Best 250GB PCIe 3.0 M.2 SSDs
There are 107 250GB PCIe 3.0 M.2 SSDs compared here. The fastest is the Samsung EVO PLUS 970 M.2 at 3500 MB/s read at 250GB, and the highest-rated for endurance is the Corsair M.2 Force Series MP510 de (6820 TBW). Sequential reads across the group span 1200–3500 MB/s at 250GB.
Why this configuration
A 250GB PCIe 3.0 M.2 SSD is an affordable NVMe step up from SATA. Gen3 is roughly six times SATA's throughput yet often costs little more, making it the easy default for a first NVMe drive or a laptop that only supports Gen3.
250GB covers an OS and core apps with little room for a large game library.
Usually chosen for: budget builders, laptop upgraders and anyone leaving SATA behind.
Good fit: mainstream desktop and laptop builds.
Ranked list
The top 20 of 107 are listed. The full SSD catalogue filters on every spec.
Speeds on this page are the manufacturer's 250GB ratings where published (22 of 107 drives), not the family headline figure. 12 of the 107 are rated slower at 250GB than at their fastest capacity. Rated writes at 250GB run 900–2300 MB/s.
| # | Model | Tier | Controller | Read MB/s (at 250GB) | TBW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Seagate IRONWOLF 510 250GB, 500GB, 960GB, 1.92TB | Top-tier | Phison PS5012-E12DC | 3150* | 3500 | Find on Amazon |
| 2 |  Samsung EVO PLUS 970 M.2 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | SAMSUNG PHOENIX CONTROLLER (5-Core | 3500 | 1200 | Check price on Amazon |
| 3 |  Samsung PM981A 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | High-end | — | 3500* | — | Check price on Amazon |
| 4 |  Samsung EVO 970 M.2 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | High-end | SAMSUNG PHOENIX CONTROLLER (5-Core | 3400 | 600 | Check price on Amazon |
| 5 |  Samsung 960 EVO 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | High-end | Samsung Polaris Controller (5-Core | 3200 | 400 | Check price on Amazon |
| 6 |  Samsung PM981 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | SAMSUNG PHOENIX CONTROLLER "S4LR02 | 3200* | — | Check price on Amazon |
| 7 |  ADATA XPG SX8200 PRO 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | SM2262ENG | Silicon Motion SM2262G | 3500* | 1280 | Find on Amazon |
| 8 |  ADATA XPG GAMMIX S11 PRO 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 960GB | High-end | Silicon Motion SM2262EN (2-Core 62 | 3500* | 1280 | Find on Amazon |
| 9 |  Addlink X70 RGB 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | Phison PS5012-E12 (4-Core, 8-Canai | 3500* | 2000 | Find on Amazon |
| 10 |  Addlink S70 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | Phison PS5012-E12 (4-Core, 8-Canai | 3500* | 2000 | Find on Amazon |
| 11 |  Asgard AN3 NVMe 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | Silicon Motion SM2262EN (Dual Core | 3500* | — | Find on Amazon |
| 12 |  Hikvision CRIUS HIKVISION E2000 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | Phison PS5012-E12 | 3500* | 1280 | Find on Amazon |
| 13 |  Hikvision CRIUS HIKVISION C2000 PRO 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | Phison PS5012-E12 / Silicon Motion | 3500* | 1280 | Find on Amazon |
| 14 |  Hikvision CRIUS HIKVISION C2000 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | Phison PS5012-E12 | 3500* | 1280 | Find on Amazon |
| 15 |  Kingston KC2500 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | Silicon Motion SM2262EN (2-Core 62 | 3500 | 1200 | Find on Amazon |
| 16 |  Netac N950E PRO 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | Variante 1: Silicon Motion SM2262E | 3500* | 500 | Find on Amazon |
| 17 |  PNY CS3030 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | Phison PS5012-E12 | 3500 | 3115 | Find on Amazon |
| 18 |  Corsair M.2 Force Series MP510 de 250GB, 500GB, 4TB, 960GB, 1.92TB | High-end | Phison PS5012-E12 (4-Core, 8-Canai | 3480* | 6820 | Find on Amazon |
| 19 |  Hikvision CRIUS HIKVISION E2000R 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | High-end | Phison PS5012-E12-27 (TSMC 28nm 2- | 3450* | 1665 | Find on Amazon |
| 20 |  Patriot VIPER GAMING VPN100 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | Phison E12 PS5012-E12 | 3450* | 3115 | Find on Amazon |
* family rating — the manufacturer does not publish a 250GB figure for this drive.
The parts, explained
250GB fits an OS plus core apps.
PCIe 3.0 x4 reaches about 3,500 MB/s — plenty for everyday use and gaming, and cheaper than Gen4.
The M.2 form factor plugs straight into the motherboard with no cables.