The best PS5 SSD in 2023: Get more storage with these speedy drives

The best PS5 SSDs might just be one of the biggest advantages we PlayStation gamers have over the Xbox Series X. Installing an additional internal PS5 SSD is quick and easy, and it's something Microsoft's flagship machines don't have capabilities for. Out of the box, a PS5 will only really have ~650GB of room to play with after you account for firmware and general bloat. With the PS Plus library expanding and games getting bigger, an SSD could be a massive help to you.

The best PS5 SSDs on the list below can even outpace the speedy internal storage of the PS5, meaning you could get quicker loadtimes thant you're used to if you move games across. Many of our PS5 SSD picks can be found on our best SSDs for gaming list, which shows you what a great feature the M.2 port is for PS5. Some of the fastest models we’ve tested surpass 7,000 MB/s, pushing this generation of SSD to its limits. For reference, a traditional HDD used by the likes of the PS4 would be lucky if it got up to 200 MB/s. You've picked a great time to shop around, too, since SSD prices are still largely discounted across the board.

One important thing to keep in mind is that if you get an internal PS5 SSD, you'll need to pair it with one of the best PS5 heatsinks. These nifty cooling devices keep your drive cool and functional, and not all of them come pre-installed.

You can extend your PS5 storage internally or externally, with one of the best PS5 external hard drives. Although, keep in mind that you won't be able to play PS5 games on an external drive. You can now store PS5 games on an external SSD, but you’ll need to transfer them over to an internal drive to actually use them.

Without further ado, here are the best PS5 SSDs you can get in 2023.

Best PS5 SSD 2023 - Internal options

Remember, if you go for a PS5 SSD, make sure it's the right size to fit into the PS5's slot. Based on our testing, here are some key specs to remember when buying internal M.2 PS5 SSDs:

• PCIe Gen4 interface
• 250GB - 4TB capacity
• 5,500MB/s read speed or faster
• 22mm width (do not go for 25mm units)
• Heatsink required (built-in or DIY)

Technically, this was the first SSD confirmed for PS5. The Seagate FireCuda 530 is undoubtedly one of the best PS5 SSDs, and definitely one of the most popular. Touted to have blistering speeds, and confirmed to have all the next-gen tech within it, this really is a quality PS5 SSD internal option. The fact that it also comes with its own heatsink (as shown in the picture above) is a bonus - no DIY jobs with this drive. Having said that, a non-heatsink version is also available if you'd rather attach your own.

The transfer speeds are top drawer with Seagate claiming that it beats off the SN850 by edging over that 7,000MB/s mark - rather than aiming solely for it. Crucially it's got the latest in tech inside it as it sports 3D TLC NAND memory and next-gen PCIe 4.0.
Read more: Seagate FireCuda 530 review

While we held off adding the SN850X to this list for a while, the price has finally dropped so that the extra performance you gain with this model versus the SN850 isn't a huge trade-off. The SN850 is still a great option, although it may get harder to find as it continues to age.

Although the 4K performance and random speeds underperformed compared to the older model in our tests, the SN850 X is one of the strongest all rounders you'll find on the market.

The SN850X improves upon the sequential read and write speeds we loved from the older model, and is arguably a much better option for PS5 in particular thanks to an integrated heatsink. A big problem with the SN850 was that it could run fairly hot when it was working hard. The SN850X does a great job of dealing with that though, because WD implemented a new thermal management profile that reduces performance throttling when it's under pressure.

• Read more: WD Black SN850X review

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The Samsung 990 Pro is the latest Gen 4 M.2 SSD from the brand, and offers some top-contender performance for PS5 and PC. Like the SN850 and SN850X, it stayed off our recommendation lists for some time after launch because although the newer model can give you better sequential speeds, the trade-off on price meant the older model was actually better value. That's started to change now though, and we're seeing the 990 get discounted further, and more regularly. 

