Heads up: we may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. How we make money
Short on time? Our top pick is Samsung 990 PRO 1TB, Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB takes Best Flexible Gen4 Pick, while SanDisk Optimus GX 7100 1TB takes Best Efficient Gen4.
- Best PCIe 4.0 SSD for Laptop Samsung 990 PRO 1TB Check price
- Best Flexible Gen4 Pick Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB Check price
- Best Efficient Gen4 SanDisk Optimus GX 7100 1TB Check price
Shopping on Amazon? Get it faster with Prime
Free fast delivery on eligible items above, Prime-only deals and Prime Video. New members can try it free for 30 days and cancel anytime.
The best PCIe 4.0 SSD for laptop upgrades gives you near double the speed of Gen3 drives in the same M.2 2280 slot. Many recent laptops support Gen4, and Gen4 drives also work in Gen3 slots at the older speed.
We picked six Gen4 drives that suit laptops. Many gaming laptops use M.2 2280 slots, and thin models can have tight clearance, so single-sided drives and thin heat labels are the safer choice. Always check your laptop's manual or the maker's support page for the slot size and PCIe generation before you buy. We checked every listing on Amazon in October 2026 and used the specs the makers publish there. We do not list prices because Amazon prices change in real time; use the buttons to see the current price and availability. Scores are our editorial scores out of 10, not Amazon customer ratings.
Best PCIe 4.0 Laptop SSDs at a Glance
| Award | Drive | Read / Write | Best For | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best PCIe 4.0 SSD for Laptop | Samsung 990 PRO 1TB | 7,450 / 6,900MB/s | Top Gen4 speed | 9.1/10 |
| Best Flexible Gen4 Pick | Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB | 7,150 / 6,300MB/s | Gen4 x4 or Gen5 x2 | 8.9/10 |
| Best Efficient Gen4 | SanDisk Optimus GX 7100 1TB | 7,250 / 6,900MB/s | Battery-minded speed | 8.7/10 |
| Best Gen4 for Laptops and Handhelds | Crucial P310 1TB (2280) | 7,100 / 6,000MB/s | Legion Go and ROG Ally X too | 8.5/10 |
| Best Single-Sided Gen4 | Lexar NQ780 1TB NVMe SSD | 6,500 / 2,500MB/s | Thin laptops | 8.3/10 |
| Best Value Gen4 Speed | BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 1TB | 7,450 / 6,500MB/s | Speed for less | 8.1/10 |
Samsung SSD 990 PRO 1TB, PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280
Reads up to 7,450MB/s, near the top of PCIe 4.0, with a slim build Samsung says fits laptops meeting PCI-SIG D8.
Samsung SSD 990 EVO Plus 1TB, PCIe 4.0 x4 / 5.0 x2, M.2 2280
Reads up to 7,150MB/s and runs on PCIe 4.0 x4 or 5.0 x2, with a nickel-coated controller aimed at battery life.
SanDisk Optimus GX 7100 1TB NVMe SSD, PCIe 4.0, M.2 2280
Reads up to 7,250MB/s with a power-efficient design SanDisk aims at battery life, sold by Amazon when we checked.
Crucial P310 1TB SSD, PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 2280
Reads up to 7,100MB/s with Micron G8 NAND, listed for laptops and handhelds such as ROG Ally X and Legion Go.
Lexar NQ780 1TB NVMe SSD, PCIe Gen 4x4, M.2 2280
Lexar calls out laptops directly: a single-sided design, Intelligent Power Control and reads up to 6,500MB/s.
BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 1TB NVMe M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD
Reads up to 7,450MB/s with a PMIC for power efficiency and a graphite heat sink, aimed at desktops and notebooks.
In-Depth Reviews
1. Is PCIe 4.0 Worth It in a Laptop?
Yes, if your laptop supports it. A Gen4 drive is rated at roughly double the read speed of a typical Gen3 drive, which helps with installs, big updates and file copies. Load times in games improve less, so do not stretch the budget for the very top Gen4 drive unless you move a lot of data.
