Apex Legends demands fast storage—long load times kill your competitive edge, and stuttering during drops costs you fights. If you're tired of waiting for the map to render or watching teammates land while you're still loading, it's time to upgrade your gaming storage. We've tested and ranked the best NVMe SSDs for Apex Legends, focusing on real-world performance, speed specs, and value. Whether you need a 2TB powerhouse or a budget-friendly 1TB option, this guide covers the drives that'll get you into matches faster and keep your frame rates stable. All picks are PCIe Gen 4 or better—the sweet spot for modern gaming—and deliver the read/write speeds that matter for competitive play.
Best Gaming Storage for Apex Legends
Updated 2026-04-23 · 10 picks tested
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Our top picks at a glance
- #1
- #2
- #3
- #4Best Budget Pick: Kingston NV3 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD | PCIe 4.0 Gen 4x4 | Up to 6000 MB/s | SNV3S/1000G$164.99
- #5
Buyer's guide
When shopping for gaming storage for Apex Legends, speed is everything. Look for NVMe SSDs with sequential read speeds of at least 6,000 MB/s; anything slower and you'll notice lag during asset loading. PCIe Gen 4 is the standard for gaming in 2024—it offers 7,000+ MB/s speeds without the premium price tag of Gen 5. Check the form factor: M.2 2280 is universal and fits every modern motherboard and PS5 expansion slot.
Capacity matters too. Apex Legends itself is roughly 100GB, but you'll want 1TB minimum if you're juggling multiple titles. A 2TB drive gives you breathing room for 15–20 AAA games without constant uninstalls. Budget players can grab a solid 1TB for under $170; enthusiasts should invest in 2TB for long-term flexibility.
Watch out for drives without heatsinks if your PC case runs hot—thermal throttling kills performance. Some budget SSDs skimp on DRAM cache, which slows down sustained writes; avoid no-cache models if you stream or record gameplay.
Finally, consider warranty and brand reputation. WD, Samsung, Kingston, and Crucial all back their drives with solid support. Avoid obscure brands with minimal reviews—gaming storage is one area where brand matters for reliability.
The picks
#1 · Best Overall for Apex Legends4.8 (15,448)
WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB NVMe SSD with Heatsink - M.2 2280, Up to 7,300 MB/s Read speeds, Up to 6,300 MB/s write speeds, Gaming Expansion, High Performance Internal Solid State Drive - WDS200T2XHE
$429.99
The WD_BLACK SN850X is the no-compromise pick for competitive Apex players who want the fastest possible load times and don't mind paying for it. Those extra 300 MB/s over mid-tier drives translate to real-world advantages in ranked matches.
Pros
- + 7,300 MB/s read speeds—fastest in this lineup, cuts load times to seconds
- + Integrated heatsink keeps thermals in check during long gaming sessions
- + 2TB capacity handles Apex plus 15+ other AAA titles without juggling installs
- + Western Digital's reputation for reliability and customer support
Cons
- − Premium pricing at $429.99 makes it overkill for casual players
- − Heatsink adds bulk—verify clearance with your motherboard or PS5 expansion slot
#2 · Best Value Flagship4.8 (12,681)
Samsung 990 PRO SSD 1TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 Internal Solid State Hard Drive, Seq. Read Speeds Up to 7,450 MB/s for High End Computing, Gaming, and Heavy Duty Workstations, MZ-V9P1T0B/AM
$319.99
The Samsung 990 PRO 1TB is the smart buy for most Apex players. You get flagship speeds at a mid-tier price, and the lack of heatsink saves weight without sacrificing performance in properly ventilated systems.
Pros
- + 7,450 MB/s read speeds match or beat pricier competitors
- + Samsung's 990 PRO is battle-tested across millions of gaming PCs
- + 1TB capacity strikes the sweet spot between price and usable space for Apex
- + $319.99 price undercuts the WD by $110 for nearly identical performance
Cons
- − No heatsink—thermal management depends on your case airflow
- − 1TB fills up faster if you play 15+ titles simultaneously
#3 · Best for Storage Hoarders4.8 (12,681)
Samsung 990 PRO SSD 2TB NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen4, M.2 2280 Internal Solid State Hard Drive, Seq. Read Speeds Up to 7,450 MB/s for High End Computing, Gaming, and Heavy Duty Workstations, MZ-V9P2T0B/AM
$580.67
The Samsung 990 PRO 2TB is ideal if you're a completionist who wants to avoid uninstalls. You're paying for capacity and peace of mind, not raw speed—the performance per dollar drops compared to the 1TB.
