Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB ($465) vs TeamGroup Z540 2TB ($329). $/TB analysis, performance, and use-case recommendations.
Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB and TeamGroup Z540 2TB are direct competitors — same generation, same capacity. Choose by controller behavior under sustained load, DRAM/HMB cache strategy, and $/TB economics.
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 Z540 2TB pairs the Phison E26 — the first widely-deployed Gen 5 controller, capable but thermally demanding.
The cost difference is hard to ignore: 29% per TB (TeamGroup Z540 2TB at $164.50/TB versus Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB at $232.50/TB). Unless you specifically need the Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB's peak performance, the TeamGroup Z540 2TB delivers more storage for the money.
For PS5 expansion, both are PCIe Gen 4 M.2 2280 drives that meet Sony's minimum spec (12,400 MB/s read). The console can't take advantage of speeds beyond that, so save money by choosing the TeamGroup Z540 2TB. 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), and higher sustained writes (13,400 MB/s) 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 Z540 2TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($329 vs $465), and better $/TB economics ($164.50/TB) matter to you. The TeamGroup Z540 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.