M.2 2230 SSD Review Roundup (2025)

Handheld gaming PCs have created an entirely new market segment for SSDs. With the Steam Deck’s launch in 2022, followed by the ASUS ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw, demand for M.2 2230 SSDs has exploded from virtually zero to a thriving ecosystem. These tiny 30mm (‘2230’ means 22 x 30 mm) drives were once relegated to WiFi modules and OEM applications. Today, they’re the key to expanding your portable gaming library beyond the constraints of built-in storage.

Just like with regular 2280 SSDs, the real-world performance difference between SSDs is often surprisingly small, and there is even less variation in the 2230 market. With the Steam Deck, you are also limited by the PCIe 3.0 interface, although PCIe 4.0 SSDs will work perfectly fine (at Gen3 speeds).

But there are a few more factors than cost per GB to keep in mind when looking for the best 2230 SSD for your handheld gaming PC – not least endurance and reliability. TLC-based drives are a better option here, even if their QLC counterparts can be more tempting depending on the price. Power draw is another important factor in handhelds, but most (if not all) 2230 SSDs are DRAM-less and quite efficient.

Quick Reference Table

Before diving into individual drives, here’s a list of M.2 2230 SSDs worth considering, sorted by theoretical maximum performance.

	Model	Capacities	Controller/ NAND	Max Seq. Read/ Write (MB/s)	Max 4K Read/ Write (IOPS)	Endurance (@ 1TB)
	PNY CS2342	1TB 2TB	Phison E27T TLC	7,300 6,000	N/A	N/A
	Crucial P310	1TB 2TB	Phison E27T 232L QLC (Micron)	7,100 6,000	1,000K 1,200K	220 TBW
	Corsair MP600 Mini (E27T)	1TB 2TB	Phison E27T 162L TLC (BiCS6)	7,000 6,200	750K 1,000K	600 TBW
	Kingston NV3	500GB 1TB 2TB	SM2268XT2 218L QLC (BiCS8)	6,000 5,000	N/A	640 TBW (2TB)
	WD Black SN770M	500GB 1TB 2TB	Proprietary 112L TLC (BiCS5)	5,150 4,900	650K 800K	600 TBW
	WD SN740 (OEM)	256GB 512GB 1TB 2TB	Proprietary 112L TLC (BiCS5)	5,150 4,900	N/A	N/A
	Lexar PLAY	1TB	SM2269XT 176L TLC (Micron B47R)	5,000 4,500	N/A	N/A
	Corsair MP600 Mini (Original)	1TB	Phison E21T 176L TLC (Micron B47R)	5,000 4,300	700K 1,000K	600 TBW
	Sabrent Rocket	256GB 512GB 1TB	Phison E21T 176L TLC (Micron B47R)	5,000 4,300	450K 545K	600 TBW
	Inland TN446	512GB 1TB	Phison E21T 176L TLC (Micron B47R)	5,000 4,300	450K 545K	600 TBW
	Sabrent Rocket Q4	2TB	Phison E21T 176L QLC (Micron)	5,000 3,200	480K 750K	450 TBW (2TB)
	Corsair MP600 Core Mini	1TB 2TB	Phison E21T 176L QLC (Micron)	5,000 3,800	650K 700K	220 TBW
	TeamGroup MP44S	1TB 2TB	Phison E21T 176L QLC (Micron)	5,000 3,500	500K 700K	300 TBW
	Silicon Power UD90	500GB 1TB 2TB	Phison E21T QLC (500GB: TLC)	5,000 3,200	N/A	N/A
	Addlink S91	512GB 1TB 2TB	Phison E21T QLC (512GB: TLC)	5,000 4,000	N/A	N/A
	Inland QN446	2TB	Phison E21T 176L QLC (Micron)	5,000 3,200	480K 750K	450 TBW (2TB)
	Micron 2400 (OEM)	512GB 1TB 2TB	SM2269XT 176L TLC (Micron B47R)	4,500 4,000	N/A	N/A
	Kioxia BG5 (OEM)	256GB 512GB 1TB	Proprietary 96L TLC (BiCS4)	3,500 3,000	N/A	N/A

PNY CS2342 – The Dark Horse Performer

PNY’s late entry into the 2230 market claims impressive specifications: up to 7,300 MB/s reads and 6,000 MB/s writes, positioning it among the fastest drives available in this form factor (which is physically limited compared to high-end 2280 drives). Limited information exists about the controller and NAND configuration, though the specs suggest hardware comparable to the Corsair MP600 Mini (latest version).

