Expandable storage options for consoles are a common necessity, especially for the Xbox Series X, which comes with around 800GB of usable storage. Once you've installed a few games, you might find yourself constantly uninstalling and reinstalling to make room for new titles. This shouldn't be the case! The best solution is to invest in an SSD for your Xbox Series X|S.
TL;DR - These are the best Xbox Series X SSDs:
Our Top Pick### Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S
2See it at Amazon
### WD_Black 1TB C50
1See it at Amazon
### Samsung T7 External SSD
0See it at Amazon
### Crucial X8 External SSD
1See it at Amazon
### WD_Black 2TB P40
0See it at Amazon
The catch, however, is that only a few SSDs on the market can run Xbox Series X games directly. If you're looking to just store games rather than run them from the SSD, you have more options available. For instance, you can play older Xbox One or Xbox 360 games directly from a compatible hard drive or store your favorite Xbox Series X games.
First, we'll explore the best SSDs that support and run your Xbox Series X games, followed by some alternative storage options.
Have a PS5? Check out the best PS5 SSDs
1. Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S
The Best Xbox Series X SSD Overall
Our Top Pick### Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S
2Grab this easy-to-install, official Xbox SSD to enjoy extra storage and speedy transfer rates so games feel like you're playing directly from the console's storage. See it at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Storage: 1TB
- Interface: eSATA
- Read/Write: 468.75MB/s
PROS
- Easy to install
- Fast transfer speeds
CONS
- Expensive
The Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S is nearly as fast as the console's internal SSD, allowing you to play games optimized for Xbox Series X|S seamlessly. With plug-and-play installation, you don't need to be a tech expert to expand your Xbox Series X storage. It offers high data transfer rates and quick loading times, making it feel like you're playing directly from the console's storage.
While it is pricey, this is the only downside of the expansion card. If you want to increase your Xbox Series X's limited storage the "official" way, this is the solution. It works seamlessly with the Xbox's Velocity Architecture and supports Quick Resume, ensuring you enjoy games as intended. You can choose between 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB versions based on your needs.
2. WD_Black 1TB C50
The Most Portable Xbox Series X SSD
### WD_Black 1TB C50
1The WD_Black C50 is Western Digital's official Xbox Series X|S SSD, promising to run your games just as fast as the native SSD. See it at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Storage: 1TB
- Interface: eSATA
- Read/Write: 900MB/s
PROS
- A cheaper alternative to the Seagate Expansion Card
- Durable and pocket-sized
CONS
- Marginally slower boot times
While Seagate previously dominated the Xbox expansion card market, Western Digital's WD_Black 1TB C50 has entered the scene. Compact and durable, this expansion card is available in 512GB and 1TB options and is more affordable than Seagate's offering.
This expansion card easily slots into the Xbox Series X's expansion card port, requiring no setup. You can transfer games to the expansion card in minutes, giving you access to a variety of games. Compared to the Series X's internal storage, the WD_Black 1TB C50 offers slightly slower boot times, but the difference is minimal.
If you don't need the 2TB option that Seagate offers, the WD_Black 1TB C50 is an excellent alternative at a more appealing price. It takes just a few minutes to transfer large 80GB files, and its small size makes it easy to transport, allowing you to enjoy a large library of Xbox games on the go.
For Archival and Backwards-Compatible Games Only
3. Samsung T7 External SSD
The Most Versatile Xbox Series X SSD
### Samsung T7 External SSD
0If you're looking to play backwards-compatible games or store your games long-term, the Samsung T7 SSD is a great choice. See it at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Storage: 2TB
- Interface: USB 3.2
- Read/Write: 1,050/1,000MB/s
PROS
- Lightweight and portable
- 256-bit AES encryption for storing files
CONS
- Cannot play Series X games directly from the SSD
When you look beyond the Xbox Series X's expansion card storage options, you'll find more storage for your money. The Samsung T7, for instance, offers the same price as the WD_Black 1TB C50 but with an additional 1TB of storage. However, you can't play Xbox Series X games directly from this SSD.
Instead, the Samsung T7 is ideal for storing Xbox games for later use, saving you from waiting to reinstall them. For example, you can install the latest Call of Duty game on your Xbox Series X and store the previous version on the Samsung T7, transferring it back when you want to play it again.
Weighing just 2 ounces, the T7 is perfect for portability. With 2TB of storage, you can store Xbox games, photos, or work documents. Simply connect it to the Series X using a USB-C cable and enjoy read/write speeds of up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s. Plus, you can secure your files with Samsung's AES 256-bit encryption.
4. Crucial X8 External SSD
The Best Value Xbox Series X SSD
### Crucial X8 External SSD
1The Crucial X8 External SSD offers great value for storing all your Xbox One and Xbox 360 games, freeing up your Series X SSD for newer titles that need the extra speed. See it at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Storage: 1TB
- Interface: USB 3.2
- Read/Write: 1,050MB/s
PROS
- Compact and quick
- Storage up to 4TB
CONS
- No encryption
With no difference in speed from the Samsung T7, the Crucial X8 offers excellent value for money. Available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities, this portable device is perfect for storing Xbox Series X games, though you can't run current-gen games off it.
The Crucial X8 is versatile, working with Xbox, PC, and Mac. Whether you need to store games, files, music, or photos, it's easy to carry this SSD with you. It's also shock-resistant and durable, making it ideal for travel.
With up to 4TB of storage, it's a worthwhile trade-off to wait a few minutes for your Xbox Series X games to transfer back to your console. You could store your entire library of Xbox games on the Crucial X8 and enjoy a more affordable storage solution.
5. WD_Black 2TB P40
The Best External Xbox Series X SSD
### WD_Black 2TB P40
0With 2TB of storage, this external SSD is the perfect archival drive for your Xbox Series X, though you can't run current-generation games natively on it. That doesn't mean you can't store them there for later, though. See it at Amazon
Product Specifications
- Storage: 2TB
- Interface: USB 3.2
- Read/Write: Up to 2,000MB/s
PROS
- Fast transfer speeds
- Robust and stylish design
CONS
- A little pricey still
If you want your external storage to stand out, consider the WD_Black 2TB P40 for its stylish design and RGB lighting. While the lights don't improve performance, they add a cool aesthetic. The P40 is compatible with Xbox, PC, Mac, and PS5, but you can't run Xbox Series X games directly from it.
Available in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities, the WD_Black 2TB P40 is more affordable than the official expansion card SSDs but still pricey among external SSDs.
Thanks to the USB 3.2 Gen2x2 interface, you can enjoy speeds of up to 2,000MB/s, faster than the Crucial X8 and Samsung T7. The SSD is encased in shock-resistant material, surviving drops up to 2m.
If you value style and performance, the WD_Black 2TB P40 offers both, with ample storage for your Xbox Series X games and other files.
How to Choose the Best Xbox Series X SSDs
If you need a plug-and-play SSD to run the best Xbox Series X games and support features like Quick Resume and Velocity Architecture, your options are limited. The Seagate Storage Expansion Card or WD_Black C50 are your primary choices. Both are expensive, but 1TB is typically the sweet spot for these SSDs.
However, if you don't need to play your Xbox Series X games directly from the drive, you can choose from various USB 3.2 SSDs. These are more budget-friendly and offer higher capacities, suitable for storing Xbox Series games and playing older Xbox One and 360 titles. These drives easily connect to the Xbox Series X's USB port.
You'll want SSDs with fast read and write speeds for quick loads and saves. Consider durability and size, especially if you plan to take your SSD on the go. A 1TB SSD or larger is ideal for a decent gaming library, but options up to 4TB are available for extensive storage needs.
SSDs for Xbox Series X FAQ
Can any SSD work with Xbox Series X?
You can only play Xbox Series X games directly from the console's internal storage or a licensed external SSD like the Seagate Expansion Card. However, you can use external SSDs to store your Xbox games, avoiding the need to constantly install and uninstall them.
Is the Xbox Series X SSD fast?
The Xbox Series X's storage is a 1TB NVMe SSD with an IO throughput of around 2.4GB/s.
Why does my Xbox Series X only have 800GB?
While the Xbox Series X's advertised storage is 1TB, some of this space is used for system software, reducing the available storage to around 800GB.
Do you actually need additional storage for your Xbox?
While the Xbox Series X|S comes with either 1TB or 500GB of storage, you may need more if you plan to install multiple games at once. Some AAA titles exceed 150GB, so after installing a few games, you'll quickly need additional storage to access games without constant uninstalling and reinstalling.
