Samsung 990 Pro Prices — May 2026
Current Amazon US prices, checked May 4, 2026:
TLC NAND • 600 TBW • 5yr warranty
TLC NAND • 1,200 TBW • 5yr warranty
TLC NAND • 2,400 TBW • 5yr warranty
The 2TB price gap over the 1TB ($10) has existed since late 2024 and shows no sign of closing. If you're debating between the two, the math is obvious: $10 for double the storage.
Full Specs
| Spec | 990 Pro 1TB | 990 Pro 2TB | 990 Pro 4TB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 / NVMe 2.0 | ||
| Sequential Read | 7,450 MB/s | ||
| Sequential Write | 6,900 MB/s | ||
| Random Read (4K) | 1,400K IOPS | ||
| Random Write (4K) | 1,550K IOPS | ||
| NAND Type | Samsung V-NAND TLC (in-house) | ||
| DRAM Cache | Yes (LPDDR4) | ||
| Endurance (TBW) | 600 | 1,200 | 2,400 |
| Warranty | 5 years | ||
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 | ||
| Controller | Samsung Elpis (in-house) | ||
| PS5 Compatible | Yes (Gen 4, 7,450 MB/s > 5,500 MB/s minimum) | ||
| Power (active) | 6.5W | 6.9W | 7.1W |
| Current Price | $129.99 | $139.99 | $369.99 |
| Price per TB | $129.99 | $70.00 | $92.50 |
Real-World Performance
The 990 Pro's 7,450 MB/s sequential reads are at the top of the Gen 4 stack. In practice, the difference between 7,450 and 7,300 (SN850X) is about 2% — you won't feel it. What you will notice is random I/O, which the 990 Pro handles well: 1,400K read IOPS is among the highest in Gen 4.
For gaming specifically, drive speed above ~3,500 MB/s has no measurable impact on frame times or load screens in any current title. DirectStorage is implemented in a handful of games and the real-world benefit has been modest so far. Both the 990 Pro and a $70 Kingston NV3 will feel the same in 95% of games.
Where the 990 Pro actually earns its price:
- Sustained writes over large files. TLC NAND means the SLC cache refills faster after heavy writes. Copying 100GB of video footage, for instance, stays at ~3,500 MB/s instead of dropping to ~800 MB/s like some QLC drives do once the cache fills.
- Long-term endurance. 600 TBW on the 1TB, 1,200 on the 2TB. For a daily driver over 5+ years, this headroom matters.
- Thermal behavior. The 990 Pro runs cool for Gen 4 — it throttles later and less aggressively than some competitors under sustained load.
Samsung 990 Pro vs WD Black SN850X
These two come up together constantly, and the answer is less dramatic than the marketing suggests.
The 990 Pro reads slightly faster (7,450 vs 7,300 MB/s) and has higher rated random IOPS. The SN850X has better sustained write consistency in some workloads per third-party testing. Both use TLC NAND, both have 5-year warranties, both are fully PS5 compatible.
Price comparison right now: 990 Pro 2TB is $139.99, SN850X 2TB is $155.99. That $16 difference is the main reason to pick the 990 Pro. If they're the same price when you check, go with whatever has the better review score on your retailer of choice — they're genuinely close.
| Spec | Samsung 990 Pro 2TB | WD Black SN850X 2TB |
|---|---|---|
| Sequential Read | 7,450 MB/s | 7,300 MB/s |
| Sequential Write | 6,900 MB/s | 6,300 MB/s |
| Random Read | 1,400K IOPS | 1,000K IOPS |
| NAND | Samsung V-NAND TLC | Kioxia BiCS5 TLC |
| TBW | 1,200 | 1,200 |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
| Current Price | $139.99 | $155.99 |
| Price per TB | $70.00 | $78.00 |
Samsung 990 Pro for PS5
It works well. 7,450 MB/s is well above PS5's 5,500 MB/s requirement, and Samsung sells a version with a heatsink included specifically marketed for PS5 installations. You can also use the standard version with any compatible heatsink — the heatsink-included version typically costs $10–15 more.
For PS5 storage specifically: 2TB minimum. The console's built-in 825GB disappears fast with modern titles. You'll be rotating games constantly on 1TB. The 990 Pro 2TB at $139.99 is one of the better PS5 drive options at that price point.
Who Should Buy the Samsung 990 Pro
Buy the 990 Pro 2TB if: You want a reliable TLC Gen 4 drive without paying SN850X prices. The $70/TB puts it in a sensible spot — meaningfully better than QLC budget options, not as expensive as the premium tier.
Buy the 990 Pro 1TB only if: You specifically need 1TB for a second drive slot or a dedicated project drive. The $130 price is fine for what it is, but the 2TB at $10 more is a better use of money almost every time.
Skip the 990 Pro if: You're budget-constrained and the Kingston NV3 2TB at $119.99 does the job. For pure gaming, QLC is fine. The 990 Pro's advantages (TLC endurance, better sustained writes) don't matter for loading Warzone.
Consider the 4TB if: You're doing video editing or have a heavy write workload. 2,400 TBW and consistent sustained performance make it the right call for professional use. For gaming, 2TB is enough.
How We Track Prices
Prices are pulled from Amazon US listings monthly. The figures above were checked May 4, 2026. Amazon prices fluctuate — always verify before buying. Product links are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Rankings are based on price-per-terabyte and are not influenced by affiliate rates.