Unfortunately, there is also no mention of an actual TBW endurance rating, although the datasheet does mention that the unspecified TBW rating is mutually exclusive with the 5-year warranty.

PNY’s reputation in the SSD market is generally positive, but it seems like a good idea to wait for more detailed data and review coverage.

Crucial P310 – Speed Champion with QLC Compromises

Crucial’s P310 is an impressive achievement: extracting leading PCIe 4.0 performance from QLC NAND in the 2230 form factor. The Phison E27T controller paired with Micron’s 232-layer QLC flash delivers sequential reads up to 7,100 MB/s, making it one of the speediest 2230 drive available. The speed advantage will not be noticeable in the Steam Deck (which is PCIe 3.0), but systems like the ROG Ally X will benefit

The drive maintains this impressive pace through a massive 400GB pseudo-SLC cache at 2TB capacity, allowing sustained writes at 6,300 MB/s for about 64 seconds. Once exhausted, performance drops to 336 MB/s, which is better than older QLC drives managing just 100 MB/s, but still slower than TLC alternatives. Power efficiency proves exceptional, with Tom’s Hardware measuring class-leading performance-per-watt metrics.

On the downside, the endurance rating is just 440 total terabytes written for the 2TB model, compared to 1,200 TBW for the WD Black SN770M. It’s also more expensive than much of the competition at the time of writing.

Review consensus: In terms of bandwidth and overall performance, the Crucial P310 is a clear winner in most reviews (e.g. Tom’s Hardware, PCWorld) when compared to other 2230 SSDs. What holds it back are QLC issues and premium pricing.

Corsair MP600 Mini (2024) – Balanced TLC Option

Corsair’s refreshed the MP600 Mini from the original’s Phison E21T to the newer E27T controller while upgrading to 162-layer Kioxia TLC NAND. This combination also enables a 2TB capacity with TLC flash in the 2230 form factor (previously exclusive to Western Digital’s offerings). Performance scales impressively: 7,000 MB/s reads and 6,500 MB/s writes are significant improvements over the original.

The 2TB model’s 49GB pseudo-SLC cache seems modest but is enough for typical gaming workloads. Once depleted, the drive maintains respectable sustained writes, though the single NAND package configuration (versus two in the full-size MP600 Elite) creates some performance limitations. TechPowerUp found excellent random I/O performance, even matching eight-channel flagship drives in certain tests.

Availability remains the primary concern—the drive has been difficult to find at retail despite launching months ago. When available, pricing hovers around $200 for 2TB, which is very hard to justify.

Review consensus: Even the previous version of the MP600 Mini was widely praised, and the updated model is even better. But it’s definitely not worth $200 for 2TB with several solid alternatives.

Kingston NV3 – The Value Champion

Kingston’s NV3 has been (and probably still is) available in a multitude of configurations, according to TechPowerup. The 2230 variant was launched in 2025 and is reportedly using BiCS 8 QLC NAND in combination with a Silicon Motion SM2268XT2 controller (at least for now). What’s interesting with the NV3 is that it offers a more than decent endurance rating i spite of the QLC: 640 TBW for the 2TB model. It’s also quite fast and, more importantly, affordable. At the time of writing you can find a 2TB NV3 for around $130, which is about as cheap as a 2TB SSD in the 2230 form factor gets.

Review consensus: The 2230 version of the NV3 has not been extensively reviewed (if at all), but the regular 2280 has been largely well received. Nothing spectacular, but solid entry-level Gen4 performance.

WD Black SN770M – The TLC Capacity King

For some time, Western Digital’s SN770M was the only 2230 SSD to offer 2TB of TLC NAND along with wide retail availability. This drive is built on the same platform as the successful SN770 but shortened to 30mm. It maintains identical performance characteristics, however. The proprietary SanDisk controller and reliable 112-layer BiCS5 TLC flash deliver consistent performance across all capacities, with the 2TB model achieving its rated 5,150 MB/s reads and 4,900 MB/s writes.

Like it’s bigger 2280 sibling, the 2230 SN770M offers excellent real-world performance, but power consumption and thermal throttling are apparent weaknesses.

Review consensus: TechPowerup and Tom’s Hardware noted thermal throttling and high power draw in specific situations, but overall gaming performance is stellar. The excellent endurance ratings are also mentioned.

