In early 2025, all the latest and greatest SSDs use the PCI-Express interface, with Gen5 being the most recent generation. If you are looking for the best of the best, check out our page on the fastest M.2/NVMe SSDs.
However, SATA SSDs remain relevant for many use cases, whether an older system, NAS, or a storage upgrade at a low cost per GB.
Some of the best-performing 2.5″ SATA SSDs right now include:
- OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G
- Samsung 870 PRO
- Crucial MX500
Most 2.5″ SATA SSDs today are DRAM-less entry-level drives, but there are still a few higher-end models on the market. Keep reading for a more comprehensive overview of the current options.
The Fastest SATA SSDs in 2025
Having built PCs since the 90s, I would claim that SSDs replacing hard drives was one of the most fundamental improvements to the user experience ever. Swapping an older SSD with a more recent model is not as transformative, especially when it comes to the bandwidth-starved 6 Gbps SATA interface.
Some are still faster than others, of course, and these are some of the best options:
Last update on 2025-03-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
None of these drives were launched recently. The high-end 2.5″ SATA market has been stagnant for many years, as most newer drives tend to be based on entry-level controllers and NAND. One exception was Seagate’s now-discontinued FireCuda 120, which eked out some performance gains thanks to the Phison S12 controller.
The good news is that OWC still offers something very similar in the form of its latest version of the Mercury Extreme Pro 6G. It is powered by the same S12 controller, and also brings an excellent endurance rating to the table, making it a solid option for an older system or NAS.
Another very solid option is the Samsung 870 EVO. Launched in 2021, the 870 EVO is perhaps Samsung’s final farewell to the high-end SATA market and is still one of the best. Its predecessor, the 860 PRO, is arguably better still, as it uses high-end MLC NAND. However, the performance delta is much smaller than the price difference.
List of High-End 2.5-Inch SATA SSDs
Moving on to a more complete list of SSDs, these rankings are based on an average of read/write performance. Random performance is weighted the highest as it’s typically associated with the best real-world performance. For a more complete story, head over to the reviews linked in the descriptions.
1. OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G (Phison S12 Version)
Available Capacities: 240GB – 4TB
Interface: SATA 6 Gbps
Max. Sequential Performance: 559 MB/s read, 527 MB/s write
Max. Random Performance: 100K IOPS read, 90K IOPS write
Endurance Rating (2TB): 1,500 TBW
This is not the first SSD that OWC sells under the name Mercury Extreme Pro 6G. An earlier revision used the SandForce SF-2200 controller, but it is now equipped with TLC NAND from Micron and the same Phison S12 controller as the Seagate FireCuda (and IronWolf) 120.
In other words, it is one of the fastest 2.5″ SSDs in the (admittedly very small) high-end SATA space. Although it doesn’t match Seagate’s rather extreme endurance rating, the Mercury Extreme Pro 6G comes with 7% NAND over-provisioning, resulting in above-average endurance.
There isn’t an abundance of reviews of this drive (or SATA drives in general), but TweakTown has tested it and reviews of the FireCuda 120 (such as this one) should also be indicative.
Check prices (2TB): Amazon, Newegg
2. Samsung 860 PRO
Available Capacities: 256GB – 4TB
560 MB/s read
550 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 1,200 TBW
Samsung became a market leader in the SSD space early on, starting with the almost legendary 840 Pro. In 2023, the Samsung 860 PRO is still one of the best and quite possibly one of the most reliable drives on the market.
If previous Samsungs are an indication, the 300 TBW (terabytes/total bytes written) rating for the 256 GB model up to 4,800 TBW for the 4 TB model (all use durable MLC NAND) are conservative estimates. This, coupled with a 5-year warranty and great overall performance, makes the 860 Pro look very attractive overall. Unfortunately, its MLC memory chips also make it far more expensive than its main rivals.
