WD Black SN770 NVMe SSD vs Samsung 990 1TB NVMe SSD

The Samsung 990 is the faster drive on paper: up to 7,150 MB/s reads and 6,450 MB/s writes against the SN770's 5,150 and 4,900. It also adds 256-bit AES hardware encryption and a higher 400 TBW endurance rating. The SN770 is the simpler, cheaper-feeling pick for a pure game library and runs cool in laptops and consoles. Owners of both report fast, stable everyday performance; the 990 is the one to step up to if you move large files or want encryption.

• Choose the WD Black SN770 if you mainly load games, want a low-power single-sided drive that fits tight laptop and handheld slots, and don't need hardware encryption.
• Choose the Samsung 990 if you want the fastest sequential speeds here, hardware AES encryption, and higher endurance for heavy writes.