Storage / Hardware · Tool Face-Off

Micron MX550 SSD vs Samsung 990 Pro SSD

Quick answer

The Samsung 990 Pro is a top-tier NVMe performer that dominates benchmarks, while the Crucial MX550 is a wallet-friendly SATA option for everyday upgrades. They're barely in the same category — one is a sports car, the other a reliable commuter.

Our pick

Crucial MX550

Affordable SATA SSD for everyday storage upgrades

4.2★

Samsung 990 Pro

Blazing NVMe Gen 4 SSD built for power users and PS5

4.1★

Interface

SATA III (6 Gb/s)

PCIe 4.0 NVMe (M.2)

Max Sequential Read

~560 MB/s

~7,450 MB/s

Max Sequential Write

~510 MB/s

~6,900 MB/s

Capacities Available

250 GB – 2 TB

1 TB – 4 TB

Price (1 TB approx.)

~$60–75

~$90–120

Form Factor

2.5" SATA

M.2 2280

Heatsink Option

Yes (optional)

PS5 Compatible

Yes

Endurance (TBW, 1 TB)

~200 TBW

~600 TBW

Warranty

5 years

Power Consumption

~2–3W active

~5–8W active

Requires M.2 Slot

No (SATA port)

Yes

Crucial MX550

Performance★★★☆☆

Reliability★★★★☆

Compatibility★★★★½

Value for Money★★★★½

Thermal Management★★★★½

Ease of Installation★★★★½

Samsung 990 Pro

Performance★★★★★

Reliability★★★★½

Compatibility★★★★☆

Value for Money★★★½☆

Thermal Management★★★½☆

Ease of Installation★★★★☆

Worth knowing

The 990 Pro is roughly 13x faster than the MX550 in sequential reads — that's not a typo.
The MX550's 2.5" form factor makes it a go-to for upgrading old laptops and desktops with no M.2 slot.
Samsung patched early 990 Pro firmware bugs that caused SSD health to drop incorrectly — update that firmware!
The MX550 uses Micron's 3D NAND and draws so little power it's a solid choice for power-sensitive laptops.
At 4 TB, the 990 Pro offers serious capacity for creators who need fast scratch disk space.

Comparing the MX550 to the 990 Pro in a speed test is like racing a golf cart against a Tesla Plaid — the golf cart will absolutely get you to the shops, just not before lunch.

If you want

You want to breathe life into an old laptop or desktop

The MX550's 2.5" SATA form factor fits machines that don't have an M.2 slot, at a price that won't sting.

→ Pick Crucial MX550

If you want

You're building a gaming PC or need maximum transfer speeds

The 990 Pro's Gen 4 NVMe speeds cut load times dramatically and future-proof your build.

→ Pick Samsung 990 Pro

If you want

You bought a PS5 and need to expand its storage

The 990 Pro is officially PS5-compatible and fast enough to match the console's internal SSD.

→ Pick Samsung 990 Pro

If you want

You're on a tight budget and just need reliable extra storage

The MX550 delivers dependable everyday performance at a significantly lower price per gigabyte.

→ Pick Crucial MX550

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