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Kootion 256GB NVMe M.2 SSD vs Samsung 860 PRO 256GB SSD

The Kootion is the faster drive on paper: PCIe Gen 3 NVMe with rated sequential reads around 3,000 MB/s, versus SATA limits of about 550 MB/s on the Samsung 860 PRO. The 860 PRO is the safer long-term pick: Samsung's own MLC NAND, a five-year warranty and a long track record, while Kootion is a budget brand with a small review base and a Maxio controller. Buy the Kootion for a cheap boot or secondary drive in a laptop with an M.2 slot; buy the 860 PRO when you want proven endurance and a 2.5-inch SATA fit.

  • Choose the Kootion if your machine has an M.2 2280 slot and you want noticeably faster boot and file transfers for a light-use system.
  • Choose the Samsung 860 PRO if you need a 2.5-inch SATA drive, care about MLC endurance and a five-year warranty, or want a brand with a long reliability record.

Prices

  • Kootion 256GB NVMe M.2 SSD: $49.99 at Amazon (last seen Nov 8)
  • Samsung 860 PRO 256GB SSD: $155.00 at eBay (last seen Nov 10)
  • Difference: the Kootion 256GB NVMe M.2 SSD is $105.01 cheaper than the Samsung 860 PRO 256GB SSD at the latest prices (Nov 8 and Nov 10)
Kootion
KOOTION 256GB NVMe M.2 Internal Solid State Drive

Kootion 256GB NVMe M.2 SSD

KOOTION 256GB NVMe M.2 Internal Solid State Drive

4.5(45 ratings)
$49.99at AmazonChecked Nov 8
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Pros
  • Much faster sequential reads and writes than any SATA drive
  • No cables, simple install in an M.2 slot
  • Low power draw and heat, good for laptops
  • Light at 6g with an all-in-one design and no moving parts
Cons
  • Budget brand with a small review base
  • Maxio controller and TLC NAND, less proven than Samsung
  • Rated speeds vary between the listing specs and the description
  • Shorter warranty and lower endurance rating than the 860 PRO
Samsung
Samsung 860 PRO 256GB Internal Solid State Drive

Samsung 860 PRO 256GB SSD

Samsung 860 PRO 256GB Internal Solid State Drive

$155.00at eBayChecked Nov 10
See all prices and details
Visit eBay

Store links may earn us a commission.

Pros
  • Samsung MLC NAND with a strong reliability record
  • Five-year limited warranty
  • Higher endurance rating for heavy writes
  • Works in any 2.5-inch SATA bay, including older desktops and laptops
Cons
  • SATA speed ceiling, far slower than NVMe
  • Needs two cables and a drive bay
  • MLC drives are older tech and harder to find
  • No benefit over cheaper SATA SSDs for most everyday use

What separates them

Kootion 256GB NVMe M.2 SSDSamsung 860 PRO 256GB SSD
Interface and form factorM.2 2280, PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe2.5-inch SATA 6Gb/s
Sequential speedRated up to 3,000 MB/s read, 2,400 MB/s writeCapped by SATA at roughly 550 MB/s read and write
NAND type3D NAND TLCMLC (2-bit per cell)
Endurance rating200 TBWSamsung rates the 256GB 860 PRO at 300 TBW
WarrantyLimited warranty, typically shorterFive-year limited warranty
Controller and brand track recordMaxio controller, budget brand, 45 ratingsSamsung in-house controller and firmware, long SSD history
InstallationNeeds an M.2 slot; no cablesNeeds a 2.5-inch bay and SATA data plus power cable
Power and heatLow power, runs cool in laptopsHigher power draw, warmer under load

Price history

$279.99$49.99
Nov 6Nov 10
  • Kootion 256GB NVMe M.2 SSD: lowest $49.99 on Nov 8 at Amazon.
  • Samsung 860 PRO 256GB SSD: lowest $279.99 on Nov 10 at Newegg.

Prices at every store

Kootion 256GB NVMe M.2 SSD

  • WalmartNew

    In stockSold by KEXIN TECHNOLOGY INCReturns: Sold by a Walmart Marketplace seller; returns go to the seller under the seller's returns policy.

