Best 500GB Samsung SSDs
There are 28 500GB Samsung SSDs compared here. The fastest is the Samsung 980 PRO at 6900 MB/s read at 500GB, and the highest-rated for endurance is the Samsung 860 PRO (4800 TBW). Sequential reads across the group span 450–6900 MB/s at 500GB.
Why this configuration
A 500GB Samsung SSD is a capacity-first shortlist. Everything here is available at this size, across interfaces and price tiers, so the choice comes down to how fast you need it and how much rewriting it will take. Samsung specifically tends to be chosen here for its firmware track record and warranty support.
500GB is a sensible OS-plus-a-few-games size.
Usually chosen for: buyers who have already settled on the size and are picking on specs.
Good fit: mainstream desktop and laptop builds.
Ranked list
The top 20 of 28 are listed. The full SSD catalogue filters on every spec.
Speeds on this page are the manufacturer's 500GB ratings where published (17 of 28 drives), not the family headline figure. 2 of the 28 are rated slower at 500GB than at their fastest capacity. Rated writes at 500GB run 450–5000 MB/s.
| # | Model | Tier | Controller | Read MB/s (at 500GB) | TBW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Samsung 980 PRO 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | Top-tier | SAMSUNG ELPIS CONTROLLER (Samsung | 6900 | 1200 | Check price on Amazon |
| 2 |  Samsung 960 PRO M.2 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | Top-tier | SAMSUNG POLARIS CONTROLLER (5-Core | 3500* | 1200 | Check price on Amazon |
| 3 |  Samsung 860 PRO 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | Top-tier | SAMSUNG MJX CONTROLLER (3-Core, 8- | 560* | 4800 | Check price on Amazon |
| 4 |  Samsung 850 PRO 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | Top-tier | Samsung 3-core 400MHz MHX Controll | 550* | 450 | Check price on Amazon |
| 5 |  Samsung 840 PRO 128GB, 250GB, 500GB | Top-tier | Samsung's 3-Core MDX Controller | 540* | 73 | Check price on Amazon |
| 6 |  Samsung PRO 970 M.2 500GB, 1TB | Top-tier | SAMSUNG PHOENIX CONTROLLER (5-Core | 3500* | 1200 | Find on Amazon |
| 7 |  Samsung EVO PLUS 970 M.2 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | SAMSUNG PHOENIX CONTROLLER (5-Core | 3500 | 1200 | Check price on Amazon |
| 8 |  Samsung PM981A 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | High-end | — | 3500* | — | Check price on Amazon |
| 9 |  Samsung EVO 970 M.2 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | High-end | SAMSUNG PHOENIX CONTROLLER (5-Core | 3400 | 600 | Check price on Amazon |
| 10 |  Samsung 960 EVO 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | High-end | Samsung Polaris Controller (5-Core | 3200 | 400 | Check price on Amazon |
| 11 |  Samsung PM981 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | SAMSUNG PHOENIX CONTROLLER "S4LR02 | 3200* | — | Check price on Amazon |
| 12 |  Samsung EVO 870 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | High-end | Samsung MKX "Metis" Controller (3- | 560 | 2400 | Check price on Amazon |
| 13 |  Samsung 860 EVO 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | High-end | SAMSUNG MJX CONTROLLER (3-Core, 8- | 550 | 2400 | Check price on Amazon |
| 14 |  Samsung EVO 860 M.2 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | SAMSUNG MJX CONTROLLER (3-Core, 8- | 550 | 1200 | Check price on Amazon |
| 15 |  Samsung 850 EVO 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | High-end | Samsung MGX Controller (2-Core, 8- | 540 | 300 | Check price on Amazon |
| 16 |  Samsung 840 EVO 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 750GB | High-end | Samsung's 3-Core 400MHz MEX Contro | 540 | — | Check price on Amazon |
| 17 |  Samsung 750 EVO 128GB, 250GB, 500GB | High-end | Samsung MGX Controller | 540 | 100 | Check price on Amazon |
| 18 |  Samsung 850 EVO M.2 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | High-end | Samsung MGX Controller (2-Core, 8- | 540 | 150 | Check price on Amazon |
| 19 |  Samsung X5 PORTABLE SSD 500GB, 1TB, 2TB | High-end | SAMSUNG PHOENIX CONTROLLER (5-Core | 2800 | — | Find on Amazon |
| 20 |  Samsung 830 SERIES 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 64GB | High-end | SAMSUNG S4LJ204X01-Y040 | 520* | — | Find on Amazon |
* family rating — the manufacturer does not publish a 500GB figure for this drive.
The parts, explained
500GB is a comfortable OS-and-games starting point.
Staying with Samsung means consistent firmware, tooling and warranty handling across the range.