Last updated: May 2026. This article is reviewed quarterly.
The PS5 ships with 825GB of internal storage. After system software, that leaves around 667GB usable. A single modern AAA game can consume 50–100GB. Do the math and you will quickly understand why expanding PS5 storage is not optional for serious players — it is eventual.
Sony built an M.2 NVMe SSD slot into every PS5 specifically for this. The good news: installation is straightforward and takes about fifteen minutes. The decision that matters is picking the right drive.
What the PS5 Actually Requires
Sony’s specifications for compatible M.2 drives are clear. You need a PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe drive with a read speed of at least 5,500 MB/s. The drive must fit the M.2 2230 or 2280 form factor. And it must include a heatsink — the PS5’s M.2 bay generates substantial heat, and running a drive without thermal management risks throttling and long-term damage.
Some drives come with heatsinks included. Others require you to add one. If you buy a bare drive, pick up a slim M.2 heatsink separately — just verify that the combined height stays under 11.25mm, which is the PS5 bay’s clearance limit. Many inexpensive third-party heatsinks fit this requirement without issue.
The Two Drives Most Consistently Recommended
The WD Black SN850X and Samsung 990 Pro sit at the top of most PS5 upgrade recommendations, and for good reason. Both exceed Sony’s speed requirements by a comfortable margin. Both come in heatsink-equipped versions. Both have proven compatibility records across hundreds of thousands of PS5 consoles.
The WD Black SN850X advantages: available up to 8TB capacity, slightly more competitive pricing in the 2TB and 4TB tiers, and a long track record of stable PS5 firmware compatibility. Reviewers at r/PS5 and hardware testing sites consistently put it as the default recommendation for PS5 storage expansion.
The Samsung 990 Pro advantages: extremely strong random read and write performance that exceeds the SN850X in PC workloads, a premium feel for users who also use the drive in a PC enclosure, and Samsung’s reputation for consistent manufacturing quality. One caveat: early 990 Pro units had a firmware issue that caused drive health reporting inaccuracies. Samsung released a fix, but if you buy a 990 Pro, confirm it has the latest firmware — easily done via Samsung Magician on a PC before installation.
The Reality of PS5 Speed Differences
Here is what most comparisons avoid saying directly: in the context of PS5 gaming, you will not notice a meaningful difference in load times between the SN850X and the 990 Pro, or between either of those drives and any other Gen 4 drive that meets the speed threshold.
The PS5’s I/O system is the bottleneck, not the drive. Sony’s custom storage controller processes data at a specific rate regardless of whether your drive reads at 6,500 MB/s or 7,400 MB/s. Both numbers exceed what the PS5 can effectively use. The performance ceiling is in the console, not the storage.
What this means practically: do not pay a significant premium for the fastest possible drive specifically for PS5 use. Any reputable Gen 4 drive from a major manufacturer will perform identically in a PS5. Spend that budget difference on an extra game or a larger capacity tier instead.
Budget Options Worth Considering
If the SN850X and 990 Pro are over your budget, the Seagate FireCuda 530 and Corsair MP600 Pro are well-regarded alternatives in the Gen 4 tier that frequently sell at lower prices. The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus is another option that has accumulated a solid PS5 compatibility track record without the premium brand pricing.
Avoid Gen 3 drives. They are technically compatible with the M.2 slot but will not meet Sony’s speed requirements and may cause performance issues. The price difference between Gen 3 and Gen 4 drives has narrowed to the point where buying Gen 3 to save money rarely makes sense in 2026.
Installation in Five Steps
Turn off your PS5 completely and unplug all cables. Lay it flat and remove the white side panel by pulling from the corner — no tools required. Unscrew the M.2 expansion bay cover using a Phillips screwdriver. Seat your drive at the correct angle for its length (there are multiple screw positions for different M.2 form factors). Secure it with the included screw, replace the bay cover and side panel, and power on. The PS5 will automatically format the drive on first boot.
The entire process takes ten to fifteen minutes for a first-timer. Sony designed the bay for user access and does not void the warranty for installing a compatible drive.
One final note: external USB drives can store PS5 games but cannot run them directly. Only games installed on the internal SSD or the M.2 expansion slot run at full performance. External USB storage is useful for archiving games you are not currently playing, then transferring them back to internal storage when needed.