8 Best SSD Black Friday Deals: A Comprehensive Guide
Black Friday 2026 brings amazing opportunities to upgrade your computer storage without breaking the bank.
Solid State Drives have become essential for anyone who wants their system to run faster, boot quicker, and handle data more efficiently.
Whether you need blazing speed for gaming, reliable storage for work projects, or just want to breathe new life into an older computer, this year’s deals offer something for everyone.
Key Takeaways:
- Speed matters more than you think. Your SSD choice directly impacts how fast your computer boots, loads programs, and transfers files. NVMe drives deliver significantly faster performance than traditional SATA SSDs, making them the preferred choice for modern systems. The speed difference becomes especially noticeable when working with large files or running demanding applications.
- Capacity planning requires careful consideration. Think about your actual storage needs before buying. A 1TB drive offers plenty of space for most users, handling your operating system, essential programs, and a good collection of files. Power users and gamers should consider 2TB or larger to avoid running out of space quickly.
- Not all SSDs work with every computer. Check your system compatibility before purchasing. M.2 NVMe drives need an M.2 slot on your motherboard, while SATA drives work with older systems through standard SATA connections. Your laptop or desktop specifications will tell you which type you need.
- Black Friday prices represent genuine savings. SSD prices typically drop 20 to 40 percent during Black Friday sales. This year offers particularly strong deals because manufacturers want to clear inventory before new models arrive. Shopping now means getting premium drives at mid range prices.
- Brand reputation impacts reliability and support. Stick with established manufacturers like Samsung, Western Digital, Crucial, and SanDisk. These brands offer better warranties, reliable customer support, and proven track records for longevity. Saving a few dollars on unknown brands often leads to headaches later.
Samsung 990 PRO 2TB NVMe SSD
The Samsung 990 PRO stands as one of the most powerful consumer SSDs you can buy today. This drive delivers exceptional read speeds up to 7,450 MB/s and write speeds reaching 6,900 MB/s.
These numbers translate to real world performance that feels incredibly responsive in everything from boot times to file transfers.
Samsung built this drive using their latest V-NAND technology, which packs more storage into a smaller space while improving efficiency.
The 990 PRO excels at sustained workloads, making it perfect for content creators who work with 4K video editing or large design files. Gamers also benefit from faster game load times and smoother texture streaming.
The drive includes a five year warranty and comes with Samsung Magician software. This utility helps you monitor drive health, update firmware, and optimize performance.
Heat management works well thanks to the efficient controller design, though adding a heatsink helps if your motherboard lacks built in cooling.
Pros:
Outstanding read and write speeds for demanding tasks
Excellent endurance rating with 1,200 TBW for the 2TB model
Samsung Magician software provides useful monitoring tools
Five year warranty offers peace of mind
Proven reliability from a trusted brand
Cons:
Premium pricing compared to budget alternatives
Runs warm under heavy workloads without additional cooling
Performance advantages diminish for basic computing tasks
WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB NVMe SSD
Western Digital created the SN850X specifically for gamers and performance enthusiasts. This drive reaches speeds up to 7,300 MB/s, putting it among the fastest PCIe Gen4 drives available. The performance stays consistent even during long gaming sessions or extended file operations.
The SN850X comes equipped with Game Mode 2.0, which optimizes the drive for gaming workloads. This feature reduces latency and ensures your games load quickly. The drive handles random read operations exceptionally well, which matters more for gaming than sequential speeds alone.
Build quality feels solid, and the drive includes a five year warranty. WD Dashboard software provides drive monitoring and firmware updates.
The 1TB capacity hits the sweet spot for most gamers, offering enough space for your operating system, favorite games, and important files without excessive cost.
Pros:
Excellent gaming performance with optimized firmware
Strong random read speeds benefit game loading
Competitive pricing during Black Friday sales
Reliable thermal management
Good value for performance delivered
Cons:
Lacks included heatsink on base model
Not the absolute fastest option available
Software features feel basic compared to competitors
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB SSD
Samsung designed the 990 EVO Plus as a more affordable alternative to the PRO series while maintaining impressive performance.
This drive supports both PCIe Gen 4×4 and Gen 5×2 interfaces, giving you flexibility depending on your system configuration. Read speeds reach 7,150 MB/s, which feels plenty fast for everyday computing.
The EVO Plus uses Samsung’s HMB technology and Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0. These features help maintain performance even when the drive fills up.
Many drives slow down significantly when reaching 80 percent capacity, but the EVO Plus handles this better than most budget options.
Energy efficiency stands out as a key advantage. The drive uses less power than many competitors, which extends battery life in laptops and reduces heat generation. This makes it an excellent choice for portable systems where thermal management matters.
