TeamGroup Z540 1TB ($189) vs Samsung 990 PRO 1TB ($135). $/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 TeamGroup Z540 1TB runs on an original Phison E26 chip that defined the Gen 5 reference design. The Samsung 990 PRO 1TB pairs Samsung's Pascal controller, fabricated on the company's 8nm process.
The cost difference is hard to ignore: 29% per TB (Samsung 990 PRO 1TB at $135.00/TB versus TeamGroup Z540 1TB at $189.00/TB). Unless you specifically need the TeamGroup Z540 1TB's peak performance, the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB delivers more storage for the money.
In the read department, the TeamGroup Z540 1TB leads by roughly 4 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 TeamGroup Z540 1TB sustains 11,800 MB/s writes versus 6,900 MB/s for the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB — 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 1TB. The Gen 5 TeamGroup Z540 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. For content creators routinely rendering 4K or 8K video, the TeamGroup Z540 1TB's 11,800 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 TeamGroup Z540 1TB nor Samsung 990 PRO 1TB fits without modification.
The TeamGroup Z540 1TB is the right call if meaningfully faster reads (12,400 MB/s), and higher sustained writes (11,800 MB/s) matter to you. Budget-tier drives like the TeamGroup Z540 1TB have closed the gap with premium NVMes — the MAP1602 controller is genuinely competitive for everyday workloads at half the price.
The Samsung 990 PRO 1TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($135 vs $189), and better $/TB economics ($135.00/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.