Best PS5 SSD: Compatible M.2 SSD Storage Expansion for PS5
Image: Push Square

What is the best PS5 SSD? Which PS5 SSD should you buy? Following a firmware update, you can expand your PlayStation 5's storage capacity (See Also: PS5 SSD: How Much Storage Space Does It Have?) by purchasing a compatible internal PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVMe SSD drive. However, due to the nature of the PS5's infrastructure, you'll need to use a Solid State Drive that meets the strict requirements Sony has set.

As part of our PS5 guide, we've found the best PS5 SSDs and outlined all compatible M.2 SSD storage expansion for PS5 requirements. We'll be updating this page as more options become available so keep checking back, or feel free to click through here for additional reading: PS5 SSD: Why It's Better Than HDD.

If you already have a new PS5 SSD, you might be looking for help on how to properly install it. We've got your back: refer to the following page for instructions on how to install your PS5 SSD — PS5 SSD: How to Install an Internal SSD and Expand Your Storage.

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PS5 SSD 2024: Best Deals and Current Top-Picks

Below are the best-priced PS5 SSD drives you can buy and install in your PS5. Please keep checking back, as we'll be updating this frequently as more PS5 compatible SSDs are made available.

CategoryProductValuePrice
Best Overall Value PS5 M.2 SSD:Crucial P5 Plus SSD 2TBCrucial P5 Plus SSD 2TB$0.05/GB
Biggest PS5 M.2 SSD at the Best Price:WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe™ SSD without Heatsink - 4TBWD_BLACK SN850X NVMe™ SSD without Heatsink - 4TB$0.07/GB
Best Value 250GB PS5 M.2 SSD:Samsung 980 PRO 250GB PCIe 4.0 M.2Samsung 980 PRO 250GB PCIe 4.0 M.2$0.38/GB
Best Value 500GB PS5 M.2 SSD:PNY XLR8 CS3040 SSD, 500GBPNY XLR8 CS3040 SSD, 500GB$0.14/GB
Best Value 512GB PS5 M.2 SSD:Solidigm P44 Pro 512GB SSDSolidigm P44 Pro 512GB SSD$0.09/GB
Best Value 1TB PS5 M.2 SSD:PNY XLR8 CS3040 SSD, 1TBPNY XLR8 CS3040 SSD, 1TB$0.07/GB
Best Value 2TB PS5 M.2 SSD:Crucial P5 Plus SSD 2TBCrucial P5 Plus SSD 2TB$0.05/GB
Best Value 4TB PS5 M.2 SSD:WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe™ SSD without Heatsink - 4TBWD_BLACK SN850X NVMe™ SSD without Heatsink - 4TB$0.07/GB

PS5 M.2 SSD Expansion 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.

Other PS5 SSDs To Consider

All of the following options are great choices depending on your specific needs and budget, but make sure to read our thoughts on each before making your decision.

If looking through all these options feels a little overwhelming, we'd urge you to pick one of the SSDs featured in our 'Best Deals' table higher up this page – you can't go wrong with any of those picks!

WD Black SN850 / SN850X SSD

WD Black SN850 SSD
Image: Western Digital

Western Digital's WD Black SN850 SSD series is compatible with PS5 and is one of the most popular on the market. These boast 7,000MB/s read speeds and are based on the required PCIe Gen 4 M.2 NVMe format.

In 2022, a newer SN850X model was also released, with 1TB, 2TB and 4TB models available. The 1TB and 2TB models can be purchased with or without a heatsink included, while the 4TB is without-heatsink only.

Samsung 980 Pro SSD

Samsung 980 Pro SSD
Image: Samsung

Early testing suggests that the Samsung 980 Pro SSD, with its 7,000MB/s read speed, actually outperforms the PS5's built-in SSD, which is extraordinary performance from an expansion drive. Commonly available in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB options, there's a lot of flexibility here for a variety of price points, but do keep in mind that you will need to buy a heatsink for this one.

Seagate FireCuda 530 SSD

Seagate FireCuda 530 SSD
Image: Seagate

The Seagate FireCuda 530 SSD series is compatible with PS5. Available in 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB, these fit inside the PS5's internal expansion slot and meet all the necessary requirements. These are PCIe Gen 4 M.2 NVMe SSDs with read speeds of up to 7,300MB/s.

Solidigm P44 Pro SSD

Available in 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB models, the Solidigm P44 Pro is another great option for PS5 players. Boasting up to 7000MB/s sequential read speeds, which is more than enough to meet Sony's requirements, the P44 Pro has been designed with power savings and thermal efficiency in mind in an attempt to deliver consistent performance with minimal throttling.