Pros:
Balanced performance at an attractive price point
Dual interface support provides versatility
Energy efficient design benefits laptops
Includes useful Samsung software suite
Strong endurance rating for the price
Cons:
Slightly slower than flagship models
Limited capacity options compared to competitors
Performance drops more noticeably when drive fills up
Crucial P3 Plus 2TB NVMe SSD
The Crucial P3 Plus delivers excellent value for users who want solid performance without premium pricing.
Read speeds reach 5,000 MB/s, which feels noticeably faster than SATA drives while costing significantly less than top tier NVMe options. This makes it perfect for general computing, productivity work, and moderate gaming.
Micron builds the P3 Plus using their own 3D NAND technology. This vertical integration helps control costs while maintaining quality. The 2TB capacity offers tremendous space for users who need room for large file libraries, game collections, or creative projects.
The drive runs cool under normal workloads and includes a five year warranty. Acronis True Image software comes included for cloning your existing drive. Setup becomes straightforward even if you have never upgraded storage before.
Pros:
Outstanding price to performance ratio
Large 2TB capacity at competitive pricing
Low power consumption
Includes useful cloning software
Five year warranty provides confidence
Cons:
Not suitable for professional content creation
Performance trails premium models noticeably
DRAM-less design impacts heavy multitasking
Slower write speeds when drive fills up
WD_BLACK SN7100 2TB NVMe SSD
The SN7100 represents Western Digital’s latest generation of high performance drives. Sequential read speeds hit 7,250 MB/s while writes reach 6,900 MB/s. These specifications put it directly competitive with premium offerings from other manufacturers at a more attractive price point.
Western Digital optimized this drive for content creation and gaming workloads. The controller handles sustained writes better than previous generations. Video editors will appreciate how smoothly the drive manages 4K and 8K footage during editing sessions.
The 2TB capacity provides ample space for power users. Build quality feels excellent, and the drive includes comprehensive warranty coverage.
Thermal performance stays solid under load, making it suitable for laptops and small form factor builds where cooling can be challenging.
Pros:
Flagship performance at mid-tier pricing
Excellent sustained write performance
Handles heat well without throttling
Two terabytes offers plenty of storage
Strong reliability track record
Cons:
Newer model has less long term user feedback
No included heatsink
Some cheaper alternatives exist for basic needs
Samsung 870 EVO 1TB SATA SSD
The Samsung 870 EVO remains the gold standard for SATA SSDs. While SATA technology cannot match NVMe speeds, this drive delivers the fastest performance possible within those limitations. Read and write speeds both reach around 560 MB/s, which represents the maximum the SATA interface allows.
This drive makes perfect sense for older computers that lack M.2 slots. Many laptops and desktops from just a few years ago still use 2.5 inch drive bays.
Upgrading from a hard drive to the 870 EVO transforms system responsiveness completely, making old computers feel new again.
Samsung’s reputation for reliability shines here. The drive includes a five year warranty and industry leading endurance ratings. TurboWrite technology maintains performance even during heavy write operations that would slow down lesser drives.
Pros:
Best SATA SSD performance available
Perfect for older system upgrades
Outstanding reliability and endurance
Five year warranty
Easy installation in any system
Cons:
SATA limitations cap maximum speed
More expensive than budget SATA options
NVMe drives offer better value for new builds
2.5 inch form factor less convenient than M.2
Crucial P310 1TB NVMe SSD
Crucial designed the P310 specifically for gaming handhelds and compact systems. The drive delivers impressive read speeds up to 7,100 MB/s despite its budget friendly pricing. This makes it ideal for Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, or laptop upgrades where space and efficiency matter.
The compact M.2 2280 form factor fits virtually any modern system. Power efficiency stands out as a major advantage. Gaming handhelds benefit tremendously from the low power draw, extending battery life while maintaining strong performance.
Acronis data recovery software comes included, which provides an extra layer of data protection. The drive includes a three year warranty. Installation in gaming handhelds requires some technical skill but detailed guides exist online for popular devices.
Pros:
Excellent performance for the price
Perfect for gaming handhelds
Energy efficient design
Includes data recovery software
Compact size fits tight spaces
Cons:
Shorter three year warranty
Less suitable for heavy workstation tasks
Limited capacity options
Performance drops under sustained heavy loads
SanDisk Extreme Portable 2TB External SSD
The SanDisk Extreme Portable offers high speed storage in a rugged, portable package. Transfer speeds reach 1,050 MB/s over the USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection. This makes backing up files or moving large projects between computers incredibly quick and convenient.
Durability sets this drive apart from competitors. The IP65 rating means it resists water and dust. The rubberized exterior absorbs impacts from drops.
Photographers and videographers love this drive for safely storing work on location without worrying about damage.
The 2TB capacity provides substantial space for backup storage or media libraries. The drive works with both Windows and Mac computers. Setup requires no software installation, just plug it in and start using it immediately.
