Compare WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB and WD Blue SN5000 2TB: prices, speeds, $/TB. Which to buy in July 2026? Full spec breakdown.
Both run on Gen 4 hardware but at different capacities: 4 TB for the WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB versus 2 TB for the WD Blue SN5000 2TB. Whether the larger drive's $/TB advantage justifies the higher upfront cost depends on how much you actually need.
Hardware-wise, the WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB runs on an A101 controller that replaced the older WD designs in the SN7100 generation. The WD Blue SN5000 2TB pairs the SanDisk controller.
Endurance leans toward the WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB at 2,400 TBW (versus 900 TBW for the WD Blue SN5000 2TB). For most consumers this never becomes a real concern — 600 TBW lasts a decade of normal writes — but heavy daily writers should weight it.
If this purchase is for a PS5 storage expansion, the comparison flattens — Sony's PCIe Gen 4 controller normalizes both WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB and WD Blue SN5000 2TB to roughly equal in-game load times. The cheaper drive is the smart pick. Video editors will gravitate toward the WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB for its write headroom (6,700 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.
Market context: the WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB ranks #5 of 6 Gen 4 4 TB drives we track by $/TB, while the WD Blue SN5000 2TB ranks #6 of 11 Gen 4 2 TB drives. Neither is a value leader right now — if $/TB is your priority, check the cheaper alternatives below before committing.
Pick the WD_BLACK SN7100 4TB if you value better $/TB economics ($142.50/TB), meaningfully faster reads (7,000 MB/s), higher sustained writes (6,700 MB/s), and a higher TBW endurance rating (2,400 TBW).
Pick the WD Blue SN5000 2TB if you value the lower retail price ($295 vs $570).