The Best Internal SSDs in 2026

Tom’s Hardware’s^[1] best overall and best M.2 SSD: the fastest PCIe 4.0 drive it has tested, consistent, efficient and cool-running, with Samsung’s software and support plus heatsink and RGB options. Reads and writes reach 7,450 and 6,900 MBps, with a five-year warranty and up to 2,400 TBW. Pricing is high.

Tom’s Hardware’s^[1] best M.2 alternative and best PS5 SSD. It offers top-tier performance, a large, consistent SLC cache, a strong warranty and an optional heatsink. PCMag^[2] notes it comes in up to 8TB and exceeded its rated speeds, though it lacks 256-bit AES hardware encryption.

Tom’s Hardware’s^[1] fastest SSD: the fastest drive it has ever reviewed, with 14,900 / 14,700 MB/s sequential speeds, excellent sustained performance and exceptional power efficiency. You’ll need a PCIe 5.0 slot. There’s no 8TB model.

PCMag’s^[2] best PCIe 5.0 M.2 drive (Editors’ Choice) and Tom’s Hardware’s^[1] fastest alternative. PCMag calls it the new champ of internal SSD speeds, generating surprisingly little heat. It comes in up to 8TB and includes Acronis True Image. It needs a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot for full speed. $548.43 at PCMag’s listed price.

Tom’s Hardware’s^[1] best budget PCIe 5.0 high-end SSD, offering maximum PCIe 5.0 performance at 14,000 / 13,000 MB/s with a five-year warranty. Tom’s says it has no stand-out features.

Tom’s Hardware’s^[1] best laptop M.2 SSD, with top-notch power efficiency and excellent random read performance. All-around performance is average. Reads reach 7,250 MB/s.

Tom’s Hardware’s^[1] alternative laptop pick: good sustained performance, very power-efficient, reasonable pricing and a single-sided 4TB option. It has no DRAM. Capacities run up to 8TB.

PCMag’s^[2] best SATA 2.5-inch drive for mainstream upgrades (Editors’ Choice), with record-setting 4K results for SATA drives, a strong write-durability rating and Samsung Magician software. SATA has a lower ceiling than PCIe for large file transfers. $89.75.