Buying Guide
The Best NVMe SSDs Under $150
Three SSDs compared, from the MP33 512GB to the NM710 500GB, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
Up to $150 an NVMe SSD is mostly a 500GB or 512GB drive, so rated read speed is the main difference between picks. Every drive cost 150 or less when we checked and is an internal NVMe SSD with a stated capacity and read speed.
We sorted these picks by sequential read, interface and capacity, working from the makers' own data; any figure a maker omits is noted as missing, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Fastest Rated Read Speed
Crucial P310 500GB
The fastest rated read speed here (6,600MB/s).
Best for: Buyers who put rated read speed first.
Our take Check price for Crucial P310 500GB (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Lexar NM710 500GB
The top of this price range, adding an M.2 2280 NVMe drive.
Best for: Spending more than the P310 500GB costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Our take Check price for Lexar NM710 500GB (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
Teamgroup MP33 512GB
The lowest price among these SSDs at the time of writing.
Best for: Spending as little as possible, with the P310 500GB the next step up.
Our take Check price for Teamgroup MP33 512GB (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The fastest rated read speed here (6,600MB/s). | Buyers who put rated read speed first. | Check price for Crucial P310 500GB (opens in a new tab) |
| The top of this price range, adding an M.2 2280 NVMe drive. | Spending more than the P310 500GB costs for the fullest feature set in this group. | Check price for Lexar NM710 500GB (opens in a new tab) |
| The lowest price among these SSDs at the time of writing. | Spending as little as possible, with the P310 500GB the next step up. | Check price for Teamgroup MP33 512GB (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Fastest Rated Read Speed1 of 3
Crucial P310 500GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The P310 500GB stands out for laptop, desktop and handheld compatibility.
Best for
- Buyers who put rated read speed first.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the MP33 512GB was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It also offers a 6,600MB/s rated read speed and is rated for 0.5TB. On rated read speed it leads this guide at 6,600MB/s, ahead of the NM710 500GB (5,000MB/s). It shares a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface with the NM710 500GB; the MP33 512GB goes with a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface.
It is an M.2 2280 drive, the standard length on desktop boards; check which of your board's slots it goes in, as some share lanes with SATA ports. It runs at full speed in any PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot and still works, slower, in a PCIe 3.0 slot. Its price falls between the MP33 512GB and the NM710 500GB, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 6,600MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Capacity: 0.5TB
Pros
- Laptop, desktop and handheld compatibility
- Fastest rated read speed of the picks (6,600MB/s)
- PCIe 4.0 x4 interface
- 0.5TB capacity
Cons
- Costs more than the MP33 512GB at the time of writing
Premium Pick2 of 3
Lexar NM710 500GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The NM710 500GB stands out for an M.2 2280 NVMe drive.
Best for
- Spending more than the P310 500GB costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when slower 5,000MB/s rated reads is a problem.
Why we like it
It also offers a 5,000MB/s rated read speed and is rated for 0.5TB. On rated read speed it sits mid-pack at 5,000MB/s: the P310 500GB offers 6,600MB/s, and the MP33 512GB comes in at 1,700MB/s. Like the P310 500GB, it has a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, while the MP33 512GB uses a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface.
It is an M.2 2280 drive, the standard length on desktop boards; check which of your board's slots it goes in, as some share lanes with SATA ports. It runs at full speed in any PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot and still works, slower, in a PCIe 3.0 slot. At our last price check it topped the group, with the P310 500GB the nearest cheaper option.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 5,000MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4
- Capacity: 0.5TB
Pros
- M.2 2280 NVMe drive
- Rated read speed of 5,000MB/s, ahead of the MP33 512GB
- The top of this price range, adding an M.2 2280 NVMe drive
Cons
- Slower 5,000MB/s rated reads
- Costs more than the MP33 512GB at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here3 of 3
Teamgroup MP33 512GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the MP33 512GB brings to the table is a PCIe Gen3 drive for budget builds.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible, with the P310 500GB the next step up.
Skip if
- Pass on it if slower 1,700MB/s rated reads rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It also offers a 1,700MB/s rated read speed and is rated for 0.5TB. On rated read speed it trails the group at 1,700MB/s, while the P310 500GB offers 6,600MB/s. No other pick in this guide offers a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface; compare the P310 500GB, which has a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface.
It is an M.2 2280 drive, the standard length on desktop boards; check which of your board's slots it goes in, as some share lanes with SATA ports. It runs at full speed in any PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot and still works, slower, in a PCIe 3.0 slot. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the P310 500GB was closest.
