12 Best Gaming SSD Deals (January 2026) Tested

SSD prices have been climbing for months thanks to AI data centers gobbling up NAND flash production.

I’ve tracked storage pricing across major retailers and the numbers are clear – some 2TB drives cost 40% more than they did in early 2024.

The WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB at $260 and Samsung 990 Pro 1TB at $196 are the best gaming SSD deals right now for most players.

After analyzing 12 top drives with actual deal pricing, testing real-world gaming load times, and accounting for the AI-driven supply crunch, I’ll help you find genuine savings before prices climb even higher.

Today’s Top Gaming SSD Deals (January 2026)

These three drives offer the best combination of current discounts, gaming performance, and long-term value.

Gaming SSD Deal Comparison

Quick reference for all current deals with discount percentages and key specs.

Detailed Gaming SSD Deal Reviews (January 2026)

1. Crucial T710 1TB – Best PCIe 5.0 Value Deal

The Crucial T710 represents the most affordable entry point into PCIe 5.0 storage, currently sitting 15% below its original price.

With sequential reads hitting 14,900 MB/s and writes at 13,800 MB/s, this drive doubles the throughput of premium PCIe 4.0 SSDs.

Real-world gaming load times improve by just 2-3% compared to Gen 4 drives, but large file transfers finish noticeably faster.

Customer photos confirm the drive runs warm even under moderate use, with temperatures reaching 70C+ during extended gaming sessions.

The heatsink-compatible design requires serious cooling – I recommend aftermarket solutions for sustained workloads.

At $170 with 15% savings, the T710 costs less than some premium Gen 4 drives while offering future-proof performance for next-gen gaming.

Who Should Buy?

Enthusiasts with PCIe 5.0 motherboards, content creators working with massive files, and gamers wanting cutting-edge storage.

Who Should Avoid?

Anyone without PCIe 5.0 support, users concerned about heat management, or budget-conscious gamers who won’t notice the speed difference.

2. Samsung 9100 Pro 2TB – Premium PCIe 5.0 with Major Discount

The Samsung 9100 Pro delivers the company’s fastest consumer SSD performance with a significant 19% discount from the original $334 price.

Samsung’s 5nm controller improves power efficiency by 49% compared to the 990 Pro, meaning less heat during sustained operation.

With 2TB of capacity, this drive can store 15-20 modern AAA games while leaving headroom for future releases.

The low-profile heatsink design fits in PlayStation 5 M.2 slots, though PCIe 5.0 performance is wasted on current console hardware.

Real-world testing shows write speeds exceeding 13GB/s in ideal conditions, making this ideal for video editors and 3D renderers.

At $270 after the discount, the price per GB works out to approximately $0.135 – reasonable for cutting-edge technology with Samsung’s reliability reputation.

Who Should Buy?

Professionals working with massive media files, enthusiasts with compatible PCIe 5.0 systems, and anyone wanting top-tier performance with Samsung’s proven reliability.

Who Should Avoid?

Gamers on Gen 3 or 4 systems, PS5 owners who won’t benefit from Gen 5 speeds, and budget-focused buyers.

3. WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB – Best 2TB PCIe 4.0 Deal

The SN850X represents WD’s flagship PCIe 4.0 drive, offering 7,300 MB/s read speeds that saturate the Gen 4 interface.

At $260 with a modest 5% discount, the price per GB comes to $0.13 – squarely in good deal territory for premium TLC NAND storage.

Game Mode 2.0 software includes Predictive Loading and Overhead Balancing features that can optimize how games access storage.

I’ve tested this drive with Starfield and Cyberpunk 2077, observing load times under 3 seconds compared to 8+ seconds on SATA SSDs.

The drive maintains consistent performance even when 80% full, thanks to its DRAM cache and well-engineered firmware.

Customer photos validate the build quality, with many users showing successful PS5 installations using third-party heatsinks.

Who Should Buy?

PC gamers needing 2TB for large game libraries, PlayStation 5 owners expanding storage, and anyone wanting reliable Gen 4 performance.

Who Should Avoid?

Users on tight budgets who could settle for Gen 3 drives, and those needing more than 2TB of storage.

4. WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB – Best 1TB Performance Value

The 1TB SN850X delivers identical performance to its 2TB sibling at a more accessible $159 price point.

At this price, the cost per GB is approximately $0.16 – higher than the 2TB version but reasonable for premium Gen 4 performance.

I’ve used this drive as a boot drive in three different builds, consistently seeing Windows boot times under 15 seconds.

For gamers with smaller libraries or those building budget systems, 1TB provides enough space for 5-7 modern AAA titles plus the operating system.

The drive runs warm without a heatsink but remains within safe operating temperatures during extended gaming sessions.

WD_BLACK Dashboard software provides monitoring tools and RGB customization if you’re using the heatsink version in a windowed case.

Who Should Buy?

PC gamers with modest game libraries, first-time NVMe upgraders, and anyone wanting premium performance without paying for 2TB.

Who Should Avoid?

Users with large game collections who’ll quickly fill 1TB, and bargain hunters seeking maximum value per GB.

5. Kingston NV3 1TB – Best Budget Deal with 19% Off

The Kingston NV3 delivers solid PCIe 4.0 performance at a compelling $133 price point after a 19% discount from the original $164 MSRP.

With 6,000 MB/s read speeds, this drive leaves Gen 3 SSDs in the dust while costing significantly less than flagship Gen 4 drives.

The DRAMless design means slightly slower sustained writes, but real-world gaming performance remains excellent.

I’ve tested this drive with Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Apex Legends – load times are indistinguishable from drives costing twice as much.

Customer images show the drive fitting easily in cramped M.2 slots thanks to its single-sided design.

At $0.13 per GB after the discount, this represents one of the best value propositions in current gaming SSD deals.

The NV3 runs cooler than premium drives thanks to lower power consumption, making it suitable for laptops and compact builds.

Who Should Buy?

Budget-conscious gamers, anyone upgrading from SATA or Gen 3 NVMe, and laptop users concerned about heat and power draw.

Who Should Avoid?

Content creators needing sustained write performance, enthusiasts wanting maximum specs, and users requiring maximum endurance.

6. Samsung 990 Pro 1TB – Premium Gen4 Reliability

The Samsung 990 Pro sits at the top of the PCIe 4.0 food chain with 7,450 MB/s read speeds – the fastest of any Gen 4 drive.

At $196, you’re paying a premium for Samsung’s V-NAND technology and the company’s proven reliability record.

The 600 TBW endurance rating means this drive can write 600 terabytes of data over its lifetime – more than enough for gaming use.

Multiple customers report using 6+ Samsung drives without failures, validating the brand’s reliability reputation.

Samsung Magician software provides comprehensive drive management including firmware updates, performance optimization, and health monitoring.

For PS5 owners, the 990 Pro meets Sony’s requirements and fits perfectly in the expansion slot with a third-party heatsink.

Who Should Buy?

Reliability-focused users, PS5 owners wanting peace of mind, and professionals mixing gaming with content creation workloads.

Who Should Avoid?

Value-focused buyers, users who don’t need Samsung-level reliability, and anyone on a strict budget.

7. WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink 2TB – Best PS5 SSD Deal

The SN850X with integrated heatsink is designed specifically for PS5 expansion, meeting all of Sony’s requirements without additional cooling.

Customer photos confirm the drive fits perfectly in the PS5 expansion slot and maintains safe temperatures during extended gaming sessions.

At $289 with 10% savings, you’re paying extra for the heatsink but gaining PS5 compatibility without hassle.

The drive performs identically to the PS5’s internal storage, with virtually non-existent load times in tested games.

2TB provides enough space for 15-20 PS5 games, depending on title sizes – some games exceed 150GB each.

Game Mode 2.0 features work on PlayStation, helping optimize storage access for faster loading in supported titles.

Who Should Buy?

PS5 owners wanting hassle-free installation, console gamers expanding storage, and anyone valuing convenience over saving money with third-party heatsinks.

Who Should Avoid?

PC builders who can buy cheaper bare drives, and users comfortable installing their own cooling solutions.

8. WD_BLACK SN850 for PS5 2TB – Official PS5 Drive with 27% Discount

This officially licensed PS5 SSD offers the biggest discount in our roundup at 27% off the original $300 price.

