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Samsung 990 PRO vs Western Digital WD Black SN850X: Comparison
Samsung 990 PRO vs Western Digital WD Black SN850X: the sequential read difference
These two are close on paper, and sequential read is the only measure that separates them at all: Samsung 990 PRO 7450 MB/s against Western Digital WD Black SN850X 7300 MB/s. They differ on heatsink too, Available on the Samsung 990 PRO versus Available at 1TB and 2TB on the Western Digital WD Black SN850X.
Samsung 990 PRO vs Western Digital WD Black SN850X: which one fits your build
Take the Samsung 990 PRO for gen 4 systems that need strong random performance, not just headline sequential numbers. The same goes for 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. Take the Western Digital WD Black SN850X for PlayStation 5 owners specifically wanting a drive engineered around that console's exact requirements. This is a genuine, specific strength independently confirmed across reviews. It is equally the pick for PC gaming builds on PCIe 4.0 wanting a strong, well-rounded alternative to Samsung's 990 PRO. Comparable performance with WD's own engineering approach. It is the wrong buy for the most budget-conscious PCIe 4.0 buyers. The WD_BLACK SN770, covered elsewhere on this site, delivers solid gaming performance at a meaningfully lower price. 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 Samsung 990 PRO and Western Digital WD Black SN850X differ on sequential write?
Yes. Sequential Write reads 6900 MB/s on the Samsung 990 PRO versus 6600 MB/s on the Western Digital WD Black SN850X.
Is the Form Factor the same on the Samsung 990 PRO and Western Digital WD Black SN850X?
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
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 8.4/10Best
- Western Digital WD Black SN850X
- 8.4/10Best
How fast this drive is, rated from its read and write speeds, cache and NAND type. 10 is the fastest.
Brand
- Samsung 990 PRO
- Samsung
- Western Digital WD Black SN850X
- Western Digital
Model Number
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 990 PRO
- Western Digital WD Black SN850X
- SN850X
Series
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 990 PRO
- Western Digital WD Black SN850X
- WD_BLACK SN850X
Bus Interface
- Samsung 990 PRO
- PCIe 4.0 x4
- Western Digital WD Black SN850X
- PCIe 4.0, NVMe
Form Factor
- Samsung 990 PRO
- M.2 2280
- Western Digital WD Black SN850X
- M.2 2280
Sequential Read
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 7450 MB/s
- Western Digital WD Black SN850X
- 7300 MB/s-2%
Sequential Write
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 6900 MB/s
- Western Digital WD Black SN850X
- 6600 MB/s-4%
Controller
- Samsung 990 PRO
- Samsung Elpis
- Western Digital WD Black SN850X
- SanDisk 20-82-20035
DRAM Cache
- Samsung 990 PRO
- LPDDR4
- Western Digital WD Black SN850X
- DRAM
NAND Type
- Samsung 990 PRO
- Samsung V-NAND TLC
- Western Digital WD Black SN850X
- TLC
Endurance TBW
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 1,200 TBW (2TB)
- Western Digital WD Black SN850X
- 1200 TB
Heatsink
- Samsung 990 PRO
- Available
- Western Digital WD Black SN850X
- Available at 1TB and 2TB
Warranty
- Samsung 990 PRO
- 5 Years
- Western Digital WD Black SN850X
- 5 Years
Which one should you pick?
Choose Samsung 990 PRO if you want the higher sequential read (7450 MB/s vs 7300 MB/s) and the higher sequential write (6900 MB/s vs 6600 MB/s).
Choose WD Black SN850X if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | Samsung 990 PRO | Western Digital WD Black SN850X |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $385.27 View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
| B&H Photo | View on B&H Photo | |
| Best Buy | View on Best Buy | |
| Newegg | View on 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.
More comparisons in SSDs
Compare Samsung 990 PRO with
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- Samsung 990 PRO vs Acer Predator GM7000 (IG5236 + Micron B27B)
- Samsung 990 PRO vs Acer Predator GM7000 (IG5236 + Micron B47R)
- Samsung 990 PRO vs ADATA XPG Gammix S70 (PCIe 4.0 NVMe/7,400 MB/s Read/6,400 MB/s Write/Full-Size Gaming Flagship)