The PS5 comes loaded with only a small amount of storage space, so if you want to download your favorite games, save clips, and keep other data, adding additional storage is a must. Luckily, Sony has included a secondary M.2 SSD slot so you can add an extra drive, similar to how you can in a gaming PC. The days of transferring games to an external hard drive are behind you, as this drive will run all of your games and other content as fast as the device's built-in storage. That is assuming you buy a compatible SSD that’s quick enough, which we can help you with.
There are a plethora of SSDs currently available, and it may be hard to narrow down the best one for you and your PS5. Nothing is worse than purchasing a drive and finding it doesn’t fit or an error message pops up after installation. It’s important to note that only NVMe PCIe 4.0 drives with 5,500MB/sec or faster sequential read speeds will work. And, the expansion slot itself is a bit tight, so when you add a drive with a bulky heatsink it might not fit.
All of our picks, however, will easily slot in and be ready to take on all your storage needs. We’ve made sure these SSDs have all the specs and measurements to work side by side with the PS5’s built-in drive. Plus, we’ve added our favorite external hard drive that will be perfect for storing all your PS4 games. Check out the best PS5 SSDs below – and click here to see all the best PS5 SSDs in the UK.
TL;DR – These are the Best PS5 SSDs:
- Corsair MP600 Pro LPX
- Crucial P5 Plus
- WD_Black SN850
- Samsung 980 Pro with Heatsink
- Seagate FireCuda 530
- Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 4TB
- WD_Black P50 Game Drive
- PNY XLR8 SSD Cover
1. Corsair MP600 Pro LPX
Best PS5 SSD
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better SSD for the PS5 than the Corsair MP600 Pro LPX. It's faster than Samsung, WD, and all the other major drives and yet it’s one of the most affordable options at around $180. With a 7,100 MB/s read speed, which well exceeds Sony’s second drive requirements, excessive load times are a thing of the past with this drive. And with 5,800MB/s write speeds, it’s a perfectly fast drive to make all quick saves in all of your favorite games.
One of the best inclusions on the Corsair MP600 Pro LPX is the integrated heatsink that’s designed to fit into the PS5’s M.2 slot. You won’t have to buy a drive without a heatsink and scour the sites to find one that fits. Rest assured this drive will simply slot into your console and you can rest easier knowing it's thermally protected. Plus, with a 1TB capacity, you should be able to load up your system with double the games and other data the base console can hold.
2. Crucial P5 Plus
Best Budget PS5 SSD
The Crucial P5 Plus comes with all the chops you’d expect in a Gen 4 SSD while costing a bit less than competitors. This drive totes Crucial’s Micron Advanced 3D NAND technology, which allows it to easily clear all of the speeds Sony has targeted for the PS5’s M.2 slot. It’s faster than the gaming console's own internal storage. And, there is a 1TB capacity, so you can free up loads of space on your PS5 for additional downloads.
It is important to note that the P5 Plus does not include a heatsink. This is a necessity for heat dissipation when using it with your PS5. But, if you’re familiar with PC builds, it should be easy to remedy this issue by attaching your own heatsink. Just be sure to check it all fits with the height limitations that Sony has placed on this slot.
3. WD_Black SN850
Best Runner-Up PS5 SSD
The WD_Black SN850 was our favorite PS5 SSD till the Corsair MP600 Pro LPX came along and bumped it to second place. But, it is still a perfectly great option to slot into your PS5 for additional storage. It’s even slightly cheaper than our number one. Offering speedy reading and writing, your gaming library will load up quickly, and waiting forever for games to save will be a thing of the past. The 3D NAND technology used in the device helps with that.
Of course, as we’ve mentioned, the WD_Black SN850 comes with an included heatsink to it maintains safe operating temperatures, even under a heavy load. Plus, it comes with a 5 year or 600 TBW warranty, so this SSD is a great investment that'll last you the console's lifetime.
4. Samsung 980 Pro with Heatsink
Best PS5 SSD with Heatsink
Although slightly edged out of our top few spots, the Samsung 980 Pro with Heatsink is still a solid contender to be the newest resident of your PS5’s M.2 slot thanks in part to its steller integrated heatsink. As noted, a heatsink is essential, as it helps the SSD control temperatures to maintain high-speed operation, so you’ll get the best performance out of it at all times. The heatsink included in this option is designed to fit perfectly into the cramped quarters of that slot.
The Samsung 980 Pro comes with 3D TLC NAND memory arranged in a unique V-shape. You’ll find that this increases the drive’s write speeds and helps it perform better overall. And, the throughput of this drive surpasses what Sony even designed the second SSD slot to do. All this additional speed could come in handy if you’re recording a lot of gameplay clips and images to share later.
5. Seagate FireCuda 530
Best High-Performance PS5 SSD
The Seagate FireCuda 530 is the perfect storage partner for your PS5. Seagate and Sony have a bit of history, as many of the officially licensed external hard drives for the PS4 and PS3 were made by Seagate. Therefore, the FireCuda 530 should fit like a glove and shine in your PS5. It also has all the specs you’d want to back it up. This Gen 4 SSD offers up 7,300MB/s read speeds, on par with Sony’s requirements. And, the write speeds are dazzling at 6,900MB/s to boot. Plus, with 3D TLC NAND, it has the endurance and durability to keep up with whatever you throw at it, including rewriting the entire drive up to 1,200 times.
