Best SSD for Xbox Series X|S in 2024: Our top storage recommendations to add more game file space

Microsoft's latest consoles are so powerful that they allow Xbox games to load faster than ever, but you'll want to invest in the proper expansion card to play said games. After trying various options out, we've determined that our top pick is the Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S, which is available at many major retailers. 

The Xbox Series X|S consoles raise the bar for console performance, with the new custom NVMe solid-state drive (SSD) storage a crucial component in those gains that see identical load time performance across Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. You can also expand either console's storage capacity with external hard disk drives (HDDs), or an external SSD delivering the pinnacle in speed. 

You can't just play current-generation games on any random SSD, though. You need to choose something that offers fast transfer speeds, so only a tiny handful of SSDs (designed as expansion cards and officially licensed by Microsoft) will actually work if you want to play the latest games on Series X|S. Here are the best Xbox Series X|S SSDs available right now. 

The quick list

Best overall for Xbox Series X and Series S

The Xbox Series X and Series S bring various enhancements over previous Xbox consoles, but speedy storage has proven to be one of the most impactful changes to these systems. The consoles rock best-in-class SSD drives, removing a severe bottleneck that punished earlier Xbox One consoles and speeding up load times across the board. However, USB storage has significant limitations on SSDs, and for Xbox Series X and Series S, they're simply not adequate.

We've tested different storage options for Xbox Series X|S, and have found that the Seagate Storage Expansion Card is the best choice. It's a simple plug-and-play solution, automatically configured to work with consoles straight out the box. This storage device first launched in a single 1TB configuration, doubling the base Xbox Series X storage and tripling the initial offering of Xbox Series S. New 512GB and 2TB models were released in 2021, providing a cheaper entry point, plus a more expensive high-capacity alternative.

In his review, our own Matt Brown stated, "Yes, in terms of value, you can add much more space to your console for less with a cheaper USB external drive. But there's no alternative that integrates so well with Xbox consoles, making the complete experience hassle-free. It's a premium product with a high asking price, making it impossible to compare this to anything on the market."

In our guide, we can show you how to expand Xbox Series X and Series S storage if you'd like help with that. The process is rather simple, since this official Microsoft-approved SSD was designed to meet the demands of current-generation gaming. 

Note that Series X|S games can only run from internal SDD or SSD expansion cards. Hard drives and SSDs connected via USB can only play older Xbox One, Xbox 360, and original Xbox titles via backward compatibility. While these USB-connected drives can store games designed for Xbox Series X and Series S, you'll need to transfer games onto the internal SSD or expansion card to play.

Best Alternative for Xbox Series X and Series S

For a long time, the only way to expand your internal Xbox Series X|S storage was through the Seagate Expansion Card. Fortunately, there is now an alternative option in the form of the WD_Black C50 Expansion Card. These cards usually hover around the same price as the Seagate one, which means you can expect to see the 1TB version of the WD_Black C50 Expansion Card available for around $150 on average.

As my colleague Zachary Boddy discovered in their WD_Black C50 Expansion Card review, this card is functionally identical to Seagate's offering, which itself provides identical performance to the 2.4GB/s ultra-fast SSD installed in the latest Xbox consoles. This means it doesn't matter if you have a game installed on this card or on the internal Xbox SSD — you can expect completely identical load times in the latest big games like Alan Wake 2, Baldur's Gate 3, or Starfield.

Zachary wrote, "I wish there were 2TB or even 4TB size options, but the card itself is well-designed and well-built and performs flawlessly. This storage solution for Xbox Series X|S also has its merits in general, like offering a baseline guarantee of performance and reliability, making it incredibly easy and simple to install, and granting a level of portability not possible with other SSDs."

The only possible downside of this card compared to the Seagate version is the size options available. While there are both 512GB and 1TB versions, there is no 2TB offering as of yet. So, if you need (and are willing to pay for) the absolute max additional space possible for current-generation games, you'll have to go for the Seagate card.

Best External SSD

With Xbox Series X|S expandable storage extending to external USB drives, the Samsung T7 portable SSD should be on your radar. As we said in our Samsung T7 SSD review, its latest solid-state lineup delivers a balance of performance and relative affordability in a compact form factor. It's among the best SSDs for previous-gen Xbox One, with many of the same benefits also amplified on Xbox Series X and Series S.

Samsung distributes the T7 range in three capacities, 500GB, 1TB, or 2TB, with the former a more budget entry into high-performance storage, often available far below $100. The series peaks at 1,050MB/s read and 1,000MB/s write speeds, with the USB 3.2 support on each new Xbox pushing towards the best each drive delivers. It's about half the speed of Microsoft's internal NVMe SSD drive used by Xbox Series X and Series S. However, that speed differential has a minimal performance impact on titles compatible with USB-connected storage.

