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Deciding whether to buy an SSD or SSHD can be confusing, especially when you’re looking for the right balance of speed, storage, and budget. Solid State Drives (SSDs) deliver blazing-fast performance and reliability with no moving parts, making them ideal for quick boot times and fast file access. On the other hand, Solid State Hybrid Drives (SSHDs) combine a traditional hard drive with a small flash cache to offer larger storage at a lower cost, though not quite as fast as a full SSD. In this guide, we break down the top 5 options across both categories—helping you decide which drive fits your needs best.
Quick Product Comparison
Our Top 5 Should I Buy A Ssd Or Sshd 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…
This rugged portable SSD delivers near-NVMe speeds in a compact, durable design perfect for travelers, photographers, and content creators. With up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds, it’s significantly faster than most external hard drives and even some internal SSDs.
Key Features That Stand Out
- ✓ USB 3.2 Gen 2 with USB-C for ultra-fast transfers
- ✓ IP65 rating for water and dust resistance
- ✓ Drop protection up to 3 meters
- ✓ Carabiner loop for easy attachment to bags
- ✓ Password protection with 256-bit AES encryption
Why We Recommend It
If you need high-speed, high-capacity portable storage that can survive real-world conditions, this SanDisk Extreme SSD is hard to beat. It’s reliable, fast, and built like a tank—ideal for professionals who can’t afford downtime.
Best For
Photographers, videographers, and remote workers who need fast, secure, and durable external storage on the go.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Blazing-fast read/write speeds
- Rugged, travel-ready build
- Large 2TB capacity in a small form factor
- Hardware encryption for data security
Cons:
- Pricier per gigabyte than HDDs or SSHDs
- Requires USB-C port for full speed (adapter may be needed)
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. Samsung 870 EVO SATA III SSD 1TB 2.5” Internal Solid State Drive, Upgrade PC or Laptop Memory and…
The Samsung 870 EVO is a top-tier SATA SSD that pushes the limits of what’s possible with the aging SATA interface. With speeds up to 560MB/s read and 530MB/s write, it offers consistent performance and legendary reliability.
Key Features That Stand Out
- ✓ Maxes out SATA III bandwidth at 560/530 MB/s
- ✓ Up to 600 TBW (Terabytes Written) endurance
- ✓ 5-year limited warranty
- ✓ Advanced error correction and V-NAND technology
- ✓ Compatible with laptops and desktops via 2.5″ bay
Why We Recommend It
Samsung has a long history of building reliable SSDs, and the 870 EVO is no exception. It’s perfect for upgrading older systems or building a stable, high-performance workstation without breaking the bank.
Best For
Users upgrading from HDDs or older SSDs who want maximum compatibility and long-term reliability in a SATA drive.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Exceptional build quality and brand trust
- High endurance rating (600 TBW)
- Consistent performance under heavy workloads
- Wide compatibility with older systems
Cons:
- Slower than NVMe drives (but still very fast for SATA)
- More expensive than budget SSDs like the Crucial BX500
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “I got this Samsung 500gb 2.5” SATA SSD to upgrade from the 512gb HDD in an old HP Pavilion laptop (model HP 15-f233wm). It’s a perfect fit and works great. It’s made the old device MUCH faster and improved the overall performance immensely.I consider myself a functioning illiterate when it comes to “
Customer Review: “its a shame sata III will likely be disappearing in the next 5 to 7 years, the formfactor is so much nicer then nvme and it is still more then fast enough for like 99 percent of people, there are sata III drives available with real ecc error correction and super durable enterprise grade drives, tryi”
3. Crucial BX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5-Inch Internal SSD, up to 540MB/s – CT1000BX500SSD1, Solid Stat…
The Crucial BX500 offers excellent value for money, delivering solid SSD performance at a budget-friendly price. With read speeds up to 540MB/s, it’s a great entry point for anyone upgrading from an HDD.
Key Features That Stand Out
- ✓ 3D NAND technology for improved efficiency
- ✓ Energy efficient—45x more than typical HDDs
- ✓ Improves system responsiveness by up to 300%
- ✓ Easy installation with standard 2.5″ form factor
- ✓ Available in capacities from 240GB to 2TB
Why We Recommend It
If you’re on a tight budget but still want the speed and reliability benefits of an SSD, the BX500 is a smart choice. It’s not the fastest SSD out there, but it’s a huge leap forward from any hard drive.
Best For
Students, home users, and anyone doing a first-time SSD upgrade without overspending.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Very affordable price per GB
- Low power consumption extends laptop battery life
- Simple drop-in replacement for 2.5″ HDDs
- Reliable performance for everyday tasks
Cons:
- No DRAM cache (can slow under sustained loads)
- Lower endurance compared to premium SSDs
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “Upgraded my old laptop with this Crucial BX500 and the difference is night and day. Boots in under 10 seconds now, and apps load instantly. For the price, you really can’t beat it.”
Customer Review: “I bought two of these for my home office PCs. Installation was plug-and-play, and both systems feel brand new again. Great budget SSD!”
4. Seagate 1TB Gaming SSHD SATA 8GB NAND SATA 6Gb/s 2.5-Inch Internal Bare Drive…
This hybrid drive blends a 1TB HDD with an 8GB flash cache to accelerate frequently used files. It’s designed for gamers and users who need large storage without sacrificing too much speed.
