Best SSDs for PS5
Top 5 on Amazon
Our #1 pick is the WD_BLACK SN850P 2TB. Out of space on your PS5? We compared the 5 best M.2 SSDs for PS5 on Amazon, all with a heatsink that fits under the console’s cover, from Sony-licensed drives to a value 2TB.
How we picked: we shortlist by Amazon Best Seller rank and number of ratings, then compare published specs. We don't test these products hands-on.
By Jamilur Rahman, Founder & Editor · Updated October 14, 2026
- Owner reviews checked
- Features side by side
- Quick & easy compare
- Smarter purchase
The short answer
For most players, the WD_BLACK SN850P 2TB is the PS5 SSD to buy. It is officially licensed for PS5, so there is no guessing about compatibility, it reads at up to 7,300MB/s, and it ships with a heatsink designed for the console’s M.2 slot. Pop off the cover, screw it in, format it, and you can play games straight from it. Two terabytes is roughly double the space of the drive inside a launch PS5.
If you want the fastest drive on paper, the Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink reads at up to 7,450MB/s and its listing names PS5 compatibility. The Corsair MP600 Pro LPX has a low-profile heatspreader built for the PS5’s tight slot. On a budget, the Lexar NM790 with Heatsink gets you 2TB for far less than the big brands. If you only need a small top-up, the Kingston Fury Renegade 1TB is PS5 ready out of the box.
Skip the SN850P if price is your main concern. SSD prices are high right now, and the licensed badge adds a premium. Every drive here meets Sony’s speed rule, and in real games the load time gap between them is small. Also skip internal SSDs entirely if you only want to store PS4 games: a cheap USB external drive does that fine, though PS5 games must run from internal storage.
How we picked: we checked each listing against Sony’s M.2 rules (PCIe Gen4, at least 5,500MB/s read, heatsink that fits), then compared what PS5 owners report about install, heat and load times. We don’t claim lab tests. Prices checked October 2026.
Compare them side by side
Everything that matters, in one table. Swipe to see all 5.
| Product | Best Overall WD_BLACK SN850P 2TB Licensed PS5 SSD |  Fastest Pick Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink 2TB Gen4 SSD with heatsink |  Best Low-Profile Corsair MP600 Pro LPX 2TB Low-profile Gen4 SSD |  Best Value Lexar NM790 with Heatsink 2TB Value Gen4 SSD |  Best 1TB Pick Kingston Fury Renegade 1TB Gen4 SSD with heatsink |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore | 93 / 100 | 91 / 100 | 89 / 100 | 88 / 100 | 85 / 100 |
| Best for | A no-guesswork upgrade | The fastest reads and a PC-friendly drive | A tidy, flat fit under the cover | The most space for the money | A small, PS5-ready top-up |
| Typical price (checked October 14, 2026) | $430–$470 | $560–$600 | $560–$590 | $320–$350 | $300–$320 |
| Capacity | 2TB (1TB to 8TB offered) | 2TB (1TB to 4TB offered) | 2TB (500GB to 4TB offered) | 2TB (1TB to 4TB offered) | 1TB (up to 4TB offered) |
| Max read | 7,300MB/s | 7,450MB/s | 7,100MB/s | 7,400MB/s | 7,300MB/s |
| Cooling | PS5-designed heatsink | Slim integrated heatsink | Low-profile aluminum heatspreader | Attached heatsink | Heatsink |
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BeastScore here is our overall rating out of 100, based on published specs and Amazon owner reviews. Prices change daily, so tap "View on Amazon" for today's price. We may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Why each one made the list
What each pick does best, where it falls short, and the typical Amazon price when we checked.
- 1. Best Overall
WD_BLACK SN850P 2TB
BeastScore 93 / 100Typically $430–$470 on Amazon (checked October 14, 2026)The SN850P is the drive Western Digital built specifically for the PS5, and it carries an official PlayStation license. That matters for one reason: you don’t need to check heights, widths or heatsink clearance. The listing says it reads at up to 7,300MB/s, well above Sony’s 5,500MB/s minimum, and the included heatsink is shaped for the console’s slot. It comes in sizes up to 8TB; WD estimates the 8TB holds about 200 games at an average size. Owners report a quick, simple install. The downside is price: you pay extra for the license, and drives with similar speed cost less.
Pros- Officially licensed, so compatibility is certain
- Heatsink shaped for the PS5 slot
- Fast 7,300MB/s reads
Cons- Costs more than unlicensed drives with similar speed
- Heatsink is PS5-specific, less useful if you later move it to a PC
- 2. Fastest Pick
Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink 2TB
BeastScore 91 / 100Typically $560–$600 on Amazon (checked October 14, 2026)The 990 Pro is Samsung’s top Gen4 drive, and the heatsink version is made with the PS5 in mind. The listing quotes up to 7,450MB/s read and 6,900MB/s write, near the limit of PCIe 4.0, and an ultra-slim integrated heatsink that fits the PS5 and standard desktops. It is the fastest drive here on paper, and it is a smart choice if you might move it to a gaming PC later. In PS5 games, though, the extra speed over the SN850P is hard to notice, and it currently costs the most of the 2TB picks.
Pros- Fastest read and write speeds here
- Slim heatsink fits PS5 and desktops
- Samsung’s strong track record
Cons- Most expensive 2TB drive here
- Speed gain over the SN850P is small in games
- 3. Best Low-Profile
Corsair MP600 Pro LPX 2TB
BeastScore 89 / 100Typically $560–$590 on Amazon (checked October 14, 2026)The MP600 Pro LPX was one of the first drives sold as optimized for PS5, and it is still a favorite with owners. Its low-profile aluminum heatspreader is pre-installed and sits flat under the PS5’s slot cover, so there is nothing to assemble. The listing quotes up to 7,100MB/s reads and says it exceeds all of Sony’s M.2 requirements. It comes in sizes from 500GB up to 4TB. Owners like the easy install and steady temperatures. The catch is price: it currently sells for about the same as the faster Samsung, and the write speed is listed differently in the title and the bullets, so check the listing.
