Best 1TB SATA M.2 SSDs
There are 9 1TB SATA M.2 SSDs compared here. The fastest is the Crucial MX500 M.2 at 560 MB/s read at 1TB, and the highest-rated for endurance is the Samsung EVO 860 M.2 (1200 TBW). Sequential reads across the group span 530–560 MB/s at 1TB.
Why this configuration
A 1TB SATA M.2 SSD is a budget and compatibility choice. SATA won't win benchmarks, but it's the cheapest way to add solid-state speed and fits essentially any PC or laptop with a 2.5-inch bay.
1TB is the capacity most single-drive builds settle on.
Usually chosen for: reviving older machines, cheap capacity upgrades and second drives.
Good fit: budget upgrades, older PCs and second drives.
Look elsewhere for: large-file creative work where NVMe pulls ahead.
Ranked list
Speeds on this page are the manufacturer's 1TB ratings where published (9 of 9 drives), not the family headline figure. 1 of the 9 are rated slower at 1TB than at their fastest capacity. Rated writes at 1TB run 480–560 MB/s.
| # | Model | Tier | Controller | Read MB/s (at 1TB) | TBW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Samsung EVO 860 M.2 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | SAMSUNG MJX CONTROLLER (3-Core, 8- | 550 | 1200 | Check price on Amazon |
| 2 |  Samsung 850 EVO M.2 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | High-end | Samsung MGX Controller (2-Core, 8- | 540 | 150 | Check price on Amazon |
| 3 |  Crucial MX300 M.2 1TB, 275GB, 525GB | High-end | MARVEL 88SS1074 (2-Core, 4-Canais, | 530 | 360 | Find on Amazon |
| 4 |  Crucial MX500 M.2 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Mid-range | Silicon Motion SM2258H (1-Core, 4- | 560 | 360 | Find on Amazon |
| 5 |  ADATA ULTIMATE SU800 M.2 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Mid-range | Silicon Motion SM2258 | 560 | 800 | Find on Amazon |
| 6 |  Western Digital BLUE M.2 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | Mid-range | MARVEL 88SS1074 (2-Core, 4-Canais, | 530 | 500 | Find on Amazon |
| 7 |  Mushkin SOURCE M.2 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Value | Silicon Motion SM2258XT (1-Core, 4 | 560 | 400 | Find on Amazon |
| 8 |  TeamGroup MS30 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | Value | Silicon Motion SM2258XT (1-Core, 4 | 530 | 480 | Find on Amazon |
| 9 |  Orico TROODON N300 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | — | Silicon Motion SM2258XT ou Silicon | 560 | 400 | Find on Amazon |
The parts, explained
1TB is the mainstream single-drive capacity.
SATA III tops out around 550 MB/s, but it is the cheapest interface and fits any 2.5-inch bay or older laptop.
The M.2 form factor plugs straight into the motherboard with no cables.
Common questions
Is SATA fast enough in 2026?
For an OS, apps and most games you won't notice the difference versus NVMe in daily use. NVMe pulls ahead mainly on large file transfers and load-heavy creative work.