There’s no denying that when it comes to top-tier SSDs, two names consistently rise above the rest: Western Digital (WD) and Samsung. Renowned for their reliability, blistering speeds, and increasingly accessible price points, these brands have become the go-to choice for gamers, creators, and tech enthusiasts alike. While Day 1 of Amazon Prime Day brought standout deals on Samsung’s latest PCIe Gen 5 drives—including the cutting-edge 9100 Pro series—Day 3 has seen WD step firmly into the spotlight. Major price cuts have hit its newest models, including one widely hailed as the fastest SSD ever made.
Amazon Prime Day Deals on WD SSDs
WD Black SN7100 2TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD (Up to 7,250MB/s)
$159.99 → $119.98 at Amazon (25% off)
WD Black SN8100 2TB PCIe Gen 5 M.2 SSD (Up to 14,950MB/s)
$319.99 → $189.99 at Amazon (41% off)
When it comes to SSD excellence, Western Digital stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Samsung. The WD Black SN7100 is a powerful PCIe Gen 4 drive that goes head-to-head with the Samsung 990 Evo Plus. As a DRAM-less model, it still delivers impressive sequential speeds of up to 7,250MB/s read and 6,900MB/s write, all at a Prime Day price that’s hard to beat.
Even more exciting is the WD Black SN8100, WD’s flagship PCIe Gen 5 drive and a direct competitor to the Samsung 9100 Pro. Receiving rave reviews from outlets like The SSD Review, StorageReview, and Tom's Hardware, this drive has been called “the fastest ever tested,” “the pinnacle of SSD design,” and “the most well-rounded Gen 5 drive.” With sequential speeds reaching up to 14,900MB/s read and 14,000MB/s write, it's not just fast—it's redefining what's possible in consumer storage.
Amazon Prime Day Deals on Samsung SSDs
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD (Up to 7,250MB/s)
$184.99 → $113.99 at Amazon (38% off)
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD (Up to 7,250MB/s)
$344.99 → $234.99 at Amazon (32% off)
The Samsung 990 Evo Plus is a stellar choice for both gaming PCs and PlayStation 5 upgrades. It surpasses Sony’s minimum speed requirements for PS5 storage, offering sequential read speeds of up to 7,250MB/s and write speeds of 6,300MB/s. While not quite as fast as the 990 Pro, this DRAM-less drive leverages HMB (Host Memory Buffer) technology, using a small portion of your system RAM to maintain strong performance—making it a smart, budget-friendly option. For most gamers, the real-world difference between this and higher-end models is negligible.
Samsung 990 Pro SSD Deals for Prime Day
Samsung 990 Pro 2TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD with Heatsink (Up to 7,450MB/s)
$209.99 → $149.99 at Amazon (29% off)
Samsung 990 Pro 4TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD with Heatsink (Up to 7,450MB/s)
$479.99 → $275.49 at Amazon (43% off)
In the PCIe Gen 4 arena, the Samsung 990 Pro remains the undisputed speed king. With sequential speeds of 7,450MB/s read and 6,900MB/s write, plus random performance hitting 1,400K/1,550K IOPS, it’s built for power users who demand the absolute best. Unlike many competitors, Samsung manufactures all key components in-house, including the new Pascal controller and 7th-gen TLC NAND chips. The integrated DRAM cache ensures consistent performance without relying on system memory. While most everyday users won’t notice a major difference, professionals and performance enthusiasts will appreciate its raw power.
Samsung 9100 Pro SSD Deals for Prime Day
Samsung 9100 Pro 2TB PCIe Gen 5 M.2 SSD (Up to 14,800MB/s)
$299.99 → $189.99 at Amazon (37% off)
Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB PCIe Gen 5 M.2 SSD (Up to 14,800MB/s)
$549.99 → $384.99 at Amazon (30% off)
Step into the next generation with the Samsung 9100 Pro, a true PCIe Gen 5 powerhouse. Capable of sequential speeds up to 14,800MB/s and random performance reaching 2,600K IOPS, it’s effectively twice as fast as the 990 Pro. It’s rare to see a 4TB Gen 5 SSD like this dip below $400—making this Prime Day deal especially compelling. That said, unless you’re working with high-bandwidth tasks like 8K video editing or massive data workloads, this level of performance may be overkill for most users. And no, it’s not worth installing in a PS5—your money is better spent elsewhere.
Are These SSDs Right for Your PlayStation 5?
Both the Samsung 990 Evo Plus and 990 Pro are excellent choices for expanding your PS5’s storage. They meet Sony’s speed and size (2280 M.2) requirements, ensuring seamless compatibility. In real-world gaming, you won’t notice a performance gap between the two—so budget-conscious users should lean toward the Evo Plus. Just remember: it doesn’t come with a heatsink, so you’ll need to purchase one separately (under $10) for safe, sustained performance. The 990 Pro, while pricier, includes a pre-attached heatsink, making it a true plug-and-play upgrade.
More Prime Day Deals on PS5 SSDs
Looking for alternatives? Here are some top-rated, Prime Day-discounted options perfect for your PS5:
Crucial T500 2TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD with Heatsink (Up to 7,400MB/s)
$209.99 → $124.99 at Amazon (40% off)
Lexar NM790 2TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD with Heatsink (Up to 7,400MB/s)
$164.99 → $127.88 at Amazon (22% off)
Crucial P310 4TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD with Heatsink (Up to 7,100MB/s)
$333.99 → $234.99 at Amazon (30% off)
**Nextorage Japan 2TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2
