Storage technology continues to evolve, delivering faster speeds, greater efficiency, and more compact designs. NVMe SSDs remain the go-to choice for new systems, offering blazing-fast performance far beyond traditional SATA drives. Whether you're upgrading a gaming PC, a creative workstation, or a laptop, the latest NVMe options push the limits of speed and reliability.For bulk storage needs, traditional hard drives still provide the best cost-per-terabyte value, making them ideal for large media libraries and backups. Meanwhile, external SSDs offer a balance of speed and portability, ensuring quick access to data on the go. As usual, our top storage picks are categorized by form factor and use case, helping you find the best option for your specific needs.Best SSDs for Desktop PCsCorsair MP600 Pro | WD Black SN850X | Crucial T500In numbers Price: $146 on AmazonWith companies using different types of flash memory and varying capacities for the same drive, it's hard to determine what drive is the best without mentioning capacity. For capacities up to 4TB, our top recommendation is the Corsair MP600 Pro.Leveraging Micron's 176-layer TLC NAND, the Corsair MP600 Pro offers sustained write speeds up to twice as fast as those of other popular PCIe 4.0 drives. In shorter transfers, it saturates the PCIe 4.0 interface with speeds reaching 7,000 MB/s. While the Phison E18 controller is no longer the most efficient, it still holds its own in terms of pure random performance. This drive is available with multiple heatsink options, though the no-heatsink (NH) version is the most affordable.If you don't often fill a large portion of the device's free space at once, you may prefer the Samsung 990 Pro, which offers better efficiency and slightly faster app load times but significantly slower sustained write speeds.For those needing 8TB of storage, the WD Black SN850X currently provides much better value than the Corsair drive. Thanks to its denser flash memory, it maintains performance parity with the 4TB model by using the same number of NAND dies.PCIe 5.0: Is It Worth It?PCIe 5.0 drives, such as the Crucial T705 and Corsair MP700 Pro SE, promise double the sequential performance, but factors like cooling and flash density complicate the equation. Modern SSDs are designed to use a portion of their free space as cache for writing at full speed. Depending on how much free space the drive has, PCIe 5.0 drives will fill this cache a few seconds faster. After that, writing speed will be similar to that of the MP600 Pro. Costing about twice per TB, it's simply not worth it.That said, slightly older PCIe 5.0 models, like the Crucial T700 and Corsair MP700 Pro strike a more interesting compromise between value and peak performance.Best for Laptops: Crucial T500For laptop users, the Crucial T500 is a fantastic choice. It utilizes Micron's 232-layer flash and a smaller 4-channel controller, delivering exceptional efficiency for a RAM-equipped SSD. Its main drawback is inconsistent performance in sustained writes.Previously known as the Solidigm P44 Pro, the SK Hynix Platinum P41 performs more consistently in long writes while being almost as efficient as the T500.Best for Older PCs and LaptopsWith Crucial seemingly phasing out the old but trusted MX500, the Samsung 870 Evo remains the only decent SATA SSD on the market, utilizing onboard DRAM and TLC flash. If you want to upgrade an older desktop or laptop that only supports the SATA interface, this is your go-to option. Back to top Best for Mobile DevicesCorsair MP600 MiniIn numbers Price: $74 on AmazonTo expand storage on devices like the Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, or Surface Pro tablet, your only option is a short 2230 M.2 drive. Upgraded with the Phison E27T controller in 2024, the Corsair MP600 Mini is essentially a shorter version of the MP600 Elite, one of the best DRAM-less SSDs available.For Steam Deck compatibility, all chips are placed on one side of the PCB, which requires denser flash memory for 2TB models. However, since the Steam Deck only supports PCIe 3.0 speeds, there's no noticeable difference in performance between the MP600 Mini and the older Western Digital SN770M, which doesn't fully utilize the PCIe 4.0 interface.While other 2230 M.2 options exist, they either offer lower capacities