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The best M.2 SSDs you can buy: Expert tested
There's no doubt that SSDs (solid-state drives) are faster and more reliable than HDDs (hard disk drives), but not all SSDs are created equal.
One big difference is how they connect to the PC. Regular SSDs and HDDs connect using a port called a SATA (Serial AT Attachment) port, but many modern motherboards offer a faster port built directly to the motherboard using a port called an M.2.
Also: The best network-attached storage devices you can buy
What's the best M.2 SSD right now?
Go to your favorite online retailer, and you'll be faced with loads of brands all offering an array of different M.2 storage drives. So, which one should you choose? Don't worry! I've simplified things for you and picked out the best M.2 SSDs. My top recommended pick is the Crucial P2 1TB 3D M.2 SSD due to its affordable price point, great performance, and high reliability.
The best M.2 SSDs of 2024
- Cheap
- Great performance
- High reliability
- Not the fastest drive by far
This is my default drive that I turn to. It's solid and reliable, and very reasonably priced. I've bought and used dozens of these in PCs and external storage enclosures and I've not had one fail on me.
You can definitely find cheaper M.2 drives out there, but I wouldn't want to trust them with my data, and you can find faster M.2 drives, but they are going to cost you a lot more.
For a middle of the road drive, you can't beat this one, and all the online reviews support this conclusion.
Crucial P2 1TB 3D M.2 SSD features: Interface: NVMe PCIe | Sequential read speeds: Up to 2400MB/s | Sequential write speeds: Up to 1900MB/s
- Blazing fast
- Option for version with and without heatsinks
- Expensive
Put simply, the Crucial T705 Series SSD is one of the fastest drives that you can currently buy.
This is the drive that I turn to when I want fastest gaming performance, or to out in systems that work with large photo/video/3D files.
Yes, it's expensive, but if you want the speed, it's going to cost you!
Review: Crucial T705
And. just as I'd expect, this drive as very positive reviews, with 80% giving it five stars. There are some concerns about heat, but I'm convinced this is normal and the heatsinks doing their job of shifting the heat away from the chips.
Crucial T705 Series SSD features: Interface: NVMe PCIe Gen5 | Sequential read speeds: Up to 14,500MB/s | Sequential write speeds: Up to 12,700MB/s
- High performance
- Great reliability
- The price
- Can get quite hot in use
I've been putting WD_BLACK storage into high-end gaming PCs for years now, and they never disappoint. This M.2 drive is no exception. It's super fast, super reliable, and built from quality components to offer the best lifespan possible. I've used quite a few of these and never had one fail.
There are two versions, one with a heatsink and one without. I recommend the one with the heatsink because it will dissipate heat better, which on turn makes it more reliable and gives you a longer life.
These drives have consistently drawn favorable reviews, with owners commenting on performance and reliability.
WD_BLACK 4TB SN850X Gaming M.2 SSD features: Interface: PCIe Gen4x4 | Sequential read speeds: Up to 7300MB/s | Sequential write speeds: Up to 6350MB/s
One of the biggest killers of storage drives is heat. The faster the drive, the more waste heat it generates. And the CS3150 is a fast drive. Clocking sequential read and write speeds of 11,500 and 8,500 MB/s, respectively.
To keep the temperatures at a manageable level, the CS3150 not only features a massive heatsink, but also dual cooling fans.
Review: PNY CS3150
I stress-tested the drive using CrystalDiskMark and monitored the temperatures using CrystalDiskInfo, and -- despite my relentless thrashing of the CS3150 -- I could not get the temperatures to exceed the 70°C/158°F maximum operating temperatures.
Note that the fans do require a free set of 4-pin fan header pins on the motherboard.
This drive is quite new so there aren't many reviews for it yet, but those I've seen suggest this drive lives up to expectations.
PNY CS3150 features: Interface: PCIe Gen5x4 | Sequential read speeds: Up to 11,500 MB/s | Sequential write speeds: Up to 8,500 MB/s
- The very best M.2 drive you can buy
- Extreme reliability
- The price
- Can get pretty hot in use
Samsung is a big name in storage, and the PRO series has consistently offered the best performance, reliability, fantastic power efficiency, and life possible -- but at a price.
When I need something that going to be bombproof then the 990 PRO is the drive that I turn to. This drive is super fast and is about as reliable as it gets. Yes, I'm definitely paying extra for a bit more peace of mind, but there are times when it's worth it!
This drive gets close to five stars on Amazon -- which is quite something for a storage drive -- with review after review commenting on its incredible performance and high levels of reliability.
Samsung 990 PRO features: Interface: PCIe Gen4x4 | Sequential read speeds: Up to 7400MB/s | Sequential write speeds: Up to 6900MB/s
- Build your own fast portable storage
- Pick the drive and storage capacity you need
- Allows you to upgrade drives or swap between drives easily
- Dissipates heat really well
- No tools needed to assemble
- Need to be comfortable handling components to assemble it
This Satechi enclosure is the best way to build your own M.2 external storage drive.
You buy the drive, pick the M.2 drive you need (if you're like me, you probably have some laying about), slip the drive into the enclosure, and away you go. Yes, it's that easy!
Review: Assemble your own portable storage with this Satechi SSD enclosure
I think this is a great alternative to buying a ready-made external drive. With this setup, if you ever need to replace or upgrade the drive, you can do it quickly and easily yourself.