Check prices: N/A
Reviews: AnandTech, Notebookcheck
3. Samsung 870 EVO
Available Capacities: 250GB – 4TB
Interface: SATA 6 Gbps
560 MB/s read (1TB)
530 MB/s write (1TB)
Endurance Rating (1TB): 600 TBW
Another notable exception to the high-end SATA market hibernation is the Samsung 870 EVO, which launched in early 2021. This SSD is a continuation of Samsung’s long-running and extremely popular EVO series.
Considering the bandwidth cap imposed by the SATA interface, major performance gains are no longer possible. Nevertheless, thanks to Samsung’s refined MKX controller and new high-density 128-layer 3D TLC NAND, the 870 EVO offers slight improvements over its class-leading predecessors. In most benchmarks, it is comparable to the Seagate FireCuda 120 (and by extension, the above-mentioned OWC drive).
Along with the Phison S12-based SSDs, the Samsung 870 EVO may be one of the last high-end SATA SSD releases from big-name brands that we will ever see in the consumer market.
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
Reviews: LegitReviews
4. Samsung 860 EVO
Available Capacities: 250GB – 4TB
550 MB/s read
520 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 600 TBW
The 860 EVO is the successor of Samsung’s incredibly successful 850 EVO. It’s a great alternative to the PRO model. It is significantly less expensive, and you will hardly notice the performance difference in real-world use.
It performs well and offers excellent endurance numbers at precisely half those of the 860 Pro at equivalent capacities (i.e. still better than most competitors), as well as a 5-year warranty.
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
Reviews: TweakTown
5. Crucial MX500
Available Capacities: 250GB – 4TB
Interface: SATA 3 6Gbps
560 MB/s read
510 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 360 TBW
Crucial’s MX500 uses TLC NAND and also offers great performance at an attractive price point. It’s available in capacities of up to 2 TB. Like the 860 EVO, the MX500 is backed by a 5-year warranty, but its endurance rating is lower than both the 860 EVO and the SanDisk Ultra 3D. It starts at 100 TBW for the 250 GB model and ranges up to 1,000 TBW for the 4 TB model, which should still be more than sufficient for the average user.
The MX500 can compete with the 860 series in many areas, but rarely (if ever) surpass it. However, the price/performance ratio is excellent so this drive is a good choice for most SATA-limited systems.
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
6. SanDisk Ultra 3D (or WD Blue)
Available Capacities: 250GB – 4TB
Interface: SATA 6Gbps
560 MB/s read
530 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 400 TBW
The Ultra 3D from Flash SanDisk (now a subsidiary of Western Digital) delivers excellent performance at a reasonable price point. It has now been around for a few years but is still a popular choice due to its attractive mix of good performance and usually a lower price than the Samsung 860 EVO. Its sequential read speeds of 550 MB/s and write speeds of 530 MB/s are complemented with very good random read/write figures as well (95K/84K IOPS).
SanDisk uses a controller from Marvell 88SS1074 in the Ultra 3D SSD, in combination with 64-layer TLC NAND. This makes it identical to the WD Blue SSD in everything but the name.
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
Reviews: HotHardware, AnandTech
7. WD Red SA500 NAS SSD
Available Capacities: 500GB – 4TB
Interface: SATA 6Gbps
560 MB/s read
530 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 600 TBW
As mentioned, the SanDisk Ultra 3D and WD Blue are more or less identical. However, a third option from Western Digital that is similar but not identical is the WD Red SA500. Although it is based on largely the same hardware including the Marvell 88SS1074 controller, it takes aim at NAS users with improved endurance ratings. Its higher endurance does indeed make it more suitable for network storage, but there is of course nothing that prevents you from using it for a desktop build.
The drive’s sequential throughput is no different from the standard consumer models at 550 MB/s and 530 MB/s, but due to the higher endurance rating (and overprovisioning to match), the SA500 is typically more expensive per GB.
Reviews: TechPowerup
8. Kingston KC600
Available Capacities: 256GB – 2TB
Interface: SATA 6Gbps
550 MB/s read
520 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 600 TBW
Kingston’s KC600 was launched in 2019 and comes with a Silicon Motion SM2259 controller and 96-layer 3D TLC NAND from Micron. Although it is a bit more expensive than many of its competitors, it does offer hardware-based 256-bit AES encryption, making it an interesting option for business users. The overall specs are also excellent.
