Is the Samsung 870 EVO 2TB SSD at $480.66 Worth It?

The Samsung 870 EVO 2TB is slashed to $480.66, but SATA speeds lag behind modern NVMe drives. We break down whether this deal makes sense for your setup and what alternatives exist.

The Deal at a Glance

The Samsung 870 EVO 2TB SSD is sitting at $480.66, down from an original price of $1,039.99. That's a 54% discount—eye-catching on paper. But here's where we need to pump the brakes: that original price feels artificially inflated, which means the actual savings are probably less dramatic than the percentage suggests. Still, at under $500 for 2TB of proven storage, it deserves a closer look.

Speed Reality Check

Let's be honest about what you're getting. The 870 EVO tops out at 560MB/s read speeds. That's fine for everyday file transfers, document work, and light gaming. But if you're editing video, working with massive datasets, or moving huge files regularly, you'll feel the slowdown. This is a SATA drive, which means it's running on older technology. Modern NVMe SSDs are roughly 10 times faster—we're talking 5,000+ MB/s, not 560.

For context: copying a 100GB file on this drive takes around 3 minutes. On an NVMe drive? Closer to 20 seconds. That adds up if you're doing this daily.

The Reliability Angle

Samsung's 870 EVO has been around for years and has a solid reputation for not dying on you. It includes AES 256-bit encryption and wear-leveling technology borrowed from enterprise-grade drives. If you're upgrading an older laptop or desktop that has a mechanical hard drive, this will feel like night and day—not because of the speed bump alone, but because there's no spinning platters anymore. Your computer won't stutter. Your programs will launch. It just won't launch at warp speed.

Who Should Buy This

Go for it if you're upgrading an older PC or laptop and just need the storage to be reliable and responsive. If your current machine has a 7200 RPM hard drive, this will be a massive upgrade. It's also solid if you need a secondary drive for archiving documents, photos, or backups—speed isn't critical in those scenarios.

Who Should Skip It

If you're building a new PC or laptop with modern hardware, don't settle for SATA. The Samsung 990 2TB NVMe SSD is only $369.99 right now—actually cheaper than this deal—and it'll blow the 870 EVO away with speeds up to 7,250MB/s. Alternatively, if you can stretch the budget, the Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB gives you twice the storage and modern speed for $599.99.

The Verdict

The 870 EVO at $480.66 is a competent drive, but it's fighting an uphill battle in 2026. It makes sense only if you specifically need SATA compatibility or you're upgrading legacy hardware. Otherwise, you're paying premium money for aging technology. Shop around the NVMe alternatives first—they're often the better play right now.

FAQ

Is SATA still worth buying in 2026?

Only if your computer has a SATA-only slot and you can't upgrade the motherboard. Otherwise, NVMe drives are faster, sometimes cheaper, and the standard now.

How long will this drive last?

Samsung rates the 870 EVO for around 150 terabytes written, which translates to roughly 5-7 years of heavy use or 10+ years of typical use. It's durable.

Can I use this in a laptop?

Yes, if your laptop has a 2.5-inch drive bay. Many modern laptops don't—they use M.2 NVMe slots. Check your specs first.

Is the discount real?

The percentage is technically real, but the original $1,039.99 price is likely inflated. This drive probably has a true market value around $350-400, so you're getting a modest deal, not a steal.