Speaking of the SN850X, this is an excellent competitor to it. The 990 Pro 2TB knocked out 7,462MB/s reads and 6,877MB/s writes in our tests, which is as good as it gets for a Gen 4 drive, and is much the same level of performance as you'll find from the top 3 PS5 SSDs on this list. In terms of peak sequential performance, these drives are now very clearly bumping up against the limitations of the PCIe Gen 4 interface, and Samsung is right up there with the best.

The 990 Pro is available with and without a heatsink, so keep that in mind when shopping around. The heatsink version is more popular for obvious reasons - PS5 buyers want to save the fuss. However, if you can find a good deal on the 990 Pro without a heatsink, buying these separately is easy and  fairly cheap.

The Samsung 980 Pro is still one of the best PS5 SSDs on the market especially considering that the heatsink model is now widely available, and frequently discounted, too. While this drive may no longer be the absolute fastest Gen 4.0 unit that you can slot into your Sony system, the overall all-star sequential rates of up to 7,000 MB/s read cannot be denied. 

While Gen 4 drives running the likes of the Phison E18 controller are going to offer more consistent, and faster overall random performance, the Samsung 980 Pro matches the console's internal storage and is usually available substantially cheaper than newer drives on the market. The addition of a dedicated heatsink custom-made for the system is going to be ideal for anyone preferring the plug and play approach as opposed to having to go all-DIY, too. 

It's still one of the fastest drives going, offering speeds that can surpass the 7,000MB/s mark, which is frankly ludicrous - but excellent for those wanting something that will run the PS5's custom SSD as close as it can.
Read more: Samsung 980 PRO Review

 XPG may not be one of the most well-known brands on this list, but the Gammix S70 Blade deserves high praise for its affordable price point, integrated heatsink, and stellar sequential performance. A 1TB model will run you just $130, though is frequently on sale for $119.99, and we've spotted the 2TB variant that we tested available for as low as $219.99, too. All told, this is an incredible value given the sequential performance on offer which is certainly worth considering in 2022.

Despite Adata stating that the claimed up to 7,400 / 6,800 MB/s read and write speeds would be capped at 6,100 MB/s by the PS5's OS, our testing actually revealed read speeds of over 6,200 MB/s once formatted. As expected, transferring files across from the console's internal storage to the XPG Gammix S70 was no problem at all, and we didn't notice any difference in performance when running games from this drive compared to the console itself.  

Keep in mind that there are no instructions for how to install the included heatsink though. However, scanning the QR code on the box did point us in the direction of FAQs, and then a guide (opens in new tab), to tell us how to do it. Once that's covered, it's all smooth sailing from there, and you're well on your way to doubling (or even tripling) your storage space. 

The Kingston Fury Renegade is one of the fastest and most consistent Gen 4.0 NVMe SSDs, which is powered by the Phison E18 controller. The result is a drive that excels with sequential read rates of upwards of 8,600 MB/s in our testing. While a little on the pricier side, especially in the 2TB configuration like with our review unit, the performance on display really does justify the asking price. What's more, this PS5 SSD comes wrapped in its own graphene heatsink, so there's no need for a bulky DIY route here. 

The Kingston Renegade SSD keeps things aesthetically simple, with a monochrome design language for all the difference when inside your console. What you will know, though, is just how good this surprisingly slender graphene heatsink actually does at keeping those temperatures down. In our testing, we clocked this drive at a maximum operating temperature of 68 degrees, far below the danger zone, and running commonly between 45 and 55 degrees when in-game. It was only when deliberately stress testing that we saw the heat pique, so you've got little to worry about here. 

If you're after a Gen 4.0 NVMe SSD that's ready to be slotted straight into your PS5 console offering sequential performance pushing that 7,000 MB/s mark, then the Kingston Fury Renegade truly lives up to its namesake. While the 2TB model carries an MSRP of $425, as one of the most expensive PS5 SSDs you can get, we've seen it commonly selling for around the $318 mark more regularly since launch. What's more, for the best price-to-performance ratio, the Kingston Renegade 1TB is likely to be the sweet spot for your PS5 console at only $189.99.
Read more: Kingston Fury Renegade SSD review

The Corsair MP600 Pro LPX is one of the better-designed PS5 SSDs with a built-in heatsink that we've come across and it's got the performance speeds to match. While our review unit didn't hit the projected 7,100MB/s max sequential read speeds, instead of clocking in at a still-respectable 5,581.505MB/s, you're still getting a more-than-competent drive for everyday use on your PS5. 

