The original Lexar PLAY 4TB is a PS5-compatible M.2 SSD with an included heatsink, strong manufacturer-rated speeds and a five-year limited warranty. It makes the most sense when discounted: Tom’s Hardware describes the closely related Lexar NM790 as nearly the same hardware and says it can cost less, while several competing 4TB drives had lower launch prices. Check the exact model and today’s price before buying.
Does the Lexar PLAY 4TB work in a PS5?
Yes. The original Lexar PLAY 2280 4TB is an M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 SSD, the form factor and interface used for PS5 internal storage expansion. It comes with a heatsink designed for PS5, so you do not need to buy a separate one for that model. Lexar’s 2024 product sheet calls it “Tested and approved storage for your PS5 console.” That is the manufacturer’s claim; Sony’s console still determines the speed you actually see.
If you are searching for a Lexar PLAY 4TB SSD for PS5, confirm the listing is for the original PLAY 2280 and that the heatsink is included. Lexar also sells a separate PLAY 2280 SE, and its specifications are not interchangeable with the original’s.
Original PLAY 4TB specifications
| Specification | Original Lexar PLAY 2280 4TB |
|---|---|
| Form factor and interface | M.2 2280, PCIe Gen4x4 (Lexar product sheet, 2024) |
| Sequential read and write ratings | Up to 7,400MB/s read and 6,500MB/s write (Lexar product sheet, 2024; actual performance may vary) |
| PS5 heatsink | Included; designed for PS5 (Lexar product sheet, 2024) |
| Endurance and warranty | 3,200TBW and a five-year limited warranty (Lexar product sheet, 2024) |
TBW means terabytes written, a manufacturer-rated endurance figure—not a promise that every drive will fail at that amount. Lexar also notes that actual performance can vary and that the PS5 limits maximum speed.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- [4TB] Exceptional performance up to 7400MB/s read, 6500MB/s write; 3000TBW
- 2x faster than PCIe Gen 3 SSDs
- Designed with a heatsink to keep your rig cool for better performance and power efficiency
- Up to 40% less power consumption than DRAM cache-enabled PCIe Gen 4 SSDs
- Host Memory Buffer (HMB) 3.0 activates the DRAM cache function of your device for a smoother transfer speed and seamless performance
How fast is it in a PS5?
Lexar’s up-to-7,400MB/s read and 6,500MB/s write figures are its ratings for the drive, not guaranteed PS5 transfer speeds. Console limits, workload and other conditions affect the result. TechRadar reports a 6,526MB/s PS5 internal benchmark result for the 4TB Lexar NM790; that is an NM790 result, not a direct test result for the PLAY, so it should not be presented as the PLAY’s measured speed.
There is also a platform-specific caveat: PCWorld notes that PS5 does not support HMB, a memory-management method used by this DRAM-less drive design. Its August 25, 2025 update raised the drive’s PC rating after further testing but kept a lower PlayStation rating. That is a reason to weigh platform-focused testing when comparing drives, not evidence that the PLAY cannot be used in a PS5.
Rank #2
- Designed to coordinate with your PS5, the Lexar PLAY 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD is made to enhance your gaming experience.
- 7400MB/s max read and 6500MB/s max write speeds ensure reduced load times and deliver seamless gameplay. 4TB: 3200TBW.
- Tested and approved storage for your PS5 console, this SSD allows you to play games right off the drive. There’s no need to transfer or delete games from your console.
- Include a unique heatsink for effortless installation and enhanced cooling during intense gaming sessions.
- Lexar PLAY 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD can be used not only for PS5 but also for PC gaming. HMB and SLC Dynamic cache deliver improved performance, accelerated data access speeds, and enhanced overall responsiveness when used with a PC.
Is the PLAY 4TB better than the Lexar NM790?
The NM790 with a heatsink is the closest value alternative. Tom’s Hardware’s December 21, 2024 review described the PLAY as an NM790 by another name and said the NM790 could be $10–$15 cheaper when the two were otherwise equivalent. That review described the PLAY as having TLC NAND and a Maxio MAP1602 controller. Because listings and model revisions can differ, compare the exact capacity, heatsink configuration and seller listing rather than assuming every NM790 listing matches the PLAY.
