Best SSDs for Laptop Upgrade in 2026

Best M.2 SSDs for upgrading laptop storage

Updated March 2026 · 35 products ranked

Best overall
WD Black SN770 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

PCIe 4.0 x4 · M.2 2280 · 1TB · TLC

$65

Fit 97/100

Great valuePCIe 4.0

Low power draw and compact DRAM-less design make this the ideal laptop NVMe upgrade.

#2
SK Hynix Platinum P41 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

PCIe 4.0 x4 · M.2 2280 · 1TB · TLC

$80

Fit 96/100

Great valuePCIe 4.0

Industry-leading power efficiency extends battery life while delivering top-tier speed.

$285.00Buy →
Compare with #1 SN770 1TB SSD →
#3
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD

PCIe 5.0 x4 · M.2 2280 · 1TB · TLC

$110

Fit 94/100

Great valuePCIe 5.0

PCIe 5.0 ready with excellent power management for next-gen laptops.

$244.00Buy →
Compare with #1 SN770 1TB SSD →
#4
Samsung 990 Pro 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

PCIe 4.0 x4 · M.2 2280 · 1TB · TLC

$95

Fit 93/100

Great valuePCIe 4.0

Premium performance with reasonable power consumption for high-end laptops.

Compare with #1 SN770 1TB SSD →
#5
WD Black SN8100 1TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD

PCIe 5.0 x4 · M.2 2280 · 1TB · TLC

$120

Fit 91/100

PCIe 5.0

PCIe 5.0 for newer laptops with efficient power states for battery life.

$229.99Buy →
Compare with #1 SN770 1TB SSD →
#6
WD Blue SN580 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

PCIe 4.0 x4 · M.2 2280 · 1TB · TLC

$50

Fit 90/100

Great valuePCIe 4.0

Budget NVMe with very low power consumption ideal for ultrabook upgrades.

Compare with #1 SN770 1TB SSD →
#7
Crucial P5 Plus 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

PCIe 4.0 x4 · M.2 2280 · 1TB · TLC

$70

Fit 88/100

Great valuePCIe 4.0

Reliable 1TB upgrade with balanced performance and power draw.

$162.21Buy →
Compare with #1 SN770 1TB SSD →
#8
Kingston KC3000 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

PCIe 4.0 x4 · M.2 2280 · 1TB · TLC

$80

Fit 87/100

Great valuePCIe 4.0

Strong PCIe 4.0 performance though power draw is slightly above average.

Compare with #1 SN770 1TB SSD →
#9
Crucial T705 1TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD

PCIe 5.0 x4 · M.2 2280 · 1TB · TLC

$150

Fit 85/100

PCIe 5.0

Blazing fast but runs hot and draws more power than most laptop drives.

$269.99Buy →
Compare with #1 SN770 1TB SSD →
#10
WD Black SN770 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

PCIe 4.0 x4 · M.2 2280 · 2TB · TLC

$120

Fit 84/100

Great valuePCIe 4.0

Same efficient design as the 1TB with double the storage for media-heavy users.

$249.98Buy →
Compare with #1 SN770 1TB SSD →
#11
SK Hynix Platinum P41 2TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD

PCIe 5.0 x4 · M.2 2280 · 2TB · TLC

$185

Fit 83/100

Great valuePCIe 5.0

Excellent efficiency at 2TB for power users who need space and battery life.

$285.00Buy →
Compare with #1 SN770 1TB SSD →
#12
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD

PCIe 5.0 x4 · M.2 2280 · 2TB · TLC

$190

Fit 82/100

Great valuePCIe 5.0

Great 2TB laptop drive if your machine supports PCIe 5.0.

$368.88Buy →
Compare with #1 SN770 1TB SSD →
#13
Samsung 990 Pro 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

PCIe 4.0 x4 · M.2 2280 · 2TB · TLC

$160

Fit 80/100

Great valuePCIe 4.0

Excellent performance but 2TB in a laptop may be more than most users need.

Compare with #1 SN770 1TB SSD →
#14
WD Black SN8100 2TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD

PCIe 5.0 x4 · M.2 2280 · 2TB · TLC

$200

Fit 79/100

PCIe 5.0

Spacious PCIe 5.0 upgrade for workstation-class laptops.

$379.99Buy →
Compare with #1 SN770 1TB SSD →
#15
Crucial P3 Plus 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

PCIe 4.0 x4 · M.2 2280 · 1TB · QLC

$45

Fit 77/100

Great valuePCIe 4.0

Cheap upgrade that works well in budget laptops with PCIe 4.0 slots.

$162.21Buy →
Compare with #1 SN770 1TB SSD →

Frequently asked questions

Best SSDs for Laptop Upgrade in 2026: which should you buy?

Based on our benchmarks and analysis, the WD Black SN770 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD is our top pick for laptop upgrade, with a fit score of 97/100. It offers the best combination of performance, features and value for this workload.

How many SSDs did you compare for Laptop Upgrade?

We evaluated 35 ssds for laptop upgrade, testing real-world performance, key specs, and value for money. Our rankings are updated regularly as new models launch.

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What specs matter most for Laptop Upgrade?

For laptop upgrade, focus on the specs and benchmark results most relevant to that workload. Our ranking weighs performance, efficiency and value for money to surface the best fit.

Other rankings

Methodology:: Rankings are based on a weighted composite of real-world benchmark results, spec analysis (VRAM, bandwidth, compute throughput), power efficiency, and price-to-performance ratio. Each use case applies different weights to these factors. Data is sourced from independent reviews and updated regularly. Our scoring does not factor in availability or street pricing - only MSRP and measured performance.