7 Best Cheap SSDs of 2022

The M.2_2280 (single-sided) SSD has four storage capacities: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB, so you can choose the best option for your storage needs. The cheaper model only costs about $55, so the entry fee is very reasonable. However, we recommend the 1TB model, which costs around $150, which is still good value for money.

A four-lane Pie Gen 3 SSD with NV Me technology, the P5 offers blistering speeds with sequential read speeds of up to approximately 3400MB/s and write speeds of 3000MB/s. Write speeds drop to 1400MB/s in the lowest model, so it’s worth the $20 or $30 extra to upgrade to the next storage level. With full hardware encryption, 3D NAND technology, helpful companion software, solid durability stats, and easy installation, the Crucial P5 is a great drive at a great price. Not sure if your computer or motherboard is compatible? The manufacturer’s website has a compatibility checker where you can enter the make and model of your computer to make sure it fits.

Best Package: Crucial P5

The M.2_2280 (single-sided) SSD has four storage capacities: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB, so you can choose the best option for your storage needs. The cheaper model only costs about $55, so the entry fee is very reasonable. However, we recommend the 1TB model, which costs around $150, which is still good value for money.

A four-lane Pie Gen 3 SSD with NV Me technology, the P5 offers blistering speeds with sequential read speeds of up to approximately 3400MB/s and write speeds of 3000MB/s. Write speeds drop to 1400MB/s in the lowest model, so it’s worth the $20 or $30 extra to upgrade to the next storage level. With full hardware encryption, 3D NAND technology, helpful companion software, solid durability stats, and easy installation, the Crucial P5 is a great drive at a great price. Not sure if your computer or motherboard is compatible? The manufacturer’s website has a compatibility checker where you can enter the make and model of your computer to make sure it fits.

Runner-Up, Best Overall: Samsung SSD

Samsung has become the market leader in several technology products, including SSDs like the brand’s SSD 970 EVO. Despite being on the market for a few years now, the 970 EVO is still a solid choice, with read and write speeds of up to 3,500 and 2,500 MB/s respectively. The small M.2_2280 form factor has excellent heat dissipation and Dynamic Thermal Guard helps maintain the ideal temperature.

The Pie Gen 3.0 x4, NV Me 1.3 SSD is available in 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities. The 500GB model usually costs around $70, which is good value for money. You can use Samsung Magician to maintain and monitor the device, a clean and intuitive companion software. For anyone looking for a cheap M.2 SSD with a good reputation, the 970 EVO is worth checking out.

Best for Gaming: ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB

Another M.2 sized SSD, the XPG SX8200 Pro is a quad-lane Pie NV Me Gen 3 SSD with read speeds up to 3500MB/s and write speeds up to 3000MB/s, which is 625% faster than the brand’s entry-level – level SATA SSD. It’s available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities, with smaller capacity models costing around $50. With features such as 3D NAND and LDPC ECC, the SX8200 Pro is not only fast, but also reliable. It has end-to-end data protection to keep your data safe, along with toolboxes, migration and cloning software to help you manage your files. In addition to all this, it also includes a heat sink along with the device.

Designed for gamers, over clockers, content creators or anyone looking to upgrade their laptop or desktop, the Data XPG SX8200 Pro features a stylish design and excellent performance. This is one of the best SSDs you can buy at this price.

Best SATA: Samsung SSD 870 QVO

The Samsung 870 QVO is a 2.5-inch SATA III SSD with 256-bit full disk encryption and is available in capacities of 1TB, 2TB, 4TB and 8TB. It has sequential read / write speeds of 560/530 MB / s and Samsung produces all firmware and components of the drive (including DRAM and V-NAND). It is a reliable and high quality unit that does not require much effort from the user.

Very easy to set up and install, just plug the drive into your computer’s SATA slot and the migration software will walk you through the rest. Combine it with Samsung’s Magician software, which monitors and maintains you’re SSD, and you’ll have a very intuitive experience.

Ideal for professionals: WD Blue SN500 NV Me SSD

Western Digital’s Blue SN550 M.2 Type 2280 is an NV Me (Gen 3 x4 Pie) drive with capacities of 250GB, 500GB, 1TB and 2GB. Speeds vary by capacity – the 2TB model offers sequential read speeds of up to 2,600MB / s and write speeds of up to 1,800MB / s. If you choose the cheaper model, you will get lower speeds (2400/950 MB / s), but they are still usable. We like the 1TB model because it strikes a good balance between speed, functionality, and price.

A DRAM-free drive (DRAM stands for Dynamic Access Memory) is cheap. It is a good option for those who use computers for work and is an inexpensive way to upgrade hard drive memory. The blue SN550 would suffice as a game drive if you want to use it in a game console, but there are much better SSD options for gaming.

Best Budget: Mushin Source SSD

The Mushin Source SSD is a 2.5-inch SATA III with a capacity of 120GB. There’s more capacity, but the additional storage will cost you quite a bit, with the 2TB deluxe model costing around $ 325. Even the low-end model is packed with features like 3D NAND, LDPC ETC, and Static Data Refresh, which make this unit good value for money.

It also features a low-latency silicon motion controller and works with any computing device with a compatible SATA slot. It is SATA 3.0, but it is backwards compatible with SATA 2.0. You won’t get the benefits of a more expensive option, like easy-to-use companion software or great durability, but this is a good option for those looking to upgrade their drive to a budget PC or to install another SSD.

Best affordable NV Me: Crucial P1 – 1TB

If you’re looking for an affordable SSD for a mid-range PC, the Crucial P1 is a great find. This is an M.2_2280 SSD (form factor), so it’s very small, about the size of a piece of chewing gum. Works with any computer or computing device that accepts Pie M.2 type 2280SS NV Me drives.

The P1 four-lane Pie NV Me Gen 3 drive has three storage capacities: 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB. It features 2,000 / 1,700MB / s sequential read / write speeds, 3D NAND technology, and useful companion software (Storage Executive) to perform firmware updates and monitor drive status and performance. The P1 has a five-year limited warranty. In addition, it has been on the market for a long time, so most of the shortcomings are already known. With the P1, you ditch the bells and whistles, like improved durability and hardware encryption, in a proven SSD at an affordable price.

Final judgement

If you’re looking for an affordable M.2 SSD with blazing fast speeds, reliable performance, and hardware-based encryption, the Crucial P5 is a breeze. The Samsung 870 QVO is the optimal choice for those who need an affordable SATA SSD.

Learn about our trusted experts

Erika Rawest has been writing professionally for over ten years and for the past five years about consumer technology. Erika looked at around 125 devices, including computers, peripherals, audiovisual equipment, mobile devices, and smart home devices.

What to look for in an affordable SSD

Form Factor – Determines the size, configuration, and connection type of the drive. Many NV Me drives have the M.2_2280 form factor because they measure 22mm x 80mm. NV Me drives are preferred because they are faster than SATA III, with a maximum speed of 6 Gaps (data transfer). M.2 drives have a slimmer profile than 2.5-inch SATA drives and have a different type of connector.

Storage capacity: The goal of updating your computer’s drive is to improve performance, so capacity is especially important because you want enough storage space for management.