Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Yes—SSD prices fell sharply in 2019, though not every drive or retail listing dropped at the same rate. The forecast centered on NAND oversupply and weak demand; by midyear, contract prices had recorded steep declines, and selected 1TB consumer SSDs were selling for around or below $100.
Why analysts expected SSD prices to fall
The forecast was driven by the NAND memory market, a major component of SSD cost. TrendForce’s December 2018 outlook cited high inventories and seasonal weakness as oversupply concerns intensified. It forecast a 10% quarter-on-quarter drop in NAND contract prices in the first quarter of 2019 and expected declines to continue through the first half. TrendForce, December 2018
Supply was increasing just as demand from devices was softening. TrendForce’s July 2018 analysis connected falling NAND prices to oversupply and weak seasonal demand, and said cheaper SSDs could help push notebook SSD adoption above 50% before the end of 2018. TrendForce, July 2018 An October outlook likewise pointed to a supply-demand gap and sluggish consumer-electronics demand, while describing enterprise SSD demand as comparatively stable. TrendForce, October 2018
Expanded manufacturing capacity and 96-layer 3D NAND were also cited as supply-side factors behind a separate prediction that SSD prices might reach $0.08 per gigabyte in 2019. That was a forecast, not a universal retail price or guaranteed outcome. Tom’s Hardware, 2018
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- MEET THE NEXT GEN: Consider this a cheat code; Our Samsung 990 PRO Gen4 SSD helps you reach near max performance with lightning-fast speeds; Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or a tech guru, you’ll get power efficiency built for the final boss
- REACH THE NEXT LEVEL: Gen4 steps up with faster transfer speeds and high-performance bandwidth; With a more than 55% improvement in random performance compared to 980 PRO, it’s here for heavy computing and faster loading
- THE FASTEST SSD FROM THE WORLD'S FLASH MEMORY BRAND: The speed you need for any occasion; With read and write speeds up to 7450/6900 MB/s you’ll reach near max performance of PCIe 4.0 powering through for any use
- PLAY WITHOUT LIMITS: Give yourself some space with storage capacities from 1TB to 4TB; Sync all your saves and reign supreme in gaming, video editing, data analysis and more
- IT’S A POWER MOVE: Save the power for your performance; Get power efficiency all while experiencing up to 50% improved performance per watt over the 980 PRO; It makes every move more effective with less consumption
How much did SSD prices fall in 2019?
The decline in the underlying market was substantial. TrendForce reported that NAND contract prices fell about 20% in the first quarter of 2019—the sharpest drop since supply exceeded demand in early 2018. It attributed the weakness to factors including poor server demand, a longer smartphone replacement cycle and disappointing sales of new phones. TrendForce, 2019
In May 2019, TrendForce reported that PC-client OEM SSD contract prices had declined for six consecutive quarters. Its second-quarter quarter-on-quarter price ranges varied by interface:
Rank #2
- THE SSD ALL-STAR: The latest 870 EVO has indisputable performance, reliability and compatibility built upon Samsung's pioneering technology.Computer Platform:PC.Encryption : Class 0 (AES 256) TCG/Opal v2.0, MS eDrive (IEEE1667), Environmental Specs - Shock : 1,500 G & 0.5 ms (Half sine).