File transfer times of the Corsair MP600 Pro LPX were impressive to say to least, especially as far as the bigger titles were concerned. Red Dead Redemption 2, with its massive 116.3GB, was written to the NVMe drive in only 1 minute 13 seconds. You can expect games in the sub-100GB range to take well under a minute, as we found with Demon's Souls (53.65GB) which took 46.11 seconds, and Ghost of Tsushima (59.13GB) which made the leap in 46.67 seconds. 

If you've got an extensive back catalog of smaller titles that you want to make room for on your PS5, then then this particular drive excels when more modest file sizes are involved. Platformer Astro's Playroom (11.02GB) zipped onto the Corsair MP600 Pro LPX in 11.11 seconds, with Metro Redux (13.57GB) clocking in at just 13.98 seconds. What we're essentially seeing here is 1GB / sec which is certainly commendable as far as Gen 4.0 is concerned. 

The MSRP of the Corsair MP600 Pro LPX is respectable for a 2TB model, at $339.99, though, availability appears to be limited at the moment if you're interested in this capacity in particular. We think it's a fair rate given the speeds on offer and the fantastic heatsink and build quality overall. 

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Combining the prowess of the PNY CS3140 with the company's brand new, specifically engineered PS5 heatsink, the PNY XLR8 SSD Gaming Kit delivers on its all-in-one promise for fuss-free expansion. 

In our testing, we found that this combo resulted in some of the fastest sequential performance that we've ever seen in all our time benching PS5 SSDs, with Sony's official post-format numbers giving us 6,547.477 MB/s. This figure certainly lives up to the quoted sequential read capabilities of the drive and proves that a smarter-designed heatsink really can squeeze some extra juice out when needed. 

We've seen PS5 heatsinks that replace the console's M.2 port before, but what makes PNY's model different is the thick aluminium heat spreader that positions itself on top of the drive which is built into the cover. The brand claims that this provides up to 40% better airflow, and judging from the performance we found in our testing, we're inclined to believe it. Most PS5 SSDs tend to top out at around the 5.5 GB/s read mark, but we were able to clock an extra 1 GB/s here, likely due to the heatsink in place.

However, if you're after even more storage for your game libraries, both physical and virtual, there's also the addition of 2TB and 4TB models as well, though the prices do reach the upper-end of the spectrum. As is the case with many SSDs running the Phison E18 controller, the PNY XLR8 SSD Gaming Kit isn't the cheapest Gen 4 drive solution on the market, but it does happen to be one of the best in 2022.
Read more: PNY XLR8 SSD 1TB Gaming Kit review

The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus is a great SSD based on numbers and performance. It's got the speeds and the SSD Gen4 chops to keep up with the best of them, offering speeds easily in the reaches of Sony's recommendations - transferring 68GB's worth of F1 2021 to the drive from the console took just 55 seconds, and you can begin playing Spider-Man: Miles morales in less than 24 seconds from booting the game. Technically, It falls a bit short when compared to the very fastest on this list but when you're in this territory, the differences, on a practical scale, are negligible. 

Secondly, perhaps more so than those speedier counterparts, this drive offers exceptional bang for buck value. Its price-to-terabyte ratio is very good and generally hovers around the $189 / £170 mark. For comparison, this would be a record low for either the SN850 or the Samsung 980 PRO.

