“`html
Deciding whether to buy an SSD or HDD can feel overwhelming, especially with so many options on the market. The truth is, both storage types have their strengths—SSDs offer blazing speed and durability, while HDDs provide massive capacity at a lower cost. But which one is right for you? In this guide, we break down the top SSDs worth considering in 2024, helping you make a smart, informed choice based on your needs, budget, and use case.
Quick Product Comparison
Our Top 7 Should I Buy A Ssd Or A Hdd Reviews – Expert Tested & Recommended
1. SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD – Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resi…
The SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD is a powerhouse built for speed, durability, and portability. Whether you’re a photographer, videographer, or just someone who needs fast file transfers on the go, this SSD delivers NVMe-level performance in a compact, rugged design.
Key Features That Stand Out
✓ Up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds
✓ IP65-rated water and dust resistance
✓ Drop protection up to 3 meters
✓ USB-C with USB 3.2 Gen 2 compatibility
✓ Includes a carabiner loop for easy attachment
Why We Recommend It
This SSD strikes the perfect balance between performance and toughness. It’s not just fast—it’s built to survive real-world conditions, making it ideal for travelers, content creators, and professionals who can’t afford downtime.
Best For
Photographers, videographers, and mobile professionals who need high-speed, durable external storage.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Blazing-fast transfer speeds
- Rugged, travel-ready design
- Large 2TB capacity
- USB-C ensures wide compatibility
Cons:
- Higher price per GB compared to internal SSDs
- No hardware encryption
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “I picked up the SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD as an upgrade from my older external hard drives, and it’s easily one of the best storage devices I’ve used. The speed difference alone makes it worth it—transfers that used to take minutes on my traditional hard drives now finish in seconds. Large fi”
Customer Review: “Well made and easy to use portable SSD. Nice bright blue color helps quick identification in a dark pack. Reasonable fast read and right speeds for a USB 3.2 product. Bought this SSD to transfer my photos to from my camera when I am traveling. Light weight and small SSD make a great traveling st”
2. HP EX900 Plus 1TB SSD Hard Drive
The HP EX900 Plus 1TB SSD offers excellent performance at a competitive price, making it a favorite among gamers and PC builders. With NVMe support and reliable speeds, it’s a solid upgrade from older SATA drives or HDDs.
Key Features That Stand Out
✓ NVMe PCIe Gen3 x4 interface
✓ Sequential read speeds up to 3500MB/s
✓ Compact M.2 2280 form factor
✓ Low power consumption
✓ Ideal for gaming and multitasking
Why We Recommend It
This SSD delivers near-top-tier performance without the premium price tag. It’s perfect for anyone building or upgrading a PC who wants speed and reliability from a trusted brand.
Best For
Gaming PCs, workstations, and users upgrading from SATA SSDs or HDDs.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Fast NVMe performance
- Great value for money
- Compact and easy to install
- Reliable for daily use
Cons:
- No included heatsink (recommended for sustained loads)
- Write speeds drop under heavy workloads
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “I have 1 of these as the boot drive for my server and the 2nd as the main drive on my HP Victus gaming laptop. They’re a solid value on price, and I have not had any reliability issues.I recommend adding a basic heatsink to ensure longevity. Even the most basic slim piece of copper will do the tri”
Customer Review: “I have 1 of these as the boot drive for my server and the 2nd as the main drive on my HP Victus gaming laptop. They’re a solid value on price, and I have not had any reliability issues.I recommend adding a basic heatsink to ensure longevity. Even the most basic slim piece of copper will do the tri”
3. Crucial BX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5-Inch Internal SSD
The Crucial BX500 is a no-frills, high-value SATA SSD that breathes new life into aging laptops and desktops. With 3D NAND technology and solid reliability, it’s one of the best budget upgrades you can make.
Key Features That Stand Out
✓ Up to 540MB/s read speeds
✓ 3D NAND TLC flash memory
✓ 2.5-inch form factor fits most systems
✓ Energy efficient—45x more than HDDs
✓ 3-year limited warranty
Why We Recommend It
If you’re looking to replace an old HDD without breaking the bank, the BX500 delivers noticeable speed improvements in boot times, app loading, and file transfers—all at a very fair price.
