Choosing the right SSD for your laptop can dramatically improve performance, boot times, and overall responsiveness. Whether you’re upgrading from an old hard drive or replacing a worn-out SSD, the options today are faster, more reliable, and more affordable than ever. With so many choices—SATA, NVMe, M.2, portable, internal—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s why we’ve tested and compared the top SSDs on the market to help you find the perfect fit for your needs, budget, and laptop compatibility.
Quick Product Comparison
Our Top 5 What Ssd To Buy Laptop Reviews – Expert Tested & Recommended
1. Crucial BX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5-Inch Internal SSD
The Crucial BX500 is a reliable, no-frills SATA SSD that delivers solid performance for everyday laptop users. With 1TB of storage and speeds up to 540MB/s, it’s a fantastic upgrade from a traditional hard drive—making your system feel instantly faster without breaking the bank.
Key Features That Stand Out
- ✓ 1TB capacity ideal for documents, media, and light gaming
- ✓ 3D NAND technology for improved durability and efficiency
- ✓ 45x more energy efficient than standard HDDs—great for battery life
- ✓ Easy installation in any laptop with a 2.5-inch drive bay
Why We Recommend It
This SSD strikes the perfect balance between price, performance, and reliability. It’s not the fastest drive on the market, but for general use—browsing, office work, streaming—it’s more than capable and offers a noticeable improvement over HDDs.
Best For
Budget-conscious users upgrading older laptops or those needing reliable, everyday storage without NVMe complexity.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Affordable price per gigabyte
- Improves boot and load times significantly over HDDs
- Low power consumption extends laptop battery life
- Compatible with most older and newer laptops
Cons:
- No DRAM cache—can slow under sustained workloads
- Slower than NVMe drives (but still fast for SATA)
Customer Reviews
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: Performance—Although 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 for everyday tasks.”
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 other hand, it works perfectly for basic upgrades.”
2. Crucial P310 500GB SSD, PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 2280
The Crucial P310 500GB is a high-performance Gen4 NVMe SSD that brings blazing-fast speeds to modern laptops. With read speeds up to 6,600MB/s, it’s perfect for gamers, content creators, and power users who demand quick boot times and rapid file transfers.
Key Features That Stand Out
- ✓ PCIe Gen4 interface for ultra-fast data transfer
- ✓ Up to 6,600MB/s read and 5,000MB/s write speeds
- ✓ M.2 2280 form factor—fits most modern ultrabooks and gaming laptops
- ✓ Compatible with laptops, desktops, and handheld gaming devices
Why We Recommend It
This SSD delivers near-top-tier Gen4 performance at a reasonable price. It’s not as fast as premium drives like Samsung 990 Pro, but it offers 90% of the performance for much less—making it our top pick for performance-minded users.
Best For
Gamers, students with heavy workloads, and anyone with a Gen4-compatible laptop who wants speed without overspending.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent price-to-performance ratio
- Fast load times for games and applications
- Compact M.2 design saves space
- Works with handheld consoles like ROG Ally X
Cons:
- 500GB may feel tight for large game libraries
- No included cloning software
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “I recently upgraded to the Crucial P310 2TB SSD and it’s been a fantastic addition to my setup. Plenty of space: 2 TB gives me lots of room for OS, apps, games, and files without tight space concerns. Fast speeds: For Gen4 NVMe, load and boot times are super fast.”
Customer Review: “I’ve been using this Crucial P310 2TB SSD for 4 months now in my small form factor PC build and it’s been fantastic. Installation was simple and straightforward—no issues at all. The performance is outstanding for both gaming and everyday use.”
3. Samsung 870 EVO SATA III SSD 1TB 2.5” Internal Solid State Drive
The Samsung 870 EVO is a legendary SATA SSD known for its reliability and consistent performance. As one of the most trusted drives in the industry, it maxes out the SATA III interface with 560MB/s read speeds—making it ideal for older laptops or systems without NVMe support.
Key Features That Stand Out
- ✓ Industry-leading reliability with up to 600 TBW endurance
- ✓ 5-year limited warranty for peace of mind
- ✓ Optimized for heavy workloads and 8K video processing
- ✓ Available in capacities up to 4TB
Why We Recommend It
While SATA is older tech, the 870 EVO remains the gold standard for durability and real-world performance. If your laptop only supports SATA, this is the drive to get—no compromises.
Best For
Users with older laptops, business professionals needing reliable storage, or anyone prioritizing longevity over cutting-edge speed.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Exceptional build quality and longevity
- Consistent performance under load
- Wide compatibility with older systems
- Samsung Magician software for monitoring and optimization
Cons:
- Slower than NVMe drives
- SATA interface is becoming outdated
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. It’s a perfect fit and works great. It’s made the old device MUCH faster and improved the overall performance immensely.”
Customer Review: “It’s a shame SATA III will likely be disappearing in the next 5 to 7 years—the form factor is so much nicer than NVMe and it’s still more than fast enough for like 99% of people. There are SATA III drives available with real ECC error correction and super durable enterprise-grade options.”
4. Crucial P310 2TB SSD, PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 2280
The 2TB version of the Crucial P310 offers massive storage and top-tier Gen4 speeds in a compact M.2 package. With up to 7,100MB/s read speeds, it’s built for users who need both space and performance—whether for gaming, video editing, or large software projects.
