Which is faster, the WD Blue SN5100 or the Kingston?

The WD Blue SN5100. It is rated 7,100 MB/s read and 6,700 MB/s write against 6,000/4,000 MB/s for the Kingston, so the gap is largest on writes.

Is the WD Blue SN5100 worth the extra $38?

Only if you write a lot of large files or want the 600TB endurance. For games and everyday use the Kingston at $156.50 is the better value.

The WD on rated endurance, at 600TB written versus 320TB. The Kingston publishes a 5-year warranty and a 2,000,000-hour MTBF; the WD listing states neither.

Will either fit a laptop or handheld?

Both are single-sided M.2 2280 drives about 2.3 mm thick, so both fit most slots. Check your device's keying and length first.

Is QLC flash a problem on the WD?

Not for normal use. QLC can drop below its rated write speed during very long sustained writes, which matters mainly for large video or data transfers.

WD Blue SN5100 1TB SSD vs Kingston NV3 1TB SSD

Buy the WD Blue SN5100 if you want the fastest drive here and can use the extra endurance: 7,100/6,700 MB/s and 600TB written versus 6,000/4,000 MB/s and 320TB. Buy the Kingston if price matters more than peak speed. On November 8, 2026 the Kingston is $156.50 at Walmart and the WD is $194.61 at Dealtargets.com, a gap of about $38.

Today the Kingston NV3 1TB SSD costs $38.11 less at its best price.

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