or use QLC flash, making them a poor value if they provide any savings at all. Back to top Best Portable SSDsSamsung T7 Shield | Crucial X9 ProIn numbers Price: $99 on AmazonHaving speedy, portable storage can be a lifesaver in some situations and a routine necessity in others. External drive enclosures allow you to convert an internal drive into an external one (and vice versa in the future), offering features like USB-3.2 ("Gen 2 x 2") or USB4 speeds, along with water/shock resistance.However, if you're looking for a new storage device, all-in-one external drives offer great value these days.The Samsung T7 Shield is a great example. Provided you have a USB 3.1 (or USB 3.2 Gen 2) connection, it delivers up to 1,050 MB/s read and 1,000 MB/s write speeds that remain consistent in sustained workloads. It's also built to last, with a 3-meter drop rating and IP65 water and dust resistance.The 2TB ($160) and 4TB ($280) models offer solid value, while the 1TB version is available for $99.The Crucial X9 Pro is typically available for a similar price per terabyte, and it's the best choice for gamers, thanks to its dedicated DRAM, especially when the drive houses hundreds of GBs. It has slightly lower durability, with a 2-meter drop rating and IP55 water/dust resistance, and may require a USB-C to USB-A adapter. However, if these limitations aren't a concern, it's an excellent choice.Need for Speed?For on-the-move professionals and enthusiasts who regularly transfer hundreds of gigabytes of data, faster options are worth considering albeit at a higher cost.Samsung T9 and Crucial X10 Pro can reach up to 2,100 MB/s if your system has a USB 3.2 Gen 22 port.SanDisk Professional Pro-G40 offers blazing-fast 3,100 MB/s reads and 2,700 MB/s writes, but requires a Thunderbolt 3 connection.For everyone else, our standard recommendations of the Samsung T7 Shield and Crucial X9 Pro will easily meet if not exceed expectations. Back to top Best Hard DriveWD Red Plus | WD BlueIn numbers Price: $97 on AmazonFor years, the WD Red Plus and Seagate IronWolf have been the go-to choices for secondary PC storage or home NAS setups, while their higher-end counterparts the WD Red Pro and IronWolf Pro cater to larger servers.The problem is, these models are updated frequently (often without a name change) and rarely reviewed by major outlets. In their current iterations, both drives are essentially equivalent, offering a three-year warranty, 256MB of cache, and high-density platters that compensate for their relatively slow spinning speed, resulting in quiet operation.Our advice comes down to buying experience: Seagate still sells 2022 models alongside the faster and quieter 2024 ones, and it's not always easy to tell them apart. WD is more straightforward you can be fairly certain that you're getting the latest 2023 models.Current highlights of the lineup include 4TB for $100, 6TB for $133, and 10TB for $200.Budget Option: WD BlueIf you're adding a single drive to your PC and don't need vibration resistance, the WD Blue and Seagate Barracuda are your main choices. Our recommendation goes to WD again, for a different reason: most of the current models use conventional magnetic recording (CMR), rather than shingled (SMR), which allows creating denser platters at the expense of performance.The best current offers are 4TB for $70, and 8TB for $120. Back to top Best External Hard DriveWD My Book | WD My Passport UltraIn numbers Price: $162 on AmazonThe cost and capacity advantages of mechanical drives make them an excellent choice for storing data outside your PC. Backups, media files, and other large datasets often requiring terabytes of space are best stored externally for added safety. For the most reliable external storage, consider placing one of our recommended internal drives inside an external enclosure with a power connector. This approach ensures you won't lose access to your data due to a broken external connector.But if you prefer the convenience of a plug-and-play solution, WD's My Book stands out above the competition by offering lots of reliable storage space on the cheap. Models range between 4TB and 18TB. Currently, some of the better options are the 4TB drive for $105, the 8TB model for $175, and the 12TB version for $225.The My Book comes pre-formatted with the exFAT