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Best SSDs 2021: the top solid-state drives for your PC
Robust, fast, more reliable, and more energy-efficient, the best SSDs might just be the storage solution you’re looking for. Whether you’re a content creator who deals with a lot of massive files on a daily basis or you’re someone who handles very important files, you can rely on these successors to the traditional hard drives to meet your needs.
The best SSDs will cost you more money, which means that if you need a higher capacity storage solution, you must be prepared to spend a lot. Still, you’ll find that they’re worth it in the long run. Forgoing moving parts, SSDs aren’t just faster and more energy-efficient. They’re also less prone to mechanical failures, which means that they’re less likely to fail and they’ll last a lifetime. Best of all, they’re also typically more compact, which is why the best Ultrabooks and the best laptops already come standard with them.
Even if you don’t have one of the best PCs, you can still take advantage of the fast speed they afford you. Whether you’re upgrading from your old hard drive or in need of additional storage, pick one of the best SSDs of 2021. Let's help you cut through the clutter by finding the best option for you, from the best gaming SSDs for the best gaming PC to the fastest M.2 SSDs.
- SSD vs HDD: which is best for your needs?
- Best portable SSD of 2021: top external solid state drives
- Best cloud storage of 2021 online: free, paid and business options
Keep your data safe online with this cloud storage solution
You’ll likely want to fill up your new SSD with games and important files so why not use a cloud storage provider like iDrive to backup the photos, files and documents you don’t regularly access to free up space on your new drive.Â
Best SSDs at a glance
- Intel Optane 905P – best U.2 SSD
- Samsung 970 Pro – best NVMe SSD
- Toshiba OCZ RD400 – best PCIe SSD
- Adata XPG SX8200 SSD – best M.2 SSD
- Samsung 860 Pro – best SATA 3 SSD
- Intel 750 Series – best U.2 SSD
- Samsung 860 Evo – best budget SSD
- HP S700 Pro – best endurance SSD
- Intel 760p Series SSD – best SSD boot drive
- Samsung X5 Portable SSD – best External SSD
Best SSD: Samsung 970 Evo Plus
Pushing Samsung further
Capacity: 250GB/500GB/1TB/2TB | Interface: PCIe Gen 3 x4 M.2 | Warranty: 5-years
Cheap
Top-end performance
Sequential write speeds slow under load
Samsung is no stranger to creating some of the best SSDs, so when it launched the Samsung 970 Evo Plus with higher speeds and new silicon, even we were surprised. The Samsung 970 Evo Plus is simply one of the fastest drives on the market, but the fact that Samsung is selling it at such a bargain price is just the icing on the cake. Because of how affordable this drive is, it’s not hard to recommend it as the best SSD for anyone.
Read the full review: Samsung 970 Evo Plus
Best gaming SSD: WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD
Kiss those loading screens goodbye
Capacity: 250GB/500GB/1TB/2TB | Interface: PCIe Gen 3 x4 M.2 | Warranty: 5-years
Affordable
Insane performance
Same hardware as predecessor
Western Digital has been busy making a name for itself producing many of the best SSDs and hard drives for a few years now, and the WD Black SN750 continues that tradition, claiming the best gaming SSD throne. This NVMe SSD has extremely high random read speeds of 412.5MB/s, which should make games load before you get a chance to chug some of that Mountain Dew. And, when you consider that this is one of the most affordable NVMe SSDs, it’s easy to recommend it to any gamer looking for a new SSD, whatever their budget.
Read the full review: WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD
Best U.2 SSD: Intel Optane 905P
Ludicrously fast SSD
Capacity: 1.5TB | Interface: 2.5in PCIe* x4 | Warranty: 5 years
Fast random read/write speeds
LED lighting
Pricey
The Optane SSD 905P is hardly a newcomer, but with a random read rated at 575,000 IOPS and random write rated at 555,000 IOPs, it’s definitely one of Intel’s fastest drives. Granted, its 2,600MB/s sequential read and 2,200MB/s sequential write speeds might seem a bit pedestrian, especially next to the Samsung 970 Evo and WD Black NVMe SSDs, that doesn’t stop it from being a fast solid-state drive, not to mention one of the best SSDs on the market.