If the PLAY costs about the same as an equivalent NM790 with a heatsink, the included PS5-oriented setup and the PLAY’s five-year limited warranty make it a straightforward choice. If the NM790 is meaningfully cheaper and its listing includes the heatsink you need, it is the stronger value on the evidence available.
Rank #3
- [4TB] Exceptional performance up to 7400MB/s read, 6500MB/s write; 3000TBW
- 2x faster than PCIe Gen 3 SSDs
- Up to 40% less power consumption than DRAM cache-enabled PCIe Gen 4 SSDs
- Host Memory Buffer (HMB) 3.0 activates the DRAM cache function of your device for a smoother transfer speed and seamless performance
- Designed for hardcore gamers, professionals, and creators
Are WD_BLACK, Samsung and other 4TB SSDs better deals?
They may be, depending on current prices and exact configurations. HotHardware’s August 2024 launch-period comparison listed lower prices for several competing 4TB SSDs than for the PLAY. These are historical launch prices, not current offers or a live ranking:
| 4TB model | Price reported at launch |
|---|---|
| Lexar PLAY | $379.99 (HotHardware, August 2024) |
| Corsair MP600 Pro LPX | $349.99 (HotHardware, August 2024) |
| Samsung 990 Pro | $319.99 (HotHardware, August 2024) |
| WD_BLACK SN850X | $304.99 (HotHardware, August 2024) |
| XPG Gammix S70 Blade | $298.99 (HotHardware, August 2024) |
| Acer Predator GM7000 | $269.99 (HotHardware, August 2024) |
Those figures show why the PLAY’s launch price was difficult to justify, but they cannot tell you which drive is cheapest now. Compare today’s price for the exact 4TB model, whether a heatsink is included, PS5-focused results, endurance rating and warranty. A lower-priced bare drive may need a compatible heatsink, while a model name alone does not establish that a particular listing has the same configuration.
Rank #4
- PCIe 5.0 technology delivers blistering read/write speeds up to 14,000/13,000 MB/s and accelerates load times by 200% – great with AMD Ryzen and Intel i9
- A powerful 6nm controller optimizes heat control for a smoother experience and more efficient performance
- A perfect internal SSD for AI PCs: reduces bottlenecks and accelerates AI model training, inferencing, and real-time data processing
- DRAM Cache and SLC Dynamic Cache greatly enhance data transfer speeds to reduce wait times and improve system responsiveness
- Works with Microsoft DirectStorage to significantly boost game loads, minimize delays, conserve CPU power, and enrich the gaming experience
How to choose between the PLAY and other PS5 SSDs
- Choose the PLAY 4TB if the original PLAY 2280 with its included heatsink is discounted to a competitive price and you value its stated five-year limited warranty.
- Choose the NM790 with heatsink if the exact equivalent listing costs less; Tom’s Hardware identifies it as very close to the PLAY’s hardware.
- Compare WD_BLACK, Samsung, Corsair, XPG or Acer alternatives by current street price and exact heatsink configuration. The August 2024 prices above are historical context only.
- Check the model suffix before checkout. The original PLAY and PLAY SE are separate products with different speed ratings.
Do not confuse the PLAY with the PLAY SE
Lexar’s June 2025 PLAY 2280 SE sheet describes a separate 4TB-only model. It is rated up to 7,000MB/s read and 6,000MB/s write, with a stated PS5 speed cap of 6,300MB/s; it also lists 3,200TBW, a PS5 heatsink and a five-year warranty. Lexar estimates 100+ AAA games based on an average game size of 36GB. These are PLAY SE specifications and should not be used to describe the original PLAY, whose 2024 ratings are up to 7,400/6,500MB/s.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Delivers read/write speeds up to 7000/6000 MB/s for fast gameplay and boot-ups
- High-quality 8-channel Gen 4 controller provides better sustained write performance while HMB and SLC cache technologies improve performance and user experience and reduce latency
- Great for laptops too thanks to its single-sided design and Intelligent Power Control
- Lexar DiskMaster SSD Management tool lets you perform firmware updates, manage the drive and its data, and monitor drive health
- A 5-year limited warranty offers peace of mind
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.
