Best 250GB SATA 2.5" SATA SSDs
There are 171 250GB SATA 2.5" SATA SSDs compared here. The fastest is the Reletech P400 at 3500 MB/s read, and the highest-rated for endurance is the Seagate IronWolf 110 (7000 TBW). Sequential reads across the group span 285–3500 MB/s at 250GB.
Why this configuration
A 250GB SATA 2.5" SATA 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.
250GB covers an OS and core apps with little room for a large game library.
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
The top 20 of 171 are listed. The full SSD catalogue filters on every spec.
Speeds on this page are the manufacturer's 250GB ratings where published (27 of 171 drives), not the family headline figure. 4 of the 171 are rated slower at 250GB than at their fastest capacity. Rated writes at 250GB run 370–550 MB/s.
| # | 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 850 PRO 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | Top-tier | Samsung 3-core 400MHz MHX Controll | 550* | 450 | Check price on Amazon |
| 3 |  Samsung 840 PRO 128GB, 250GB, 500GB | Top-tier | Samsung's 3-Core MDX Controller | 540* | 73 | Check price on Amazon |
| 4 |  Seagate IronWolf 110 250GB, 500GB, 960GB, 1.92TB, 3.84TB | Top-tier | Seagate 500021768 | 560* | 7000 | Find on Amazon |
| 5 |  Samsung EVO 870 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | High-end | Samsung MKX "Metis" Controller (3- | 560 | 2400 | Check price on Amazon |
| 6 |  Samsung 860 EVO 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | High-end | SAMSUNG MJX CONTROLLER (3-Core, 8- | 550 | 2400 | Check price on Amazon |
| 7 |  Samsung 850 EVO 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | High-end | Samsung MGX Controller (2-Core, 8- | 540 | 300 | Check price on Amazon |
| 8 |  Samsung 840 EVO 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 750GB | High-end | Samsung's 3-Core 400MHz MEX Contro | 540 | — | Check price on Amazon |
| 9 |  Samsung 750 EVO 128GB, 250GB, 500GB | High-end | Samsung MGX Controller | 540 | 100 | Check price on Amazon |
| 10 |  ADATA SU900 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | Silicon Motion SM2258H (1-Core, 4- | 560* | 1600 | Find on Amazon |
| 11 |  ADATA SX950 250GB, 500GB, 960GB, 1.92TB | High-end | Silicon Motion SM2258G (1-Core, Cl | 560* | 1600 | Find on Amazon |
| 12 |  Crucial MX100 128GB, 250GB, 500GB | High-end | Marvell 88SS9189 | 550* | 72 | Find on Amazon |
| 13 |  Crucial MX200 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | High-end | Marvell 88SS9189 | 550 | 320 | Find on Amazon |
| 14 |  Gigabyte UD PRO SSD 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | High-end | — | 550* | 750 | Find on Amazon |
| 15 |  OCZ TRION 150 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 960GB | High-end | Toshiba TC58NC1000 (Phison PS3110- | 550* | 240 | Find on Amazon |
| 16 |  Gigabyte SSD UD PRO 250GB, 500GB | High-end | Phison PS3110-S10 (4-Core, 55nm CM | 530* | 200 | Find on Amazon |
| 17 |  Samsung 830 SERIES 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 64GB | High-end | SAMSUNG S4LJ204X01-Y040 | 520* | — | Find on Amazon |
| 18 |  HyperX Savage SSD 250GB, 500GB, 960GB | High-end | Phison PS3110-S10 (4-Core, 55nm CM | 520* | 681 | Find on Amazon |
| 19 |  Corsair Performance Series™ Pro 128GB, 250GB | High-end | Marvell 88S-9174 BKK2 | 515* | — | Find on Amazon |
| 20 |  Crucial M500 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 960GB | High-end | Marvell 88SS9187 | 500* | 72 | 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.
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 2.5-inch form factor drops into any laptop or desktop drive bay.
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.