by 60 reviews.
Kioxia 256GB M.2 PCI-e NVME SSD Review: A Compact Powerhouse for Your Devices
Looking to upgrade your system’s storage with a fast, reliable, and compact SSD? The Kioxia 256GB M.2 PCI-e NVME SSD might just be the solution you need. Designed for modern devices like laptops, desktops, and even gaming systems such as the Steam Deck, this SSD promises blazing-fast speeds and seamless compatibility. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details based on real customer experiences.
Key Features at a Glance:
- 256GB Storage Capacity
Perfect for OS installations, applications, and games. - NVMe PCIe Interface
Delivers read speeds of up to 3,400 MB/s and write speeds of up to 1,900 MB/s. - Compact 2230 Form Factor
Ideal for slim devices and systems with limited space. - Durable and Shock-Resistant
Built with solid-state technology for enhanced reliability. - 2-Year OEM Warranty
Provides peace of mind for long-term use.
Pros and Cons: What Customers Are Saying
Performance and Speed
One of the standout features of the Kioxia 256GB M.2 NVMe SSD is its impressive performance. Customers have praised its speed, noting that it significantly improves system responsiveness.
- "This drive is impressively quick and it certainly feels as such, w/ the OS feeling a lot snappier for a lot of tasks."
- "It works perfectly with my board and the Pi now boots from the drive without any issues. And boy is it speedy!"
The SSD’s NVMe PCIe interface ensures fast boot times and smooth multitasking, making it a great choice for gaming, multimedia tasks, and general productivity.
Compatibility and Ease of Use
The Kioxia SSD’s compact 2230 form factor makes it highly versatile, fitting seamlessly into a variety of devices. Customers have successfully used it in systems like the Steam Deck, Surface Pro 7+, Raspberry Pi 5, and Orange Pi 5.
- "I bought this for my Orange Pi 5, and it worked right away, no fuss or heartache! And it speeded up the board A LOT!"
- "It works like it should, a great and cheap storage solution. Works fast n reliable."
However, some users noted that the drive may come pre-installed with an OS or data from a previous system, which could be a concern for those expecting a brand-new product.
Durability and Reliability
Solid-state drives are known for their durability, and the Kioxia SSD is no exception. Customers have reported that the drive is shock-resistant and performs reliably over time.
- "I have 3 of these and they never quit - great little drives."
- "It works fast and reliable. Just writing this so others who had Steam Decks knew it's a good bargain!"
That said, a few customers expressed concerns about receiving used drives, which could impact long-term reliability.
Value for Money
The Kioxia 256GB M.2 NVMe SSD offers excellent value for its price, especially for those looking to upgrade older systems or add storage to compact devices.
- "This Kioxia is surprisingly a lot better of a drive. Overall, I highly recommend the product."
- "A great and cheap storage solution. Works fast n reliable."
However, some buyers were disappointed to find that the drive was not brand-new, as advertised.
Conclusion: Is the Kioxia 256GB M.2 NVMe SSD Worth It?
The Kioxia 256GB M.2 PCI-e NVME SSD is a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade their system’s storage. Its compact size, impressive speed, and wide compatibility make it a versatile option for laptops, desktops, and gaming devices.
Strengths:
- Blazing-fast read/write speeds.
- Compact and durable design.
- Excellent compatibility with various systems.
- Great value for money.
Weaknesses:
- Some customers received used drives, which were not advertised as such.
- Potential concerns about long-term reliability for pre-used units.
Final Verdict:
If you’re in the market for a reliable and high-performance SSD, the Kioxia 256GB M.2 NVMe SSD is a strong contender. Just be aware that you might receive a used drive, so it’s worth checking with the seller beforehand. Overall, this SSD delivers on its promises and is a worthwhile investment for boosting your system’s performance.
Specification OEM Kioxia 256GB M.2 PCI-e NVME SSD Internal Solid State Drive 30mm 2230 Form Factor M Key Steam Deck:
Comments from Amazon:
[Review for the 256GB Kioxia BG5 (4th gen?) // Seller: OEMGENUINE] I upgraded the storage in my Surface Pro 7+ w/ this, replacing the OEM Samsung drive. This Kioxia is surprisingly a lot better of a drive. According to Kioxia, the performance is up to [3,400 MB/s Read] and [1,900 MB/s Write]. For random IOPS [350k Read] and [360K Write]. This drive is impressively quick and it certainly feels as such, w/ the OS feeling a lot snappier for a lot of tasks. I only got a fraction of the IOPS, but that's probably due to the PCI-E bus in this Surface or because the drive is not empty. Still a large upgrade over my prior Samsung, and R/W speeds were w/in spec. Kioxia's warranty (not sure if applicable w/ the seller) has an endurance rating of 150 TBW, which is seems to be an industry standard. Overall, I highly recommended the product.
I bought this 256GB NVMe PCI-e M.2 2230 SSD for a orange pi 5 (it has a connector on the bottom of the board). I tranferred the OS from an external SSD, uplugged the external drive and rebooted the orange pi 5. It worked right away, no fuss or heartache! And it speeded up the board A LOT! I highly recommend it! And the seller was ontime with good packaging!
I have 3 of these and they never quit - great little drives
BEWARE in purchasing this product. You will receive a USED drive that has previously been installed in another system. It is not new as advertised (see photo). Upon installing it, Windows Explorer launched and shows that this drive was previously part of a Dell system (see screen shot). Does it work? It does power up. I was able to format it to erase the data. I was able to copy new data. But being used who knows how long it will function. If this had been properly listed as a used product I would have purchased something else.
It works like it should, a great and cheap storage solution. Works fast n reliable. Just writing this so others who had Steam Decks knew it's a good bargain!
I saw another reviewer had their SSD come with a Dell recovery Windows installation, so I was only moderately surprised to see mine had a WindowsNT OS installed. So this is a USED SSD? Didn't say that on the description anywhere. Fortunately, I didn't have a risk of my laptop booting from this drive, so any potential malware on the drive was avoided. Format and move on, I suppose.
Wanted to setup a bootable SSD drive on my Raspberry Pi 5 using a PCIe M.2 HAT board. I struggled for days with a WD-based drive that refused to boot after restarts. I was at a loss until I read that I needed an SSD card that was compatible. This Kioxia 256GB M.2 PCI-e NVME SSD did the trick. It works perfectly with my board and the Pi now boots from the drive without any issues. And boy is it speedy!