Sabrent Rocket 5 2TB ($350) vs Lexar NM790 2TB ($310). $/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 2TB runs on the Phison E26 — the first widely-deployed Gen 5 controller, capable but thermally demanding. The Lexar NM790 2TB pairs MaxioTech's MAP1602 silicon, the default choice for budget Gen 4 drives in 2024-2026.
The cheaper drive — Lexar NM790 2TB at $155.00/TB — saves you $20.00 per TB versus the Sabrent Rocket 5 2TB. Worth it if you're capacity-constrained; either works if you just want one fast drive.
Read speeds favor the Sabrent Rocket 5 2TB: 14,000 MB/s versus 7,400 MB/s for the Lexar NM790 2TB, a 47% advantage. Sequential-heavy workloads notice; transactional workloads don't.
The Sabrent Rocket 5 2TB writes about 44% faster (11,600 MB/s vs 6,500 MB/s). Whether that matters depends entirely on what you write to the drive — gameplay capture and large project saves benefit, browsing and gaming do not.
Cache architecture differs: Sabrent Rocket 5 2TB has DRAM hardware, Lexar NM790 2TB uses HMB. For OS, gaming, browsing — indistinguishable. For databases, large file ops, or 4K video editing — DRAM has a small but consistent edge.
PS5 owners get no measurable benefit from either drive's peak speed because Sony's internal NVMe controller throttles to ~5,500 MB/s; treat Sabrent Rocket 5 2TB and Lexar NM790 2TB as interchangeable here and let price decide. The Gen 5 Sabrent Rocket 5 2TB 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. Heavy write workloads — video editing, RAW photo libraries, backup operations — favor the Sabrent Rocket 5 2TB's 11,600 MB/s sustained write speed. Both drives use the 2280 form factor, which is too long for Steam Deck or ROG Ally — you'd need a 2230 variant if either manufacturer offers one, or a dedicated handheld-format drive instead.
Market context: the Sabrent Rocket 5 2TB ranks #3 of 11 Gen 5 2 TB drives we track by $/TB, while the Lexar NM790 2TB ranks #7 of 11 Gen 4 2 TB drives. One of them is genuinely among the cheapest options in its class, so this matchup includes a real value pick.
As of July 27, 2026, these tracked drives undercut both the Sabrent Rocket 5 2TB and Lexar NM790 2TB on $/TB:
The Sabrent Rocket 5 2TB is the right call if meaningfully faster reads (14,000 MB/s), higher sustained writes (11,600 MB/s), and a dedicated DRAM cache chip matter to you. Sabrent extends Rocket warranties to 5 years through manufacturer registration and ships with the latest Phison firmware revisions, often ahead of competitors.
The Lexar NM790 2TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($310 vs $350), and better $/TB economics ($155.00/TB) matter to you. Budget-tier drives like the Lexar NM790 2TB have closed the gap with premium NVMes — the MAP1602 controller is genuinely competitive for everyday workloads at half the price.