Best For
Budget-conscious users upgrading from HDDs or older SSDs in laptops and desktops.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Affordable price per GB
- Easy drop-in replacement for HDDs
- Reliable performance for everyday tasks
- Improves system responsiveness significantly
Cons:
- No DRAM cache (affects sustained writes)
- Slower than NVMe drives
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “Review of BX300 480GB drive. Let me be frank. This is a budget drive that likely uses decent, reliable but not top of the line NAND. Things pricier drives will give you:- DRAM cache: ❌- Heat-sink metal casing good for sustained write performance: ❌- Bragging rights on read and write speed: ❌On the o”
Customer Review: “I recently purchased the Crucial BX500 4TB SSD and wanted to share my experience so far. Here’s a breakdown of its performance and features:PerformanceAlthough I’m not sure how to measure the exact read/write speeds, the drive has performed excellently in terms of loading times and file transfers fo”
4. Western Digital 1TB WD Blue SA510 SATA Internal SSD
The WD Blue SA510 is a reliable, mid-range SATA SSD from a trusted brand. It offers consistent performance and is a great choice for everyday computing, light gaming, and general productivity.
Key Features That Stand Out
✓ SATA III 6Gb/s interface
✓ Up to 560MB/s read speeds
✓ 2.5-inch form factor
✓ Low power consumption
✓ Compatible with most laptops and desktops
Why We Recommend It
Western Digital is known for reliability, and the SA510 lives up to that reputation. It’s a safe, solid choice for anyone wanting a hassle-free SSD upgrade with decent speed and brand backing.
Best For
General users, students, and professionals needing a dependable internal SSD for daily tasks.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Trusted brand with good support
- Stable performance
- Easy installation
- Good for OS and app storage
Cons:
- Not the fastest SATA SSD available
- No hardware encryption
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “OK, besides the initial glitches with Windows, once I updated the SSD Firmware with WD/Sandisk Dashboard the drive worked perfectly!That said, my initial issues drove me nuts trying to update the firmware in Windows!!!I blame Microsoft more than WD for this instance.I would still buy WD drives over “
Customer Review: “I recently replaced the original hard disk drive (HDD) in my Xbox One X with the Western Digital 1TB WD Blue SA510 SATA SSD, and the results have been nothing short of phenomenal. This upgrade has completely transformed my console, making it feel faster and more responsive in every aspect.The most n”
5. Fanxiang S101 128GB SATA III 2.5-Inch Internal SSD
The Fanxiang S101 is a compact, affordable SSD ideal for older systems or as a boot drive. While capacity is limited, it’s a great way to revive an aging laptop or PC on a tight budget.
Key Features That Stand Out
✓ 550MB/s read/write speeds
✓ 3D NAND TLC chips for longevity
✓ 2.5-inch SATA III interface
✓ Lightweight and energy efficient
✓ Boot-up 50% faster than HDDs
Why We Recommend It
For the price, this SSD offers impressive speed and reliability. It’s perfect as a primary drive in a budget build or to speed up an old machine without spending much.
Best For
Older laptops, budget PCs, or as a secondary boot drive.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Fast for a budget SSD
- Improves system responsiveness
- TLC NAND offers better endurance
Cons:
- Only 128GB—limited storage
- Unknown brand (less support)
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “My PC is formatting this drive at a block rate of around 300mbps which is pretty standard. Formatting at this rate will take a little over an hour and I will monitor the drive’s temperature and test transfer rate. I’m going to go ahead and install an OS on the drive because I think it will perform b”
Customer Review: “Even though it’s a random brand, it is so reliable, anyone questioning the bad reviews, it was most likely user error that caused them to put it as one star!”
6. Crucial BX500 SATA SSD 2TB
The 2TB version of the Crucial BX500 gives you double the storage without sacrificing reliability. It’s perfect for users who need more space for games, media, or work files but still want the affordability of SATA.
Key Features That Stand Out
✓ 2TB capacity at a budget price
✓ SATA III 6Gb/s interface
✓ Up to 540MB/s read speeds
✓ 3D NAND technology
✓ 3-year warranty
Why We Recommend It
This SSD offers exceptional value for high-capacity storage. It’s ideal for replacing an old HDD in a desktop or laptop where space and cost matter more than peak speed.
