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Silicon Power A55 256GB SSD vs Samsung 860 PRO 256GB SSD

The Samsung 860 PRO is the better drive: MLC NAND, a five-year warranty and Samsung's consistently strong write performance make it the more durable and predictable of the two. The Silicon Power A55 is a fine budget HDD replacement that boots fast and has a good reliability record among owners, but its write speed falls off during large transfers once the SLC cache fills. Buy the 860 PRO for a main system drive or anything write-heavy; buy the A55 for a secondary machine, an old laptop or a cheap capacity boost.

  • Choose the Silicon Power A55 if you want a low-cost SATA upgrade for an older laptop or desktop and mostly read, browse and boot rather than move large files.
  • Choose the Samsung 860 PRO if you want the longer-lasting MLC drive with steadier sustained writes and a longer warranty for a main or work machine.

Prices

  • Silicon Power A55 256GB SSD: $31.97 at Silicon Power Store (US) (last seen Nov 10)
  • Samsung 860 PRO 256GB SSD: $155.00 at eBay (last seen Nov 10)
  • Difference: the Silicon Power A55 256GB SSD is $123.03 cheaper than the Samsung 860 PRO 256GB SSD at the latest prices (Nov 10)
Silicon Power
Silicon Power A55 256GB SATA III 6Gb/s 2.5-inch Internal Solid State Drive

Silicon Power A55 256GB SSD

Silicon Power A55 256GB SATA III 6Gb/s 2.5-inch Internal Solid State Drive

5(72 ratings)
$31.97at Silicon Power Store (US)Checked Nov 10
See all prices and details
Visit Silicon Power Store (US)
Pros
  • Fast boot and a clear step up from a hard drive
  • Owners report very few failures
  • 7mm slim body fits ultrabooks
  • Silent, shock-resistant, no moving parts
Cons
  • Write speed drops during large continuous transfers
  • Real-world speed often below the rated maximum
  • Can sit loose in older 9.5mm laptop bays
  • SATA only, far slower than NVMe drives
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
  • MLC NAND with better endurance
  • Steadier sustained write performance
  • Five-year limited warranty
  • Samsung Magician and migration software
Cons
  • Costs more than budget SATA drives
  • Still limited by the SATA III interface
  • Heavier and thicker than slim 7mm drives
  • Overkill for a secondary or backup machine

What separates them

Silicon Power A55 256GB SSDSamsung 860 PRO 256GB SSD
NAND type3D TLC NAND with SLC cacheMLC NAND
Sustained write speedDrops once the SLC cache is exhausted during large transfersHolds up better under long continuous writes
Rated sequential speed (256GB)Up to 460 MB/s read, 450 MB/s writeHigher rated sequential read and write for the same capacity
Endurance and warrantyStandard budget-drive warrantyFive-year limited warranty, higher rated terabytes written
Thickness7mm, fits ultrabooks but can sit loose in 9.5mm baysStandard 2.5-inch height, mounts cleanly in most bays
Software and toolsS.M.A.R.T., TRIM, ECC, garbage collection; no migration suiteSamsung Magician and Data Migration tooling
Interface ceilingSATA III, well below NVMe speedsSATA III, same ceiling
Owner-reported reliabilityReviewers report almost no failures across many drivesLong track record as a premium SATA drive

Price history

$279.99$44.07
Nov 2Nov 10
  • Silicon Power A55 256GB SSD: lowest $44.07 on Nov 10 at Amazon.
  • Samsung 860 PRO 256GB SSD: lowest $279.99 on Nov 10 at Newegg.

Prices at every store

Silicon Power A55 256GB SSD

  • Silicon Power Store (US)New

    In stockReturn policy

    $31.97Checked Nov 10
    Visit Silicon Power Store (US)
  • Retro Gaming of DenverNew

    In stockReturn policy

    $36.77Checked Nov 10
    Visit Retro Gaming of Denver
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

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

    $44.07Free shippingChecked Nov 10
    Visit Amazon
  • TecisoftNew

    Availability unknown

    $56.09Checked Nov 2
    Visit Tecisoft
All 6 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

SpecSilicon Power A55 256GB SSDSamsung 860 PRO 256GB SSD
TypeInternalSSD
Form Factor2.5 Inch Drive2.5"
ConnectionSATA—
ColorBlack, Red—
Placement—Internal
Size (GB)—256
Flash Memory—MLC
Interface—S-ATA 6Gb/s

What reviewers say

Silicon Power A55 256GB SSD

  • 5 / 572 ratings

Buyers rate the A55 highly, mostly as a cheap way to speed up an aging computer. They report fast boots, few failures and good value for the price. The main complaint is write speed dropping during long continuous transfers.

What people mention
  • SpeedPraisedBuyers say boot times and app loading improve sharply over the hard drive it replaces.
  • ValuePraisedReviewers call it a lot of capacity and speed for a low price.
  • ReliabilityPraisedOwners report almost no failures across many drives.
  • Sustained writesCriticisedWrite speed drops during large continuous transfers once the SLC cache is exhausted.

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 better for a main Windows drive?
The Samsung 860 PRO. Its MLC NAND and steadier sustained writes handle updates, installs and large file moves better, and the longer warranty suits a daily-use system.
Which lasts longer?
The 860 PRO. MLC NAND and its higher rated endurance, backed by a five-year warranty, outlast the A55's TLC design over years of heavy writing.
Is the 860 PRO worth stepping up to from the A55?
Yes if the drive holds your OS, games or work files and you write a lot. For a secondary machine or a light-use laptop, the A55 covers the basics.
Will either fit my laptop?
Both are 2.5-inch SATA drives. The A55 is 7mm thick and fits ultrabooks but may need a spacer in older 9.5mm bays; the 860 PRO uses the standard height.
Do either reach NVMe speeds?
No. Both are SATA III drives and top out well below NVMe. If your machine has an M.2 slot, an NVMe drive is the faster choice.
Which is better for large video file transfers?
The 860 PRO. The A55's write speed drops once its SLC cache is exhausted, which shows on long continuous transfers.

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