Black Friday SSD deals 2022: what to expect from this year's sale
Black Friday SSD deals are nearly upon us, with just over a month to go before the official sales start. If you're hoping to pick up a new drive then this is the right page for you as we summarise last year's sales and go over our expectations for this year's sales.
If 2021 is any indicator then get excited as it is likely we will see major discounts on some of the best SSDs for gaming, whether that be NVMe, external or SATA. Getting your hands on a PS5 SSD would not only allow you to expand your console storage but also speed up your boot times.
Compatible options available from top brands including Samsung, WD, and Sabrent went on sale last year, meaning you're likely spoilt for choice. With all of that in mind, it's also worth paying a visit to our dedicated page for Black Friday PS5 SSD deals if you aren't overly familiar with buying and installing SSDs on consoles. There's more to it than you might think, and you'll need to consider things like transfer speeds and heatsink installation, so be sure to check that guide if this is all a bit new to you.
You can also find our expectations on deals such as Black Friday external hard drive deals and also Black Friday gaming PC deals. Otherwise, we're breaking down our expectations for the Black Friday deals on SSDs for gaming just below.
Black Friday SSD deals 2022 - FAQs
When are Black Friday SSD deals starting in 2022?
Black Friday this year will fall on 25th November. You can also expect deals to start a little bit earlier and for them to carry over to Cyber Monday as this is what we saw occur last year and the year before.
As there are so many on the market, there are usually a ton of SSD models on sale during the Black Friday sales period. This means that you will likely be spoilt for choice.
Where will the best external hard drive deals be?
If you're looking for a solid-state drive during these sales periods then you'll find that all major tech retailers are offering amazing discounts on them during these sales periods.
US Retailers:
Amazon: Wide range of brands and sizes on sale
BestBuy: Discounts on SSDs exclusive to BestBuy
Walmart: Deals on internal and portable SSDs of different sizes
Newegg: Money off of big brands like WD_Black
UK Retailers:
Amazon: Sales on all different brands and sizes
Currys: Money off of tons of solid state drive options
OverClockersUK: Sales on top brands like Seagate and WD
eBuyer: Discounts on a range of internal and external SSDs
What types of Solid State Drive's are there?
SATA SSD: This style of solid-state drive uses the same 2.5-inch form-factor as any standard HDD, meaning they normally fit in any pre-existing drive bays that your PC case may have. The trade-off, however, is that, while cheaper, they're not as quick as some of the newer types on the market.
External SSD: As the name may imply, instead of being slotted inside your machine, they are connected externally via USB 3.0 or USB-C depending on the read and write speeds and storage capacity of the units (these days, USB-C is more commonplace).
PCIe/NVMe/M.2: This is the newest form of SSD storage that's used on everything from game consoles to gaming desktops. It's famed not only for its faster-than-ever speeds but also for its ultra-small form-factor and ease of use, normally just needing to be screwed into place (usually with a heatsink). What's more, while very expensive at times, they tend to have longer lifespans and a lower risk of mechanical fault.
What to expect from Black Friday SSD deals
Based on sales last year and other discounts we saw through the duration of this year, our expectations for SSD deals this year are exceptionally high.
Retail prices on SSD's are currently at an all time low after coming further and further down over the past year. At the moment you can find drives retailing for the same price that they were on sale for last year. This likely means that deal prices will be even lower this year as percentages are shaved off.
We have seen prices slashed on devices from the likes of Samsung, WD_Black, Sandisk and even Gigabyte. Companies which produce some of the highest quality SSDs.
Based on sales this year during Prime Day and Amazon Early Access, we saw drives come as low as double digits. Whether you were after an internal, external or a SATA drive, you could always find something on sale to suit your needs.
We are confident that this will not only be the case with Black Friday deals, but we expect them to be every bigger and better. These are usually the biggest sales of the year, meaning brands are likely holding out and will bring their lowest prices out in November.
Last year's Black Friday SSD deals in the US
SanDisk Ultra 1TB Gen 3.0 | $230 $79.99 at Best Buy
Save $150 - It may not benefit from the speeds and overall performance afforded by Gen 4.0, but this SanDisk Ultra drive is still fast enough to blitz through your PC games and programs with respectable transfer speeds.
Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB Gen 3.0 | $329.99 $199.99 at Best Buy
Save $130 - While not as fast as the Gen 4.0 Samsung listed below, this SSD does pack a whopping 2TB of storage space for a price that isn't eye-watering, and it should still be more than capable of handling all of your PC needs.
Samsung 980 Pro 500GB Gen 4.0 | $150 $109.99 at Best Buy
Save $40 - The Samsung 980 Pro is one of our favorite SSDs for gaming as well as being one of the better PS5 SSDs for your console, too. With that said, you will need to buy a heatsink to be able to push this drive to its limits, as it can get hot.
