Your PS5 arrived with an 825GB SSD, and if you bought the disc edition at launch, less than 670GB of that is usable out of the box. One or two big games—Call of Duty alone can swallow 200GB or more—and you’re deleting downloads every weekend just to make room for the next one. Sony’s solution is elegant: a single M.2 2280 slot inside the console that accepts any PCIe Gen4 drive meeting Sony’s speed and size requirements, protected by a heatsink. The catch is that the market is flooded with drives claiming compatibility, and a 4TB capacity is the sweet spot for players who want a true “install everything” library without ever touching the delete button again.
We’ve rounded up eight of the most compelling expansion drives available heading into 2026, from the officially licensed WD_BLACK SN850P family to high-capacity value plays like the Lexar NM790 and budget-minded options from Fikwot and fanxiang. Every drive here meets or approaches Sony’s 5,500MB/s minimum sequential read recommendation, and every one ships with a heatsink or is designed for easy thermal management inside the console’s expansion bay. Whether you want the flagship Samsung 990 PRO or the most storage per dollar, there’s a pick below that fits your console, your desk setup, and your wallet.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Our Top Picks
Lufasnd 4TB NVMe SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4M.2 Standard Size3.15 x 0.87 x 0.36 inches0 PoundsCheck on Amazon
Top 3 picks at a glance
Quick Picks
| Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung SSD 990 PRO with Heatsink 4TB | Best overall performance | $849 |
| Lexar 4TB NM790 NVMe SSD w/Heatsink | Best 4TB value | Check on Amazon |
| WD_BLACK 2TB SN850P (Officially Licensed) | Best officially licensed pick | $394 |
| Lufasnd 4TB NVMe SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 | Best budget 4TB speed | Check on Amazon |
| MOVE SPEED HB7450 2TB SSD | Best entry-level price | Check on Amazon |
| Fikwot FN960 4TB M.2 NVMe SSD | Best cheap 4TB capacity | Check on Amazon |
| WD_BLACK 1TB SN850P (Officially Licensed) | Best starter expansion | Check on Amazon |
| fanxiang S660 4TB PCIe 4.0 | Best value per gigabyte | Check on Amazon |
How We Compared
Every drive in this roundup had to clear a few non-negotiable bars. First, it must physically fit the PS5’s expansion bay as an M.2 2280 module with a heatsink that keeps total thickness within Sony’s specified limits—too tall and the console’s cover won’t close. Second, sequential read speeds must meet or meaningfully approach Sony’s 5,500MB/s recommendation, so games load quickly and the drive doesn’t bottleneck the console’s decompression pipeline. Third, capacity and price had to make sense together: we included a spread from a around $240 starter drive to the $849 flagship so buyers at every budget have a clear option.
We also weighted real-world buyer considerations: warranty reputation, brand track record in the NVMe market, whether the drive is officially licensed for PS5, and how much usable capacity you get per dollar. Prices listed here reflect typical online retail at the time of writing and fluctuate—4TB drives in particular swing by $50 or more during sale events—so treat the numbers as ranges rather than guarantees.
The 8 Best Picks
1. Samsung SSD 990 PRO with Heatsink 4TB
The 990 PRO is the performance ceiling of this list, with sequential reads up to 7,450MB/s and Samsung’s renowned controller and NAND engineering under the hood. The integrated heatsink is engineered to keep thermals controlled during sustained transfers, which matters in the PS5’s enclosed expansion bay. If you want the drive that will still feel fast in five years, this is it.
- Top-tier 7,450MB/s sequential read speed with Samsung’s excellent reliability record
- Integrated heatsink designed for sustained performance in tight enclosures
- At $849, it costs significantly more than every other 4TB option here
Skip it if budget matters more than peak speed—the Lexar NM790 delivers nearly identical rated throughput for over $250 less.
2. Lexar 4TB NM790 NVMe SSD w/Heatsink
The NM790 hits 7400/6500 MB/s sequential read/write speeds in a standard M.2 2280 form factor running PCIe Gen 4×4, with a heatsink included for the PS5 bay. It’s a DRAM-less design that leans on HMB (Host Memory Buffer), which the PS5 supports, making it one of the smartest value engineering choices in the category. For most players, this is the rational 4TB buy: nearly flagship speed, full 4TB capacity, and a price well under $600.
