Best Budget NVMe SSDs Under $200

TL;DR: The XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade packs PCIe 4.0 speeds up to 7400 MB/s read and 6800 MB/s write, offers up to 8 TB capacity, and includes AES‑256 encryption, but its power draw and heat can be a concern without a heatsink.

The drive’s headline spec is its sequential performance: up to 7400 MB/s read on a PC and 6800 MB/s write, using an Innogrit IG5236 controller and DDR4 + SLC cache. Capacity options range from 512 GB to a massive 8 TB, and the 1 TB model is rated for 740 TBW of writes, giving it a durability edge over many budget rivals.

At $179.99 the S70 Blade sits near the top of the price band, making it pricier than the ultra‑light MSI SPATIUM M480 PRO and the entry‑level Silicon Power 128 GB drive. With its heatsink version weighing 11 g (0.025 lb) it is heavier than the 1 g MSI model but still lighter than the 8 g Silicon Power 1 TB SSD. Endurance‑wise, its 740 TBW (1 TB) outpaces the 600 TBW of the Silicon Power competitor and rivals the 900 TBW of the WD Blue SN5000.

Users consistently praise the SSD’s lightning‑fast boot and game load times, especially when installed in a PS5, noting the drive’s “quiet operation” and straightforward setup. Professional reviewers highlight the blazing sequential numbers and call the Innogrit controller a cost‑effective Phison alternative, while also warning that sustained writes can dip once the DRAM cache is exhausted and that the drive’s power consumption is higher than some rivals, which may lead to thermal throttling in poorly ventilated builds.

Beyond speed, the S70 Blade packs AES‑256‑bit hardware encryption, LDPC ECC, end‑to‑end data protection, and an integrated RAID engine for extra data integrity. Its MTBF rates at 2,000,000 hours, and it operates safely from 0 °C to 70 °C, making it a reliable choice for demanding workloads.

Best for: Avid gamers, overclockers, PC enthusiasts, and PS5 owners who need high‑capacity, high‑speed storage.

Avoid if: You need ultra‑low power consumption, the absolute fastest random IOPS, or are building an ultra‑compact system with strict space constraints.

TL;DR: At $48.97, the Silicon Power 128 GB P34A60 offers PCIe 3.0 NVMe performance with 2,200 MB/s reads, 1,600 MB/s writes, and solid durability for budget‑focused builds.

The drive’s standout spec is its 128 GB capacity paired with a sequential read speed of 2,200 MB/s and write speed of 1,600 MB/s, all delivered over a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface that tops out at 8 Gb/s. It also supports Host Memory Buffer (HMB) and includes an SLC cache, while LDPC error correction helps keep data intact.

Compared with the eight other SSDs in this roundup, the Silicon Power unit feels noticeably larger and heavier. At 7 mm thick, 125 mm long and 84 mm wide, it sits taller than the ultra‑thin MSI SPATIUM M480 PRO (2.15 mm) and longer than MSI’s 80 mm length. Its 18 g weight also exceeds the roughly 1 g of the MSI drive and the 5–6 g range of the Western Digital and Teamgroup models. Performance‑wise, its 2,200 MB/s read speed lags most peers, many of which hit 5,000 MB/s or more.

Users consistently praise the SSD’s affordability and the “solid performance for budget builds” noted in many reviews. The inclusion of HMB and an SLC cache earns professional nods for improving system responsiveness and burst‑write capability. However, reviewers also point out that the 128 GB capacity can feel cramped for larger game libraries or media collections, and the Gen3 x4 interface limits it against newer Gen4 options.

Best for: Budget-conscious buyers seeking a reliable entry-level option

Avoid if: You have limited desk space or need portability

TL;DR: The Kingston NV3 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD delivers up to 6,000 MB/s read, 4,000 MB/s write and a lightweight single‑sided design for under $165, making it a strong budget choice for most users.

