Best PCIe 3.0 Samsung TLC SSDs
There are 8 PCIe 3.0 Samsung TLC SSDs compared here. The fastest is the Samsung 980 at 3500 MB/s read, and the highest-rated for endurance is the Samsung EVO 970 M2 (1200 TBW). Sequential reads across the group span 3000–3500 MB/s.
Why this configuration
A PCIe 3.0 Samsung TLC 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. Samsung specifically tends to be chosen here for its firmware track record and warranty support.
Usually chosen for: budget builders, laptop upgraders and anyone leaving SATA behind.
Good fit: everyday all-rounder use, from OS drive to game library.
Ranked list
| # | Model | Tier | Controller | Read MB/s | TBW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | High-end | SAMSUNG PHOENIX CONTROLLER (5-Core | 3500 | 1200 | Check price 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 |  Samsung 980 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Mid-range | SAMSUNG PABLO "S4LR033" CONTROLLER | 3500 | 600 | Find on Amazon |
| 8 |  Samsung PM961 128GB, 250GB, 500GB, 1TB | Mid-range | Samsung Polaris Controller "S4LP07 | 3000 | — | Find on Amazon |
The parts, explained
PCIe 3.0 x4 reaches about 3,500 MB/s — plenty for everyday use and gaming, and cheaper than Gen4.
TLC NAND is the mainstream choice — a solid balance of endurance, speed and cost.
Staying with Samsung means consistent firmware, tooling and warranty handling across the range.