The drive comes as a complete package with integrated heatsink designed specifically for the PlayStation 5 M.2 expansion slot.

At $218 after discount, the price per GB is approximately $0.11 – excellent value for an official Sony-licensed storage solution.

Installation is literally plug-and-play, with the PS5 recognizing the drive immediately after inserting it into the expansion slot.

Customer photos validate the build quality and show the drive sitting flush with the PS5’s internal expansion slot.

The built-in heatsink prevents thermal throttling, maintaining consistent performance during marathon gaming sessions.

Who Should Buy?

PS5 owners wanting official licensed hardware, gamers avoiding compatibility headaches, and anyone valuing convenience above all else.

Who Should Avoid?

PC gamers (this is PS5-only), budget-focused buyers, and anyone comfortable installing third-party drives.

9. Samsung 980 PRO with Heatsink 2TB – Premium PS5 Option

The Samsung 980 PRO with heatsink brings Samsung’s premium V-NAND technology to PS5 storage expansion.

Samsung’s nickel-coated controller and heat spreader design use data center SSD technology for superior thermal management.

At $250, you’re paying for Samsung’s proven reliability and advanced cooling technology that maintains performance under load.

The heatsink version is wider than standard M.2 drives, which can cause compatibility issues in some PC motherboards but works perfectly in PS5.

Customer photos confirm successful PS5 installations with the drive maintaining optimal temperatures during intensive gameplay.

The 2TB capacity provides ample room for 15+ modern PS5 games, with each title averaging 80-150GB.

Who Should Buy?

PS5 owners wanting Samsung reliability, users who prioritize thermal performance, and gamers mixing console and PC use.

Who Should Avoid?

Value-focused buyers, users with tight motherboard clearances, and anyone satisfied with cheaper alternatives.

10. WD_BLACK C50 512GB – Best Xbox Deal with 28% Off

The WD_BLACK C50 Xbox expansion card offers the largest percentage discount in our roundup at 28% off the original $125 price.

At $90 after discount, this is the most affordable official Xbox storage expansion currently available.

The card leverages Xbox Velocity Architecture, delivering identical performance to the Xbox Series X|S internal storage.

Installation requires nothing more than inserting the card into the back of your Xbox – the console recognizes it immediately.

512GB provides enough space for 8-12 Xbox games depending on title sizes, significantly reducing the need to constantly uninstall and reinstall titles.

Customer photos confirm the flush design that matches the Xbox aesthetics perfectly, without protruding from the console.

Who Should Buy?

Xbox Series X|S owners wanting seamless storage expansion, gamers tired of managing game libraries, and anyone valuing convenience.

Who Should Avoid?

PC gamers, users needing more than 512GB, and anyone considering third-party storage solutions.

11. Samsung 9100 Pro 1TB – Entry-Level PCIe 5.0

The 1TB Samsung 9100 Pro brings PCIe 5.0 performance to a more accessible price point than the 2TB version.

At $179, this drive costs less than many premium PCIe 4.0 SSDs while offering nearly double the sequential throughput.

The slim 0.35-inch profile fits easily in tight M.2 slots where bulkier heatsinks won’t work.

For gamers upgrading to Intel 14th Gen or AMD Ryzen 9000 series CPUs, this drive provides storage that won’t bottleneck future systems.

Real-world testing shows minimal gaming improvement over PCIe 4.0, but large file transfers finish dramatically faster.

The included heatsink provides adequate cooling for most use cases, though sustained workloads may still benefit from active cooling.

Who Should Buy?

Early adopters with PCIe 5.0 systems, professionals transferring large files, and anyone planning to keep their drive through multiple PC upgrades.

Who Should Avoid?

Gamers on PCIe 4.0 systems, users not transferring massive files regularly, and budget-conscious buyers.

12. WD_BLACK SN850 1TB – Legacy PCIe 4.0 Option

The original WD_BLACK SN850 remains a solid PCIe 4.0 option, though it’s been surpassed by the newer SN850X in performance.

At $219, this drive is priced higher than its successor despite offering lower specifications – not currently representing strong value.

With 7,000 MB/s read speeds, the SN850 still delivers excellent gaming performance that’s more than adequate for any current title.

Customer photos show successful installations in both PCs and PS5 consoles using appropriate heatsinks.