And thirdly, the cherry on top which means it really does offer a complete, great-value package is the bespoke PS5 design and heatsink. This is a brilliant interpretation of the heatsink required for a PS5 SSD, and even goes beyond that - it's more than just a heatsink. It also replaces the entire PS5 SSD bay panel, becoming part of your PS5 itself. This means the heatsink/panel can let out heat from the whole by, as opposed to an attached heatsink doing all the work and remaining within a covered bay. Clever. (So clever, in fact, that you can buy the panel separately (opens in new tab) to use with whatever SSD you like.)
Read more: Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus SSD review

A brand new entry from known storage specialists, Crucial, the P5 Plus is the latest PS5 SSD to be confirmed as compatible with Sony's latest console. 

Built on Crucial's Micron Advanced 3D NAND tech, the P5 Plus offers - according to Crucial - speeds of up to 6,600MB/S which means it easily clears Sony's target speed, while not going totally mental like the SN850 above - plus, it ticks every other box too. It comes in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities but, like most drives - of all stripes - we recommend the 1TB model based on overall bang for buck, and the storage space you get for your money.

The main caveat here is that you will need to attach your own SSD heatsink at home before installing it in your PS5. This isn't too much of a hassle, particularly if you're familiar with PC part tinkering, and don't mind some occasional electronic DIY. Just make sure you select one that fits Sony's criteria (like the ones below), and won't make your SSD oversized.
Read more: Crucial P5 Plus review

A very smart-looking (we know, you won't be admiring it close up once it's inside the PS5) SSD for PS5 from Gigabyte. The company confirmed its latest NVMe SSD would play nice with the PS5 with a neat little tweet showing the drive (with heat sink) attached neatly slotting into the SSD bay. 

This drive has all the hallmarks of a brand-new PCIe 4.0 SSD, and one that'll perform like a beast: there's the 7,000MB/s read speed that's fast becoming the default for PCIe 4.0 SSDs, it's got its own compact and tidy heatsink, and it too runs 3D TLC NAND Flash. It easily outdoes the company's PCIe 3.0 drives and reinforces the top-drawer performance and speeds that Sony is clearly aiming for folks' additional PS5 SSD.

With perhaps the coolest name yet in the PS5 SSD lineup, the Patriot Viper VP4300 is a solid NVMe 4 Gen 4 SSD for your PS5 SSD - and offers good value in doing so.

First of all, it's got the chops: its claimed speeds are up to 7,400MB/S read and up to 6,800MB/s write which is supremely fast. The real-life performance of the drive is just as tantalising as those high numbers are on paper: the Viper VP4300 easily keeps up with the likes of the much more expensive Samsung 980 Pro. Nice. Despite the price difference between these two, as a good example, don't be fooled into thinking that this is a substandard PS5 SSD at all: it's a full-blooded PCIe 4.0 drive that can run with the best and most premium of contenders.

The Patriot Viper VP4300 also comes with two of its own heatsinks: one thin graphene layer, and one 'full size' aluminium one which, for what it's worth, looks pretty cool.

The Addlink AddGame A95 2TB NVMe Gen4x4 SSD features incredible performance on par with that of the PS5 console's native internal storage, as well as one of the best-designed heatsinks we've seen on a drive. With proposed speeds of 6500 MB/s, we were impressed to see the drive register at 6569.047 MB/s instead of being clocked slightly under. However, what's more impressive here are the file transfer times when going from the internal storage to the drive. 

Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the larger modern games in recent memory, coming in at a staggering 110.9 GB file size. The Addlink AddGame A95 2TB made short of work of it when transferring from the console to it directly; it only took 1 minute and 17 seconds in total. For those playing along at home, that's a blisteringly quick 1.44 GB / second, which is seriously commendable. The loading games in the game itself can be viewed as notoriously long, but in our testing, we found that the drive matched the console's internal storage time of going from the main menu into gameplay in just 38 seconds. 

It's a similar story with PS5 exclusive Demon's Souls, with its 52.09 GB total file size written to the Addlink AddGame A95 2TB in only 42.02 seconds for speeds of 1.2 GB / second. As expected from other PS5 SSDs, it does typically take longer for games to come back from an M2 drive onto the internal storage, but with speeds like this, it isn't much of a problem. Red Dead Redemption 2 took just over 8 minutes, and Demon's Souls (roughly half its file size) clocked in at 3 minutes and 49 seconds. If you're after a super-fast drive that performs incredibly, then the Addlink AddGame A95 is certainly a stronger contender.

