Which is better, TeamGroup Z540 2TB or Samsung 990 PRO 2TB? July 2026 side-by-side with prices, specs, and verdict.
Cross-generation comparisons reveal whether you're paying for peak speed or sustained value. TeamGroup Z540 2TB vs Samsung 990 PRO 2TB at 2 TB is a perfect lens for that question.
Hardware-wise, the TeamGroup Z540 2TB runs on an original Phison E26 chip that defined the Gen 5 reference design. The Samsung 990 PRO 2TB pairs Samsung's Pascal controller, fabricated on the company's 8nm process.
TeamGroup Z540 2TB's $164.50/TB pricing edges out Samsung 990 PRO 2TB's $194.00/TB by about 15%. Not transformative, but a real difference at 2-4 TB capacities where it adds up.
In the read department, the TeamGroup Z540 2TB 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 2TB sustains 11,800 MB/s writes versus 6,900 MB/s for the Samsung 990 PRO 2TB — a real advantage for video editors and anyone doing heavy file operations.
For PlayStation 5 builds, the console's internal M.2 slot tops out around 5,500 MB/s sustained, so both TeamGroup Z540 2TB and Samsung 990 PRO 2TB hit the same wall — pick whichever is cheaper at the moment you buy. Generational difference matters mainly for sequential-heavy workloads. The TeamGroup Z540 2TB's 12,400 MB/s read beats Samsung 990 PRO 2TB's 7,450 on paper, though in practice both feel identical loading games. For content creators routinely rendering 4K or 8K video, the TeamGroup Z540 2TB'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 2TB nor Samsung 990 PRO 2TB fits without modification.
Market context: the TeamGroup Z540 2TB ranks #2 of 11 Gen 5 2 TB drives we track by $/TB, while the Samsung 990 PRO 2TB ranks #10 of 11 Gen 4 2 TB drives. That puts at least one of them near the top of the value table — a reasonable head-to-head to be choosing from.
As of July 27, 2026, these tracked drives undercut both the TeamGroup Z540 2TB and Samsung 990 PRO 2TB on $/TB:
Lean toward the TeamGroup Z540 2TB when the lower retail price ($329 vs $388), better $/TB economics ($164.50/TB), meaningfully faster reads (12,400 MB/s), and higher sustained writes (11,800 MB/s) top your priority list. Budget-tier drives like the TeamGroup Z540 2TB have closed the gap with premium NVMes — the MAP1602 controller is genuinely competitive for everyday workloads at half the price.
Samsung backs the PRO series with one of the strongest warranty experiences in consumer storage — RMAs typically process within 5 business days globally.