Best 1TB SATA MLC SSDs
There are 15 1TB SATA MLC SSDs compared here. The fastest is the Samsung 860 PRO at 560 MB/s read at 1TB. Sequential reads across the group span 530–560 MB/s at 1TB.
Why this configuration
A 1TB SATA MLC SSD is a legacy high-endurance choice. These older MLC SATA drives are slow by today's standards but exceptionally durable, which is why they still appear in always-on and write-heavy roles.
1TB is the capacity most single-drive builds settle on.
Usually chosen for: keeping an older system alive, or a rugged secondary/logging drive.
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 (15 of 15 drives), not the family headline figure. Rated writes at 1TB run 450–530 MB/s.
| # | Model | Tier | Controller | Read MB/s (at 1TB) | TBW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Samsung 860 PRO 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | Top-tier | SAMSUNG MJX CONTROLLER (3-Core, 8- | 560 | 4800 | Check price on Amazon |
| 2 |  Crucial MX300 1TB, 2TB, 275GB, 525GB, 750GB | High-end | MARVEL 88SS1074 (2-Core, 4-Canais, | 530 | 400 | Check price on Amazon |
| 3 |  ADATA SU900 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | Silicon Motion SM2258H (1-Core, 4- | 560 | 1600 | Find on Amazon |
| 4 |  Crucial MX200 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | High-end | Marvell 88SS9189 | 550 | 320 | Find on Amazon |
| 5 |  Crucial MX300 M.2 1TB, 275GB, 525GB | High-end | MARVEL 88SS1074 (2-Core, 4-Canais, | 530 | 360 | Find on Amazon |
| 6 |  ADATA SP920 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Mid-range | Marvell 88SS9189 | 560 | 72 | Find on Amazon |
| 7 |  TeamGroup VULKAN 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Mid-range | Silicon Motion SM2258G | 560 | 240 | Find on Amazon |
| 8 |  Crucial M550 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Mid-range | Marvell 88SS9189 | 550 | 72 | Find on Amazon |
| 9 |  Kingston SSDNOW KC400 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Mid-range | Phison PS3110-S10 (4-Core, 55nm CM | 550 | 1600 | Find on Amazon |
| 10 |  Crucial BX100 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Mid-range | Silicon Motion SM2246EN | 535 | 72 | Find on Amazon |
| 11 |  ADATA SP610 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Value | Silicon Motion SM2246EM | 560 | — | Find on Amazon |
| 12 |  Mushkin REACTOR 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | Value | Silicon Motion SM2246EN | 560 | 144 | Find on Amazon |
| 13 |  Transcend 370 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Value | Transcend TS6500 (rebranded Silico | 560 | 1180 | Find on Amazon |
| 14 |  OCZ VX500 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Value | Toshiba TC358790 | 550 | 592 | Find on Amazon |
| 15 |  Toshiba Q300 PRO 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | — | Toshiba TC58NC1000 | 550 | 640 | 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.
MLC NAND is older and costs more per gigabyte, but is very durable.
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.