Best PS5 SSD: Heatsinks

While some SSDs that are specifically designed with the PS5 in mind come with a heatsink built-in, others do not. On the plus side, you can buy them separately from a wide range of manufacturers. They're very easy to fit and will stop your new SSD from overheating and being damaged as a result. It's usually fairly easy to see if an SSD doesn't have a heatsink already, because it will be very thin, and will most likely have elements of the circuit board on show. Products with a heatsink attached will usually say on the listing page, and will often be a little thicker, with vent-looking elements on one or both sides. 

Sometimes built-in heatsinks drive up the cost quite a lot, so buying your own can save you a decent amount of cash. We've listed a few of our favorite options below.

• PNY XLR8 SSD cover | $14.99 at Amazon US (opens in new tab)
• PNY XLR8 SSD cover | £20.51 at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)
• Sabrent PS5 heatsink | $19.99 at Amazon US (opens in new tab)
• Sabrent PS5 heatsink | £19.99 at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)
• QIVYNSRY heatsink | $8.99 at Amazon US (opens in new tab) 
• QIVYNSRY heatsink | £7.99 at Amazon UK (opens in new tab) 
• Ezdiy-Fab heatsink | $10.99 at Amazon US (opens in new tab)
• MHQJRH heatsink | $9.99 at Amazon US (opens in new tab)
• Eluteng heatsink | £7.99 at Amazon UK (opens in new tab)
• Back to PS5 SSD list

Best PS5 SSD 2023 - external options

You can now transfer PS5 games to an external storage device, meaning you don't have to keep redownloading games when we want to make room for other games. You can't play these games on an external PS5 SSD, but transferring from the external to internal PS5 SSD is super quick. While PS5 games can't be played from an external drive, PS4 games can, and loading times are much faster than on a PS4 or PS4 Pro.

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The WD_Black P40 SSD is the latest in WD's gaming-focused external hard drives, and it's one of the best performers you'll find. It takes the specs and design of the P50 and carries both over to a compact build that makes use of some beautiful RGB lighting. 

Read and write speeds were great in testing. The 2000MB/s speed you see on the box is as good as you'll get in an external hard drive, but in reality, it translates to some great load times and transfer speeds on PS5 and PC. When testing it out, we managed to move a load of game capture footage from PS5 to PC in a heart beat, with 30 clips spanning a total of 22GB, the P40 swallowed it up from the PS5 in about a minute. The same was true of game storage. We transferred three games that added up to 18GB in just shy of a minute with this drive.

Disappointingly, the P40 is one of the pricier options available, particularly because it's a newer release from WD. For your money, you get the drive which comes with WD's Windows dashboard, a USB-C cable and USB-A adapter, a quick install guide, and a 5-year warranty I'd be surprised if you need to use. WD's solid build with forged aluminium means it's a sturdy piece of kit.

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Probably the best external SSD drive we've tested in a while, the P50 is the best PS5 SSD right now, because it has it all: a quality, cool design, a robust build, and exquisite speeds often reserved for those drives within the best gaming PCs and on best SSD for gaming lists.

On the outside, the P50 is a military metal-styled, rectangular drive featuring sleek molded metal and the traditional WD_Black aesthetics and markings. Its USB-C port can be used on your devices as either a USB-A or USB-C connection and in our testing, we got the same speeds through either port so it shouldn't matter which you have free or available, or if you change the device it's used with during its lifetime. There's a small but clear LED indicator on one of the short ends which is always a help, but one small downside is that it does get a little warm when in use so it'll pay to keep that in mind when positioning it.