Remember that since the Samsung Portable SSD T7 connects to the Series X|S via USB, it can only play Xbox One, Xbox 360, and original Xbox titles on Xbox Series X and Series S. The drives can also store Xbox Series X and Series S-optimized titles, but each game must be manually transferred to the internal SSD to be played. The T7 SSD is a backward-compatibility maestro that also excels at shuttling upgraded titles to and from internal storage. The high speed slices the transfer time over using a slower hard disk drive (HDD) for the same purpose.

The Samsung Portable SSD T7 also impresses with its construction, using premium materials for a lightweight yet rugged design. The drive sports an aluminum unibody, available in gray, red, or blue colorways, weighing just 58 grams. Inside the box, you'll find the SSD, a USB Type C-to-A cable used for Xbox consoles, and a USB Type-C to C cable for other compatible devices. While it requires some additional legwork due to limitations on new consoles, it's the best you'll find when skirting the expansion card.

Best Premium USB SSD

WD_BLACK is Western Digital's gaming-focused sub-brand, so it's no surprise that the company offers one of the best high-speed external SSD solutions for Xbox Series X and Series S. The shock-resistant, matte black metal shell channels an industrial design. At the same time, its compact form factor also makes it portable for those on the move.

As with all SSD drives, this proves beneficial when playing backward-compatible titles or offloading surplus titles from your internal SSD. The WD_Black 1TB P50 Game Drive delivers 2,000MB/s peak read and write speeds, although actual performance on Series X|S will fall short between lower sustained rates and limitations imposed by USB. However, it's an ideal pick to reduce transfer times when shuttling titles to and from the SSD or when loading Xbox One, Xbox 360, or original Xbox games via backward compatibility.

The series comes in three capacities, with its 500GB model starting at $125. Meanwhile, the 2TB model costs $350, whereas the official Seagate Storage Expansion Card provides much more value for less. It means that unless you're looking at the speed delivered by its 500GB or 1TB model, it's better to commit to the 1TB Seagate expansion card or the WD_BLACK C50 expansion card, given both of those can run Xbox Series X and Series S optimized games.

Best portable USB SSD

If you specifically need a super portable external SSD for playing your classic Xbox games and storing Series X|S games, then the Samsung T5 EVO is a fantastic pick. It has a slim form factor that can easily fit in your pocket or in a bag. Plus, it's drop-resistant to better withstand jostling on the go.  Just remember that, as with all SSDs that connect with USB, it cannot play Series X|S games on the latest Xbox consoles. 

As far as capacities go, Samsung offers this SSD in 2TB, 4TB, or a whopping 8TB. For most people, 2TB of space is more than adequate. For each size, the SSD offers read speeds of up to 460MB/s, which isn't even half as fast as the Samsung T7 SSD listed previously, but it is still good for gaming. Just remember, you won't see that same performance with Series X|S because of the USB connection.

It's relatively expensive, with an MSRP of $189.99, which is more expensive than our number Seagate Storage pick. That said, if you do happen to see one on sale, then this is a great way to easily store and play Xbox One, Xbox 360, and original Xbox titles in your gaming library. It's also easy to set up and carry around. 

How to choose

With Xbox Series X and Series S featuring custom NVMe SSDs, the next generation heavily leans on fast storage to maximize performance. That high demand means that while USB 3.2 drives work with the console, they're limited compared to baked-in storage.

Microsoft has partnered with Seagate on its own proprietary expansion solutions, mimicking the internal SSD used but compacted into a portable form factor. That positions the Xbox Storage Expansion Card series from Seagate and WD_Black as the few SSD expansions capable of playing Xbox Series-optimized titles. So, if you're going to pick anything, you really ought to choose either the WD_BLACK C50 or the Seagate expansion card when upgrading your Xbox Series X|S storage. 

If you're not sure which one to go with, just remember that the two offer nearly identical performance. So, if nothing else, choose the expansion card that's being sold at a better price. You can often find the Seagate expansion card and the WD_BLACK C50 expansion card selling at a discount during Prime Days, Black Friday sales, and so on. 

Still, these Microsoft-approved expansion cards aren't cheap. So if you just need something that will store your Xbox Series X|S games, but don't need them to run them, then cheaper-priced USB SSDs and HDDs might be a better choice.  They are suited for backward compatibility and storage, and you've got options to consider. The Samsung T7 Portable SSD provides a high-speed alternative, ideal for Xbox One, Xbox 360, and original Xbox titles via backward compatibility.

Xbox Series X|S storage FAQ

It's possible you might have additional questions about SSDs, HDDs, and what storage options work with Xbox Series X|S. That's why we've included this section to hopefully provide all the answers you need.