What really stands out is the 6,000 MB/s sequential read and 4,000 MB/s sequential write performance paired with a full 1 TB of storage. The drive uses a DRAM‑less architecture that relies on Host Memory Buffer, keeping the component thin at 2.3 mm height and weighing just 0.01448 lb (6.57 g). Its 3‑year warranty and 2,000,000‑hour MTBF add confidence for everyday use.

Compared with the other eight SSDs in this roundup, the NV3’s read speed outpaces the Teamgroup MP33’s 1,800 MB/s and sits above the Western Digital WD Blue SN5000’s 5,150 MB/s. It is a bit heavier than the ultra‑light MSI SPATIUM M480 PRO (0.0022 lb) but still lighter than the Silicon Power 1 TB model (0.0176 lb). Its 320 TBW endurance is lower than the WD Blue SN5000’s 900 TBW, yet higher than some entry‑level drives that list no endurance figure.

Reviewers consistently note the noticeable boost in boot times and game loading, praising the low power draw and modest heat output that suit thin laptops and compact builds. However, critics point to batch‑to‑batch variability and occasional throttling under sustained writes, which can concern heavy content‑creation workloads.

Best for: Budget‑conscious gamers, content creators, and casual users upgrading to a PCIe 4.0 laptop or thin desktop.

Avoid if: You need top‑tier random IOPS, heavy sustained write workloads, or guaranteed consistency across every batch.

TL;DR: The Crucial P3 Plus 1TB delivers up to 5 GB/s reads and 4.2 GB/s writes at a sub‑$200 price, offering strong performance for gamers and everyday users while staying lightweight at just 5.8 g.

The drive packs a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface with a Phison E21T controller and a DRAM‑less design, pushing sequential reads up to 5000 MB/s and sequential writes between 3600 MB/s and 4200 MB/s. Its 1 TB capacity is backed by a 264 GB dynamic pSLC cache, which helps sustain those high write bursts. With a 5‑year limited warranty and SMART support, it targets reliability without the premium price tag.

In the context of the roundup, the P3 Plus is among the lighter options, weighing just 5.8 g, and it feels lighter than most of its competitors. It's priced more affordably than several higher‑end models, while still offering near‑Gen4 speeds that many pricier drives claim.

Users consistently praise the noticeable speed boost when booting Windows or loading large games, describing the experience as “very snappy.” Professional reviewers note the 4.2 GB/s peak write performance for a QLC drive, but they also point out that random 4K reads cap at 164 K IOPS and that the DRAM‑less architecture can introduce latency in small‑file workloads. The adaptive thermal protection helps keep temperatures in check, though some users report throttling when the cache is exhausted during prolonged writes.

Best for: Budget‑conscious gamers, general PC users, and content creators who need fast OS and application loads.

Avoid if: You need professional‑grade sustained write performance, high random IOPS, or a drive for intensive video editing and database workloads.

TL;DR: The MSI SPATIUM M480 PRO 1TB delivers PCIe 4.0 speeds up to 7400 MB/s read and 6000 MB/s write, offers 700 TBW endurance, a 4.8‑star rating, and a $85 price tag.

The standout spec is its sequential read speed of 7400 MB/s, paired with 6000 MB/s sequential writes and random I/O of 750,000 IOPS read and 1,000,000 IOPS write. A 1 GB DDR4 cache and 3D NAND flash help sustain those numbers, while an MTBF of 1,825,000 hours and 700 TBW endurance underline long‑term reliability.

Compared with the other eight SSDs in this budget roundup, the SPATIUM M480 PRO outpaces the Silicon Power 128GB’s 2,200 MB/s read and 1,600 MB/s write, and it also leaves the Teamgroup MP33’s 1,800 MB/s read and 1,500 MB/s write far behind. Its read speed matches the high‑end XPG GAMMIX S70’s 7,400 MB/s, while offering a higher write figure than the WD Blue SN5000’s 5,150 MB/s and the Silicon Power 1TB’s 5,000 MB/s. The Kingston NV3 reaches 6,000 MB/s read but only 4,000 MB/s write, making the MSI drive the fastest in both metrics among most peers, except the S70’s slightly higher write claim.