Best For
Users needing large storage on a budget—great for media, backups, or gaming libraries.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Huge 2TB capacity
- Low cost per GB
- Reliable brand
- Easy upgrade path
Cons:
- Slower than NVMe drives
- No DRAM cache
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “I have a Dell Inspiron 3521 that is 8 years old. Although I perform most tasks on my phone, I like to keep a laptop computer around to perform certain tasks that require a lot of typing and for printing documents. It got to where it was running extremely slow and often freezing. I decided to upgrade”
Customer Review: “It’s good enough I bought two! I haven’t broken down and done any hardcore performance tests but they seem solid so far.”
7. Kingston 480GB A400 SATA 3 2.5″ Internal SSD
The Kingston A400 is a reliable, no-nonsense SSD that delivers solid performance for everyday computing. It’s a popular choice for upgrading older systems and offers great compatibility.
Key Features That Stand Out
✓ Up to 500MB/s read speeds
✓ 7mm form factor fits slim laptops
✓ Lower power consumption than HDDs
✓ Resistant to shock and vibration
✓ Available in multiple capacities
Why We Recommend It
Kingston is a trusted name in storage, and the A400 offers dependable speed and durability at a fair price. It’s a safe bet for anyone looking to upgrade without complications.
Best For
Upgrading old laptops or desktops, especially in educational or office environments.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Fast boot and load times
- Lightweight and compact
- Good compatibility
- Affordable upgrade
Cons:
- Not the fastest SATA SSD
- Limited write endurance compared to premium drives
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “I’m rebuilding a Dell E6440 and the DVD drive was wearing out. So, I opted for an additional drive, instead. This SSD fits inside of a caddy sold on Amazon. The hardware installation was straightforward. But I’m not a professional so I waited until my Wife got home. She’s a Computer Science Grad. Fo”
Customer Review: “A laptop I was losing my patience with went from being ‘some old something I’ll use in a pinch’ to ‘I can’t stop carrying this around the house with me’ with one upgrade.I’d find some chores to do if I needed to reboot…it took some 3-4 minutes. Now it reboots in less than 30 seconds.Have to insta”
Complete Buying Guide for Should I Buy A Ssd Or A Hdd
Essential Factors We Consider
When deciding whether to buy an SSD or HDD, consider your primary use case. Speed is the biggest advantage of SSDs—they boot faster, load apps quicker, and transfer files in seconds. Durability matters too: SSDs have no moving parts, so they’re more resistant to drops and shocks. Capacity is where HDDs still shine, offering terabytes of space for less money. Finally, price per GB is critical—SSDs cost more but deliver better performance.
Budget Planning
Set a realistic budget based on your needs. For under $50, you can get a 480GB SATA SSD like the Kingston A400—perfect for basic upgrades. Mid-range options ($60–$100) like the Crucial BX500 or WD Blue offer 1TB of reliable storage. If you need speed and portability, expect to spend $120+ for NVMe or portable SSDs like the SanDisk Extreme.
Final Thoughts
In most cases, SSD is the better choice in 2024—even budget models outperform HDDs in everyday use. Unless you need massive storage for backups or media archives, an SSD will make your system feel faster and more responsive. Pair a smaller SSD for your OS with a larger HDD for files if you need both speed and space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should I buy an SSD or HDD for gaming?
A: Go with an SSD. Games load faster, levels render quicker, and overall system responsiveness improves dramatically. Even a SATA SSD makes a noticeable difference over an HDD.
Q: Can I replace my laptop’s HDD with an SSD?
A: Yes! Most laptops support 2.5-inch SATA SSDs. Just check your drive size (usually 7mm or 9.5mm) and clone your existing drive or do a fresh OS install.
Q: Are portable SSDs worth it?
A: Absolutely—if you travel or work with large files. They’re faster, lighter, and more durable than external HDDs. The SanDisk Extreme is a top pick for professionals.
Q: Do I need NVMe or is SATA enough?
A: For most users, SATA is sufficient. NVMe is faster but overkill unless you’re editing 4K video, running VMs, or need maximum performance.
Q: How long do SSDs last?
A: Modern SSDs last many years under normal use. Most include wear-leveling and TBW (terabytes written) ratings. A typical 1TB SSD can handle 400+ TB of writes—enough for 5+ years of heavy use.
Still wondering, “Should I buy an SSD or HDD?” The answer is clear: choose an SSD for speed, reliability, and a better user experience. Whether you’re upgrading an old laptop or building a new PC, one of the drives on this list will fit your needs and budget. Click any “Check Price” button above to find the best deal today!
“`