Samsung 990 PRO 1TB ($135) vs Crucial T500 2TB ($189). $/TB analysis, performance, and use-case recommendations.
Both run on Gen 4 hardware but at different capacities: 1 TB for the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB versus 2 TB for the Crucial T500 2TB. Whether the larger drive's $/TB advantage justifies the higher upfront cost depends on how much you actually need.
Hardware-wise, the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB runs on the in-house Samsung Pascal — engineered specifically for the 990 PRO at 8nm. The Crucial T500 2TB pairs an E25 controller that became the workhorse of late Gen 4 designs.
The cost difference is hard to ignore: 30% per TB (Crucial T500 2TB at $94.50/TB versus Samsung 990 PRO 1TB at $135.00/TB). Unless you specifically need the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB's peak performance, the Crucial T500 2TB delivers more storage for the money.
Crucial T500 2TB earns higher TBW ratings (1,200 vs 600 TBW) — relevant for sustained write workloads, irrelevant for everything else.
For PS5 expansion, both are PCIe Gen 4 M.2 2280 drives that meet Sony's minimum spec (7,400 MB/s read). The console can't take advantage of speeds beyond that, so save money by choosing the Crucial T500 2TB. Note for handheld gamers: M.2 2280 is the desktop/laptop standard. Steam Deck and the ROG Ally line need 2230 drives — neither Samsung 990 PRO 1TB nor Crucial T500 2TB fits without modification.
The Samsung 990 PRO 1TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($135 vs $189) 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 Crucial T500 2TB is the right call if better $/TB economics ($94.50/TB), and a higher TBW endurance rating (1,200 TBW) matter to you. Crucial's T-series tends to undercut Samsung and WD on price while using comparable Micron silicon — a value play hiding in a flagship form factor.