Performance-wise, it’s slightly slower than the Samsung 860 series but still in the high-end SATA territory. Random performance is up to 90,000/80,000 IOPS (read/write). Another plus is that the endurance ratings are on par with the best.
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
Reviews: Hexus.net
9. SK Hynix Gold S31
Available Capacities: 250GB – 1TB
Interface: SATA 6GBps
560 MB/s read
525 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 600 TBW
South Korean SK Hynix is one of the world’s largest memory manufacturers but is mainly known for its DRAM, such as DDR4 modules and GDDR6 chips for graphics cards. However, the company is also an experienced supplier of NAND Flash, including complete SSDs, for OEMs.
Now, SK Hynix releases SSDs under its own brand, and this SATA drive is one of the first. The SK Hynix Gold S31 has been very well received and immediately established itself among the leaders in the segment. Like most high-end SATA SSDs, it will saturate the interface, but it also tends to compete with (and in some cases surpass) drives like the Samsung 860 EVO and Crucial MX500 in real-world tests.
Check prices: Amazon, Newegg, Amazon UK
10. Mushkin Source II
Available Capacities: 120GB – 2TB
Interface: SATA 3 6GBps
560 MB/s read
515 MB/s write
Endurance Rating (1TB): 400 TBW
The original Mushkin Source was and is positioned as an entry-level SATA SSD. But now that many high-end MLC-based drives have disappeared from the market in favor of cheaper alternatives, the Source has risen in the charts.
More recently, the Source was replaced by the Source-II, which is similar but based on the updated Silicon Motion SM2259XT (originally SM2258XT) controller and TLC NAND. Its sequential performance remains more than adequate compared to the competition. Random performance is 75K/75K read/write (1TB model).
2.5″ SSDs with the Best Endurance Ratings
The 6 Gbps bandwidth limit is a reason why high-end SATA SSDs are few and far between in 2025. There simply isn’t much to be gained in the sequential performance area. However, the endurance ratings is a key factor that will always stay relevant and remains very important for long-term, high intensity workloads. This is how some of the leaders stack up:
Unsurprisingly, the MLC-based (see below) Samsung 860 PRO is well ahead of the competition, but some TLC-based SSDs are more enduring than others thanks to over-provisioning, i.e. using spare capacity to enhance life span.
Understanding SSD Specs
Anyone new to all the acronyms used on product pages and SSD discussions will find them largely incomprehensible. Here are some of the most common.
What Does SLC, MLC, TLC, and QLC Mean?
An SSD’s performance, as well as its life span, is to a large extent determined by the quality of the memory cells. Higher-quality memory (NAND) not only performs better but can also be erased and written to a larger number of times before it wears out.
SLC (single-level cell) NAND Flash memory is more durable than MLC (multi-level cell, two bits per cell), which in turn is more durable than TLC (triple-level cell) NAND.
More recently, QLC (quad-level cell) drives such as the Samsung QVO have also become common. Additional bits per cell affect performance negatively because it makes the cells considerably more error-prone. There are clever technologies that compensate for this, but in the end, there is no substitute for higher-quality NAND.
Needless to say, high-end memory chips are more expensive to make. There are no SSDs based on SLC memory in the market today (it has always been prohibitively expensive), and very few outside of the enterprise market use MLC. Samsung’s PRO lineup is an exception, excluding the 980 and 990 PRO, which are TLC-based.
SSD endurance: What is MTBF and TBW?
MTBF is short for mean time before failure and is more relevant for conventional hard drives than SSDs, which have no mechanical parts prone to failure over time. TBW (terabytes written or total bytes written) is much more useful. This number indicates how much data can be written to the drive before it wears out. It is determined by the drive’s capacity, spare capacity (also known as overprovisioning), and the quality of the NAND memory chips.
