Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB ($769) vs Samsung 990 PRO 4TB ($389). $/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 4TB runs on the proprietary Samsung Presto silicon found only in the 9100 PRO line. The Samsung 990 PRO 4TB pairs Samsung's Pascal controller, fabricated on the company's 8nm process.
The cost difference is hard to ignore: 49% per TB (Samsung 990 PRO 4TB at $97.25/TB versus Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB at $192.25/TB). Unless you specifically need the Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB's peak performance, the Samsung 990 PRO 4TB delivers more storage for the money.
In the read department, the Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB leads by roughly 7 GB/s. The difference is more academic than practical for typical use, but it does matter for video editors moving multi-GB project files.
Write performance separates them too. The Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB sustains 13,400 MB/s writes versus 6,900 MB/s for the Samsung 990 PRO 4TB — a real advantage for video editors and anyone doing heavy file operations.
For PS5 expansion, both are PCIe Gen 4 M.2 2280 drives that meet Sony's minimum spec (7,450 MB/s read). The console can't take advantage of speeds beyond that, so save money by choosing the Samsung 990 PRO 4TB. The Gen 5 Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB 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. For content creators routinely rendering 4K or 8K video, the Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB's 13,400 MB/s sustained write is the deciding factor — multi-GB project files land noticeably faster than on the alternative. Note for handheld gamers: M.2 2280 is the desktop/laptop standard. Steam Deck and the ROG Ally line need 2230 drives — neither Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB nor Samsung 990 PRO 4TB fits without modification.
The Samsung 9100 PRO 4TB is the right call if meaningfully faster reads (14,800 MB/s), and higher sustained writes (13,400 MB/s) matter to you. Among consumer SSD makers, Samsung's PRO series consistently scores highest on long-term reliability surveys (Backblaze, Puget Systems Q1 2026 data).
The Samsung 990 PRO 4TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($389 vs $769), and better $/TB economics ($97.25/TB) 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.