Sabrent Rocket 5 1TB ($259) vs Samsung 990 PRO 1TB ($135). $/TB analysis, performance, and use-case recommendations.
When generations cross paths in a comparison like this one, the older-spec drive almost always wins on value while the newer one wins on benchmarks. Whether that benchmark advantage matters depends entirely on what you do with the drive.
Hardware-wise, the Sabrent Rocket 5 1TB runs on an original Phison E26 chip that defined the Gen 5 reference design. The Samsung 990 PRO 1TB pairs Samsung's Pascal controller, fabricated on the company's 8nm process.
The cost difference is hard to ignore: 48% per TB (Samsung 990 PRO 1TB at $135.00/TB versus Sabrent Rocket 5 1TB at $259.00/TB). Unless you specifically need the Sabrent Rocket 5 1TB's peak performance, the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB delivers more storage for the money.
In the read department, the Sabrent Rocket 5 1TB leads by roughly 6 GB/s. The difference is more academic than practical for typical use, but it does matter for video editors moving multi-GB project files.
Write performance separates them too. The Sabrent Rocket 5 1TB sustains 11,600 MB/s writes versus 6,900 MB/s for the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB — a real advantage for video editors and anyone doing heavy file operations.
For PS5 expansion, both are PCIe Gen 4 M.2 2280 drives that meet Sony's minimum spec (7,450 MB/s read). The console can't take advantage of speeds beyond that, so save money by choosing the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB. The Gen 5 Sabrent Rocket 5 1TB pulls ahead on sequential bandwidth, but Gen 5 advantages rarely surface during everyday tasks — most software hasn't been rewritten to exploit 14,000+ MB/s pipelines. For content creators routinely rendering 4K or 8K video, the Sabrent Rocket 5 1TB's 11,600 MB/s sustained write is the deciding factor — multi-GB project files land noticeably faster than on the alternative. Note for handheld gamers: M.2 2280 is the desktop/laptop standard. Steam Deck and the ROG Ally line need 2230 drives — neither Sabrent Rocket 5 1TB nor Samsung 990 PRO 1TB fits without modification.
The Sabrent Rocket 5 1TB is the right call if meaningfully faster reads (14,000 MB/s), and higher sustained writes (11,600 MB/s) matter to you. Sabrent's Rocket line carries a community reputation for transparent firmware support — manual update tools available directly from the manufacturer.
The Samsung 990 PRO 1TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($135 vs $259), and better $/TB economics ($135.00/TB) matter to you. Samsung backs the PRO series with one of the strongest warranty experiences in consumer storage — RMAs typically process within 5 business days globally.