Key Features That Stand Out
- ✓ 2TB capacity for large files, games, and media libraries
- ✓ PCIe Gen4 x4 interface for maximum bandwidth
- ✓ Up to 7,100MB/s read and 6,000MB/s write speeds
- ✓ Low-profile design fits in slim laptops and handhelds
Why We Recommend It
This is one of the best value Gen4 SSDs available today. You get near-flagship speeds and double the storage of the 500GB model—perfect for users who refuse to compromise.
Best For
Power users, gamers with large libraries, and creators working with 4K/8K media who need fast, spacious storage.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Huge storage in a tiny form factor
- Excellent sustained performance
- Great for handheld gaming devices
- Competitive pricing for Gen4 2TB drives
Cons:
- Can get warm under heavy load (no built-in heatsink)
- Not compatible with older Gen3-only systems at full speed
Customer Reviews
Customer Review: “I recently upgraded to the Crucial P310 2TB SSD and it’s been a fantastic addition to my setup. Plenty of space: 2 TB gives me lots of room for OS, apps, games, and files without tight space concerns. Fast speeds: For Gen4 NVMe, load and boot times are super fast.”
Customer Review: “I’ve been using this Crucial P310 2TB SSD for 4 months now in my small form factor PC build and it’s been fantastic. Installation was simple and straightforward—no issues at all. The performance is outstanding for both gaming and everyday use.”
5. SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD
The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is a rugged, high-speed external drive perfect for travelers, photographers, and remote workers. With USB 3.2 Gen 2 support and up to 1050MB/s speeds, it’s fast enough for 4K video editing on the go.
Key Features That Stand Out
- ✓ IP65 water and dust resistance
- ✓ Up to 3-meter drop protection
- ✓ USB-C connectivity with USB 3.2 Gen 2
- ✓ Compact and lightweight with a carabiner loop
Why We Recommend It
This isn’t just durable—it’s fast, reliable, and built for real-world use. Whether you’re backing up photos in the field or transferring large files between devices, it handles it all with ease.
Best For
Photographers, videographers, digital nomads, and anyone who needs fast, portable storage that can survive rough handling.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Rugged design for outdoor and travel use
- Fast transfer speeds for an external drive
- Compact and easy to carry
- Works with laptops, tablets, and smartphones (with adapter)
Cons:
- More expensive than internal SSDs per gigabyte
- Requires USB connection—not a permanent internal solution
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.”
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 write speeds for a USB 3.2 product. Bought this SSD to transfer my photos from my camera when I am traveling. Lightweight and small SSD make a great traveling storage solution.”
Complete Buying Guide for What Ssd To Buy Laptop
Essential Factors We Consider
When choosing an SSD for your laptop, compatibility is key. First, check your laptop’s manual or manufacturer specs to see if it supports SATA or NVMe drives, and whether it uses a 2.5-inch bay or M.2 slot. Next, consider capacity—500GB is the sweet spot for most users, but 1TB or more is better for gamers and creators. Speed matters too: NVMe drives are 5–10x faster than SATA, but only if your laptop supports Gen3 or Gen4. Finally, think about durability, warranty, and brand reputation—especially for portable or high-use scenarios.
Budget Planning
You can get a reliable SATA SSD like the Crucial BX500 for under $80, while high-end NVMe drives like the P310 2TB run closer to $150–$200. Set a budget based on your needs: casual users can stick with SATA, while power users should invest in Gen4 NVMe. Don’t forget to factor in cloning software or installation tools if needed.
Final Thoughts
Upgrading your laptop’s SSD is one of the easiest and most impactful performance improvements you can make. Whether you choose our Best Choice (Crucial BX500), Editor’s Choice (Crucial P310), or a rugged portable option like the SanDisk Extreme, you’re getting a significant boost in speed and responsiveness. Match the drive to your laptop’s capabilities and your usage—and enjoy a faster, smoother computing experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I install an SSD in any laptop?
A: Not all laptops support SSD upgrades. Check if your model has a 2.5-inch drive bay (for SATA SSDs) or an M.2 slot (for NVMe). Some ultrabooks have soldered storage, which can’t be upgraded.
Q: Is NVMe faster than SATA?
A: Yes—NVMe drives are significantly faster, with speeds up to 7,000MB/s compared to SATA’s 550MB/s limit. But you’ll only see the benefit if your laptop supports NVMe.
Q: Do I need to clone my old drive?
A: Cloning lets you transfer your OS, apps, and files to the new SSD without reinstalling everything. It’s optional but highly recommended for a seamless upgrade.
Q: Are portable SSDs as fast as internal ones?
A: High-end portable SSDs like the SanDisk Extreme come close, but internal NVMe drives are still faster. Portables are great for backups and travel, not primary system drives.
Q: How long do SSDs last?
A: Modern SSDs are very durable, with lifespans measured in terabytes written (TBW). Most users won’t reach the limit in 5–10 years of normal use.
Ready to supercharge your laptop? Pick one of our top-rated SSDs today and feel the difference in speed, reliability, and everyday performance. Don’t wait—your faster, smoother computing experience is just a click away!