- 7400MB/s rated read speed at a price roughly $260 below the Samsung flagship
- Full 4TB of capacity in a heatsink-equipped, plug-and-play M.2 2280 module
- DRAM-less design means sustained heavy-write workloads are less impressive than its headline numbers
Skip it if you want the absolute longest track record—Samsung and WD have deeper longevity histories.
3. WD_BLACK 2TB SN850P (Officially Licensed)
This is the only drive on the list that carries Sony’s official licensing, and that matters to buyers who want zero guesswork: the SN850P with heatsink is validated for the PS5 expansion slot out of the box, rated up to 7,300MB/s. The 2TB capacity doubles most consoles’ storage and installs in minutes. At $394, it’s the safest purchase in the category.
- Officially licensed for PS5 with up to 7,300MB/s sequential reads
- WD_BLACK’s proven SN850 lineage and strong warranty support
- You’re paying a per-gigabyte premium over unlicensed 4TB drives
Skip it if 2TB won’t hold your library—step up to a 4TB value pick instead.
4. Lufasnd 4TB NVMe SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4
Lufasnd’s 4TB module is built specifically for PS5 expansion, rated at 7300MB/s in the standard M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 form factor. It matches the headline speed of the officially licensed WD drive while offering twice the capacity at a lower price, making it attractive for players with enormous game libraries. As a newer brand, it trades established reputation for aggressive specs and pricing.
- 7300MB/s rated speed matches the official WD_BLACK SN850P’s headline figure
- 4TB capacity at around $460 undercuts most established-brand 4TB drives
- Less established brand with a shorter track record than Samsung, WD, or Lexar
Skip it if brand reputation and warranty confidence top your priority list.
5. MOVE SPEED HB7450 2TB SSD
The HB7450 is the budget gateway into PS5 expansion at around $280, with up to 7450MB/s—technically the fastest rated read speed on this entire list—backed by TLC NAND and a built-in heatsink. It’s marketed for PS5, desktops, and laptops alike, so it can migrate between systems if you upgrade later. For a first expansion drive, it’s hard to argue with.
- Up to 7450MB/s rated reads—the highest figure on this list—at the lowest price
- TLC NAND and included heatsink; works in PS5, desktops, and laptops
- 2TB capacity fills up quickly with modern AAA game install sizes
Skip it if you’re set on 4TB—this drive doubles your storage, not quadruples it.
6. Fikwot FN960 4TB M.2 NVMe SSD
Fikwot’s FN960 prioritizes capacity and price over raw speed, offering 4TB at up to 5,000MB/s in a Gen4 x4 2280 module with a heatsink and dynamic SLC caching. It sits just under Sony’s 5,500MB/s recommendation, but in practice game load times on Gen4 drives are far more similar than spec sheets suggest. If your goal is maximum library for around $520, this delivers.
- Full 4TB capacity with dynamic SLC cache and included heatsink at around $520
- 5,000MB/s is comfortably fast for real-world PS5 game loading
- Rated below Sony’s official 5,550-class speed recommendation and slower than every other drive here
Skip it if you want headroom above Sony’s spec—the Lexar NM790 is only $70 more for 7,400MB/s.
7. WD_BLACK 1TB SN850P (Officially Licensed)
The 1TB version of the licensed SN850P is the least expensive officially sanctioned way to expand a PS5, at around $240 with speeds up to 7,300MB/s. It’s the right pick for a specific buyer: someone with a modest library who wants the safest possible installation experience and a name-brand drive. It’s also a sensible first upgrade before committing to bigger capacity.
- Officially licensed for PS5 at the lowest price on this list
- 7,300MB/s rated speed with WD_BLACK’s proven SN850 platform
- 1TB fills fast—one or two large games can consume a third of it
Skip it unless your library is small; 2TB and 4TB options offer far better cost per gigabyte.
8. fanxiang S660 4TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
The fanxiang S660 targets enthusiasts and IT professionals who want bulk 4TB storage at up to 5000MB/s with SLC caching and a heatsink included, at around $530. Like the Fikwot, it trades a bit of headline speed for capacity value, and it’s positioned squarely at PS5 owners building a large permanent library. It’s a workhorse rather than a showpiece.
