Space for storing inside our consoles is at an absolute premium today. Although the Xbox Sequence X ships with 1 TB of built-in storage (the Sequence S has simply 512 GB, until you purchase the 1 TB carbon black model of the Sequence S), it’s possible you’ll be amazed — no, terrified — by how shortly that area can get wolfed up by video games, updates, apps, and saves. Recreation Move members specifically ought to be warned that happening a downloading spree will probably finish in disappointment — that’s, till you improve your storage.
In the event you’re continuously shuffling round sport installations and questioning the place you’re going to search out area for that subsequent 50 GB replace, or that subsequent 148 GB sport, you can purchase some further storage in your console. Under, we’ve rounded up a few of the greatest supplementary storage choices in your Xbox. However first, right here’s our methodology for choosing the SSDs you’ll discover on this listing.
What we’re in search of
It’s not unusual to see new Xbox video games and their updates with large set up sizes (some nearing 100 GB every). To stop working out of area, it’s essential to purchase no less than a 1 TB SSD that may ideally match many video games, relying on their dimension. When you’ve got a versatile price range, and an itchy set off finger for making an attempt new Recreation Move video games, we advocate shopping for a fair larger 2 TB SSD.
Xbox Sequence X video games have a necessity for pace. By that, I imply they want quick storage to run in any respect. In the event you’re working out of inside solid-state storage in your console, you want one in every of a small number of SSDs made for its rear growth card slot. Solely these can present speeds that match the efficiency of the console’s inside SSD.
That’s to not say larger, slower drives are unnecessary purchases. The truth is, these can stream Xbox One and Xbox 360 (however not Xbox Sequence X) video games over USB with out having to repeat them to your Xbox’s inside storage.
Getting essentially the most in your cash is all the time our north star in recommending Xbox SSDs, although in comparison with the PS5 — which helps off-the-shelf M.2 SSDs — costs are considerably greater for Microsoft’s proprietary storage setup. Till extra producers develop growth playing cards, costs will probably stay a lot greater than we choose.
The very best Xbox Sequence X SSD
Seagate Storage Enlargement Card
One might say that Microsoft is taking an old-school strategy with its formally licensed Seagate Storage Enlargement Playing cards. They appear like reminiscence playing cards, and also you stick one at the back of the console. It’s even easier than opening up a PS5 to put in an M.2 SSD.
Presently, that is the one SSD add-on for Sequence X that you may load the most recent video games from, because it matches the pace of the console’s built-in SSD. Whereas having only one choice makes it very straightforward to buy a storage-boosting gadget in your Xbox, the shortage of competitors right here signifies that you’re going to pay considerably more cash per gigabyte than PS5 homeowners do for his or her PS5 SSD upgrades (the 1 TB add-on for Xbox nets you about 5 GB per greenback spent versus 10 GB or extra per greenback for PS5-ready SSDs). We want we might counsel that you just swap your Xbox’s inside SSD, however the crummy details are that doing so is each a tough and warranty-voiding enterprise.
The Seagate growth playing cards for Xbox can be found in 1 TB and a couple of TB configurations. Costs begin at $149.99 for the 1 TB mannequin and so they go as much as round $280 for the top-end mannequin. Each configurations can be found at Amazon, Greatest Purchase, Goal, or GameStop.
WD Black C50 Enlargement Card
Western Digital has launched its personal different to the Seagate storage growth card. The WD Black C50 Enlargement Card is offered in both 512 GB or 1 TB codecs at GameStop or Greatest Purchase, which price $89.99 and $149.99, respectively. The C50 Enlargement Card is nearly equivalent to the model made by Seagate (save for the lanyard gap), providing a aggressive worth with out compromising efficiency. Nonetheless, not like the Seagate growth card, the C50 isn’t presently out there in a 2 TB format. Now, let’s see if the costs on these start to fall.
Exterior Xbox laborious drives
There are larger exterior laborious drives which are considerably cheaper than the official growth playing cards. We’ve listed three beneath, however be warned: these can solely be used to retailer a Sequence X sport’s set up information. If you wish to play a sport that’s on the exterior laborious drive, you’ll have to switch the information to the console’s inside SSD (Xbox One-era video games may be each saved and performed through the exterior drive).
Having some bulk storage put aside isn’t fairly as useful as increasing the console’s SSD storage, however transferring a sport’s information remains to be quicker than having to re-download them each time you wish to boot up a specific title.
WD Black D30
The WD Black D30 Recreation Drive is a stocky, exterior SSD out there in 500 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB configurations. The Recreation Drive connects with its USB-C-to-A cable that gives switch speeds of as much as 900 MB/s. The 1 TB D30 and a couple of TB configurations can be found for $109.99 (usually $149.99) and $149.99 (usually $239.99), respectively.
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WD Black D30 Recreation Drive
Costs taken at time of publishing.
Most Learn Pace: 900 MB/s
Most Write Pace: 900 MB/s
WD Black P40
The WD Black P40 Recreation Drive gives a slimmer storage answer that’s a bit of dearer, however takes up much less area and is able to reaching switch speeds of as much as 2,000 MB/s. Greatest Purchase presently has the 1 TB WD_Black P40 mannequin out there for $119.99.
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WD Black P40 Recreation Drive
Costs taken at time of publishing.
Most Learn Pace: 2,000 MB/s
Most Write Pace: 2,000 MB/s
Essential X8 SSD
Whereas it isn’t fairly as quick because the P40 above, the Essential X8 SSD remains to be a strong choice for supplying you with extra storage in your Xbox Sequence X with out spending a ton. Plus, it’s a bit of thinner and extra unassuming in its design than the gamer-focused P40. Presently, you’ll find the 1 TB Essential X8 at Amazon for $59.99 (usually $119.99). A 2 TB mannequin can be out there for $99.99.
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Essential X8 SSD
Costs taken at time of publishing.
Sequential Learn Pace: 1,050 MB/s
Sequential Write Pace: Not shared
Replace (Jan. 18): Checked all merchandise for correct pricing and availability. We’ve additionally added a bit close to the highest that dives into our testing and choice methodology for this piece.
