Is the Fanxiang S101q worth it?

For a cheap upgrade in an older SATA machine, yes. If you need consistent speed for large file transfers or heavy workloads, a TLC drive with DRAM is a better spend.

How fast is it really?

Short bursts hit the rated 530 MB/s read and 420 MB/s write thanks to SLC caching. Once the cache fills, QLC write speeds drop sharply, so copying tens of gigabytes at once will slow down.

Will it fit my laptop?

It is a standard 7 mm, 2.5-inch SATA drive, so it fits most laptops and desktops with a 2.5-inch bay. Very thin laptops that only take M.2 drives will not accept it.

Does it work in a PlayStation or Xbox?

It works in a SATA enclosure for Xbox external storage and in PS4 internal bays. PlayStation 5 requires an M.2 NVMe drive, so this will not work there.

The drive itself; screws and a SATA cable are usually not included, so check you have them for a desktop install.

Budget SSDs like this tend to dip during Black Friday and back-to-school sales. At $44.99 at Walmart as of November 3, 2026, it is already near the bottom of the SATA price range.

Where is the Fanxiang S101q QLC 2.5" SATA SSD cheapest?

At Walmart, for $44.99, as of our latest check.

What do buyers say about the Fanxiang S101q QLC 2.5" SATA SSD?

Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 2,800 ratings.

Fanxiang S101q QLC 2.5" SATA SSD

4.8

Best price now

$44.99at WalmartObserved Nov 3, 2026, 7:22 AM

Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

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Fanxiang S101q QLC 2.5" SATA SSD

4.8

Best price now

$44.99at WalmartObserved Nov 3, 2026, 7:22 AM

Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Visit Walmart

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Our take on the Fanxiang S101q QLC 2.5" SATA SSD

The Fanxiang S101q is a budget 2.5-inch SATA SSD built on QLC NAND, aimed at reviving older desktops and laptops or adding cheap bulk storage. It uses a mix of controllers (Maxio, Yeestor, SM2259XT2, Realtek) and lists 530 MB/s read and 420 MB/s write, with SLC caching to keep short bursts fast. The 256 GB model is rated for 80 TBW and carries a 3-year warranty. At $44.99 at Walmart as of November 3, 2026, it sits at the low end of what budget SATA SSDs cost, though only one store is pricing it new.

Best forReviving an older laptop or desktop with a SATA baySecondary storage for games, media or backupsBudget builds where capacity per dollar mattersXbox external or add-on storage via a SATA enclosure

Pros

Cheap per gigabyte for a SATA drive
530 MB/s read and 420 MB/s write is fine for everyday use
SLC caching keeps short transfers snappy
TRIM, S.M.A.R.T., LDPC ECC and wear leveling supported
3-year warranty and 80 TBW rating on the 256 GB model

Cons

QLC NAND slows sharply on long sustained writes
Controller and NAND can vary between units
No DRAM cache listed, which hurts random performance
SATA tops out well below NVMe speeds
Plastic shell feels basic

Fanxiang S101q QLC 2.5" SATA SSD prices at every store

WalmartNew
In stockSold by fanxiang
$44.99Observed Nov 3, 2026, 7:22 AM
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Also available at

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Fanxiang S101q QLC 2.5" SATA SSD price history

Lowest price we've seen: $44.99 on Nov 3 at Walmart. Tracked across 1 store since Nov 3.

What reviewers say

Owner feedback on the S101q line is broadly positive, with buyers mainly praising the price and the easy speed-up on older machines. Complaints tend to focus on write speeds dropping during large transfers and on inconsistent parts between batches.

Pros

Low price for the capacity
Noticeable boot and load-time improvement over hard drives
Simple plug-and-play install in laptops and desktops
Works in older machines without special drivers

Cons

Sustained write speed falls well below the rated figure
Different controllers and NAND shipped under the same model name
Random performance is modest without DRAM

About the Fanxiang S101q QLC 2.5" SATA SSD

Specifications Form factor: SATA III 2.5″ Shell material: Plastic Interface: SATA III 6 Gb/s Controller: Maxio MAS1102 / Yeestor YS9082 / SM2259XT2 / Realtek RM1135 Flash Type: 3D NAND QLC NAND Flash: Maxio MAS1102 / Realtek RM1135 / Yeestor YS9082 Capacity: 256 GB; 512 GB; 1 TB; 2 TB Sequential Read: 530 MB/s (256 GB); 550 MB/s (512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB) Sequential Write: 450 MB/s (256 GB); 500 MB/s (512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB) TBW (Terabytes Written): 80 TBW (256 GB); 160 TBW (512 GB); 320 TBW (1 TB); 640 TBW (2 TB) Max Channels: 2/4 (YS9082) Allowable Voltage: DC 5 V ±5% Power Consumption: 3.5 W (max) MTBF: 2,000,000 hours Operating Temperature: 0°C to +70°C Storage Temperature: −40°C to +85°C Dimensions: 100 mm (L) × 69.8 mm (W) × 7 mm (H) Weight: 37 g Warranty: 3 years System Support: Windows 7, 8, 10, 11; macOS; Linux Application Areas: Desktops, Laptops, Xbox Support Functions: TRIM, RAID, S.M.A.R.T., LDPC ECC, Advanced Wear Leveling, Bad Block Management, Thermal Throttling, Power Management, SLC Caching

Specifications

Read Speed: 530
Hard Drive Form Factor: Serial ATA
Internal / External: Internal
Interface Type: SATA 6.0Gb/s
Write Speed: 420
HD Capacity: 256 GB
Rec. Use: Desktop Replacement, Laptop Replacement

Questions and answers

Is the Fanxiang S101q worth it?: For a cheap upgrade in an older SATA machine, yes. If you need consistent speed for large file transfers or heavy workloads, a TLC drive with DRAM is a better spend.
How fast is it really?: Short bursts hit the rated 530 MB/s read and 420 MB/s write thanks to SLC caching. Once the cache fills, QLC write speeds drop sharply, so copying tens of gigabytes at once will slow down.
Will it fit my laptop?: It is a standard 7 mm, 2.5-inch SATA drive, so it fits most laptops and desktops with a 2.5-inch bay. Very thin laptops that only take M.2 drives will not accept it.
Does it work in a PlayStation or Xbox?: It works in a SATA enclosure for Xbox external storage and in PS4 internal bays. PlayStation 5 requires an M.2 NVMe drive, so this will not work there.
What is in the box?: The drive itself; screws and a SATA cable are usually not included, so check you have them for a desktop install.
When is it cheapest?: Budget SSDs like this tend to dip during Black Friday and back-to-school sales. At $44.99 at Walmart as of November 3, 2026, it is already near the bottom of the SATA price range.
Where is the Fanxiang S101q QLC 2.5" SATA SSD cheapest?: At Walmart, for $44.99, as of our latest check.
What do buyers say about the Fanxiang S101q QLC 2.5" SATA SSD?: Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 2,800 ratings.

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