file system and includes WD's Backup software for Windows and macOS. It is also compatible with Apple's Time Machine. However, with a slow-spinning mechanical disk and a USB 3.0 interface, this drive isn't built for speed. Its sequential read and write speeds of 170 180MB/s are mediocre, with even slower random transfer and I/O performance. While these speeds would be unacceptable for a boot drive, they are sufficient for the My Book's primary purpose cost-effective, reliable storage for infrequently accessed data.There are a few minor drawbacks to consider. The My Book uses a Micro-B USB 3.0 to USB-A connector instead of the more common USB-A/USB-C interfaces. Additionally, it lacks an activity light and requires a separate 12V power adapter (included), making it better suited for fixed workspaces. On the plus side, it comes with password-protected 256-bit hardware encryption and a three-year warranty, which is longer than its Seagate rival. Overall, the WD My Book is the best budget-friendly external storage option available today.A Compact Alternative: WD My Passport UltraFor those seeking portable storage on a budget, WD's My Passport Ultra hits the middle ground in terms of capacity, performance, portability, and price.With a sleek, pocket-friendly design, the 5TB model currently offers the best value at $140, while the 6TB version provides the highest capacity. Smaller 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB options are also available at lower prices. This model features a modern USB-C port (with a USB-A adapter included) and additional perks such as an activity light, onboard hardware encryption, useful software utilities, and a class-leading 3-year warranty.Performance-wise, the My Passport Ultra isn't groundbreaking, but its ~130MB/s read and write speeds are on par with the competition. Given its affordability, feature set, and ease of use, these speeds are more than acceptable for everyday storage needs. Back to top Best Home NASQNAP TS-464-8G | Synology DS224+In numbers Price: $550 on AmazonIf you don't have the need for a desktop PC, a pre-built NAS can be a compact and power-efficient alternative for backing up files from all your portable devices. These days, QNAP seems to offer the best balance of features and ease of use.One of the best options is the QNAP TS-464-8G, with support for up to four SATA hard disks or SSDs in RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 or 10, and up to 72TB in total capacity without an expansion unit. It also supports two 2TB SSDs in PCIe 3.0 x 1 mode (still faster than SATA) for cache or storage without expansion cards. The unit is powered by an Intel Celeron N5095 processor and comes with 1 8GB of RAM, expandable to 2 8GB. It features two 2.5Gb Ethernet ports with trunking support, two USB 3.1 ("3.2 Gen 2") ports, and an HDMI 2.1 port for 60Hz 4K video output.For $1,009, you can get the device pre-configured with four 4TB WD Red Plus or Seagate IronWolf drives, set up in RAID 5, providing 12TB of usable storage with protection against the failure of a single drive.Synology AlternativesIf you have a preference for Synology's NAS models or their software, the DS923+ is a powerful $600 4-bay NAS that supports up to 64TB of raw capacity. It also allows for two NVME SSDs for either cache or storage, and a total of nine drives with a separate expansion unit.It's powered by a quad-thread AMD Ryzen R1600 processor, the DS923+ includes 4GB of DDR4 RAM (expandable up to 32GB), support for PCIe 3.0 x2 network cards, and an eSATA port. With more drives, RAID 5, 6, and 10 become available.For less, their entry-level two-drive DiskStation DS224+ is an excellent choice starting at $299. It comes with two empty drive bays, supporting up to 32TB of maximum storage with 3.5-inch SATA HDDs and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs.Essentially a refresh of the popular DS220+, it features a quad-core Celeron J4125, 2GB of DDR4 RAM (expandable up to 6GB), two 1Gb LAN ports with link aggregation, and two USB 3.0 ("3.2 Gen 1") ports. It also supports 4K transcoding for high-quality media streaming, while RAID options include SHR, Basic, JBOD, RAID 0, and RAID 1. An M.2 slot is still lacking here though, and there's no support for an expansion unit to add more storage down the road. Back to top