SSD prices remain under heavy pressure in 2026, with major NVMe models from Samsung, Western Digital, Crucial, Corsair, and others selling far above their previous record lows.
The latest price tracking data shows especially sharp increases across PCIe 5.0 and higher capacity drives. The report links the situation to rising NAND flash prices and strong AI related demand, which has made reasonably priced stock harder to find.
The gap between current prices and historic lows is now substantial across many popular models.
| SSD | Current price | Lowest ever price | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB | $1,123 | $345 | +$778 |
| Samsung 9100 Pro 8TB | $2,257 | $999 | +$1,258 |
| WD Black SN8100 4TB | $699 | $399 | +$300 |
| Crucial T710 4TB | $769 | $379 | +$390 |
| Samsung 990 Pro 4TB | $994 | $249 | +$745 |
| WD Black SN850X 2TB | $348 | $89 | +$259 |
| Samsung 990 Pro 2TB | $389 | $119 | +$270 |
PCIe 5.0 SSDs are especially expensive
PCIe 5.0 drives currently sit at the top end of the market.
These models can deliver sequential read and write speeds of up to around 14,800 MB/s, nearly double what many high end PCIe 4.0 drives can achieve.
That performance comes at a much higher price in the current market.
The Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB is listed at $1,123 despite previously reaching a low of $345.
The 8TB version has climbed to $2,257 compared with a previous low of $999.
Other Gen 5 models are also expensive.
The Crucial T710 4TB is currently $769, while its lowest recorded price was $379.
The Corsair MP700 Pro 4TB is listed at $839 compared with a low of $399.
4TB Gen 4 drives are no longer cheap either
Older PCIe 4.0 drives have not escaped the broader price increase.
The Samsung 990 Pro 4TB is currently listed at $994, compared with a previous low of $249.
The WD Black SN850X 4TB is $689, while its lowest recorded price was $200.
The Corsair MP600 CORE XT 4TB is listed at $579 after previously dropping as low as $159.
These differences show how much the market has changed even outside the newest Gen 5 products.
2TB remains the practical capacity for many buyers
The report still describes 2TB as a common sweet spot for gaming systems because it offers more usable space than 1TB without reaching the much higher cost of 4TB models.
Even here, however, prices are far above previous lows.
The WD Black SN850X 2TB is listed at $348 compared with a historic low of $89.
The Samsung 990 Pro 2TB is $389 versus a previous low of $119.
The Corsair MP600 CORE XT 2TB is $306, despite once falling as low as $79.
Even 1TB drives have become expensive
The 1TB category also shows significant increases.
The Samsung 990 Pro 1TB is currently listed at $239 compared with a previous low of $59.
The WD Black SN850X 1TB is $248 after previously reaching $54.
The Silicon Power UD90 is $149 compared with a historic low of $38, while the TeamGroup MP33 is $153 after once falling to $35.
The source still recommends 1TB as the minimum practical boot drive capacity because Windows, modern games, media work, and local AI workloads can quickly consume storage.
AI demand is putting pressure on NAND supply
The report directly connects the current market to broader pressure on NAND flash supply.
Rapid growth in AI infrastructure has increased demand for storage, while reasonably priced SSD inventory tends to sell quickly.
This affects both PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 5.0 drives, making it difficult for buyers to avoid the price increases simply by choosing an older interface.
The situation also explains why high capacity and high performance drives have seen some of the largest increases.
Historic lows are now far from current pricing
Many of the current prices look particularly extreme when compared with the lowest recorded values.
A Samsung 990 Pro 4TB that once reached $249 is now close to $1,000.
A WD Black SN850X 2TB that once sold for $89 is now close to four times that amount.
These figures make current discounts difficult to judge because a sale price can still be much higher than what the same drive cost previously.
Buyers may have to focus on need rather than timing
The report notes that buyers cannot simply return to last year’s pricing.
If you urgently need additional storage, the main strategy is to compare current prices carefully and choose a model that fits your capacity and performance requirements.
The list focuses on established NVMe models rather than unknown low cost brands because cheaper untested drives may carry a higher risk of failure and data loss.
For now, the SSD market remains difficult for consumers.
PCIe 5.0 drives command especially high premiums, but even mainstream 1TB and 2TB Gen 4 models are selling well above their previous lows as NAND pricing and AI related demand continue to reshape the storage market.
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