Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB ($465) vs TeamGroup MP44L 2TB ($119). $/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 2TB runs on Samsung's Presto controller — built in-house to push V-NAND to its Gen 5 ceiling. The TeamGroup MP44L 2TB pairs the MaxioTech MAP1602 — a DRAM-less Gen 4 controller dominating the value tier across TeamGroup, Lexar, and others.
The cost difference is hard to ignore: 74% per TB (TeamGroup MP44L 2TB at $59.50/TB versus Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB at $232.50/TB). Unless you specifically need the Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB's peak performance, the TeamGroup MP44L 2TB delivers more storage for the money.
On sequential reads the Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB pulls ahead by 9,700 MB/s (14,700 MB/s versus 5,000 MB/s). That matters for moving large files but rarely shows up in game loads.
Write speeds skew toward the Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB: 13,400 MB/s sustained against 4,500 MB/s. Content creators feel this; gamers do not.
Cache architecture differs: Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB has DRAM hardware, TeamGroup MP44L 2TB uses HMB. For OS, gaming, browsing — indistinguishable. For databases, large file ops, or 4K video editing — DRAM has a small but consistent edge.
For PS5 expansion, both are PCIe Gen 4 M.2 2280 drives that meet Sony's minimum spec (5,000 MB/s read). The console can't take advantage of speeds beyond that, so save money by choosing the TeamGroup MP44L 2TB. The Gen 5 Samsung 9100 PRO 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. Video editors will gravitate toward the Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB for its write headroom (13,400 MB/s sustained). Project saves and proxies move faster, which compounds across a workday. Heads-up — these are full-length 2280 drives. Steam Deck and most current handhelds require shorter 2230 modules, so check capacity-specific 2230 variants if that's your target platform.
The Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB 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 backs the PRO series with one of the strongest warranty experiences in consumer storage — RMAs typically process within 5 business days globally.
The TeamGroup MP44L 2TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($119 vs $465), and better $/TB economics ($59.50/TB) matter to you. The TeamGroup MP44L 2TB wins on $/TB because it pairs DRAM-less MAP1602 silicon with low-margin distribution. Performance is fine for OS and gaming, weaker only on sustained random writes.