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Crucial P3 Plus vs Samsung 990 PRO: Comparison
What is the difference between Crucial P3 Plus and Samsung 990 PRO?
Start with sequential write, because it is the widest measured gap between them: Crucial P3 Plus 4200 MB/s against Samsung 990 PRO 6900 MB/s, 39% in favour of Samsung 990 PRO. Speed Score backs the spec sheet up. Samsung 990 PRO scores 8.4 to 6, 29% clear. Samsung 990 PRO also leads on sequential read, 5000 MB/s on the Crucial P3 Plus versus 7450 MB/s on the Samsung 990 PRO. Heatsink is not the same on both, Not Included on the Crucial P3 Plus versus Available on the Samsung 990 PRO.
Crucial P3 Plus vs Samsung 990 PRO: which one fits your build
Take the Crucial P3 Plus for budget-conscious buyers who want PCIe 4.0 bandwidth without paying for flagship performance. This drive fits general computing and light gaming needs at an accessible price. It is the wrong buy for buyers who want the fastest possible Crucial NVMe drive. The Crucial T710, covered elsewhere on this site, is Crucial's performance-focused flagship instead. Take the Samsung 990 PRO for gen 4 systems that need strong random performance, not just headline sequential numbers. It also earns its place with PS5 expansion, where the single-sided 2280 layout and heatsink option fit Sony's rules exactly. It is not the one for sustained multi-hundred-gigabyte writes. The 226GB cache runs out and the SN850X holds nearly three times as much. Our rating of the Samsung 990 PRO (8/10): still the best-engineered PCIe 4.0 drive. The 2026 price is the only reason to look elsewhere, and right now it is a good reason.
Read the full breakdown: SSD Specs Explained: What Actually Matters When You Buy
Frequently asked questions
Do the Crucial P3 Plus and Samsung 990 PRO differ on bus interface?
Yes. Bus Interface reads PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe on the Crucial P3 Plus versus PCIe 4.0 x4 on the Samsung 990 PRO.
Is the Form Factor the same on the Crucial P3 Plus and Samsung 990 PRO?
It is. Both are listed at M.2 2280, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Speed Score
- Crucial P3 Plus
- 6.0/10-29%
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 8.4/10Best
How fast this drive is, rated from its read and write speeds, cache and NAND type. 10 is the fastest.
Brand
- Crucial P3 Plus
- Crucial (Micron)
- Samsung 990 PRO
- Samsung
Model Number
- Crucial P3 Plus
- P3 Plus
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 990 PRO
Series
- Crucial P3 Plus
- P3 Plus
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 990 PRO
Bus Interface
- Crucial P3 Plus
- PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe
- Samsung 990 PRO
- PCIe 4.0 x4
Form Factor
- Crucial P3 Plus
- M.2 2280
- Samsung 990 PRO
- M.2 2280
Sequential Read
- Crucial P3 Plus
- 5000 MB/s-33%
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 7450 MB/s
Sequential Write
- Crucial P3 Plus
- 4200 MB/s-39%
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 6900 MB/s
DRAM Cache
- Crucial P3 Plus
- DRAM-less with HMB
- Samsung 990 PRO
- LPDDR4
NAND Type
- Crucial P3 Plus
- QLC
- Samsung 990 PRO
- Samsung V-NAND TLC
Heatsink
- Crucial P3 Plus
- Not Included
- Samsung 990 PRO
- Available
Warranty
- Crucial P3 Plus
- 5 Years
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 5 Years
Which one should you pick?
Choose Crucial P3 Plus if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Samsung 990 PRO if you want the higher speed score (8.4 vs 6.0), the higher sequential read (7450 MB/s vs 5000 MB/s) and the higher sequential write (6900 MB/s vs 4200 MB/s).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Crucial P3 Plus | Samsung 990 PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $385.27 View on Amazon | |
| B&H Photo | View on B&H Photo | |
| Best Buy | View on Best Buy | |
| Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Samsung 990 PRO
8 / 10 Expert Rating
Still the best-engineered PCIe 4.0 drive.