Best NVMe SSD: Samsung 970 Pro
King of the hill
Capacity: 512GB/1TB | Interface: PCIe Gen 3 x4 M.2 | Warranty: 5-years
Fastest SSD on the market
Reliable
Expensive
Again, Samsung has been behind some of the best SSDs that have been hitting the streets for years, and even though other manufacturers like Western Digital and Adata are trying their best to give it a run for its money, the Samsung 970 Evo is still the best SSD you can buy if you’re after raw speed. The read speeds haven’t improved over the previous generation’s 960 Pro, but the write speeds see a significant bump – up to 2,700MB/s – which is how it retains its ‘fastest SSD’ crown. If you’re looking for the best SSDs to choose from, with no compromises, you can’t go wrong adding the Samsung 970 Pro to your list.
Read the full review: Samsung 970 Pro
Best PCIe SSD: Toshiba OCZ RD400
The most flexible SSD install
Capacity: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB | Interface: PCIe Gen 3 x4 M.2 | Warranty: 3-years
Lots of sizes
Fast read/write
Not all sizes available in all form factors
If you're looking for several options, looks- and size-wise, then Toshiba OCZ RD400 series of drives are some of the best SSDs to consider. They come in 4 sizes and three different form factors: M.2, M.2 2280, and add-in card (AIC). Not all sizes are in all form factors, so if you're looking for a fast 1TB drive, make sure you have room in your computer case.
Read the full review: Toshiba OCZ RD400
Best M.2 SSD: Adata XPG SX8200 SSD
Performance on a budget
Capacity: 240GB/480GB/960GB | Interface: PCIe Gen 3 x4 M.2 | Warranty: 5-years
Stellar performance
Affordable
Write speeds fall behind
If you’ve been waiting to jump on the M.2 train for an SSD that’s both fast and affordable, you’ve come to the right place. The Adata XPG SX8200 isn’t one of the best SSDs because it’s the fastest drive on the market, but because there isn’t a single drive out there that can match the raw price to performance ratio that it offers. Sure you can get any of the much faster, much more pricey SSDs on the market, but this is the drive we can recommend to anyone.
Read the full review: Adata XPG SX8200
Best SATA 3 SSD: Samsung 860 Pro
SATA 3 isn’t dead yet
Capacity: 250GB/512GB/1TB/2TB/4TB | Interface: SATA 3 | Warranty: 5-years
Available 4TB model
Increased security
SATA 3 limits performance
People might not be going crazy about SATA 3 anymore, but the Samsung 860 Pro proves that there’s still plenty of life in the aging interface after all. With storage up to 4TB and transfer speeds that approach the theoretical maximum of the SATA 3 interface – not to mention top-of the-line reliability and security – the Samsung 860 Pro is among the best SSDs for anyone still clinging to SATA 3.
Read the full review: Samsung 860 Pro
Best U.2 SSD: Intel 750 Series
Wired for the future
Capacity: 400GB/800GB/1.2TB | Interface: PCIe Gen 3 x4 U.2 | Warranty: 5-years
Great warranty period
Huge capacities
Not as fast as some other PCIe drives
The U.2 standard allows for bigger SSD capacities and uses your computer's PCIe x4 slot to send all that data back and forth. The Intel 750 series includes a cable so you can mount the drive in the bay on your case and still plug it into the PCIe slot on your motherboard, making it among our favorite, as well as among the best, SSDs on offer today.
Read the full review: Intel 750 Series
Best budget SSD: Samsung 860 Evo
Astonishing speeds at a fantastic price
Capacity: 250GB/500GB/1TB/2TB/4TB | Interface: 2.5 inch, mSATA, M.2 | Warranty: 5-years
Noticeable speed improvement
Impressive endurance
SATA3 limits potential
Samsung had a hard act to follow – the Samsung 850 Evo was beloved for its stunning performance and affordability. Luckily, the Samsung 860 Evo absolutely succeeded in, well… succeeding it. Though limited by the SATA3 interface, the Samsung 860 Evo delivers performance that iterates on its predecessor with improved read/write speeds and an array of form factors, while still maintaining its budget price. The 860 Evo is, without a doubt, best SSD for anyone looking for an entry-level SSD without having to break open their piggy banks.
