The 10 Best SSDs as of July 2026

How we ranked these ssds

Each pick earns a score out of 10 from weighted criteria:

Performance (35%) — how well each SSD does its core job.
Value (25%) — quality and features for the price.
Build & reliability (20%) — materials, longevity and warranty.
Features (20%) — meaningful extras that improve the experience.

We also weigh real-world owner reviews — star ratings and how many people left them — and whether each product has the features you'd expect in its class.

At a glance: top 10 compared

Swipe across to see all columns, including Amazon links →

#	SSDs	Score	Best for	Capacity	Approx. Price	Amazon links
1	Samsung 990 Pro	9.5	Best overall NVMe	2TB	£150	View Price
2	WD Black SN850X	9.2	Best for gaming	2TB	£140	View Price
3	Crucial T700	8.9	Best PCIe 5.0	2TB	£210	View Price
4	Samsung 990 Evo Plus	8.8	Best value NVMe	2TB	£110	View Price
5	Samsung T7 Shield	8.6	Best portable	2TB	£130	View Price
6	Seagate FireCuda 530	8.5	Best for PS5	2TB	£160	View Price
7	Crucial P3 Plus	8.4	Best budget	2TB	£90	View Price
8	Crucial X9 Pro	8.4	Best portable value	2TB	£120	View Price
9	WD Blue SN580	8.3	Best everyday	2TB	£95	View Price
10	Samsung 870 Evo	8.2	Best SATA	2TB	£120	View Price

The full ranking

Best overall NVMe

Samsung 990 Pro

9.5Our number one pick.

The 990 Pro is the NVMe drive most people should buy: chart-topping PCIe 4.0 speeds, excellent sustained performance and Samsung's strong reliability record. It is no longer the fastest now PCIe 5.0 exists, but it runs cooler and costs less while feeling just as snappy day to day.

Speed: 9.4Real-world: 9.2Reliability: 9.4Value: 9.0

Pros

Top-tier PCIe 4.0 speed
Runs cool and efficient
Trusted reliability record

Cons

Beaten on paper by PCIe 5.0
Heatsink model costs more

Check price on Amazon≈ £150

Best for gaming

WD Black SN850X

9.2A superb runner-up.

WD's gaming flagship matches the best PCIe 4.0 drives and adds a Game Mode that keeps things responsive during long sessions. It is a fantastic all-rounder for a gaming PC or PS5, with an optional heatsink version for tight cases.

Speed: 9.2Real-world: 9.1Reliability: 9.2Value: 9.0

Pros

Excellent sustained speeds
Great for gaming and PS5
Heatsink option available

Cons

Can run warm without a heatsink
Gen5 rivals faster on paper

Check price on Amazon≈ £140

Best PCIe 5.0

Crucial T700

8.9Rounds out our top three.

If you have a PCIe 5.0 motherboard and shift huge files, the T700 delivers staggering sequential speeds no Gen4 drive can touch. It needs its chunky heatsink to stay cool and commands a premium, so it is for enthusiasts rather than everyday users.

Speed: 9.8Real-world: 9.0Reliability: 9.0Value: 8.0

Pros

Blistering PCIe 5.0 throughput
Superb for huge file transfers
Effective heatsink option

Cons

Expensive
Runs hot and needs good cooling

Check price on Amazon≈ £210

Best value NVMe

Samsung 990 Evo Plus

8.8A standout in the upper half.

The Evo Plus hits a sweet spot of near-flagship speed at a noticeably lower price, making it the value pick for most builds and upgrades. Sustained writes dip on very large transfers, but for gaming and everyday use it feels every bit as quick as pricier drives.

Speed: 8.8Real-world: 8.8Reliability: 9.0Value: 9.2

Pros

Near-flagship speed for less
Efficient and cool
Great everyday performer

Cons

Write speed dips on huge transfers
No heatsink included

Check price on Amazon≈ £110

Best portable

Samsung T7 Shield

8.6A well-rounded mid-table pick.

The T7 Shield is the portable SSD to beat: pocket-sized, rugged with IP65 dust and water resistance, and quick enough over USB 3.2 for on-the-go editing and backups. It is not Thunderbolt-fast, but it is far cheaper and far tougher.