For a drive with a 600 TBW rating, 600 TB is the amount of data the manufacturer guarantees can be written to it. Warranties are however mutually exclusive with a set number of years (usually five). This is not to say that an SSD will necessarily fail after this amount of data has been written.
Production Processes
Unlike other PC parts such as a CPU or GPU, a smaller production process as measured in nanometers (nm), is not a strong selling point, as this results in lower durability, all else being equal. For the average gamer or office user, durability is rarely an issue since most SSDs likely outlive the rest of the computer by a fair margin. Low-cost drives with cheap NAND should, however, not be used in a server or other environment with a high, continuous workload.
When using links on our site to make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. This does not affect how we rate products (see our Editorial Policy).
kingston have issue i have been using but when i transfer it become slow/
The Seagate BarraCuda Fast also uses the Phison S12 controller in an external form factor with USB Type-C. Seems like it performs about the same as the best internal SATA drives.
thanks, interesting read
thank you very much
excellent info but i’d like to see some about the really inexpensive chinese components
TEAMGROUP T-Force CARDEA A440 Pro Graphene 2tb
7400/7000
1TB: 700TBW
2TB: 1,400TBW
4TB: 3,000TBW
Thank you for writing this post. I purchased a 2TB Seagate FireCuda 530 and discovered that it is an NVME device. Perhaps the increased speed is due to this.
So, now that it’s common knowledge that manufacturers are switching out components to much lower performance units, are you willing to take down these reviews, or at least add caveats, since you can’t even purchase many of these drives anymore?
kingston fury renegade 4tb is faster than Seagate FireCuda
Thanks for your comment! I was just about to add the Kingston KC3000 and hadn’t heard about the Fury Renegade. These two appear to be a near-identical save for slightly different NAND provisioning.
https://www.kingston.com/unitedstates/us/ssd/gaming/kingston-fury-renegade-nvme-m2-ssd
https://www.kingston.com/unitedstates/us/ssd/kc3000-nvme-m2-solid-state-drive
Great list. Samsung is what I recommend.
Great information, thanks for sharing it with us
Samsung 970 Evo Plus is absolutely one of the best and fastest SSD, I had ever use till now.
I bought it from amazon last 5 months ago and has experienced a really good speed on my pc performance.
Seagate FireCuda 120 SSD is my all time favorite.
This ssd is very fast and I also love to review it.
Silicon Power PCIe 3.0 and 2.5 Sata are great options and you can usually find it cheaper than many of the ones listed. I believe they have a PCIe 4.0 too. What do you think Jesper?
Hi Jordan. I agree, they appear to be solid and reasonably priced products. I’ll include one or more on the list.
I am thinking to buy Crucial MX500 for my desktop PC.
crucial mx500 is still cheap and a better choice in my opinion!
I am thinking of getting Samsung 860 EVO as soon as this Coronavirus tension eases
After your suggestion, I bought the OCZ RevoDrive 350 from Amazon and it arrived within 2 days.
Thanks a lot!
Corsair CSSD-N400GBNX500 took my boot time for Windows 10 Pro from a descent 18 seconds on my corsair 1T SSD to 13 seconds flat. I load into many of my games on PUBG at least 12 seconds before my son’s SSD loads him in when que’ed up on the same team. The install was super simple and quick, no drivers were needed to install, just plug and play. 🙂
5 seconds for $450…congrats on winning…absolutely nothing…
Bragging rights! Yeah.
Hello, This post was really helpful. I bought a corsair mp600 ssd and found out that it’s a NVME type. May be that’s the reason for higher speed. Right?
Don’t see the 980 PRO on above list or it didn’t make the top 10 lolz
Or an update is needed 👍😃
Interesting that you did not list Samsung 1725a or b drives 3500/3000Mbps at 800,000 Iops or the PM983.
A valid point. Actually we did list enterprise/datacenter products originally. But since these can barely be obtained or used by the average mortal due to the cost and interface constraints, we decided to lessen the scope to just consumer drives.