Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S ship with limited internal storage that fills up fast with modern game install sizes. Expanding your console storage is essential for any serious gamer. This guide covers every storage option for both platforms.
PS5 Internal SSD Expansion
The PS5 has an internal M.2 NVMe expansion slot for adding more storage:
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | M.2 2230 or M.2 2280 (with heatsink clearance) |
| Interface | PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe (Gen 3 works but slower) |
| Minimum Speed | 5,500 MB/s recommended by Sony |
| Capacity | 250GB to 4TB |
| Heatsink | Required — built-in or aftermarket |
Best PS5 Internal SSDs
Top picks for PS5 expansion, all tested and confirmed compatible:
- Samsung 990 Pro 2TB with heatsink (~£130) — Top performance, excellent sustained speeds, built-in heatsink model available
- WD Black SN850X 2TB with heatsink (~£120) — Designed for PS5, includes heatsink, officially recommended
- Kingston FURY Renegade 2TB (~£110 + heatsink) — Excellent speeds, great value
- Crucial T500 2TB with heatsink (~£105) — Budget-friendly Gen 4 with strong performance
- Samsung 990 EVO 1TB (~£60) — Best value 1TB option for PS5 expansion
Xbox Series X/S Storage Options
Xbox uses a proprietary expansion card system plus USB external storage:
- Seagate Storage Expansion Card 2TB (~£200) — Official Xbox expansion. Plugs directly into the back of the console. Plays all Xbox Series X/S optimised games. Same speed as internal drive
- Seagate Storage Expansion Card 1TB (~£120) — Same technology, smaller capacity
- WD Expansion Card for Xbox 1TB (~£100) — Licensed alternative, slightly cheaper
- USB External HDD/SSD (USB 3.0+) — Stores and plays Xbox One and backward compatible games. Cannot play Xbox Series X/S optimised games from external USB. Can store optimised games for transfer to internal
- Best USB external: Samsung T7 Shield 2TB (~£130) or WD Elements Portable 5TB HDD (~£95)
How Much Storage Do You Need?
Modern games are enormous:
- Call of Duty Modern Warfare III: ~150GB
- GTA V: ~100GB
- Fortnite: ~80GB
- Cyberpunk 2077: ~70GB
- FIFA/EA FC: ~50GB
- Average AAA game: 50-100GB
- With 10-15 installed games, you need 500GB-1TB of expansion storage minimum
- 2TB is the sweet spot for serious gamers — enough for 15-25 games without constant uninstalling
Recommended Products
Best overall PS5 SSD. Meets Sony speed recommendations, includes heatsink, excellent reliability.
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Official Xbox expansion. Plug-and-play, plays all Xbox games including Series X/S optimised titles.
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Best external storage for both consoles. Rugged, fast USB 3.2 for game backup and Xbox One games.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use any NVMe SSD in my PS5?
The SSD must be PCIe Gen 4 NVMe in M.2 2230 or 2280 form factor. Sony recommends 5,500 MB/s or faster. Gen 3 drives work but load times will be slightly slower. A heatsink is required — either built-in or a separate aftermarket heatsink.
Can I play PS5 games from an external USB drive?
No. PS5 games must run from the internal SSD or the M.2 expansion SSD. You can store PS5 games on external USB for backup, then transfer back to internal when you want to play them. PS4 games can be played directly from external USB.
Why does Xbox use proprietary expansion cards?
Microsoft designed the Xbox Velocity Architecture to guarantee consistent loading speeds. The proprietary expansion card matches the internal SSD specifications exactly, ensuring identical performance. USB external storage cannot match these speeds.
Is 1TB enough console expansion?
1TB adds roughly 8-15 more games to your library depending on sizes. For casual gamers this may be sufficient. For gamers with large libraries or who play many AAA titles, 2TB is a much better investment as it reduces the need to constantly manage storage.
