The best SSDs: NVMe, M.2, SATA3 and portable

The Samsung 970 SVO Plus is the recipient of endless admiration, and for good reason. Through a combination of upgraded silicon and software, this M.2 SSD brings users a searingly fast performance speed that never fails to please - it reads up to 3,500 MB/s and writes at 3,300 MB/s. Such performance numbers are ideal for specialist and enthusiast pursuits. The thing that really pushes the 970 Evo over into 'best' territory is that extremely competitive pricing point, and range of storage capacities. While there are other units available with slightly improved speeds or higher TBW counts, the 970 Evo is the right choice in all but select circumstances.

gamingWestern Digital's WD_BLACK SN750 is our number one choice for powerful PC gaming builds. The write speeds dip a little when compared to the likes of Samsung's 970 EVO Plus, but the gaming focus is clear when it comes to read speeds, which clocks in at load-screen destroying 3,430 MB/s. It also performs well with random access reads, too. Though companion software is unique to Western Digital, the WD_Black SSD Dashboard is a particularly great place for tweaking performance. The price-to-performance balance is worth celebrating too, as is the heatsink, which gives you a little more confidence during extra-long gaming sessions. Plus, even though you should focus on other things when picking the SSD that's best for you, there's no denying that the SN750 looks impressive.

Kingston's A2000 is a nippy SSD with reliable performance and a more-than-tolerable price tag. As always, the M.2 form factor is a delight to install, and the interface delivers a respectable maximum read speed of 2,200 MB/s and write speed of 2,000 MB/s. We like this one as our bootable drive. Its load time is impressive - especially compared to SATA3 - but higher performance and capacities are available elsewhere.

Though the performance of SATA3 technology has been superseded by M.2 and PCIe interfaces, the 860 EVO PRO is still a highly attractive option, balancing cost with capacity and performance. It squeezes all it can from its interface to deliver a write speed of 530 MB/s and a read speed of 560 MB/s.Samsung has designed this SSD for heavy workloads, with roughly double the TBW of the standard 860 EVO. This helps ensure a long life for the drive - which is especially important for high-res video makers and dedicated gamers.

SSDThe Samsung 860 EVO is remarkable value for money, highlighting just how affordable an SSD upgrade can be. It uses a SATA3 connection, writing at 520MB/s and reading at 550MB/s. There's a high TBW count too, for extra peace of mind. 250GB is going to work well for OS installation, while those looking to use the 860 EVO for general storage or gaming will be happy with around 1TB. The SSD comes in sizes up to 4TB, but that costs around £500 - if you need that volume of storage on a budget, you're probably best sticking with HDD for now.

This offering from SanDisk has read speeds of up to 550 MB/s, and a write speed of up to 500MB/s - ideal for the quick transfer of large files. These speeds are comparable to SATA3 internal SSDs, and are reached thanks to the SanDisk's use of the USB 3.1 connection. Adapters for USB C and USB A are included, so good news for Apple users.The low weight and pocket size form means that it's highly portable - slip into a jacket pocket or laptop sleeve without worry. The IP55 rating is where the Extreme in its name is earned, as it's both protected against dust ingress and wet, rainy weather - a bit of spilled coffee isn't going to end its life.