WD Black SN850X Prices — May 2026
TLC NAND • 600 TBW • 5yr warranty
TLC NAND • 1,200 TBW • 5yr warranty
TLC NAND • 2,400 TBW • 5yr warranty
There's also a heatsink version of each capacity, running $10–20 more. If you're installing in a PS5 or a case without M.2 thermal coverage, that's worth it. For standard PC builds with a motherboard heatsink, the plain version is fine.
Full Specs
| Spec | SN850X 1TB | SN850X 2TB | SN850X 4TB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 / NVMe 1.4 | ||
| Sequential Read | 7,300 MB/s | ||
| Sequential Write | 6,300 MB/s | ||
| Random Read (4K) | 1,000K IOPS | ||
| Random Write (4K) | 1,000K IOPS | ||
| NAND Type | Kioxia BiCS5 TLC | ||
| DRAM Cache | Yes | ||
| Endurance (TBW) | 600 | 1,200 | 2,400 |
| Warranty | 5 years | ||
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 | ||
| Controller | WD in-house | ||
| PS5 Compatible | Yes — heatsink version available | ||
| Current Price | $109.99 | $155.99 | $349.99 |
| Price per TB | $109.99 | $78.00 | $87.50 |
Performance
7,300 MB/s sequential reads puts the SN850X right at the top of Gen 4. In practice, the 150 MB/s gap between it and the Samsung 990 Pro (7,450 MB/s) is around 2% — not something you'll feel in any real workload.
Random I/O is where the 990 Pro has a clearer lead: 1,400K vs 1,000K IOPS. For database workloads or NAS setups that hammer random small reads, that gap matters. For gaming and general desktop use, it doesn't.
Sustained writes are solid — the SN850X uses TLC NAND throughout, so you don't get the cliff-drop behavior that QLC drives show once their SLC cache fills. Large sequential writes stay consistent. For video editing workflows, this is relevant; for gaming installs, it isn't.
SN850X vs Samsung 990 Pro
This comparison gets asked constantly. The short version: they're close enough that price should decide it.
The 990 Pro is faster in sequential reads (7,450 vs 7,300 MB/s) and random reads (1,400K vs 1,000K IOPS). The SN850X has better sequential write specs on paper (6,300 MB/s vs 6,900 MB/s for 990 Pro — actually the 990 Pro wins writes too). In third-party testing, the sustained write gap is real but only shows up under sustained professional workloads.
Price-wise: Samsung 990 Pro 2TB is $139.99, SN850X 2TB is $155.99. That $16 difference makes the 990 Pro the rational pick at current prices. If the SN850X drops to match or goes on sale, it's an easy recommendation.
| Spec | WD Black SN850X 2TB | Samsung 990 Pro 2TB |
|---|---|---|
| Sequential Read | 7,300 MB/s | 7,450 MB/s |
| Sequential Write | 6,300 MB/s | 6,900 MB/s |
| Random Read IOPS | 1,000K | 1,400K |
| NAND | Kioxia BiCS5 TLC | Samsung V-NAND TLC |
| TBW | 1,200 | 1,200 |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
| Current Price | $155.99 | $139.99 |
| Price per TB | $78.00 | $70.00 |
Where the SN850X actually wins: the 1TB price. At $109.99, it's $20 cheaper than the Samsung 990 Pro 1TB ($129.99). If you specifically need 1TB, this is the one to buy.
WD Black SN850X for PS5
WD has leaned hard into the PS5 market with the SN850X, and it shows. They sell a version with a slim heatsink designed to fit within PS5's bay clearance. The standard drive works fine too with any compatible heatsink, but the WD heatsink version removes the guesswork on fitment.
Performance in PS5 is identical to any other 7,300 MB/s Gen 4 drive — the console's interface caps at around that level anyway. The main advantage over cheaper options is the TLC NAND: it handles the PS5's wear patterns better long-term than QLC alternatives, and the 5-year warranty covers the typical console lifecycle.
For PS5 specifically, 2TB is the minimum worth buying. The console's 825GB internal fills up fast. At $155.99, the SN850X 2TB is $16 more than the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB for PS5 use. Both work equally well in the console.
Who Should Buy the WD Black SN850X
Buy the SN850X 1TB if: You need 1TB specifically and want TLC quality. At $109.99 it's $20 cheaper than the Samsung 990 Pro 1TB ($129.99) and has nearly identical specs. This is actually the best reason to choose SN850X over Samsung right now.
Buy the SN850X 2TB if: You prefer WD as a brand, it's on sale, or you want the PS5 heatsink bundle specifically. At $155.99 vs the 990 Pro 2TB at $139.99, you're paying a $16 premium for the same tier of performance.
Buy the SN850X 4TB if: You need 4TB of TLC NVMe and want a reliable drive with a 5-year warranty. At $349.99 it's cheaper than the Samsung 990 Pro 4TB ($369.99) and competes well.
Skip it if: You're price-sensitive on 2TB. The Samsung 990 Pro 2TB at $139.99 delivers nearly identical performance for $16 less. Hard to argue with that math.
Methodology
Prices verified on Amazon US, May 4, 2026. Prices fluctuate — check Amazon for current pricing before buying. Product links are affiliate links; we earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Reviews are independent and not influenced by affiliate rates or manufacturer relationships.