The best SSD for PS5

(Image credit: Future/PlayStation/Seagate)

The best SSD for PS5 enables you to upgrade your PlayStation's storage without having to use a bulky external hard drive. Because let's face it, these days 825GB of internal space just isn't enough. For instance, just three modern titles – God of War Ragnarök, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and The Last of Us Part I – will already take up over 200GB.

It's fairly easy to install the best SSD for PS5. Simply pop off the faceplate, unscrew the SSD slot and pop the card in. If you scroll down to the bottom of this article, you'll find a video tutorial and more info to help you out.

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Product shot of Seagate FireCuda 530, one of the best SSDs for PS5

01. Seagate FireCuda 530

The best PS5 SSD overall

Capacity: 500GB-4TB
Speed: Up to 7,300MB/s

Seagate has a long history with Sony, and this is our top choice based on quality and speed. It goes up to a speedy 7,000MB/s, making it quicker than the PS5's own internal SSD. It comes in sizes up to 4TB. And there's a heatsink option available too.

Product shot of WD Black SN850, one of the best SSDs for PS5

02. WD Black SN850

The best cheap SSD for the PS5

Capacity: 500GB-2TB
Speed: Up to 7,000MB/s

The 1TB model of this SSD is the cheapest on our list, yet will happily reach speeds of up to 7,000MB/s. Sadly that pricing doesn't scale, so if you're after a 2TB drive you'll save by instead opting for the Seagate above or scrolling down to the Crucial P5 Plus.

Product shot of Gigabyte Aorus Gen4 7000S, one of the best SSDs for PS5

03. Gigabyte Aorus 7000S

The best SSD with a pre-fitted heatsink

Capacity: 1TB
Speed: Up to 7,000MB/s

Fitting a heatsink isn't difficult, but if you're unsure about it, here's an excellent option. It's one of the few PS5-compatible SSDs that isn't going to scalp you on having a heatsink pre-fitted, and it's a solid performer with decent speeds of up to 7,000MB/s.

Product shot of Samsung 990 Pro, one of the best SSDs for PS5

04. Samsung 990 Pro

The best SSD for PS5 for speed

Capacity: 250GB-2TB
Speed: Up to 7,450 MB/s

Samsung's a trusted brand, and this is a quality product at a decent price. You can choose to have it with or without a heatsink, and the 1TB variant offers incredible speeds of up to 7,450 MB/s. Plus the free Samsung software optimises performance.

Product shot of Crucial P5 Plus, one of the best SSDs for PS5

05. Crucial P5 Plus

A quality option for the PS5

Capacity: 500GB-2TB
Speed: Up to 6,600MB/s

This SSD's max speed of 6,600MB/s is lower than others on this list, but you're unlikely to notice much of a difference. And the 2TB model is lovely and cheap. So if you want a lot of SSD storage and don't mind fitting your own heatsink, this is a good choice.

Product shot of Patriot Viper VP4300, one of the best SSDs for PS5

06. Patriot Viper VP4300

Very fast and great value

Capacity: 1-2TB
Speed: Up to 7,400MB/s

The second fastest SSD on our list, this can clock up to 7,400MB/s, and yet the price is very reasonable. Even better, it comes with two heatsinks; amusingly if you're planning to install the VP4300 in your PS5 it's best to fit them on top of one another.

The best SSD for PS5: what you need to know?

If you're set on installing the best SSD for PS5, you're going to need to do a bit of homework first. There are some very strict rules when it comes to the best SSD for PS5, and if you don't meet the requirements your SSD may not be compatible with your console.

So what are the important bits to know? Your SSD has to be a PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVMe SSD between 250GB and 4TB with a read speed of 5,500MB/s or faster, it needs to be 22mm in width, and it has to have a heatsink. If you're not familiar with Heatsink technology, this bit of kit ensures your internal SSD doesn't overheat whilst in your console which is a very important detail to make sure everything runs smoothly. Most PS5-specific SSDs come with a pre-installed Heatsink, but make sure to double check in case you have to buy the Heatsink casing separately. Heatsinks are inexpensive and fairly easy to install, and you can definitely save some money by going down the route of buying an SSD without a Heatsink already installed.

How to install a PS5 SSD.

Below is a thorough video directly from Sony showing how to install an internal SSD. You don't need much: a #1 Phillips or cross-head screwdriver, a surface top to work on and a well lit room are all you really need. A small flashlight (or your phone torch) is also a great idea to have at hand to help you see what you're doing better. Either read up on the official installation guidance, or check out the below video for a step-by-step tutorial.

Jim McCauley is a writer, performer and cat-wrangler who started writing professionally way back in 1995 on PC Format magazine, and has been covering technology-related subjects ever since, whether it's hardware, software or videogames. A chance call in 2005 led to Jim taking charge of Computer Arts' website and developing an interest in the world of graphic design, and eventually led to a move over to the freshly-launched Creative Bloq in 2012. Jim now works as a freelance writer for sites including Creative Bloq, T3 and PetsRadar, specialising in design, technology, wellness and cats, while doing the occasional pantomime and street performance in Bath and designing posters for a local drama group on the side.