Pros:
Rugged design withstands harsh conditions
Fast transfer speeds for external drive
Works with all modern computers
Compact and pocket sized
IP65 water and dust resistance
Cons:
More expensive than basic external drives
USB connection limits speed compared to internal drives
Heats up during sustained transfers
Two year warranty shorter than internal drives
Understanding SSD Speed Specifications
SSD manufacturers list impressive speed numbers in their marketing materials. Understanding what these figures actually mean helps you make better buying decisions.
Sequential read and write speeds represent how fast the drive moves large files in one continuous operation. These numbers matter most when copying movies, installing games, or backing up data.
Random read and write speeds tell a different story. These measurements show how well the drive handles small files scattered across the storage.
Your operating system constantly performs random operations when loading programs, switching between apps, or accessing different files. Good random performance makes your whole system feel snappier.
Real world performance often differs from advertised specifications. Manufacturers test drives under ideal conditions that do not reflect typical usage patterns. The drive might hit peak speeds for short bursts but slow down during extended operations as the cache fills up.
NVMe vs SATA: Which Technology Fits Your Needs
NVMe drives connect directly to your motherboard through PCIe slots. This connection provides significantly more bandwidth than SATA.
Modern NVMe drives deliver speeds five to ten times faster than the best SATA options. The performance advantage becomes obvious when working with large files or running demanding applications.
SATA drives still serve important purposes. They cost less per gigabyte than NVMe alternatives. Older computers lack M.2 slots but can still benefit dramatically from SATA SSD upgrades. The 2.5 inch form factor also works in external enclosures, making SATA drives versatile for various uses.
Consider your actual needs before choosing. Basic computing tasks like web browsing, document editing, and media playback will not show dramatic differences between NVMe and SATA speeds.
Gaming loads slightly faster on NVMe but the difference rarely exceeds a few seconds. Content creators working with 4K video definitely benefit from NVMe performance.
Capacity Planning for Different User Types
Choosing the right capacity prevents frustration later. Your operating system and essential programs consume 100 to 150 GB before you store any personal files.
A 500GB drive fills up surprisingly quickly, especially if you play modern games that often exceed 100 GB each.
Most users find 1TB hits the sweet spot. This capacity accommodates your operating system, productivity software, several large games, and a good collection of personal files.
The price per gigabyte becomes most attractive at the 1TB capacity point across most drive families.
Power users should consider 2TB or larger. Content creators working with video need substantial space for project files and footage.
Game enthusiasts who maintain large libraries appreciate having everything installed and ready to play without constantly uninstalling games to make room.
Installation Tips for Different System Types
Desktop installation typically offers the easiest upgrade path. Most modern motherboards include multiple M.2 slots clearly labeled in the manual.
Turn off your computer, discharge static electricity, locate the M.2 slot, remove the mounting screw, insert the drive at a 30 degree angle, press down, and secure with the screw.
Laptop upgrades require more careful planning. Check your specific model’s service manual before purchasing a drive. Some laptops use proprietary connectors or non-standard form factors. Many thin and light models solder storage directly to the motherboard, making upgrades impossible.
External SSDs need no installation knowledge. Simply connect the drive to your computer’s USB port.
Modern operating systems recognize the drive immediately and make it available for use. External drives work great for backup storage, media libraries, or moving files between multiple computers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will upgrading to an SSD really make my old computer faster?
Yes, upgrading to an SSD provides the single biggest performance improvement for older computers. Your system will boot in seconds instead of minutes. Programs open almost instantly. The difference feels dramatic because hard drives create the biggest bottleneck in older systems. Even a budget SATA SSD transforms how your computer responds to every action.
How do I transfer my operating system to a new SSD?
Most SSD manufacturers include free cloning software with their drives. Connect your new SSD using a USB adapter or install it in your computer. Run the cloning software and follow the prompts to copy everything from your old drive. The process typically takes one to two hours depending on how much data you need to transfer. After cloning, swap the drives and your system boots normally with everything intact.
Do I need a heatsink for my NVMe SSD?
Many modern motherboards include built in M.2 heatsinks. If yours does, use it. Drives running hot can throttle performance to protect themselves from damage. If your motherboard lacks cooling, consider adding an aftermarket heatsink, especially for high performance drives under sustained workloads. Most casual users will not encounter thermal issues under normal use.
Can I use an NVMe SSD in a PlayStation 5?
Yes, the PlayStation 5 supports M.2 NVMe SSD expansion. Sony requires drives with a heatsink and minimum read speeds of 5,500 MB/s. Several drives in this guide work perfectly for PS5 expansion, including the WD_BLACK SN850X and Samsung 990 PRO. Check Sony’s official compatibility list before purchasing to ensure your chosen drive meets all requirements.
Are Black Friday SSD deals actually worth waiting for?
Black Friday consistently offers the best SSD prices of the entire year. Discounts typically range from 20 to 40 percent off regular pricing. Waiting until Black Friday can save you significant money on the exact same drives. However, if your current storage is failing or severely limiting your productivity, buying immediately makes more sense than waiting for sales.