Reviewers consistently praise the “high speed” and plug‑and‑play installation, noting that the drive’s AES‑256 encryption, TRIM, SMART, and LDPC ECC add a solid data‑protection layer. Professional editors point out that real‑world benchmarks sometimes fall short of the advertised peaks by about 300 MB/s, and the 1 TB model caps around the listed 6000 MB/s write speed rather than the 7000 MB/s some marketing materials suggest. Power consumption stays modest at 40 mW idle and 9.5 W max, which helps keep thermals low in compact builds.

Best for: Budget‑conscious buyers seeking a reliable entry‑level option

Avoid if: You want the best value‑per‑dollar in its price range

TL;DR: The Teamgroup MP33 1TB delivers solid PCIe 3.0 performance with 1,800 MB/s reads, 1,500 MB/s writes, a 5‑year warranty, and strong endurance, but its $168.99 price sits above the cheapest options in the round‑up.

The MP33’s standout spec is its PCIe 3.0 x4 interface paired with NVMe 1.3, giving a sequential read speed of 1,800 MB/s and a write speed of 1,500 MB/s on a full 1 TB of 3D NAND flash. At just 6 g, it’s one of the lightest drives in the list, and the 5‑year limited warranty adds peace of mind for long‑term builds.

When you line it up against the other eight contenders, the MP33 lands in the middle of the performance spectrum. Its read/write rates are slower than the Kingston NV3’s 6,000/4,000 MB/s and the WD Blue SN5000’s up to 5,150 MB/s, but its endurance of over 600 TBW exceeds Kingston’s 320 TBW and matches Silicon Power’s 600 TBW. It also outlasts the Fanxiang 1TB (which lists a peak temperature of 51 °C) by offering a MTBF of 1,500,000 hours and LDPC error correction. In terms of weight, the MP33 is lighter than the XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE (11 g with heatsink) and comparable to the MSI SPATIUM M480 PRO, which is even lighter at 1 g.

Reviewers consistently praise the drive’s reliability, noting the LDPC and garbage‑collection features keep performance steady over time. Users with gaming rigs and content‑creation laptops appreciate the quick load times and the SLC caching that boosts burst writes. The most common criticism is the price; many comment that the $168.99 tag feels steep compared with faster‑speced PCIe 4.0 models that dip below $150.

Best for: Most users looking for a well‑reviewed, reliable mainstream option

Avoid if: You're shopping on a tight budget — it's priced at $168.99

TL;DR: The WD Blue SN5000 packs 2 TB of storage, up to 5150 MB/s read and 4850‑4900 MB/s write speeds, and a 900 TBW endurance rating for a solid budget‑focused PCIe Gen4 SSD.

Western Digital’s WD Blue SN5000 stands out with a 2 TB capacity and a sequential read ceiling of 5150 MB/s, using a Polaris 3 controller and nCache 4.0 technology. It’s a DRAM‑less design that still manages up to 730 K IOPS random reads and 770 K IOPS random writes, while the pSLC cache exceeds 300 GB for bursty workloads.

Compared with the other eight SSDs in this roundup, the SN5000 is lighter than the Fanxiang 1 TB model (0.01 lb vs 0.02 lb) but noticeably heavier than the ultra‑light MSI SPATIUM M480 PRO (0.01 lb vs 0.00 lb). Its 129.54 mm length makes it longer than Kingston’s NV3 (80 mm) yet a touch shorter than Teamgroup’s MP33 (133.4 mm). In raw speed, the SN5000 trails the Kingston NV3’s 6000 MB/s read and the MSI SPATIUM’s 7400 MB/s, but it surpasses most peers in endurance, offering 900 TBW versus 320 TBW (Kingston) or 600 TBW (Silicon Power).

Users have awarded the drive a 4.7‑star average from over 7,800 reviews, praising its fast file‑copy performance and reliable PCIe Gen4 operation. Professional reviewers note the “excellent sustained mixed I/O performance (>4500 MB/s average)” and commend the large pSLC cache, while also flagging occasional random‑I/O slowdowns once the DRAM‑less cache is exhausted. The SSD runs comfortably between 0 °C and 85 °C and survives 1500 G shock, adding confidence for mobile or rugged setups.

