Best 250GB Samsung MLC SSDs
There are 5 250GB Samsung MLC SSDs compared here. The fastest is the Samsung 950 PRO at 2500 MB/s read, and the highest-rated for endurance is the Samsung 860 PRO (4800 TBW). Sequential reads across the group span 450–2500 MB/s at 250GB.
Why this configuration
A 250GB Samsung MLC SSD is a legacy endurance choice. MLC stores two bits per cell instead of three, so these older drives take far more rewriting than a modern budget drive, at a much higher cost per gigabyte. Samsung specifically tends to be chosen here for its firmware track record and warranty support.
250GB covers an OS and core apps with little room for a large game library.
Usually chosen for: write-heavy secondary roles and keeping older machines useful.
Good fit: mainstream desktop and laptop builds.
Ranked list
Speeds on this page are the manufacturer's 250GB ratings where published (1 of 5 drives), not the family headline figure.
| # | Model | Tier | Controller | Read MB/s (at 250GB) | 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 |  Samsung 840 PRO 128GB, 250GB, 500GB | Top-tier | Samsung's 3-Core MDX Controller | 540* | 73 | Check price on Amazon |
| 3 |  Samsung 830 SERIES 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 64GB | High-end | SAMSUNG S4LJ204X01-Y040 | 520* | — | Find on Amazon |
| 4 |  Samsung 950 PRO 250GB, 500GB | Mid-range | Samsung UBX | 2500* | 400 | Check price on Amazon |
| 5 |  Samsung T1 PORTABLE SSD 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Mid-range | SAMSUNG 2-core MGX controller(S4L0 | 450 | — | 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.
MLC NAND is older and costs more per gigabyte, but is very durable.
Staying with Samsung means consistent firmware, tooling and warranty handling across the range.