Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB ($280) vs WD Blue SN5100 1TB ($89). $/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 Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB runs on Samsung's in-house Presto controller, designed specifically for the 9100 PRO series. The WD Blue SN5100 1TB pairs the SanDisk controller.
The cost difference is hard to ignore: 68% per TB (WD Blue SN5100 1TB at $89.00/TB versus Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB at $280.00/TB). Unless you specifically need the Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB's peak performance, the WD Blue SN5100 1TB delivers more storage for the money.
Read speeds favor the Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB: 14,700 MB/s versus 6,600 MB/s for the WD Blue SN5100 1TB, a 55% advantage. Sequential-heavy workloads notice; transactional workloads don't.
The Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB writes about 60% faster (13,400 MB/s vs 5,400 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: Samsung 9100 PRO 1TB has DRAM hardware, WD Blue SN5100 1TB uses HMB. For OS, gaming, browsing — indistinguishable. For databases, large file ops, or 4K video editing — DRAM has a small but consistent edge.
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 WD Blue SN5100 1TB to roughly equal in-game load times. The cheaper drive is the smart pick. The Gen 5 Samsung 9100 PRO 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. 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 meaningfully faster reads (14,700 MB/s), higher sustained writes (13,400 MB/s), and a dedicated DRAM cache chip 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 WD Blue SN5100 1TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($89 vs $280), and better $/TB economics ($89.00/TB) matter to you.