Side-by-side: WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB ($440) vs TeamGroup Z540 2TB ($329). $/TB winner, specs, real-world picks for September 2026.
Gen 5 at 2 TB is one of the most contested SSD segments in 2026, and WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB versus TeamGroup Z540 2TB captures that competition well. The decision rarely comes down to peak speeds — both drives saturate typical workloads.
Hardware-wise, the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB runs on the SMI SM2508 — a 6nm Gen 5 controller running notably cooler than first-gen Phison E26 designs. The TeamGroup Z540 2TB pairs an original Phison E26 chip that defined the Gen 5 reference design.
Money matters here — $164.50/TB on the TeamGroup Z540 2TB versus $220.00/TB on the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB. That's enough of a spread that for budget-conscious builders, the TeamGroup Z540 2TB becomes the default unless reviews of your specific workload prefer the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB.
If this purchase is for a PS5 storage expansion, the comparison flattens — Sony's PCIe Gen 4 controller normalizes both WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB and TeamGroup Z540 2TB to roughly equal in-game load times. The cheaper drive is the smart pick. Heavy write workloads — video editing, RAW photo libraries, backup operations — favor the TeamGroup Z540 2TB's 11,800 MB/s sustained write speed. Both drives use the 2280 form factor, which is too long for Steam Deck or ROG Ally — you'd need a 2230 variant if either manufacturer offers one, or a dedicated handheld-format drive instead.
How do these two fit the wider Gen 5 2 TB field? Out of 11 tracked drives, the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB is #9 on $/TB and the TeamGroup Z540 2TB is #2. One of them is genuinely among the cheapest options in its class, so this matchup includes a real value pick.
As of September 7, 2026, these tracked drives undercut both the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB and TeamGroup Z540 2TB on $/TB:
Go with the WD_BLACK SN8100 2TB for meaningfully faster reads (14,900 MB/s).
Go with the TeamGroup Z540 2TB for the lower retail price ($329 vs $440), and better $/TB economics ($164.50/TB). 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.