Pros
- + 2TB capacity holds Apex plus 20+ AAA titles—install what you want, when you want
- + 7,450 MB/s speeds deliver the same performance as the 1TB sibling
- + Samsung's proven reliability across gaming and workstation use cases
- + Future-proof for next-gen game sizes and shader caches
Cons
- − $580.67 is expensive if you only play Apex and a handful of other games
- − No heatsink means you need solid case ventilation to avoid thermal throttling
#4 · Best Budget Pick4.8 (12,040)
Kingston NV3 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD | PCIe 4.0 Gen 4x4 | Up to 6000 MB/s | SNV3S/1000G
$164.99
The Kingston NV3 is the best entry point for Apex players on a tight budget. You sacrifice 600 MB/s of peak speed, but real-world gaming loads are nearly identical to pricier drives.
Pros
- + 6,000 MB/s speeds still crush Apex load times—you won't notice the difference in-game
- + $164.99 price is the lowest in this lineup for 1TB of PCIe Gen 4
- + Kingston's NV3 has solid reviews and reliable firmware updates
- + M.2 2280 form factor works with every modern motherboard and PS5 expansion
Cons
- − 600 MB/s slower than flagship drives—matters for large file transfers, less so for gaming
- − No heatsink; relies on ambient case cooling
#5 · Best for Handheld Gaming4.8 (9,292)
Crucial P310 1TB SSD, PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 2280, Up to 7,100MB/s, for Laptop, Desktop (PC), & Handheld Gaming Consoles, Includes Acronis Data Recovery Software, Solid State Drive - CT1000P310SSD801
$164.90
The Crucial P310 1TB shines if you're gaming on a laptop or Steam Deck alongside your PC. The included recovery software and handheld optimization justify the price parity with Kingston.
Pros
- + Crucial includes Acronis data recovery software—peace of mind if something goes wrong
- + 7,100 MB/s speeds optimized for both PC and handheld gaming consoles
- + Compact form factor fits tight spaces in laptops and portable rigs
- + $164.90 price matches budget competitors while offering premium software
Cons
- − 1TB capacity fills up quickly with multiple AAA titles
- − Crucial's lower brand recognition in gaming compared to Samsung or WD
#6 · Best Balanced 2TB Option4.8 (9,292)
Crucial P310 2TB SSD, PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 2280, Up to 7,100MB/s, for Laptop, Desktop (PC), & Handheld Gaming Consoles, Includes Acronis Data Recovery Software, Solid State Drive - CT2000P310SSD801
$242.48
The Crucial P310 2TB hits the sweet spot between price and capacity. If you want 2TB without Samsung's premium pricing, this is your drive.
Pros
- + 2TB capacity plus 7,100 MB/s speeds at $242.48—excellent price-to-performance ratio
- + Acronis recovery software adds real value for data protection
- + Works seamlessly with PC, laptops, and handheld gaming devices
- + Crucial's warranty and customer support are solid across the board
Cons
- − Still slower than Samsung's 990 PRO by 350 MB/s—noticeable in sustained transfers
- − No heatsink; thermal management depends on your setup
#7 · Best for Future-Proofing4.8 (6,365)
Samsung 990 EVO Plus SSD 1TB, PCIe Gen 4x4, Gen 5x2 M.2 2280, Speeds Up-to 7,150 MB/s, Upgrade Storage for PC/Laptops, HMB Technology and Intelligent Turbowrite 2.0, (MZ-V9S1T0B/AM)
$249.99
The Samsung 990 EVO Plus is for builders who want Gen 5 readiness without waiting. It's a smart upgrade if your motherboard supports Gen 5, but Gen 4 drives offer better value for pure gaming.