When it comes to speeds, what you're told you're getting and what happens is pretty much bang on. It's incredible performance for an external SSD and the stated speeds of 'up to 2000MB/s' were on the money in our testing. Real-world performance-wise, the P50 gives you everything a high-quality external SSD should do: games were loaded incredibly quickly, files were retrieved in the snap of a finger, and the performance levels were incredibly consistent. It's a surefire SSD that will rapidly improve your gaming experience by far reducing the time looking at loading screens and increasing the time when you're actually playing. A true winner.

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If you're looking at getting the best-protected PS5 SSD to keep that drive extra safe (and why wouldn't you?), then the SanDisk Extreme Portable is a strong contender. This will be able to withstand any sort of accidents and is the perfect contender for those of us who are accident-prone, or who prefer to make extra sure about the protection our devices have. Its rugged-ness is proven with it being water and dust-resistant to the IP-55 standard, and it has a shock-resistant core for extra durability. 

It performs well too, offering that sweet, sweet SSD performance and speed despite the protective shell, with its speeds challenging the likes of the Samsung T5. And it is really compact, with a fit-it-in-your-pocket size. 

The safety and durability comes at a premium though and adds a bit more to the price of the drive, but it's definitely worth it when all things are considered. The protection and durability of this SSD are excellent. And if you want some extra reassurance, you could even go for the Extreme Pro (opens in new tab) variant - but be prepared to see the cost rise significantly.

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Even with speeds of 'only' 540 MB/s compared to the 1000+ you'll see on other PS5 SSDs we think the Crucial X6 is more than worth a look thanks to its excellent performance to price ratio. If you want a faster version of this drive, there's the Crucial X8 (opens in new tab) to consider too.

When upgrading to this SSD from an older external HDD you'll notice life is so much faster immediately. We've put it through various real-life tests and found that you'll be able to shift a 30GB PS5 game in just 3 minutes 48 seconds compared to 7:16 on an HDD like Seagate's PS4 Game Drive. A 90-second load time for a game like Resident Evil 7 was cut down to just one minute too.

The USB-C cable is very short and left the SSD hanging a bit when using the PS5 vertically. But the drive is so small and lightweight, it never feels at risk of coming loose. We just wish Sony had put one of these slots around the back too. Grabbing an extra terabyte or two of reliable and speedy storage for our PS5 and PS4 games at a reasonable price makes this very bearable though.

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If you have half an eye on versatility and multi-platform use down the road, then the WD My Passport SSD is a good offering - and of course, it is a great PS5 SSD in its own right, coming from proven manufacturers of quality units. The My Passport SSD will offer write speeds of about 300Mbps, and read speeds of 390Mbps - substantially faster than its HDD brother, the My Passport, which can offer a larger capacity for your money but only gives read and write speeds of 120-130 Mbps.

While this does have an excellent role to play as a PC external SSD, it's worth noting that if you want to do this, you'll have to reformat it each time you want to use it as an SSD for your console or PC. It can't, unfortunately, be both at the same time. However, the My Passport SSD's PC pedigree does offer some flexibility and adds some versatility to this drive. For example, it's compatible with All The USBs, including being USB-C ready, and it has an automatic backup system and handy password protection and hardware encryption security double whammy. 

The Samsung T7 Shield is the latest in a line of high-speed performance-first portable external SSDs with an emphasis on durability. The brand claims that the T7 boasts double the performance of the T5, and our testing proves that's very much the case. While the 1,050 MB/s read and 1,000 MB/s write don't exactly rival NVMe counterparts, as far as external drives go, the Samsung T7 Shield is certainly up there in terms of sequential performance. At $159.99 / £134.79 for a 1TB model or $289.99 / £250.99 for 2TB, it's far from the cheapest PS5 external hard drives around, but those speeds, and tank-like shell, may justify the added cost for you. 

We found that the claimed figures were largely lived up to with game transfers, as Demon's Souls (53.73 GB) made the leap from the PS5's internal storage to the Samsung T7 Shield in 4 minutes 30 seconds. That's roughly in keeping with the maximum sequential performance, and solid figures from an external drive plugged in via USB 3.2 on the back of the console. There's also an included USB C to USB C cable in the box, too. 