Samsung 980 Pro 1TB w/Heatsink Gen 4.0 | $250 $199.99 at Amazon
Save $50 - As one of the most popular PS5 SSD choices, this should definitely be considered as a top contender, especially as this is the first price reduction for it we've seen. It comes fitted with its own heatsink, so you can pop it straight into your console with no fuss.
Gigabyte Aorus 7000s 1TB w/Heatsink | $230 $189.99 at Amazon
Save $40 - The Aorus 7000s is a solid choice if you're looking for a PS5 SSD to upgrade your console with at an affordable price, and the included heatsink means you don't need to worry about that side of things as it's already covered.
Samsung T7 1TB External SSD | $170 $109.99 at Amazon
Save $60 - Samsung is a name you can count on for reliability and quality with their storage, and the T7 portable drives deliver high transfer speeds while on the move. The price of these external SSDs has never dropped this low before, plus you get a choice of gray, blue, or red finishes.
SanDisk Extreme 1TB Portable SSD | $250 $119.99 at Amazon
Save $130 - If you carry your data on the go then this rugged SSD can take a beating without any risk to the drive safely enclosed, while performance of up to 1,000MB/s means you won't be waiting around for your files.
Samsung 870 EVO 500GB SATA SSD | $95 $64.99 at Amazon
Save $30 - For an older PC or laptop that doesn't play well with the latest small form storage, a SATA SSD is a handy option to slot a faster than HDD drive into an existing bay. Samsung storage is renowned for quality and reliability, and at a third off this is a bargain.
WD Blue 1TB SATA 2.5" SSD | $189.99 $89.99 at Best Buy
Save $100 - This SATA drive might not be as fast as the newer NVMe stuff, but it would've got you a terabyte of storage and faster boot-up speeds for $90, which definitely makes it worth considering.
Last year's Black Friday SSD deals in the UK
WD Blue SN550 1TB Gen 3.0 | £124 £69.98 at Amazon
Save £54 - It was only a few pounds short of the historic lowest-ever price, and set the SN550 is excellent value for money at just over £50. Keep in mind, however, you wouldn't be getting Gen 4.0 performance capabilities here.
WD Black SN850 1TB | £154 £119.98 at Amazon
Save £34 - It's the cheapest that the 1TB model of SN850 has ever been. If you want to get yourself one of the fastest-performing SSDs, then it's definitely up there.
Samsung 980 Pro 1TB w/Heatsink | £267.30 at Amazon
We've been waiting a while for it, but the 980 Pro has finally arrived in the UK with Samsung's own heatsink fitted. The mere fact that it's available at all means this popular PS5 SSD should be under consideration.
Samsung 980 Pro 1TB | £193 £124.95 at Amazon
Save £68 - Samsung are a highly trusted name in storage and this is the lowest price we've seen for the excellent 980 Pro. It's compatible with PS5 too, so pop your own heatsink on there and you're all set.
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Sabrent Rocket 1TB Gen 3.0 | £150 £84.89 at Amazon
Save £65 - This was the historic lowest ever price on the 1TB configuration of the Sabrent Rocket 1TB. While it is a Gen 3.0 model, you're getting more-than-respectable speeds for what you're paying here.
Crucial X6 2TB External SSD | £221 £118.99 at Amazon
Save £102 - This impressive external SSD packs a whole 2TB of fast and reliable storage into a tiny unit, making it perfect for use on the go or tucking away behind a console, and a £100 discount made this a very tempting offer.
Samsung T7 2TB External SSD | £305 £163.99 at Amazon
Save £141 - The T7 portable drives are known for their fast speeds of up to 1,000MB/s, and with Samsung you can be assured of quality and reliability. This is the cheapest we've ever seen these external SSDs, but do check the different color options as the prices can vary between them.
SanDisk Extreme 1TB Portable SSD | £222 £99.99 at Amazon
Save £122 - For the first time ever this rugged portable SSD has dropped below the £100 threshold, and with stellar performance coupled with protection from extreme conditions you know your data will be safe. For another capacity option, the 500GB drive is down from £137 to just £67.99.
Crucial MX500 1TB SATA SSD | £107 £65.99 at Amazon
Save £41 - If you're looking to add an internal SSD to a PC or laptop that isn't compatible with the newest small form drives, then this SATA SSD should slot into an existing drive bay. The MX500 is very highly rated, and is currently at its lowest ever price.
Looking to upgrade your gaming PC? Then Black Friday CPU deals and Black Friday RAM deals should have you covered. Be sure to take a look at Black Friday Samsung deals for more.