With such solid read and write speeds, the Seagate FireCuda 530 will pair perfectly with your system in a variety of capacities from 500GB to 4TB. This means you can either get a drive to download a few games and a bit of data on or download your entire game library and then some. And, there is an integrated heatsink to ensure that all your data is loaded safely and steadily.
6. Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 4TB
Best High-Capacity PS5 SSD
If you have a massive gaming library that you want to cram onto one sizable SSD, the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 4TB is a great option. The PS5 itself does not come loaded with much storage, and it only allows room for one storage upgrade. So, if you’re looking to have a ton of quickly accessible data, then you might as well go big with a high-capacity drive. And, with the Rocket 4 Plus, you’ll get a great 4TB SSD at a much more attainable price than others on the market.
You’ll find this drive offers speedy load times, and the write times will exceed your expectations too. There’s even a heatsink built-in, so the Rocket 4 Plus will slide easily into the M.2 slot of your PS5. And, you can rest assured that this drive should last the entire lifespan of your PS5 thanks to a five-year or 3,000TBW warranty.
7. WD_Black P50 Game Drive
Best External PS5 SSD
Okay, this might not be an SSD that you can slot into the PS5, but maybe you’re just looking for a simple way to store some of your older PS4 games. That’s where an external SSD like the WD_Black P50 Game Drive can step in. This drive is designed specifically for gaming with 1TB of storage space, 20GB/s read speeds, and an aluminum chassis to ensure it stays cool. That should be plenty to keep all your favorite games safely stored away and ready for you to use whenever.
This is a great option to store the library of PS4 games you’ve collected, but the WD_Black P50 Game Drive does not run PS5 games – you can use the internal storage of the gaming console for that. Plus, you can use this drive with your PC, Mac, or Xbox too, making for a sound investment.
8. PNY XLR8 SSD Cover
Best PS5 SSD Heatsink
A simple and affordable way to dissipate the heat of an SSD mounted in your PS5’s expandable storage slot is by using the PNY XLR8 SSD Cover. For under $20, you get an integrated SSD cover and heatsink to ensure things don’t get too hot during intense gaming action. Best of all, the cover’s design allows it to fit seamlessly into the cramped quarters of your PS5. However, it’s important to note that this cover only works for bare SSDs.
By upgrading your NVMe SSD with the PNY XLR8 SSD Cover, you’ll experience speedy game launches and better performance overall. Using the negative pressure design and heatsink, the SSD is cooled over 40 percent more than one without a heatsink. And, we know that the PS5 runs hot, so eliminating as much heat as possible is essential. You also get a five-year warranty with the device, so it’ll last just as long if not longer than the SSD itself.
Heatsink for 2280 Model M.2
You can save money, or better yet luck out on availability if you buy a compatible PS5 SSD without a heatsink, but if you install it without a heatsink, you're asking for trouble. These are the best PS5 SSD heatsinks:
Best PS5 SSDs in the UK
Heatsink for 2280 Model M.2 in the UK
What to Look for in a PS5 SSD
You need to be sure you are not just jumping on Amazon and selecting the cheapest SSD available to expand your PS5’s storage. There are important specifications and measurement requirements to ensure this drive will work in your console. And, Sony does not guarantee the compatibility of any SSD’s. This absolves them of any responsibility if you run into issues with the drives. So, be sure to adhere to their recommendations.
Firstly, Sony recommends that you only install an NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD with a sequential read speed of 5500MB/s or faster. This will ensure that your games will load quickly and run at optimal speeds. Having fast write speeds also helps to minimize the time you’re waiting for games and other content to download.
Another factor to consider is how much storage space you are looking to add to your system. The PS5 offers only one M.2 expansion slot, which allows you to add an SSD between 250GB-4TB in capacity. If you’re just looking to add a few games to the internal storage, then save money and grab an SSD with less space. But, if you’re looking to load your entire gaming library and then some on to it, you’ll be better off with the maximum storage available. We’ve found that 1TB seems to be the sweet spot when it comes to your internal storage needs.
It’s also essential you purchase an SSD that will fit into the narrow and shallow M.2 SSD slot. With the dimensions of 110 x 25 x 11.25 mm or 4.33 x 0.984 x 0.442 inches, the space inside the PS5 is rather cramped, though that should fit most SSDs. But, when you add in a heatsink, it can get a bit tricky. A heatsink is necessary for use on the PS5, as these fast SSDs run hot, and it ensures all of your data stays safe and your drive keeps running at its peak performance.
Luckily, most of the drives we’ve selected offer an integrated heatsink that fits into the expansion slot, but if not, it’s important to make note of the dimensions of the whole package to ensure it's compatible.
Be sure to also check out guide on how to install a PS5 SSD. It's full of information like how to install the SSD and verify the drive will be compatible with the PS5. Of course, all of our picks are perfect options to increase your console’s storage space.
Kevin Lee is IGN's SEO Updates Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam.
