid read and write speeds, plus a preinstalled, super-thin graphene aluminium heat spreader.
The graphene heat spreader makes this drive rather unique and adds great plug-and-play convenience. The 2TB and 4TB models is where PS5 gamers should shop in this range, as the 500GB and 1TB models have lower read and write speeds, but to us that makes sense as if you're going to go premium on your PS5 SSD upgrade then you should go all in.
Kingston is one of the very finest names in storage and this drive comes with a 5-year warranty, two facts that make it very easy to recommend the drive. If you can afford a 2TB model then that is what we recommend here at T3, as it will provide you will tons of extra space for games (future proofing your console).
The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus Heatsink is different to all other PS5 SSDs in this guide as it comes with a heatsink that also acts as the expansion bay storage cover. As such, with this drive you get to expand your console's storage and make the storage cover look better (even if you won't see it).
The heatsink looks swish, too, so it's a shame to cover it up, but you can't argue with the results of this Sabrent: read and write speeds of 7000MB/s and 6600MB/s delivered respectively. That's more than enough speed for the PS5 and, if you buy it in a 1TB or greater capacity, loads of room for all your games too.
The only downside to this drive really is that its price is beaten by other drives in terms of cheapness, and while it is offered in a 4TB capacity, we're sure only 0.1% of gamers are going to be able to afford it, as it rings in at more than the console itself. Still, it's a one-stop storage solution to expand your PS5 and if you don't want to bother buying and fitting aftermarket heatsinks, it's worth considering.
With an affordable price point and plug-and-play installation, the Gigabyte AORUS Gen4 7000s is a great PS5 SSD choice.
Coming a little out of left field, the Gigabyte AORUS Gen4 7000s SSD is a great heatsink model to choose if you're looking to keep the amount you pay down as low as possible. Indeed, this drive retails with heatsink for the same sort of money that other without heatsink models do at a 1TB capacity, making it a great budget buy.
It delivers lots of notable specs, too, including a rapid 7,000 MB/s read speed and 3D TLC NAND Flash memory. Its data transfer rate isn't quite as fast as other drives in this guide, but it still eclipses Sony's set criteria for the console and delivers where it really matters: read speed.
Capacities aren't quite as varied as rivals, either, but there is a 1TB drive and that is what we think most PS5 gamers should buy if they think this could be the best PS5 SSD storage upgrade for them. Plus, while we know you won't see it during gaming, that heatsink looks great as well.
The best budget PS5 SSD without heatsink included? That's the Lexar Professional 1TB NM800.
Lexar's computing components tend to undercut their rivals and the story hasn't changed here, with the 1TB version of the firm's Lexar Professional NM800 M.2 SSD pricing in at the more affordable end of the spectrum.
Despite the more affordable price point, though, the NM800 delivers a maximum read speed of 7,400MB/s, which makes it 100 percent PS5 compatible. You'll need to buy and fit a third-party heatsink, mind, so you should factor that expense into the price. Other notable specs include a 5,800MB/s write speed and a specially designed heat dissipation label that keeps the drive cool and operating at maximum efficiency.
At the time of writing this drive has a 4.7 out of 5 rating right now on Amazon, with over 2,700 reviews considered, too, making it one of the most well reviewed by buyers. There's also a 512GB version of this drive available, but the downside here is that it is very popular, so availability can be an issue.
The Crucial Plus SSD for PS5 is affordable, but you'll need a third-party heatsink.
The Crucial P5 Plus is definitely worth checking out if you're looking to keep your spend down and don't mind picking it up with a third-party heatsink, as it doesn't come with one out of the box.
The max read speed delivered isn't as insane as drives like the 980 Pro and FireCuda 530, coming in at 6,600MB/s, but that is still much faster than Sony's criteria demands, meaning it will work seamlessly alongside the internal storage.
This drive also utilises Crucial's own Micron Advanced 3D NAND technology and is a PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive that comes with a 5-year warranty and MTTF rating of more than 2 million hours for excellent reliability and longevity. Bang a heatsink on this drive and it's one of the most cost-effective PS5 SSDs on the market today.
PS5 SSD: minimum specification
There are two big considerations to bear in mind: first, the M.2 SSD you buy can't just be any model, it has to match certain criteria in terms of speed. You absolutely cannot just buy one of the best SSDs on the market and bang it in the console, as while that drive may be very good, it potentially won't be fast enough to be PS5 compatible.
Secondly, your SSD has to have a heatsink and that heatsink has to be compatible with the size limits of the NVMe SSD expansion bay in the PS5. Fortunately, Sony has supplied a very useful guide that details these criteria, and in our list of the best PS5 SSDs on the market we've included models in the list above both with and without heatsinks.
For an SSD to be PS5 compatible it needs to meet the following criteria:
- PCIe Gen4 interface
- 250GB - 4TB capacity
- 5,500MB/s read speed or faster
- 22mm width Heatsink required (included or third party)
PS5 SSD video installation guide
Below you can find T3's PS5 SSD installation video guide. This guide takes you through all the steps you need to undertake, step-by-step, to buy and install an SSD in your PS5. Compatibility information, what heatsink you should use, and things to look out for are covered. If you're about to buy an SSD for your PS5, it's a must watch.
You'll see that the process isn't too difficult: you just need a bit of patience and a Philips screwdriver. Assuming you've picked up an SSD in the right size and with the right configuration, you should be able to close the expansion slot, boot up your console, and get back to gaming.
PS5 SSD video installation guide
Below you can find T3's PS5 SSD installation video guide. This guide takes you through all the steps you need to undertake, step-by-step, to buy and install an SSD in your PS5. Compatibility information, what heatsink you should use, and things to look out for are covered. If you're about to buy an SSD for your PS5, it's a must watch.
You'll see that the process isn't too difficult: you just need a bit of patience and a Philips screwdriver. Assuming you've picked up an SSD in the right size and with the right configuration, you should be able to close the expansion slot, boot up your console, and get back to gaming.
