The best SSDs for your Xbox Series X

These days, storage space is very limited in consoles. Even though the Xbox Series X ships with 1 TB of built-in storage (the Series S has just 512 GB), you may be amazed — no, terrified — by how quickly that space can get gobbled up by games, updates, apps, and saves. Game Pass members in particular should be warned that going on a downloading spree will likely end (quickly) in sadness — that is, until you upgrade your storage.

If you’re constantly shuffling around game installations and wondering where you’re going to find space for that next 50 GB update, you should purchase some extra storage for your console. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best supplementary storage options for your Xbox.

This SSD is the best Xbox Series X SSD

Seagate Storage Expansion card

Microsoft could be seen as taking an older-school approach to its Seagate Storage Expansion Card license. These cards look similar to memory cards and can be inserted into the console’s back. It’s even simpler than opening up a PS5 to install an M.2 SSD.

Currently, this is the only SSD add-on for Series X that you can load the latest games from, as it matches the speed of the console’s built-in SSD. While having just one option makes it very easy to shop for a storage-boosting gadget for your Xbox, the lack of competition here means that you’re going to pay significantly more money per gigabyte than PS5 owners do for their PS5 SSD upgrades (the 1 TB add-on for Xbox nets you about 5 GB per dollar spent versus 10 GB or more per dollar for PS5-ready SSDs). We wish we could suggest that you swap your Xbox’s internal SSD, but the crummy facts are that doing so is both a It is a difficult, warranty-voiding endeavor.

Seagate’s expansion cards for Xbox come in two sizes: a 1TB or 2TB model. The 512GB version has been discontinued. For the 1TB model, prices start at $199.99 and go up to $359.99 for a top-end model. These models are both available from Amazon, Best Buy Target, GameStop, and Target.

External Xbox hard drives

You can buy larger external hard drives for significantly lower prices than official expansion cards. We’ve listed three below, Beware!: these can only be used to store a Series X game’s installation files. If you want to play a game that’s on the external hard drive, you will have to transfer the files to the console’s internal SSD (Xbox One-era games can be both stored You can play it via an external hard drive.

Having some bulk storage set aside isn’t quite as helpful as expanding the console’s SSD storage, but transferring a game’s files is still faster than having to re-download them every time you want to boot up a particular title.

WD_Black D30

The WD_Black D30 Game Drive external SSD is a sturdy, stocky model that comes in 500 GB and 1 TB versions. It connects to the USB-C/to-A cable, which offers transfer speeds up to 900 Mb/s. The 500GB model is $59.99, which is normally $99.99. Other configurations include the 1TB D30 and 2TB versions for $119.99 and $199.99 respectively (normally $239.99).

Drive for WD_Black D30 Gaming System

These prices were correct at the time of publication.

Maximum Read Speed: 900 MB/s

Maximum Write Speed: 900 MB/s

WD_Black P40

The WD_Black P40 Game Drive offers a slimmer storage solution that’s a little more expensive, but takes up less space and is capable of reaching transfer speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s. Best Buy is currently offering the 1 TB model of the WD_Black 40 Game Drive for $129.99 (normally $179.99). The 2 TB model can be purchased for $199.99 (normally $229.99).

Drive WD_Black P40

These prices were correct at the time of publication.

Maximum Read Speed: 2,000 MB/s

Maximum Write Speed: 2,000 MB/s

Crucial 8 SSD

While it isn’t quite as fast as the P40 above, the Crucial X8 SSD is still a solid option for giving you more storage for your Xbox Series X without spending a ton. Plus, it’s a little thinner and more unassuming in its design than the gamer-focused P40. The 1 TB Crucial X8 can be purchased at Amazon or Best Buy currently for $74 (normally $119.99).

Crucial X8 SSD

These prices were correct at the time of publication.

Sequential Reading Speed: 1,050 MB/s

Sequential writing speed: