Western Digital Offers First Official PlayStation-Licensed SSD for PS5
Not all M.2 SSDs are fast enough for the PS5, but now the console has its first official PlayStation-Licensed drive courtesy of Western Digital.
The WD BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD for PS5 Consoles(Opens in a new window) is not a new drive. Western Digital simply tweaked the name and packaging for its existing SN850 SSD, which has been available since early 2021. Adding the PlayStation license does offer consumers some peace of mind this SSD will definitely work with the PS5, while at the same time guaranteeing Western Digital a significant sales boost.
The SN850 is no slouch in the performance department as proven by PCMag's review which rated it as Excellent. Sequential read speeds are rated at 7,000MB/s, while writes manage a still impressive 5,300MB/s. And there's two options available: a 1TB model for $169.99(Opens in a new window) and a 2TB model for $279.99(Opens in a new window), both of which include a 5-year limited warranty. It's also worth noting that the SN850 without the PlayStation license rebrand can be found cheaper(Opens in a new window).
We're far enough into the lifecycle of the PS5 now that even more casual game players will be reaching the limits of the console's 825GB internal storage and regularly having to delete data to make space for new titles. Installing the SN850 is a relatively easy task thanks to the all-in-one heatsink design, but anyone attempting to do so must also ensure they have at least PS5 system software version 21.02-04.00.00 installed. Performing a PS5 system update will bring your console right up to date and ready for the SSD.
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