Key Features That Stand Out
- ✓ 8GB NAND flash cache for faster access to common files
- ✓ Adaptive Memory technology learns usage patterns
- ✓ 5400 RPM spindle speed (slower than 7200 RPM HDDs)
- ✓ 2.5″ form factor fits most laptops
- ✓ Lower cost per GB than full SSDs
Why We Recommend It
While not as fast as a true SSD, this SSHD offers a noticeable improvement over standard HDDs—especially for boot times and game loading—while keeping costs down.
Best For
Budget-conscious gamers or users needing large storage who want a moderate speed boost over traditional hard drives.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- More affordable than SSDs of similar capacity
- Faster boot and load times than standard HDDs
- Self-learning cache improves over time
Cons:
- Still uses mechanical parts (less reliable than SSD)
- Cache is small—only helps with repeated tasks
- Slower than even budget SSDs
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “I’m writing this not only to give positive reviews for these two products, but to consolidate the hours of research and trial/error I did during install:OEM: HD – Fujitsu 320 GB HDD – mhz2320bh g2 ATA, 5400rpmRAM – 4.00GB (3.75 useable); 2x 2GB, 800MHZ, 200-PIN, PC2-6400, Sdram (Sodimm); DDR2 800, C”
Customer Review: “UPDATE: 3/20/14 I am revising my previous negative review (below). I have finally learned what was going on. Nothing was wrong with the Seagate SSHD. The problem was with my MacBook Pro.After giving up on the Seagate drive, I ordered a Western Digital 1 TB drive, assuming that it would work in my”
5. Seagate FireCuda Gaming SSHD 2.5 1TB SATA 6Gb/s Flash Accelerated Fast Hard Drive…
The FireCuda is Seagate’s flagship SSHD, built specifically for gaming and performance-focused users. It uses flash acceleration to reduce load times and improve system responsiveness.
Key Features That Stand Out
- ✓ Up to 5x faster load times than standard HDDs
- ✓ 8GB NAND flash cache with adaptive algorithms
- ✓ 7mm z-height fits ultrabooks and slim devices
- ✓ Available in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities
- ✓ Optimized for gaming and multitasking
Why We Recommend It
For users who want more storage than an SSD can affordably provide but still need better performance than a regular HDD, the FireCuda strikes a solid middle ground.
Best For
Gamers and multimedia users with limited drive bays who need both capacity and improved speed.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Noticeably faster than standard HDDs
- Large capacity options (up to 2TB)
- Slim profile fits most laptops
Cons:
- Still has moving parts—less durable than SSDs
- Performance depends on usage patterns (cache effectiveness varies)
- Outpaced by modern budget SSDs in real-world speed
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “I just installed this SSHDD in my ACER laptop. Boot times went from 4-5 minutes to less than 45 seconds. Now that is fast. Seek times are much faster than my laptop’s original 500GB HDD also. I did have to purchase a Sabrient external drive housing ($10)
Customer Review: “This is a great hybrid drive particularly for labtops, consoles, or devices with limited space (i.e. 1 slot). It has small cache to work with (8gb nand). 8gb is adequate to run 90% of operation. It has an algorithm to determine file usage and sends frequently accessed ones to the 8 gb cache (that'”
Complete Buying Guide for Should I Buy A Ssd Or Sshd
Essential Factors We Consider
When choosing between an SSD and SSHD, we evaluate speed, durability, capacity, price, and use case. SSDs win in speed and reliability—ideal for OS drives, gaming, and professional work. SSHDs offer more storage per dollar and are better suited for users who need bulk storage with modest performance gains. Always consider your device’s interface (SATA vs. NVMe), physical space, and whether you prioritize speed or capacity.
Budget Planning
SSDs typically cost more per gigabyte than SSHDs or HDDs. A 1TB SSD might cost $60–$100, while a 1TB SSHD can be found under $50. If you’re upgrading an older system or building a budget PC, an SSHD can be a smart compromise. However, if performance is key—even on a budget—a smaller SSD (like the Crucial BX500) paired with an external HDD for storage often delivers better long-term value.
Final Thoughts
For most users today, we recommend going with an SSD—even a budget model—over an SSHD. The performance difference is dramatic, and prices have dropped significantly. Reserve SSHDs for niche cases where you need large internal storage in a single drive and can’t afford a full SSD upgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is an SSHD faster than an HDD?
A: Yes, but only for frequently accessed files. The flash cache speeds up boot times and repeated tasks, but it won’t match the consistent performance of an SSD.
Q: Can I install both an SSD and SSHD in my laptop?
A: Only if your laptop has multiple drive bays or supports dual storage (e.g., M.2 + 2.5″). Most ultrabooks only have one slot, so you’ll need to choose one.
Q: Are SSHDs reliable long-term?
A: Less so than SSDs because they contain moving parts. While generally reliable, they’re more prone to mechanical failure over time compared to all-flash SSDs.
Q: Should I buy an SSD for gaming?
A: Absolutely. Games load faster, levels stream smoother, and system responsiveness improves dramatically with an SSD—even a SATA one.
Q: Will an SSHD improve my PC’s boot time?
A: Yes, especially after the drive learns your usage patterns. However, a dedicated SSD will still boot significantly faster.
Still unsure whether to buy an SSD or SSHD? Our top pick—the SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD—offers the best mix of speed, durability, and capacity for most users. If you’re upgrading an internal drive, the Samsung 870 EVO delivers unmatched reliability. Ready to make the switch? Click any “Check Price” button above to compare current deals and find the perfect drive for your needs!
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