Sabrent Rocket 2230 – The Proven Workhorse

Sabrent’s Rocket 2230 arrived early in the Steam Deck upgrade cycle, establishing itself as a reliable TLC option much like the original MP600 Mini when choices were limited. The Phison E21T controller paired with 176-layer Micron TLC NAND delivers consistent, decent performance: 4,750 MB/s for both reads and writes.

The drive includes Sabrent’s Acronis True Image software for easy cloning and advertises itself specifically for handheld compatibility. Build quality impresses with proper retail packaging and full warranty support, avoiding the risks of grey-market OEM drives. The copper-infused label claims enhanced cooling properties, though real-world benefits in confined spaces are likely marginal.

Limited to 1TB maximum capacity, the Rocket 2230 has been superseded by newer options offering better performance or higher capacity. At its current price point around $90, it faces stiff competition. The 600 TBW endurance rating and five-year warranty are nevertheless excellent.

Lexar Play – New TLC Competitor

Lexar’s Play 2230 SSD uses the Silicon Motion SM2269XT controller in combination with TLC memory chips, resulting in an excellent endurance rating and similarly great sustained write performance. The pSLC cace is 300GB, and if this is ever depleted the drive remains at nearly double the transfer rate of a QLC drive. The singular limitation is capacity – Lexar only offers 1TB despite the hardware supporting 2TB configurations.

Corsair MP600 Core Mini – The Budget Version

Corsair’s Core Mini makes some compromises by using QLC NAND instead of the standard MP600 Mini’s TLC, which reduces endurance to 450 TBW at 2TB while limiting sustained write performance. However, the familiar Phison E21T controller maintains competitive burst performance at 5,000 MB/s reads and 3,800 MB/s writes.

Testing revealed a huge 400+ GB SLC cache at 2TB capacity, so there is little risk of ending up with direct-to-QLC speeds. At around $200 for 2TB, the Core Mini occupies a very awkward position, unfortunately, as there are notably cheaper options in this space, like the Kingston NV3 or TeamGroup MP44S.

TeamGroup MP44S – Another Value QLC Option

TeamGroup’s MP44S is another budget-conscious approach to 2TB expansion. Using the proven Phison E21T controller with Micron 176-layer QLC NAND, it delivers adequate performance at aggressive prices. The 2TB model at around $135 significantly undercuts QLC competitors like the MP600 Core Mini, while matching their capabilities.

The Elusive OEM 2230 SSDs

When the Steam Deck started shipping to early adopters (your humble correspondent included), there was no 2230 SSD ecosystem to speak of. Instead, you had to go looking in the OEM market that catered to a handful of ultraportable laptops that used this form factor.

The Kioxia BG5 was one of few SSDs in this tiny niche, but a good one, as our testing showed a clear improvement over the small 256 GB E13-based original SSD. In fact, it was even marginally faster than the original MP600 Mini over the Deck’s PCIe 3.0 interface.

Another popular OEM drive at the time was the WD SN740 – an SSD that strongly resembles the SN770M (if not outright identical).

But there is little reason to chase after 2230 SSDs in the OEM market these days, unless you find one at a steep discount. On the contrary, they are usually more expensive and don’t necessarily offer the same warranties as they are aimed at system builders.

Performance Deep Dive: Making Sense of the Numbers

Sequential Performance: Marketing vs. Reality

Manufacturers love to highlight their drives’ maximum sequential read/write speeds, but these numbers require specific conditions that happen only rarely in portable devices (or any consumer devices, really). A doubling of the maximum sequential transfer rates, for example, will never cut loading times in half. The main reason is that most everyday workloads, like gaming, have very little in common with synthetic benchmarks.

Real-world gaming workloads emphasize random I/O performance over sequential throughput. Loading game assets involves lots and lots of small file reads where peak bandwidth is never utilized. Naturally, a high-end SSD will be faster than an entry-level model on average, but maximum sequential performance doesn’t scale with actual performance.

Wrapping Up

The abundance of choice in the M.2 2230 space today would have seemed impossible just a couple of years ago. Handheld gaming PCs created a market, and manufacturers responded. Solid competition is keeping prices down and you no longer need to go looking in OEM channels.

That said, don’t overthink it. Any modern retail M.2 2230 SSD will dramatically improve your handheld gaming experience compared to microSD cards or basic eMMC storage. The differences between competing drives matter less than simply having adequate, fast internal storage.

Pick a drive from a reputable manufacturer, ensure it fits your capacity needs and budget, and get back to gaming!