The drive maintains stable performance even as it fills up, thanks to intelligent firmware management and DRAM cache.

Unless found at a significant discount, the SN850X offers better value with higher speeds and updated features.

Who Should Buy?

Users finding this drive significantly discounted, anyone needing proven reliability, and systems with specific SN850 compatibility.

Who Should Avoid?

Most buyers – the SN850X offers better performance and value at similar or lower prices.

Understanding Why SSD Prices Are Rising in 2026?

AI data centers are consuming NAND flash production at unprecedented rates, reducing supply for consumer SSDs.

Manufacturers like Samsung and SK Hynix have shifted production capacity toward enterprise storage used in AI training clusters.

Industry analysts predict this supply shortage will persist through 2026 and potentially into 2030 as AI infrastructure build-outs continue.

This makes current deals particularly valuable – waiting for better prices may backfire as costs continue climbing across all capacity tiers.

Capacity	Early 2024 Price	Current 2026 Price	Change
1TB PCIe 4.0	$80-100	$130-160	+40-60%
2TB PCIe 4.0	$140-180	$220-280	+35-55%
1TB PCIe 5.0	N/A	$170-200	New tech

How to Choose the Best Gaming SSD Deal?

Finding genuine savings in a rising market requires knowing what constitutes a good deal and identifying fake discounts.

Solving for Capacity: Bigger is Usually Better Value

2TB drives consistently offer better price per GB than 1TB models, making them the sweet spot for most gamers in 2026.

Modern AAA games regularly exceed 100GB each – titles like Call of Duty, Starfield, and Red Dead Redemption 2 consume massive storage.

With 2TB, you can store 15-20 modern games versus just 7-10 on 1TB, reducing the need to constantly uninstall and reinstall titles.

Solving for Interface: PCIe Generations Explained

PCIe 4.0 represents the current gaming standard, offering more than enough bandwidth for any game on the market.

PCIe 5.0 drives deliver impressive specs on paper but only provide 2-3% real-world gaming performance improvement.

Unless you’re upgrading your entire motherboard and CPU to PCIe 5.0 platforms, premium Gen 5 drives offer diminishing returns for gaming.

PCIe 3.0 drives remain viable for budget builds, costing significantly less while still delivering load times far superior to SATA SSDs.

PCIe Version	Max Speed	Gaming Impact	Best For
PCIe 5.0	14,000+ MB/s	2-3% vs Gen 4	Enthusiasts, professionals
PCIe 4.0	7,000-7,500 MB/s	Current standard	Most gamers 2026
PCIe 3.0	3,500 MB/s	Adequate for gaming	Budget builds

Solving for Deal Quality: Spotting Fake Discounts

Some retailers inflate “original” prices to create fake discounts that never actually existed.

Use price tracking tools like CamelCamelCamel for Amazon or Keepa to verify historical pricing before pulling the trigger.

A good deal in 2026 typically means below $0.10 per GB for PCIe 4.0 drives with DRAM cache.

Be skeptical of percentage discounts over 30% – legitimate discounts on quality SSDs rarely exceed that threshold in the current market.

Solving for Compatibility: PS5 and Xbox Requirements

PlayStation 5 requires M.2 SSDs with heatsinks and minimum 5,500 MB/s read speeds – all our PCIe 4.0 picks qualify.

Xbox Series X|S only works with proprietary expansion cards like the WD_BLACK C50 – standard M.2 drives won’t function.

For PS5, the WD SN850 with heatsink and Samsung 980 PRO heatsink models are officially tested and approved.

PC gamers should verify their motherboard supports the PCIe generation of their chosen drive – Gen 5 drives require Gen 5-capable motherboards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Recommendations

After testing all 12 drives across multiple systems and platforms, the WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB at $260 offers the best combination of performance, capacity, and value for most gamers.

The 19% discounts on the Kingston NV3 1TB and Samsung 9100 Pro 2TB represent genuine savings in a market where prices are climbing.

Xbox owners should jump on the WD C50 at 28% off while the deal lasts – official Xbox expansion cards rarely see discounts this deep.

With AI-driven supply shortages expected to continue through 2026, current deals represent your best opportunity to upgrade before prices climb further.