This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
If you want your laptop or computer to function at the top level — whether you’re using it for gaming or editing — a solid state drive (SSD) is a vital component. SSDs are faster and perform better than pretty much any hard drive available.
An SSD can help improve the overall speed of your computer as well keep your files and data as secure as possible. As tech heads will know, an SSD is a great way to upgrade your set-up. And it doesn’t need to cost you a fortune.
But how do you find a SSD that works for you and your computer? And what makes one SSD better than another? That’s part of the problem with buying hardware. There are so many specifications that the jargon is hard (unlike with an SSD) to keep stored in your brain.
If you’re in the market for an SSD, read on for some useful information and a roundup of the best SSD options right now.
What is a solid-state drive?
An SSD is a storage device that uses blocks of memory cells to store data for easy access. SSDs tend to use flash memory, which makes them faster and more efficient than HDD options. Consequently, SSD has become the more popular means of storage — synonymous with the latest gen PCs and laptops.
What’s the difference between SSD and HDD?
It’s a matter of inner workings. Whole SSD uses memory chips and flash memory, the more traditional HDDs are built with mechanical moving parts, which is what makes them slower. It’s worth remembering, however, that HDDs are cheaper and they can hold significantly more data than SSDs.
How much data can SSDs hold?
The amount of storage differs — each model tends to have multiple capacity options — but most of the SSDs you’ll find on this list range between 1TB and 4TB.
Do you need an SSD?
The great thing about SSD technology is that it’s a simple way to upgrade your PC and laptop. SSDs are especially good for laptop users because they’re small, portable, and eat up less power. But it’s always worth asking yourself if you actually need the upgrade.
SSDs are also good for gaming and video editing because they have fast load and response times and reduced lag. The only drawback is they have limited storage (and less storage for your cash) than HDD. Serious gamers might want to combine both SSD and HDD, using the HDD for files that are access less frequently.
What are the different types of SSD?
There are different kinds of technology that you’ll find inside SSDs. It’s worth knowing some of the jargon so you have a basic idea. The easiest way to say it is that there are two types of SSD – SATA and PCIe/NVMe SSDs. SATA is the older technology, which is fine for basic needs but not as fast as PCIe and NVMe. PCIe is a type of flash storage, while NVMe isn interface that accelerates data transfer speeds.
What is the best SSD?
Thankfully, with prices going down and quality going up, finding a high-quality SSD has become easier than ever. We did the research, keeping in mind functionality, storage, and price to bring you some of the top options on the market.
These are the best SSDs in 2025.