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Away from the mega-big boys and famous names in the external PS5 SSD market, manufacturers and brands like Silicon Power quietly go about their business of making equally dependable, robust, competitively priced, and quality hard drives. And SP's Bolt B75 Pro SSD drive is exactly that.

This is an Incredibly light, but incredibly robust unit, which means it's easily transportable yet you can have great confidence in it if you're prone to mishaps, or just want that extra protection. Its military-grade shockproof, aluminium case will look after the important stuff inside easily and the casing definitely exudes the rugged quality that was intended. The unit as a whole doesn't feel solid but that comes from its lightness - some folks may prefer a more hefty unit.

The SSD's performance is very solid, but nothing too spectacular. As a result, if you're after something that offers good value, want to upgrade from an existing HDD to SSD to ensure you get that better and faster performance without number chasing too much, and you want something robust then this is a great contender.

How do you install one of the best PS5 SSDs?

The installation process is a lot easier than it seems, and if you feel you need visual help, there's an official PlayStation tutorial video (opens in new tab). Essentially, you'll need a flat surface to work on, a number one Philips screwdriver, and some light. 

Start by putting the PS5 on its side, with the faceplate showing the PlayStation logo face-down. After removing the other faceplate, you should be able to see the SSD tray. Unscrew the bespoke PlayStation symbol screw, and remove the lid. You should now see a green slot with a few different measurement holes. With your SSD in hand, find the line that corresponds to your drive's size. Once you've taken a quick mental note of the number, unscrew the small fixing screw and spacer. Then place the spacer in the correct measurement hole for your new SSD.

Once that's done, you can line up one of the best PS5 SSDs for insertion into the console. If the room is well lit, you'll be able to clearly see which way up your drive should be by lining up the small gap in the insertion component with that of the PS5 M.2 port. Starting at a diagonal angle pointing down and into the port, make sure the ends of your SSD fit in without too much resistance. After that, you'll need to let the drive angle down a bit, and then be quite firm to ensure it's inserted all the way. Do not apply too much pressure diagonally down, or the SSD will break. Once it is, attach your heatsink if you need to, ensuring the thermal layer has had its tape removed. Then simply put the tray lid back on if you have the room, and screw into the spacer hole you prepared earlier to secure everything in place.

That's it! Put the faceplate back on by sliding the opposite way from when you took it off, and plug the PS5 back in. The software on the PS5 should recognise that a new drive is in place, and will ask you to format it. 

Best PS5 SSD - Frequently Asked Questions

What SSD speed is good for PS5?

The minimum requirement for PS5 SSDs is 5,500MB/second. Some of the picks on our list above surpass that to the tune of 7,000MB/s, so anywhere between those two figures is a solid SSD speed for the best PS5 SSDs. 

For anyone keeping score, solid HDDs (like the ones used in the PS4) struggle to break read and write speeds of 200MB/s.

How we test PS5 SSDs

You can find out the specifics of how we test SSDs in our full GamesRadar Hardware Policy, but it's worth going stating here, too. At GamesRadar, we utilize extensive testing methods when reviewing the latest SSDs and hard drives, either for standalone write-ups or in lists just like this one. 

For PS5 SSDs, the three biggest tests that we conduct are as follows: 

• Sony's official benchmarking speed test (which happens after a device format) 
• File transfer speed tests (from the consoles internal storage and back again) 
• In-game loading times (time clocked between menus and gameplay, etc.) 

Value for money and price-to-performance ratio are paramount when considering what makes a PS5 SSD one of the best on the market. For example, not all Gen 4.0 drives are created equal, and this is due to different NVMe M.2 slot SSDs using different controllers. We also take the quality and durability of the PS5 SSD heatsinks, should one be provided by the manufacturer as well. 

Looking to upgrade your PS5 with more than just expanded storage? Check out our lists of the best PS5 headsets and best TVs for PS5 and Xbox Series X. Alternatively, here's everything we know about the DualSense Edge controller.