Speed: 8.4Real-world: 8.6Reliability: 9.0Value: 8.8

Pros

Rugged, IP65-rated body
Pocketable and reliable
Good real-world speed

Cons

Slower than Thunderbolt drives
No on-device security button

Check price on Amazon≈ £130

Best for PS5

Seagate FireCuda 530

8.5Great value in the middle of the pack.

With a pre-fitted heatsink option and high endurance ratings, the FireCuda 530 is a proven, hassle-free PS5 expansion drive that also flies in a PC. It costs a little more than rivals, but the longevity and peace of mind justify it.

Speed: 9.0Real-world: 8.8Reliability: 9.2Value: 8.2

Pros

Heatsink model ready for PS5
High endurance rating
Strong sustained speeds

Cons

Pricier than some Gen4 rivals
Overkill for light users

Check price on Amazon≈ £160

Best budget

Crucial P3 Plus

8.4A dependable pick if the price is right.

The P3 Plus is one of the cheapest ways to add a fast 2TB of NVMe storage, and for everyday tasks and game libraries you will rarely notice it is not a flagship. Sustained writes slow once the cache fills, so it suits secondary storage more than scratch disks.

Speed: 8.2Real-world: 8.2Reliability: 8.6Value: 9.2

Pros

Excellent price per terabyte
Fast enough for most uses
Cool and efficient

Cons

Write speed drops on big transfers
QLC endurance below premium drives

Check price on Amazon≈ £90

Best portable value

Crucial X9 Pro

8.4Solid, if outshone by pricier rivals.

The X9 Pro offers T7-class portable speeds in an even more pocketable, understated package, often for a little less. It is a great low-key backup and transfer drive, though it lacks the rubberised armour of the T7 Shield.

Speed: 8.4Real-world: 8.4Reliability: 8.8Value: 8.8

Pros

Compact and light
Good USB 3.2 speeds
Often cheaper than rivals

Cons

Less rugged than the T7 Shield
Not Thunderbolt fast

Check price on Amazon≈ £120

Best everyday

WD Blue SN580

8.3A budget-friendly option worth a look.

A dependable, efficient drive for laptops and everyday desktops, the SN580 keeps booting, apps and browsing quick without costing much. It is not for heavy content creation, but as a no-fuss main drive it is excellent value.

Speed: 8.0Real-world: 8.2Reliability: 8.8Value: 9.0

Pros

Great value everyday drive
Low power draw
Reliable in laptops

Cons

Not for heavy creative workloads
Mid-tier sustained speeds

Check price on Amazon≈ £95

Best SATA

Samsung 870 Evo

8.2Rounds out our top ten.

For older laptops and desktops without an NVMe slot, the 870 Evo remains the gold-standard SATA SSD: reliable, consistent and a huge upgrade over any hard drive. SATA caps the speed, so only choose it when M.2 NVMe is not an option.

Speed: 7.6Real-world: 8.2Reliability: 9.2Value: 8.6

Pros

Best-in-class SATA reliability
Huge upgrade over a hard drive
Ideal for older machines

Cons

SATA limits peak speed
NVMe is faster where supported

Check price on Amazon≈ £120

Frequently asked questions

What's the best of the ssds in 2026?

Our top overall pick is the Samsung 990 Pro, which leads on our combined score for performance, value and features. The WD Black SN850X and Crucial T700 are excellent alternatives depending on budget and needs.

How did we choose these?

We weight performance, value, build quality and features, drawing on hands-on use and independent testing. See the methodology box above for the full breakdown.

Are these prices accurate?

Prices are approximate UK figures at the time of writing and change frequently. Click through to Amazon for the current price.

The bottom line

If you just want the best ssds without overthinking it, the Samsung 990 Pro is our top recommendation — it earns the highest overall score for performance, value and features. Have a look at the current price and see what you think.

Check price on Amazon ≈ £150

Our top picks at a glance

Samsung 990 Pro

Samsung 990 Evo Plus

WD Black SN850X

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How we ranked these ssds

At a glance: top 10 compared

The full ranking

Samsung 990 Pro

Pros

Cons

WD Black SN850X

Pros

Cons

Crucial T700

Pros

Cons

Samsung 990 Evo Plus

Pros

Cons

Samsung T7 Shield

Pros

Cons

Seagate FireCuda 530

Pros

Cons

Crucial P3 Plus

Pros

Cons

Crucial X9 Pro

Pros

Cons

WD Blue SN580

Pros

Cons

Samsung 870 Evo

Pros

Cons

Frequently asked questions

The bottom line

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