Read the full review: Samsung 860 Evo
Best endurance SSD: HP S700 Pro
Tough for anything you throw at it
Capacity: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB | Interface: SATA 3 | Warranty: 3-years
Runs forever
Variety of capacities
Relatively slow
If you need an SSD that will last through multiple computers, the HP S700 Pro is exactly what you want. Its life will far exceed its warranty, offering up to 2 million hours of use and up to 650 terabytes written. This is one of the best SSDs you can buy if you need something that’s built to last, even if the SATA interface may slow things down a bit in the read/write department, as this technically helps it last even longer.
Read the full review: HP S700 Pro
- This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Samsung 860 Evo
Best SSD boot drive: Intel 760p Series SSD
Amazing performance at an even better price
Capacity: 128GB/256GB/512GB | Interface: PCIe Gen 3 x4 M.2 | Warranty: 5-years
Blazing quick read speeds
Affordably priced
Slightly sluggish write speeds
The best NVMe SSDs used to be way too expensive for most users. But, those days are coming to an end – the Intel 760p Series SSD changes everything. This SSD features impressive performance that’s only slightly behind the beloved Samsung 960 Evo, boasting speeds of 3,056 MB/s read and 1,606 MB/s write. But, what really makes the 760p stand out is the fantastic price to performance ratio. Yeah, there are faster NVMe drives on the market, but you’ll be paying a premium them, and frankly, it’s not worth it. This is one of the best SSDs out there, not just because it’s fast, but because the Intel 760p makes us excited about the future.
Read the full review: Intel 760p Series SSD
Best External SSD: Samsung X5 Portable SSD
No compromises
Capacity: 500GB/1TB/2TB | Interface: Thunderbolt 3 | Warranty: 3-years
Extremely fast
Thunderbolt 3
Expensive
If you’re a creative or a professional, and you need an external NVMe SSD that’s going to save you time rather than waste it, you might want to give the Samsung X5 Portable SSD a look. Thanks to its use of Thunderbolt 3, rugged magnesium build and AES 256-bit encryption, it’s fast, secure and durable – everything you want in an external SSD in which to store all your hard creativework. This isn’t a cheap accessory, but this is one of the best SSDs and is priced as such. Everyday users may want to look elsewhere, this is all about sheer speed.
Read the full review: Samsung X5 Portable SSD
- Here's our list of the best USB flash drives of 2021
Date
08 Jan 2021Sources
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Microsoft Outlook is getting a handy new feature for mobile users in a hurry
Read MoreTyping out long emails on a smartphone can be painstakingly difficult at times which is why Microsoft is currently working on a new feature for Microsoft Outlook.
According to a new post on the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, the software giant plans to update its email client for Android and iOS with text predictions next month to help mobile users be more productive.
As many organizations have now implemented hybrid work policies, more employees will likely soon find themselves commuting to the office once again. This means that many of them will have a few minutes on the train or subway to tackle a few emails before work.
Text Predictions
Microsoft's engineers are currently in the process of adding text predictions to Outlook on both Android and iOS.
Once this feature rolls out in November, Outlook will be able to suggest words and phrases as users of the company's email service compose messages. If a user wants to use one of Outlook's suggestions in a message, they'll simply need to swipe to accept it.
While text predictions are a useful feature, Microsoft is certainly playing catch up with Google as the search giant added Smart Compose which offers similar functionality to Gmail all the way back in 2019. Regardless, text predictions will likely be a welcome addition to Outlook on Android and iOS.
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Apple event live blog: new iPad Pro, iMac and today's big Apple launch as it happens
Apple is set to reveal its new iPad Pro 2021 later today, and we're expecting a variety of other announcements too.