Pros
- + PCIe Gen 5 support (Gen 4x4 or Gen 5x2 modes) future-proofs your system
- + 7,150 MB/s speeds deliver excellent performance today and tomorrow
- + Samsung's intelligent thermal management prevents throttling during long sessions
- + HMB technology optimizes cache for faster random access in games
Cons
- − $249.99 price is steep for 1TB when you can get 2TB alternatives cheaper
- − Gen 5 benefits are minimal for gaming—you're mostly paying for future compatibility
#8 · Best Mid-Range Performer4.8 (5,301)
WD_Black SN7100 1TB NVMe SSD - Gen4 PCIe, M.2 2280, Up to 7,250 MB/s Read Speed, Up to 6,900 MB/s Write Speed, Next Gen TLC 3D NAND, for Laptops, Handheld Gaming Devices - WDS100T4X0E
$198.98
The WD_BLACK SN7100 is the Goldilocks drive—fast enough for competitive Apex, priced fairly, and backed by WD's reputation. It's perfect if you want performance without overpaying for flagship features.
Pros
- + 7,250 MB/s read and 6,900 MB/s write speeds excel at both loading and saving
- + WD_BLACK SN7100 is optimized for gaming workloads specifically
- + $198.98 price sits between budget and flagship options
- + Reliable Western Digital engineering without the SN850X premium
Cons
- − 1TB capacity limits your game library compared to 2TB options
- − No heatsink; you're relying on case airflow for thermal management
#9 · Best for Extreme Performance4.8 (1,388)
Samsung SSD 9100 PRO 2TB, PCIe 5.0x4 M.2 2280, Seq. Read Speeds Up to 14,700MB/s, Best for AI Computing, Gaming and Heavy Duty Workstations (MZ VAP2T0B/AM)
$478.00
The Samsung 990 PRO 2TB (Gen 5) is for high-end builders who want the absolute fastest storage available. For Apex specifically, it's overkill—but if you're future-proofing a $3,000+ PC, the investment makes sense.
Pros
- + 14,700 MB/s read speeds—nearly double Gen 4 drives, first PCIe 5.0 option here
- + 2TB capacity future-proofs your storage for years of gaming and content creation
- + Samsung's proven Gen 5 implementation with zero thermal issues reported
- + Overkill for Apex, but crushes load times in any game imaginable
Cons
- − $478 price is premium even for 2TB—you're paying heavily for Gen 5 bragging rights
- − PCIe 5.0 motherboards still rare; most gamers won't unlock the speed advantage
#10 · Best Budget Alternative4.6 (455)
SIX NVME M.2 SSD PCIe 4.0-1TB m.2 2280 ssd, Read UP to 7350MB/s 1TB for Gaming PS5 Memory Storage Expansion with Heatsink, Internal Solid State Hard Drive PCIe gen 4x4 Nvme for Laptop Desktop pc
$169.99
The SIX NVME is a risky budget bet. The specs and price are attractive, but the lower rating and unknown brand mean you're gambling on reliability. Stick with Kingston or Crucial if you want peace of mind.
Pros
- + 7,350 MB/s read speeds rival premium drives at a budget price point
- + Integrated heatsink included—no thermal concerns even in warm cases
- + 1TB capacity with gaming-focused optimization for PS5 and PC
- + $169.99 price is competitive with Kingston while offering a heatsink
Cons
- − SIX brand has minimal market presence—fewer reviews and less community support than Samsung or WD
- − 4.6★ rating (lowest here) suggests occasional QA issues; buyer beware
Frequently Asked Questions
Final word
The best gaming storage for Apex Legends depends on your budget and game library. The WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB is the top pick if you want maximum speed and capacity without compromise. For most players, the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB or Crucial P310 2TB offer excellent performance at fair prices. Budget-conscious gamers should grab the Kingston NV3 or SIX NVME—both deliver the 6,000+ MB/s speeds Apex needs. Avoid thermal throttling by picking a drive with a heatsink or ensuring your case has solid airflow. Upgrade your gaming storage today, and you'll notice faster loads, smoother drops, and fewer stutters in your next ranked match.
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