- 4TB capacity with heatsink and SLC cache at a competitive around $530
- 5000MB/s rated reads are adequate for real-world PS5 loading
- Slower rated speed than the WD, Samsung, Lexar, and Lufasnd options
Skip it if spec-sheet speed matters to you; otherwise it’s a solid capacity buy.
Buying Guide
Speed Requirements
Sony officially recommends PCIe Gen4 drives with sequential read speeds of 5,500MB/s or higher. Drives rated at 7,300–7,450MB/s give you maximum headroom, but real-world game load differences between a 5,000MB/s drive and a 7,450MB/s drive are measured in fractions of a second in most titles. The bigger practical factor is sustained performance: heatsink quality and NAND type (TLC with SLC caching is standard here) matter more over long gaming sessions than peak numbers.
Heatsink and Physical Fit
The PS5 expansion bay is tight. Your drive plus heatsink must fit within Sony’s dimensional limits—under 110mm long, 25mm wide, and 11.25mm thick total. Every drive in this roundup ships with an appropriately sized heatsink, which is why we excluded bare drives. Never install a PS5 expansion SSD without one; the bay gets warm during long sessions and thermal throttling will degrade performance.
Capacity and Price per Gigabyte
Run the math before you buy. The 1TB SN850P at around $240 works out to roughly $0 per gigabyte, while the 4TB Lexar NM790 at around $590 lands near around $0 per gigabyte—40% cheaper per gigabyte. If you’ll eventually want 4TB anyway, buying capacity up front saves money. That said, if your budget is capped near $300, the MOVE SPEED HB7450 doubles your storage today and you can add more later.
Our Verdict
For most PS5 owners, the Lexar 4TB NM790 w/Heatsink at around $590 is the best overall buy: 7,400MB/s rated reads, a full 4TB, and a price that undercuts the Samsung flagship by over $250. If you want official licensing and peace of mind above all else, the WD_BLACK SN850P family is the only Sony-validated option here—choose the 2TB at $394 for most libraries. And if you’re on a strict budget, the MOVE SPEED HB7450 at around $280 gets you double the storage with the fastest rated read speed on this list. Whichever you pick, install it with the heatsink attached, format it through the PS5’s settings menu, and enjoy never deleting a game to make room again.
FAQ
Do I really need a heatsink for a PS5 internal SSD?
Yes. Sony requires thermal management for drives installed in the expansion bay, and a heatsink keeps the drive from throttling during sustained transfers and long play sessions. Every drive in this roundup includes one, sized to fit under the console’s cover plate.
Will a 5,000MB/s drive feel slower than a 7,450MB/s drive on PS5?
In most games, no. The PS5’s custom I/O pipeline means load-time differences between Gen4 drives are typically fractions of a second. Sony recommends 5,500MB/s, but drives slightly below that figure still perform well in practice. Peak speed matters more for drive-to-PC file transfers than for console gaming.
How do I install a 4TB SSD in my PS5?
Power down and unplug the console, remove the side cover, locate the expansion slot cover secured by a single screw, insert the M.2 drive at an angle, fasten the spacer and screw, replace the covers, then format the drive via Settings > Storage > Extended Storage. The whole process takes about 10–15 minutes with a small Phillips screwdriver.
Is it worth paying more for an officially licensed PS5 SSD?
Only if peace of mind is a priority. The WD_BLACK SN850P is functionally similar to other high-speed Gen4 drives here—its 7,300MB/s rating is actually matched or exceeded by the Samsung, Lexar, Lufasnd, and MOVE SPEED drives. You’re paying a premium for Sony’s validation and WD’s brand support, which is a reasonable trade for some buyers but not a performance advantage.
Related guides
- Best Free MMOs on Steam: Subscription Limits, Pay-to-Win and Time Cost (2026)
- Best Free Horror Games on Steam: How to Pick One That Fits Your PC and Your Nerves (2026)
- Black Frame Insertion vs VRR: Which Smoothness Feature Should You Use?
- Best Webcams for Streaming: 11 Listings Compared by Resolution, Focus and Light (2026)