    $53.99Free shippingChecked Nov 10
    Visit Walmart
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

    As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

    $49.99Free shippingChecked Nov 8
    Visit Amazon
All 2 stores and price history →

Samsung 860 PRO 256GB SSD

  • NeweggNew

    In stock

    $279.99Free shippingChecked Nov 10
    Visit Newegg
  • eBayPre-owned

    Availability unknownSold by ricacommercial (99.8% positive, 62,100 ratings)Returns: Set by the eBay seller; the eBay Money Back Guarantee covers an item that doesn't arrive or isn't as described.

    $34.95Free shippingChecked Nov 10
    Visit eBay
  • eBayRefurbished

    Availability unknownSold by kl0 (99.5% positive, 66,600 ratings)Returns: Set by the eBay seller; the eBay Money Back Guarantee covers an item that doesn't arrive or isn't as described.

    $79.99Free shippingChecked Nov 10
    Visit eBay
  • eBayNew

    Availability unknownSold by alexander-2249 (100% positive, 7 ratings)Returns: Set by the eBay seller; the eBay Money Back Guarantee covers an item that doesn't arrive or isn't as described.

    $155.00+ $5.89 shippingChecked Nov 10
    Visit eBay

Store links may earn us a commission. Some prices via Klarna.

All 2 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecKootion 256GB NVMe M.2 SSDSamsung 860 PRO 256GB SSD
Form factorM.2 22802.5"
InterfacePCIe Gen 3.0S-ATA 6Gb/s
hard_drive_capacity256 GB—
size256G—
Storage capacity256GB—
Read speed3000MB/s—
Write speed2400MB/s—
NAND flash3D NAND TLC—
Endurance200TBW—
Weight6g/0.2oz—
Dimensions22x80x2.1mm/0.87x3.15x0.18inch—
MTBF1.5 million hours—
Show all 18 specsShow fewer specs
SpecKootion 256GB NVMe M.2 SSDSamsung 860 PRO 256GB SSD
ControllerMaxio—
Max sequential read3500MB/s—
Type—SSD
Placement—Internal
Size (GB)—256
Flash Memory—MLC

What reviewers say

Kootion 256GB NVMe M.2 SSD

  • 4.5 / 545 ratings

Ratings average 4.5 out of 5 from 45 buyers, a small sample. Most report it works as a budget drive that boots and loads faster than the hard drive it replaced.

What people mention
  • SpeedPraisedBuyers say boot times and app loading improve clearly over the hard drive or SATA drive it replaces.
  • InstallPraisedThe 2280 card and included screws make fitting it straightforward for most users.
  • CapacityCriticised256GB is tight once the OS and a few large games are installed.
  • Sustained writesMixedLarge file copies can slow below the rated write speed once the cache is used up.

Samsung 860 PRO 256GB SSD

Owners and reviewers treat the 860 PRO as a dependable, long-lived SATA SSD. Most praise its endurance rating and steady speeds; the common complaint is that it costs more than similarly sized TLC drives without being faster.

What people mention
  • EndurancePraisedOwners point to the MLC NAND and high TBW rating as the main reason to choose it over cheaper drives.
  • SpeedMixedReviewers find it fast for SATA but note it cannot compete with NVMe drives.
  • ValueCriticisedBuyers say it costs more than TLC drives that perform about the same in daily use.
  • ReliabilityPraisedLong-term owners report few failures and trust the Samsung name and warranty.

Questions and answers

Which is faster for everyday use?
The Kootion. NVMe over PCIe Gen 3 moves data several times faster than SATA, so boot times, app launches and large file copies are quicker. The gap shows most on big transfers, less on small everyday tasks.
Which lasts longer?
The Samsung 860 PRO has the higher endurance rating and MLC NAND, plus a five-year warranty. The Kootion is rated at 200 TBW, which is fine for normal use but lower.
Will the Kootion fit my computer?
Only if you have a free M.2 2280 slot that supports PCIe NVMe. Check your laptop or motherboard spec first. The 860 PRO needs a 2.5-inch SATA bay instead.
Is the 860 PRO worth stepping up to?
Yes if you want proven reliability, a longer warranty and higher endurance, or if your machine only takes 2.5-inch drives. If you just want speed and have an M.2 slot, the Kootion covers it.
Can I use either drive in a laptop?
The Kootion suits slim laptops with an M.2 slot and adds little heat. The 860 PRO fits laptops with a 2.5-inch bay, which most thin models no longer have.
Is 256GB enough?
It is tight for games and video. It works for an operating system plus everyday apps, or as a secondary drive. Plan on adding storage or moving large files elsewhere.

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