Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB ($280) vs TeamGroup Z540 2TB ($329). $/TB analysis, performance, and use-case recommendations.
Both run on Gen 5 hardware but at different capacities: 1 TB for the Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB versus 2 TB for the TeamGroup Z540 2TB. Whether the larger drive's $/TB advantage justifies the higher upfront cost depends on how much you actually need.
Hardware-wise, the Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB runs on Samsung's in-house Presto controller, designed specifically for the 9100 PRO series. The TeamGroup Z540 2TB pairs an original Phison E26 chip that defined the Gen 5 reference design.
The cost difference is hard to ignore: 41% per TB (TeamGroup Z540 2TB at $164.50/TB versus Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB at $280.00/TB). Unless you specifically need the Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB's peak performance, the TeamGroup Z540 2TB delivers more storage for the money.
On warranty endurance the TeamGroup Z540 2TB carries 1,400 TBW against Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB's 600 TBW. Both will outlast typical use, but the gap matters if you're doing professional content work.
If this purchase is for a PS5 storage expansion, the comparison flattens — Sony's PCIe Gen 4 controller normalizes both Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB and TeamGroup Z540 2TB to roughly equal in-game load times. The cheaper drive is the smart pick. Heavy write workloads — video editing, RAW photo libraries, backup operations — favor the Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB's 13,400 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.
The Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($280 vs $329), meaningfully faster reads (14,700 MB/s), and higher sustained writes (13,400 MB/s) matter to you. Samsung's PRO line has the longest track record for firmware reliability — over a decade of consumer SSDs with global RMA support.
The TeamGroup Z540 2TB is the right call if better $/TB economics ($164.50/TB), and a higher TBW endurance rating (1,400 TBW) matter to you. Budget-tier drives like the TeamGroup Z540 2TB have closed the gap with premium NVMes — the MAP1602 controller is genuinely competitive for everyday workloads at half the price.