Should you still buy the Samsung 980 Pro?
Only if it is clearly cheaper per terabyte than the newer 990 Pro. The 980 Pro was Samsung's previous Gen4 flagship: up to about 7,000 MB/s, 250GB to 2TB, a 5-year warranty, and full PS5 compatibility with a heatsink. It is still fast, just superseded.
The 990 Pro adds efficiency and a 4TB option, so at similar prices choose the newer drive; when the 980 Pro is discounted it is excellent value.
Capacities
| Capacity | Read | Endurance (TBW) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500GB | 6,900 MB/s | 300 TBW | Boot drive |
| 1TB | 7,000 MB/s | 600 TBW | Gaming sweet spot |
| 2TB | 7,000 MB/s | 1,200 TBW | Large library |
Who it suits
- Bargain hunters: grab it when it undercuts the 990 Pro per terabyte.
- PS5 owners: works well with a low-profile heatsink; there is no factory-heatsink 980 Pro, so add your own.
- Want 4TB or the latest efficiency: buy the 990 Pro instead.
Pros, cons and the bottom line
Bottom line: a great buy on discount, otherwise pay a little more for the 990 Pro. Compare both by price per terabyte in the table above.
- Pros: genuine flagship Gen4 speed, proven, 5-year warranty.
- Cons: no 4TB, less efficient than the 990 Pro, no factory heatsink.