Kingston FURY Renegade SSD

Kingston FURY Renegade SSD
Image: Kingston

With a read speed of 7,300MB/s, the Kingston FURY Renegade SSD line is another super fast option for your PS5. This SSD is available in 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB, so if you have the money, you can supercharge your PS5 with a huge amount of storage.

Corsair MP600 Pro SSD

Corsair MP600 Pro SSD
Image: Corsair

Corsair MP600 Pro SSD is a series compatible with your PS5 console, following all the above requirements and providing a read speed of 6,850MB/s. These come in either 1TB or 2TB storage capacities.

PNY XLR8 CS3040 SSD

PNY XLR8 CS3040 SSD
Image: PNY

The PNY XLR8 CS3040 SSD series meets all the necessary requirements for your PS5. Achieving read speeds of 5,600MB/s, it's just about fast enough for your console. It's recommended that you purchase a separate heatsink if you decide to go with this SSD.

PNY XLR8 CS3140 SSD

PNY XLR8 CS3140 SSD
Image: PNY

This is a more expensive range from PNY if you're looking for higher read speeds. The PNY XLR8 CS3140 SSD series will read up to 7,500MB/s, making it one of the fastest you can install in your PS5. We recommend you purchase a separate heatsink for this SSD, which is available in 1TB or 2TB.

Addlink AddGame A95 SSD
Image: Addlink

The Addlink AddGame A95 SSD range is a very fast option for your PS5. Complying with all the requirements and coming with a built-in heatsink, these SSDs come in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB flavours. A read speed of 7,400MB/s means it's among the fastest SSDs currently available.

MSI Spatium M480 SSD

MSI Spatium M480 SSD
Image: MSI

Another range you can install in your PS5, the MSI Spatium M480 SSD series will definitely get the job done. Available in 1TB storage, this PCIe Gen 4 M.2 NVMe SSD achieves a read speed of 7,000MB/s and comes with a heatsink included.

Adata XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade SSD

Adata XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade SSD
Image: Adata

The Adata XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade SSD series boasts lightning quick read speeds of 7,400MB/s, making it one of the fastest SSDs you can install in your PS5. Compatible with the console and supplied with a heatsink, these SSDs come in either 1TB or 2TB storage.

Patriot Viper VP4300 SSD

Patriot Viper VP4300 SSD
Image: Patriot

Another super-fast series is Patriot Viper VP4300 SSD. It's compatible with PS5 and includes a heatsink, with impressive read speeds of up to 7,400MB/s. This PCIe Gen 4 M.2 NVMe SSD launched in both 1TB and 2TB variants, but the 2TB model is proving tricky to track down these days.

Gigabyte Aorus Gen4 7000s SSD

Gigabyte Aorus Gen4 7000s SSD
Image: Gigabyte

The nifty-looking Gigabyte Aorus Gen4 7000s SSD comes in two permutations: 1TB and 2TB. The good news is that this one comes pre-installed with a heatsink, so you don't have to faff about with it. Despite its slightly larger dimensions, it's confirmed to work on the PS5, and boasts the requisite 7,000 MB/s read speed.

Crucial P5 Plus SSD

Crucial P5 Plus SSD
Image: Crucial

The Crucial P5 Plus SSD, with its 6,600 MB/s read speed, is compatible with the PS5, although it's slightly slower than some of the other drives listed on this page. It still comfortably clears Sony's performance requirements, however, and is available in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB options. The 250GB version appears to be out of stock right now.

Teamgroup Cardea A440 SSD

Teamgroup Cardea A440 SSD
Image: Teamgroup

Teamgroup has produced an SSD series compatible with PS5, called the Teamgroup Cardea A440 SSD. This SSD range has a read speed of 7,000MB/s, meaning it's more than up to the task. You can buy this SSD in either 1TB or 2TB sizes. It's worth noting that this SSD comes with two heatsinks — you will need to use the Graphene heatsink in order for it to fit inside the PS5's SSD housing.

Best PS5 SSD: All Compatible Heatsinks

If you've purchased a PS5 M.2 SSD without a heatsink, then you will need to add one before installing your new Solid State Drive. Heatsinks will keep your SSD cool, and Sony has designed the air flow of its next-gen console 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:

Best PS5 SSD: Are USB External SSD Drives Compatible with PS5?

Yes, you will be able to 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 a compatible PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVMe SSD drive 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 information, refer to the following guide: Best PS5 External Hard Drives.


This article is part of our PS5 buyer's guide, which can also help you with the following: