While the PS5 officially supports storage expansion, not all SSDs play nice with the console. These PS5-compatible SSDs offer not just expanded storage but an uncompromised gaming experience and guaranteed compatibility.
Best SSD for PS5 Overall: WD_BLACK SN850X
The WD_BLACK SN850X is a high-end M.2 SSD that replaces its popular SN850. It brings excellent upgrades over its predecessor, including faster sequential performance and a new 4TB capacity model. It's also one of the few M.2 drives that support Microsoft DirectStorage for compatible PC games.
The SN850X boasts blistering read speeds of up to 7,300MB/s, exceeding Sony's 5,500MB/s speed requirements. It not only delivers similar gaming performance to the PS5's built-in SSD but also remains a solid choice for handling future demanding games. Throw in the low-profile heatsink and Western Digital's excellent thermal management, and you get the perfect SSD for your PS5 console.
WD_BLACK SN850X
The WD_BLACK SN850X strikes a good balance between performance and price. While not the cheapest drive, it offers future-proof performance for the PS5 with blistering speeds up to 7,300MB/s, and the built-in heatsink keeps everything cool during intense gaming sessions.
- Solid speeds
- Excellent heatsink
- Good price for its performance
- No 500GB capacity size
Best Budget SSD for PS5: Crucial P3 Plus
PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSDs tend to be expensive, but the good thing is that you don't need a 7,000MB/s SSD to fully leverage the capabilities of the PS5. The budget-friendly Crucial P3 Plus, capable of up to 5,000MB/s sequential read speeds, delivers strong gaming performance on the PS5 on par with premium, more expensive M.2 drives.
The only downside with this M.2 SSD is the missing heatsink. Even that is not a dealbreaker since you can pair it with a reasonably priced third-party heatsink like the MHQJRH M.2 2280 SSD heatsink, and the total cost will still be lower than most PS5-compatible SSDs. The Crucial P3 Plus is available in four capacity options, from 500GB to 4TB.
Crucial P3 Plus
The Crucial P3 Plus offers an inexpensive way to upgrade the storage on your PS5. Pair it with an affordable heatsink, and you can add up to 4TB without breaking the bank.
- Affordable
- Reliable performance
- 500GB to 4TB capacity options
- No heatsink included
Best Premium SSD for PS5: Samsung 980 PRO with Heatsink
Samsung is no stranger when it comes to high-quality storage solutions, offering some of the best portable SSDs the market has to offer. The Samsung 980 PRO with Heatsink is one of the fastest and most reliable M.2 SSDs you can pair with the PS5. It has outstanding performance, and it plays well with the PS5 internal storage and PlayStation OS, allowing you to smoothly transfer games and apps to and from the internal SSD and launch games faster without any issues.
Samsung designed the heatsink to fit perfectly in the PS5 SSD bay. At just 8.6mm thicker, it's well below the 11.25mm maximum thickness allowed by the PS5, which means you can install this drive with its heatsink and safely close all the panels without any issues. Add to that Samsung's renowned thermal design and optimization, and you get a PS5 SSD that can handle extended periods of play without any performance drops.
Samsung 980 PRO with Heatsink
If you want a long-lasting and high-performance M.2 SSD for your PS5, consider Samsung's 980 PRO with Heatsink. In addition to blistering speeds, this SSD lives up to the brand's reputation for reliability with its solid build quality, innovative thermal solution, and high endurance.
- Superfast read and write speeds
- Solid and stylish heatsink
- Premium build quality
- Runs cool under heavy loads
- Available in 1TB and 2TB only
Best High-Capacity SSD for PS5: Corsair MP600 PRO LPX
Craving even more PS5 game storage? Corsair offers one of the largest-capacity SSDs officially compatible with the console, reaching a whopping 8TB. The MP600 PRO LPX boasts blazing-fast speeds (up to 7,100MB/s reads) for near-instant game loading and silky-smooth performance. Plus, its integrated heatsink keeps things cool even during intense gaming sessions.
While not the most budget-friendly option, the MP600 PRO LPX's price per gigabyte becomes increasingly attractive at higher capacities, making the 8TB model a compelling choice for hardcore gamers. The MP600 PRO LPX also comes in a sleek white finish and smaller capacities up to 500GB.
Corsair MP600 PRO LPX
If you prioritize pure storage capacity and top-tier performance, this 8TB M.2 SSD from Corsair will let you max out your PS5 storage, but be prepared to invest in its premium price tag.
- Massive 8TB storage capacity
- Exceeds Sony's speed requirements for PS5
- Robust heatsink
- Available in smaller capacities
- Expensive
Best PS5 SSD with Heatsink: Silicon Power XS70
The Silicon Power XS70 ticks all the boxes for the perfect PS5 SSD. It meets Sony's speed requirements, delivering up to 7,300MB/s reads, but where it truly shines is its thermal performance. The robust heatsink, featuring unique gill-like ventilation, keeps the drive cool even during intense sessions, ensuring sustained performance and reliability.
Despite its beefy heatsink, the XS70 seamlessly fits into the PS5's expansion slot, adding up to 4TB of storage. Plus, it boasts a competitive price point, especially for the 4TB version, making it a budget-friendly powerhouse. Silicon Power also offers the XS70 in an 8TB variant, but it's often out of stock. If you need higher capacity, the 8TB Corsair MP600 PRO LPX is a nice alternative.
Silicon Power XS70
The Silicon Power XS70 is a solid contender for your PS5 upgrade, packing a punch in the speed and cooling departments. It also offers a lower cost per GB than most M.2 drives.
- Outstanding performance for less
- Robust heatsink for maximum cooling
- Up to 8TB of storage
- Fits seamlessly in the PS5
- 8TB version rarely available
FAQ
Q: What does SSD stand for?
SSD stands for Solid-State Drive, a type of data storage device that stores data on interconnected flash memory chips, making it much faster, more durable, and quieter than HDDs, which use spinning platters and a moving head.
Q: What type of SSD does the PS5 use?
The PS5 uses any compatible PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD with a minimum read speed of 5,500MB/s for internal storage expansion. While you can also connect an external USB drive to the PS5, it can only be used to play PS4 games and media apps, not PS5 games.
Q: What is the maximum size SSD that the PS5 can use?
The PS5 now supports up to 8TB SSDs for internal storage expansion, thanks to a system firmware update released in September 2023. The Corsair MP600 PRO LPX is a solid option for a PS5-compatible 8TB SSD.
Q: Do I need a heatsink on my PS5 SSD?
Yes, Sony recommends using a heatsink for effective heat dissipation, especially with high-performance SSDs or intense gaming sessions. Most M.2 drives come with a heatsink, but you can also snag an affordable M.2 drive and pair it with a PS5-compatible heatsink, like the MHQJRH M.2 2280 SSD heatsink, for a budget-friendly upgrade.
Q: How do I install an SSD into my PS5?
Installing an SSD on your PS5 is a fairly straightforward process that involves removing the back cover of your console to expose the M.2 drive bay. To avoid damaging your console or the SSD, follow our step-by-step guide to installing an M.2 SSD on your PS5.