Consumercarts
Samsung 960 EVO 500GB M.2 NVMe Internal SSD
Samsung

Samsung 960 EVO

Expert rating7.5 / 10

Interface:
PCIe 3.0 x4
Sequential Read:
Up to 3
Capacity Options:
250GB

Consumercarts is reader-supported. Learn more

Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.

Manufacturer: Samsung Last updated: 2026-09-12

Where to buy

Samsung 960 EVO (PCIe 3.0 NVMe/2016-Era Mainstream Legacy Drive) Review

Samsung 960 EVO PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD, the mainstream sibling to the 960 PRO, offering the same era's speed leap at a friendlier price.

The 960 EVO was the value-oriented option in Samsung's original NVMe generation, giving budget builders their first taste of gigabyte-per-second-plus speeds. Almost a decade on, it's firmly a legacy part — fine for keeping an aging system limping along, but not something to actively seek out for a new build when far cheaper, far faster options exist today.

Comparison to Alternatives

Against its sibling the Samsung 960 PRO, the EVO trades MLC endurance for a lower price and TLC NAND, resulting in noticeably lower sustained write speeds. Compared to a current budget drive like the Crucial P2, the 960 EVO's real-world performance is now similar despite once being a premium product — a clear sign of how much NVMe pricing and speed have improved since 2016.

Specifications

Identity

BrandSamsung
Model Number960 EVO
Series960 EVO

Interface and form

Bus InterfacePCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe

Sequential performance

Sequential Read3200 MB/s
Sequential Write1900 MB/s

NAND

NAND TypeSamsung V-NAND TLC

Physical and commercial

Warranty3 Years
Capacity Options250GB, 500GB, 1TB

Expert Review

Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.

Expert rating7.5 / 10

A historically notable mainstream NVMe drive that's now thoroughly outclassed by modern budget options.

Best for

  • Older laptop or desktop NVMe upgrades
  • Retro and legacy system builds
  • Replacing a failed original unit

Not for

  • Performance-focused new builds
  • Heavy sustained write workloads
  • Buyers wanting long warranty coverage

FAQs

What are the key specifications of the Samsung 960 EVO (PCIe 3.0 NVMe/2016-Era Mainstream Legacy Drive)?

The Samsung 960 EVO (PCIe 3.0 NVMe/2016-Era Mainstream Legacy Drive) is a component from Samsung. Key specs: Interface PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe, Sequential Read 3200, Sequential Write 1900, NAND Type Samsung V-NAND TLC, Capacity Options 250GB, 500GB, 1TB.

Who is the Samsung 960 EVO (PCIe 3.0 NVMe/2016-Era Mainstream Legacy Drive) best suited to?

It suits older laptop or desktop nvme upgrades, retro and legacy system builds, replacing a failed original unit.

What are the drawbacks of the Samsung 960 EVO (PCIe 3.0 NVMe/2016-Era Mainstream Legacy Drive)?

It is a poor fit for performance-focused new builds, heavy sustained write workloads, buyers wanting long warranty coverage.

Compare and read more