Best for: Creators, video editors, photographers, and AI‑workflow users who need fast sequential throughput and high endurance on a budget.

Avoid if: You need the absolute highest random I/O performance or are building an ultra‑high‑performance gaming rig.

TL;DR: Silicon Power’s 1 TB UD90 SSD offers 5000 MB/s reads, 4800 MB/s writes, a 69 GB SLC cache, and 600 TBW endurance for $179, making it a solid budget PCIe 4.0 choice.

The drive’s headline numbers are its 5000 MB/s sequential read and 4800 MB/s sequential write speeds, backed by a 69 GB SLC cache that can burst up to 4.6 GB/s. At 1 TB capacity and a 600 TBW endurance rating, it targets users who need fast boot‑times and game loads and doesn't break the bank. Its 8 g (≈0.02 lb) single‑sided form factor also fits thin laptops and compact PCs.

Compared with the eight other SSDs in this roundup, the Silicon Power sits in the middle of the performance spectrum: it reads faster than the Teamgroup MP33 (1,800 MB/s) and the MSI SPATIUM M480 PRO (7,400 MB/s is faster, but that model is much lighter at 0.00 lb), yet it lags behind the XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade’s 7,400 MB/s and the Kingston NV3’s 6,000 MB/s reads. It weighs less than the XPG Blade (0.025 lb) and the Teamgroup MP33 (0.01 lb), but it's heavier than the ultra‑light MSI model (0.00 lb). The 600 TBW endurance outlasts the Crucial P3 Plus (220 TB) but falls short of the WD Blue SN5000’s 900 TBW.

Reviewers note that the DRAM‑less design, paired with Host Memory Buffer support, keeps latency low for everyday tasks, and users praise the quick system boots and game launches. However, the same sources flag a noticeable drop in sustained write speed once the 69 GB SLC cache is exhausted, falling to about 1.8 GB/s and eventually to 275 MB/s during prolonged writes. Some users also report higher temperatures under heavy loads, likely because the drive lacks an integrated heatsink.

Best for: Budget‑conscious gamers, laptop owners and casual creators who need a fast PCIe 4.0 boot or game‑load drive.

Avoid if: You require heavy sustained write performance or prioritize the coolest operation under continuous load.

TL;DR: Fanxiang’s 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD offers 4700 MB/s reads, 3000 MB/s writes, and 320 TBW endurance at a $159.99 price, making it a solid budget pick despite occasional write‑speed drops.

The drive packs a 1 TB capacity in a compact 70.1 mm × 100.1 mm × 7.1 mm form factor and weighs about 0.02 lb. It advertises up to 4800 MB/s sequential reads and delivers 4700 MB/s in spec, while sequential writes sit at 3000 MB/s. Manufacturer rates endurance at 320 TBW, and the drive runs up to a peak temperature of 51 °C under load.

Compared with the eight other SSDs in this roundup, Fanxiang is heavier than the ultra‑light MSI SPATIUM M480 PRO and the Kingston NV3, but lighter than the XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE and the Silicon Power 1 TB model. Its read speed lands between the high‑end Kingston (6000 MB/s) and the more modest Teamgroup MP33 (1800 MB/s). Write performance trails the Kingston and XPG offerings but outpaces the Teamgroup and Silicon Power 128 GB drives. Endurance matches Kingston’s 320 TBW but falls short of WD Blue’s 900 TBW.

Users consistently praise the SSD for lightning‑fast boot times and smooth game loading, noting that it's still responsive even when the drive is 84 % full. Professional reviewers highlight the lack of slowdown in real‑world use, while also pointing out that the DRAM‑less design relying on Host Memory Buffer (HMB) can lead to occasional inconsistency. The QLC‑based S690Q model, in particular, may see write speeds dip toward the low 3000 MB/s range under heavy workloads.

Best for: Budget-conscious buyers seeking a reliable entry‑level option

Avoid if: You need enterprise‑grade consistency or maximum sustained performance for heavy workstation tasks