Satechi USB-C Aluminum Tool-Free Enclosure features:
- Tool-free Enclosure for M.2 PCIE NVME and SATA SSD
- NVMe supports PCIE Gen3x2 protocol with read & write speeds up to 10Gbps. SATA supports Gen3 protocol with read & write speeds up to 6Gbps
- Supports both SATA and NVMe M.2 drives in sizes 2242/2260/2280
- macOS, Windows, and Linux support
What is the best M.2 SSD storage?
ZDNET's pick for the best M.2 SSD is the Crucial P2 500GB 3D M.2 SSD offers a great balance of affordability, performance, and reliability. It's not the fastest drive on the market, but it's a solid choice for those looking for a cost-effective M.2 SSD. With capacities ranging from 250GB to 2TB.
Thankfully, there are numerous options that can offer a range of price points and performance.
Best M.2 SSD | Price | Features |
Crucial P2 3D M.2 1TB SSD | Around $95 |
|
Crucial T705 Series 1TB SSD | Around $195 |
|
WD_BLACK SN850X Gaming M.2 2TB SSD | Around $140 |
|
PNY CS3150 M.2 1TB SSD | Around $170 |
|
Samsung 990 PRO PCIe 4.0 M.2 2TB SSD | Around $195 |
|
Satechi USB-C Aluminum Tool-Free Enclosure for M.2 PCIE NVME and SATA SSD | Around $50 |
|
*MSRP at the time of writing. Please note that actual prices may vary depending on available sales, deals, discounts, and coupons.
What's the right M.2 storage drive for you?
Two things are going to add to the price of your M.2 purchase -- speed and capacity. The more of ether one of these you need, the more it's going to cost.
Choose this M.2 SSD… | If you want… |
Crucial P2 3D | A budget drive that's perfect for a basic PC. This is my default choice for a general M.2 upgrade. |
Crucial T705 Series | One of the highest performance drives you can buy. If you want performance, this is the drive for you, but you better have the hardware to back it up to get the most out of it. |
WD_BLACK 4TB SN850X | To give a gaming PC a performance boost. A good choice for those wanting high performance without breaking the bank. |
PNY CS3150 | To give a slowing PC a turbo boost upgrade. Between the blazing fast storage chips and extreme cooling, this is a perfect performance upgrade. |
Samsung 990 PRO 2TB PCIe 4.0 | A high performance drive with decent capacity and, and long life. If you want extreme reliability, this is the drive for you. |
Satechi USB-C Aluminum Tool-Free Enclosure for M.2 PCIE NVME and SATA SSD | To build your own M.2 portable storage drive. A great way to make yourself a fast external storage drive. |
How did we choose these M.2 SSD storage drives?
I only recommend products that I've tested or used personally, and while there are many M.2 SSDs on the market, not every one is built the same. Here are some other factors I considered when testing and curating my top selections.
- Real-world use: When I test M.2 SSDs, I use them in a variety of systems from basic PCs to high-end workstations and gaming systems. and drones to CCTV systems under both easy and harsh conditions, to get a feel for how they actually work in the real world.
- Benchmarks: I'm also quite a nerd, and have carried out both real world and synthetic benchmarks on these M.2 SSDs.The tests included stress tests and performance tests (carried out using CrystalDisk and AJA System Test).
- User reviews: I'm one person, so there's a limit to how much testing I can do, which is why I like to keep an eye out on what users are saying on social media Reddit, Amazon, and other online retailers.
What is an M.2 SSD storage drive?
M.2 is a type of solid-state drive (SSD) that is small and used for data storage. It connects directly to the motherboard of a computer, rather than using a traditional SATA III connection. This allows for faster data transfer speeds and improved performance compared to traditional SATA-based SSDs.
How do you pronounce M.2?
In terms of pronunciation, "M.2" is typically pronounced "M-dot-two."
Do M.2 drives have sizes?
Yes.
You'll see sizes like 2242, 2260, and 2280.
Here the first two numbers are the width in millimeters -- 22mm is the width of commercially available M.2 drives -- and the next two (or sometimes three) numbers are the length, again in millimeters.
To know of there are size restrictions to the M.2 drive you can use, check the manual for your computer's motherboard or enclosure.
I've heard that M.2 drives have a "key." What's this?
M.2 slots come in two "keyings," that prevent the drive being inserted the wrong way. Older systems used a B key, and newer systems use an M key.
Modern drives come in two flavors -- M key or B+M which will fit into both the newer and older slots.
How do you fit an M.2 drive?
Fitting an M.2 drive is easy!
Find the M.2 connector on your motherboard (consult your manual if you are unsure). The contacts on the drive slots into the connector at an angle of 30-degree from the motherboard. Not vertically. Not horizontal. At a shallow angle.
Insert the connector all the way into the slot, and then gently push it down flat to the motherboard, and finally fix it to the board using the retaining screw.
Done!
Are there alternative M.2 drives worth considering?
Here are a few alternatives to the M.2 drives listed above, one perfect for the budget-conscious buyer.
This Lexar M.2 SSD offers up to 7500MB/s read and 6500MB/s write in an 2280 form factor package, and it is compatible with PlayStation 5, making it the perfect upgrade.
Affordable NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 M.2 SSD offering sequential read/write speed can reach up to 5,000MB/s and 4,500MB/s, respectively.