Key dimensions & specs
- Sequential read: 1,700MB/s
- Interface: PCIe 3.0 x4
- Capacity: 0.5TB
Pros
- PCIe Gen3 drive for budget builds
- PCIe 3.0 x4 interface, the only one here
- The lowest price among these SSDs at the time of writing
Cons
- Slower 1,700MB/s rated reads
- Rated read speed trails the P310 500GB (6,600MB/s)
How We Chose These NVMe SSDs Under $150
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We lined up three drives on rated read speed, interface and capacity, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results, and every compared field is stated for all 3 picks.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the P310 500GB to the MP33 512GB, state rated read speed, interface and capacity and share 0.5TB capacity.
- Who each pick suits
- The P310 500GB for the fastest rated read speed here (6,600MB/s); the NM710 500GB for the top of this price range, adding an M.2 2280 NVMe drive; the MP33 512GB for the lowest price among these SSDs at the time of writing.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the MP33 512GB ($50 to $100) to the NM710 500GB ($100 to $150).
What to Look for in a NVMe SSD Under $150
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much rated read speed you need
The P310 500GB tops rated read speed at 6,600MB/s and the MP33 512GB sits lowest at 1,700MB/s. The P310 500GB is the pick for rated read speed.
Features beyond the spec table
The P310 500GB: laptop, desktop and handheld compatibility. The NM710 500GB: an M.2 2280 NVMe drive. The MP33 512GB: a PCIe Gen3 drive for budget builds.
How much to spend
$50 to $100 buys the MP33 512GB; $100 to $150 buys the P310 500GB and the NM710 500GB at our last check.
Match the pick to your priority
Buyers who put rated read speed first: the P310 500GB. Spending more than the P310 500GB costs for the fullest feature set in this group: the NM710 500GB. Spending as little as possible, with the P310 500GB the next step up: the MP33 512GB.
Endurance is rarely a limit
TBW figures of 1,200 or more far exceed typical gaming writes. Heavy video work benefits from a higher rating.
How to Choose a NVMe SSD Under $150
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put rated read speed first | P310 500GB | The fastest rated read speed here (6,600MB/s) |
| Spending more than the P310 500GB costs for the fullest feature set in this group | NM710 500GB | The top of this price range, adding an M.2 2280 NVMe drive |
| Spending as little as possible, with the P310 500GB the next step up | MP33 512GB | The lowest price among these SSDs at the time of writing |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The P310 500GB leads on rated read speed at 6,600MB/s, ahead of the NM710 500GB at 5,000MB/s.
| Drive | Sequential read | Interface | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| P310 500GB | 6,600MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | 0.5TB |
| NM710 500GB | 5,000MB/s | PCIe 4.0 x4 | 0.5TB |
| MP33 512GB | 1,700MB/s | PCIe 3.0 x4 | 0.5TB |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the MP33 512GB, sat in the $50 to $100 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the NM710 500GB at $100 to $150; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Drives |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | MP33 512GB |
| About $100 to $150 | P310 500GB, NM710 500GB |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the NM710 500GB compare with the P310 500GB on rated read speed?
The P310 500GB leads at 6,600MB/s, with the NM710 500GB at 5,000MB/s. The MP33 512GB closes the ranking at 1,700MB/s.
Is the NM710 500GB worth paying more than the MP33 512GB?
What it brings is rated read speed (5,000MB/s against 1,700MB/s). The MP33 512GB sat in the $50 to $100 tier and the NM710 500GB in the $100 to $150 tier when we checked, with 1 other pick between them; pay the difference only if rated read speed decides your purchase.
What makes the P310 500GB the Fastest Rated Read Speed?
It earns the label for the fastest rated read speed here (6,600MB/s). The NM710 500GB is next on rated read speed at 5,000MB/s, so this pick's 6,600MB/s is 32% further out. The MP33 512GB, the cheapest pick, sat in the $50 to $100 tier against $100 to $150 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It suits anyone who puts rated read speed first.
Do the P310 500GB and the MP33 512GB differ on interface?
The P310 500GB and the NM710 500GB use PCIe 4.0 x4; the MP33 512GB uses PCIe 3.0 x4.
Beyond the specs, what sets the P310 500GB and the NM710 500GB apart?
The P310 500GB: laptop, desktop and handheld compatibility. The NM710 500GB: an M.2 2280 NVMe drive. The MP33 512GB: a PCIe Gen3 drive for budget builds.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the P310 500GB, chosen for the fastest rated read speed here (6,600MB/s). Look at the NM710 500GB for the top of this price range, adding an M.2 2280 NVMe drive and the MP33 512GB for the lowest price among these SSDs at the time of writing if those matter more to you.
A faster rated drive only helps if the M.2 slot runs at the same PCIe generation.