- EXCELLENCE IN PERFORMANCE: Enjoy professional level SSD performance with 870 EVO, which maximizes the SATA interface limit to 560/530 MB/s sequential speeds, Accelerates write speeds and maintains long term high performance with a larger variable buffer
- INDUSTRY DEFINING RELIABILITY: Meet the demands of every task from everyday computing to 8K video processing, with up to 2,400 TBW
- MORE COMPATIBLE THAN EVER: 870 EVO has been compatibility tested for major host systems and applications, including chipsets, motherboards, NAS, and video recording devices. Interface- SATA 6GB/s, compatible with SATA 3GB/s and SATA 1.5GB/s interfaces
| PC-client OEM SSD type | Reported 2Q19 contract-price decline |
|---|---|
| SATA | 15–26% quarter on quarter |
| PCIe | 16–37% quarter on quarter |
These were contract-market changes reported by TrendForce in May 2019, not a promise that every retail drive would be discounted by the same percentage. TrendForce, May 2019
What shoppers could buy for less
Retail examples showed how the market shift reached consumers, but they describe particular products and moments rather than a universal SSD price. Tom’s Hardware reported that selected 1TB gaming SSDs had fallen from about $324 to roughly $97, and cited a forecast for another 15% decline in the first quarter of 2019. Tom’s Hardware, 2018
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchRank #3
- HUGE SPEED BOOST: Get random read/write speeds that are 40%/55% faster than 980 PRO; Experience up to 1400K/1550K IOPS, while sequential read/write speeds up to 7,450/6,900 MB/s reach near the max performance of PCIe 4.0*
- BREAKTHROUGH POWER EFFICIENCY: Use less power and get more performance; Enjoy up to 50% improved performance per watt over 980 PRO, plus optimal power efficiency with max PCIe 4.0 performance**
- SMART THERMAL CONTROL: Samsung's own nickel-coated controller delivers effective thermal control; With its slim size, 990 PRO is a perfect fit for desktops and laptops that meet the PCI-SIG D8 standard***
- THE CHAMPION MAKER: Up to 65% improvement in random performance enables faster loads for an ultimate gaming experience on PS5 and DirectStorage PC games****
- SAMSUNG MAGICIAN SOFTWARE: Get the most out of your SSD with Samsung Magician's advanced yet intuitive optimization tools; Monitor drive health, protect valuable data, and receive important updates for your 990 PRO
By 24 June 2019, PCWorld reported that Samsung’s 1TB QVO was available for under $100. PCWorld, June 24, 2019 That made the 1TB capacity a notable consumer price milestone, but it does not establish that all 1TB models—or enterprise drives, premium controllers or every retailer—were below that threshold.
Why prices differed between drives
A falling NAND component price could feed through to retail prices, but the timing and size of the reduction depended on the product and market segment. Contract prices paid by OEMs and other buyers are not the same as a shopper’s checkout price: retail inventory, promotions and the specifications of an individual drive also matter.
Rank #4
- Upgrade your laptop or desktop computer and feel the difference with super-fast OS boot times and application loads
- Exceptional performance offering up to 535MB/s seq. Read and 500MB/s seq. Write speeds
- Superior performance as compared to traditional hard drives (HDD)
- Ultra-low power consumption
- Backwards compatible with SATA II 3GB/sec
- Interface: SATA and PCIe SSDs had different reported second-quarter contract-price declines, so one interface should not be treated as a proxy for all SSDs.
- Workload: Consumer/client demand and enterprise demand did not move in lockstep; TrendForce described enterprise demand as comparatively stable in its October 2018 outlook.
- Capacity and model: A price-per-gigabyte forecast or a discounted 1TB example does not establish the price of every capacity, controller design or product.
Should you have waited to buy a 1TB SSD?
For a buyer in 2019 who could wait and did not need storage immediately, the direction of the market favored waiting: the NAND forecast pointed down, and the first-half contract data confirmed that prices continued to fall. But that did not make every purchase a bad one. A specific drive could already be near a useful price, and no forecast guaranteed when a particular model or shop would pass a buyer’s target.
For comparing offers, calculate the actual price per gigabyte for the capacity you need and compare drives with the same interface and intended workload. Treat the reported $0.08-per-gigabyte figure as a forecast, not a price floor; use selected 1TB retail examples as evidence of what some shoppers saw, not as a market-wide benchmark.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- THE SSD ALL-STAR: The latest 870 EVO has indisputable performance, reliability and compatibility built upon Samsung's pioneering technology. S.M.A.R.T. Support: Yes
- EXCELLENCE IN PERFORMANCE: Enjoy professional level SSD performance which maximizes the SATA interface limit to 560 530 MB/s sequential speeds,* accelerates write speeds and maintains long term high performance with a larger variable buffer, Designed for gamers and professionals to handle heavy workloads of high-end PCs, workstations and NAS
- INDUSTRY-DEFINING RELIABILITY: Meet the demands of every task — from everyday computing to 8K video processing, with up to 600 TBW** under a 5-year limited warranty***
- MORE COMPATIBLE THAN EVER: The 870 EVO has been compatibility tested**** for major host systems and applications, including chipsets, motherboards, NAS, and video recording devices
- UPGRADE WITH EASE: Using the 870 EVO SSD is as simple as plugging it into the standard 2.5 inch SATA form factor on your desktop PC or laptop; The renewed migration software takes care of the rest
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