Pros- Low-profile heatspreader fits flat in the slot
- Sold as PS5 optimized
- Wide range of sizes
Cons- Priced close to the faster Samsung
- Slightly slower reads than the SN850P and 990 Pro
- 4. Best Value
Lexar NM790 with Heatsink 2TB
BeastScore 88 / 100Typically $320–$350 on Amazon (checked October 14, 2026)The NM790 is the drive to buy if you want 2TB without paying the big-brand premium. On paper it is as quick as the leaders, with up to 7,400MB/s read and 6,500MB/s write, and the listing rates the 2TB at 1,500TBW of endurance. It is a DRAM-less design that uses Host Memory Buffer, which keeps power and heat down; for loading games on a PS5 that is fine. The heatsink comes attached. It usually costs over $100 less than the 2TB Samsung or Corsair. The trade-offs are a less famous brand and a listing that doesn’t mention the PS5 by name, so check the heatsink height against Sony’s limit before you buy.
Pros- 2TB for well under the big-brand price
- Top-tier read speed on paper
- Runs cool and efficient
Cons- Listing doesn’t name PS5 compatibility
- DRAM-less design is less ideal for heavy PC workloads
- 5. Best 1TB Pick
Kingston Fury Renegade 1TB
BeastScore 85 / 100Typically $300–$320 on Amazon (checked October 14, 2026)If you only need room for a handful of big games, the Fury Renegade is a PS5 Ready drive with a heatsink attached. The listing quotes up to 7,300MB/s, matching the SN850P, and Kingston sells it in sizes up to 4TB. Owners report it drops in without fuss and stays cool. It is here as the 1TB pick because it costs less than the 1TB SN850P. Be honest with yourself about space, though: right now the Lexar 2TB costs only a little more, so if you can stretch, double the storage is the better deal.
Pros- Labeled PS5 Ready with heatsink
- Fast 7,300MB/s reads
- Cheaper than the licensed 1TB drive
Cons- Only 1TB at this price
- The Lexar 2TB costs only a little more
All 5 compared, in one look
See every pick on one chart, or tap one to put it head to head with WD_BLACK SN850P 2TB. Ratings out of 10 are our estimates from published specs and Amazon owner reviews, not hands-on tests. Bigger shape = better.
- SpeedSamsung 990 Pro with Heatsink 2TB · 9.8/10
- PS5 fitWD_BLACK SN850P 2TB · 10.0/10
- CoolingTie
- CapacityTie
- Brand trustTie
- ValueLexar NM790 with Heatsink 2TB · 9.6/10
Which one should you buy?
Find your situation below. That's your pick.
- You want guaranteed PS5 compatibility
- You want the simplest install
- You want the fastest drive on paper
- You may move it to a gaming PC later
- You want a flat, low-profile heatspreader
- You want a drive sold as PS5 optimized
- You want 2TB for the lowest price
- You don’t care about a big brand name
- You only need 1TB more space
- You want a PS5 Ready drive under the licensed price
WD_BLACK SN850P 2TB
Officially licensed, fast and built with a heatsink made for the PS5 slot.
- PS5 licensed
- 7,300MB/s read
- Up to 8TB
Quick tips before you buy
Sony recommends a PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 drive that reads at 5,500MB/s or faster. Every pick here clears that easily.
Sony says the PS5 needs cooling on the SSD. Buy one with a heatsink attached, or add a thin one that fits the slot.
The PS5 slot fits drives up to 25 mm wide and about 11.25 mm tall with the heatsink. Bulky PC heatsinks may not fit under the cover.
Big games pass 100GB each. A 2TB drive is the sweet spot for most players; go 4TB if you keep a large library installed.
Quick answers
What is the best SSD for PS5?+
The WD_BLACK SN850P. It is officially licensed for PS5, reads at up to 7,300MB/s and comes with a heatsink shaped for the console. The Lexar NM790 2TB is the best value if you want to spend less.
Does a PS5 SSD need a heatsink?+
Yes. Sony says an M.2 SSD in the PS5 needs a cooling structure, such as a heatsink or heat spreader. All five drives here come with one attached.
What size SSD should I get for PS5?+
2TB is the sweet spot for most players. Big games often take 100GB or more, so 1TB fills up fast. The PS5 supports drives up to 8TB.
Does the SSD work in the PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro?+
Yes. The PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro have the same type of M.2 expansion slot as the original PS5, so these drives work in all of them. Check our PS5 Slim vs PS5 Pro guide if you’re still choosing a console.
Is the Samsung 990 Pro good for PS5?+
Yes. The heatsink version lists PS5 compatibility and reads at up to 7,450MB/s, the fastest here on paper. In games the difference from other Gen4 drives is small, so buy it if you find a good price or may move it to a PC later.
Can I use a Gen5 SSD in a PS5?+
It will run at Gen4 speeds at best, and Gen5 drives usually need larger coolers that may not fit under the PS5 cover. A good Gen4 drive is the smarter buy for a console.
Can I play PS5 games from an external drive?+
You can store PS5 games on a USB drive, but you have to move them to internal storage to play. PS4 games can run from a USB drive. For playing PS5 games, an internal M.2 SSD is the way to go.
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