2. Samsung 990 PRO 1TB: Best PCIe 4.0 SSD for Laptop
The Samsung 990 PRO 1TB reads at up to 7,450MB/s and writes at up to 6,900MB/s, with up to 1,400K and 1,550K random IOPS. Samsung quotes up to 50% better performance per watt than the 980 PRO, uses its own nickel-coated controller for thermal control, and says the slim drive fits desktops and laptops that meet the PCI-SIG D8 standard.
3. Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB: Best Flexible Gen4 Pick
The Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB reads at up to 7,150MB/s and writes at up to 6,300MB/s. It works on PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2, and Samsung says its nickel-coated controller lets it use less power, with laptops and battery life in mind. Intelligent TurboWrite 2.0 helps with large files.
4. SanDisk Optimus GX 7100 1TB: Best Efficient Gen4
The SanDisk Optimus GX 7100 1TB reads at up to 7,250MB/s and writes at up to 6,900MB/s, with random speeds up to 1M and 1.4M IOPS. It uses 8th generation BiCS TLC NAND and nCache, and SanDisk describes a power-efficient architecture meant to help battery life.
5. Crucial P310 1TB (2280): Best Gen4 for Laptops and Handhelds
The Crucial P310 1TB 2280 version reads at up to 7,100MB/s and writes at up to 6,000MB/s. Crucial lists laptops, desktops and handhelds such as the ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go and AYANEO Kun, and the drive stays backward compatible with PCIe Gen3 systems.
6. Lexar NQ780 1TB NVMe SSD: Best Single-Sided Gen4
The Lexar NQ780 1TB reads at up to 6,500MB/s and writes at up to 2,500MB/s. Lexar uses an 8-channel Gen4 controller with HMB and SLC cache, and says it is great for laptops thanks to its single-sided design and Intelligent Power Control. It has a 5-year limited warranty.
7. BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 1TB: Best Value Gen4 Speed
The BIWIN Black Opal NV7400 1TB reads at up to 7,450MB/s and writes at up to 6,500MB/s, with random speeds up to 1,000K IOPS. BIWIN uses a power management IC to improve efficiency, a graphite heat sink and HMB, and names notebook PCs as well as desktops.
How to Choose a PCIe 4.0 SSD for Laptop Use
Confirm Gen4 support
Check the laptop's spec sheet. A Gen4 drive in a Gen3 slot runs at Gen3 speed.
Thickness
The Samsung 990 PRO fits laptops that meet PCI-SIG D8; the Lexar NQ780 is single-sided.
Efficiency
Samsung and SanDisk both call out efficiency on these drives.
Writes
The NQ780's 2,500MB/s writes are fine for games but slower for big file copies.
Quick Setup Tips
- Check your laptop's manual: confirm the M.2 length, PCIe generation and whether there is a free second slot
- Back up first: copy anything important before you swap the boot drive
- Clone or reinstall: several picks include Acronis cloning software for moving your old drive
- Skip big heatsinks: most laptops have no room for a desktop heatsink; a thin label is fine
- Check the live price: use the buttons to see the current price on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best PCIe 4.0 SSD for laptop use?
The Samsung 990 PRO 1TB, with reads up to 7,450MB/s and a slim build for PCI-SIG D8 laptops.
Will a PCIe 4.0 SSD work in a PCIe 3.0 laptop?
Yes, at Gen3 speed.
What is special about the 990 EVO Plus?
It supports both PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2.
Do I need a heatsink in a laptop?
No. Laptop slots rarely have room; the laptop's own cooling and the drive's label are enough.
Is 1TB enough for laptop gaming?
For a few big games, yes. For a larger library, consider 2TB.
The Bottom Line
The Samsung 990 PRO 1TB is the best PCIe 4.0 SSD for laptop speed. Pick the SanDisk Optimus GX 7100 1TB for efficiency, or the Lexar NQ780 1TB for thin laptops.