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Scrapers’ backlinks, Orphan pages and Google Juice: 10 SEO things web owners need to know
Read MoreDabbling with website builders and web hosting? PageRank and generally speaking Google’s algorithmic structure depends a lot on backlinks, both internal and external. However, the sheer volume of changes happening in the world of SEO might leave those who aspire to take their new web properties to new heights, a bit lost.
We probed Joshua Hardwick, Head of content at Ahrefs and Patrick Stox, Technical SEO and Product Advisor at Ahrefs on a few niche but still interesting topics on link building.
How does one find orphaned pages (i.e. pages with no internal links to) on a site?
JH: Orphan pages are actually kind of tricky to find. The “best” way is probably going to be crawling your site with something like Ahrefs’ Site Audit and using backlinks & sitemaps as URL sources. This is not a foolproof way to find every orphan page but because it uses backlinks and sitemaps as a source of URLs on your site, it will know if those pages have no internal links after the crawl.
PS: In general to find orphan pages you need to crawl a site and combine that data with other sources of data for pages. In the case of Site Audit, we have sitemaps, backlinks, or you can upload a custom list of pages. The pages not found with the normal crawl but included in other sources are the orphan pages.
(Image credit: Pexels) Websites often split a longer page (often a review) and put less important information (but nonetheless valid) on subsequent pages. Does it have an impact on SEO?
JH: This will likely come down to search intent for those topics/subtopics. If Google is ranking broader guides about the topic for the subtopic (less important information), then you can probably just put that less important information on a page about the topic. But if Google is ranking pages specifically about the subtopic for the subtopic, you might be better off creating a separate page about that subtopic.
PS: If you're splitting a page you're splitting the content and sometimes that's good and sometimes that's bad. Each page would have its own amount of "Google Juice" which is just PageRank.
Is there a hierarchy of internal backlinks? (e.g. do some links count more than others - a link from an internal page that has a lot of backlinks counts more than an internal page with few backlinks)
JH: Generally speaking, yes. Internal links from pages with more backlinks will potentially transfer more PageRank to the internally linked page.
PS: Not necessarily more links, but stronger (more PageRank) and more relevant links will have more impact.
Is it your belief that internal backlinks follow the law of diminishing returns? (e.g. once you’ve reached 500 for e.g. you should just stop)
JH: No because every internal link can transfer PageRank and help a page to rank. And even if the page ranks already, relevant internal links are still useful for site visitors - so there’s no need to have a cutoff point.
PS: It's usually a good idea to link everywhere it makes sense, not just for SEO but for business reasons.
How can scrapers be detrimental to your website when it comes to SEO? Can they be beneficial (e.g. give you backlinks)?
JH: Pretty unlikely to be detrimental these days AFAIK. Google is usually pretty good at understanding when a site has scraped your content and accounting for that.
PS: There's a risk they could be chosen as the canonical version and be the one shown in Google, but this is fairly rare and would usually happen more with syndicated content and not scraped content. They could give you links, but again more than likely for scraper sites which tend to be lower quality, these links would likely not count at all.
(Image credit: Shutterstock) Is it worth updating old broken (404) internal links?
PS: Rarely worth it for SEO. It's part of general website health and maintenance and it's a bad user experience if people click one of these. Usually, the links like this are because a page was removed completely so there's nothing really to update it to. If they had redirected the old page to a new one, then it would be a redirect instead and I'd suggest doing the redirect before changing all the internal links.
Is it worth adding links to existing articles for SEO purposes?
PS: Always link to relevant content. Especially with new content, adding relevant links from existing content gives the new content its best chance at ranking.
What’s the latest update on 301 redirects based on what you’re seeing at Ahrefs?
PS: 301 redirects pass the full value as long as the content is similar. If the content of the pages is completely different they may be treated as soft 404s and pass no value.
Are there any pitfalls to doing a 301 redirect?
PS: It's generally fine but make sure it's to the right page. Because of things like caching it may be hard to change later and the same with consolidation of signals, this usually happens within a year so of changing a redirect, after that time means that the value is already at the other page.
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