The best PS5 hard drive deals will allow you to upgrade your console’s storage space while spending less.
The PS5 only comes with a relatively small 825GB internal SSD. While the system does make this drive feel bigger through some smart workarounds, there’s no escaping the fact it can’t hold more than a handful of big-budget games.
Picking up an internal or external hard drive is a great way to increase your PS5’s storage so you can spend more time playing and less time clearing space and redownloading games.
Below you’ll find the best PS5 hard drive deals currently available, as well as some helpful buying advice you should consider before purchasing a drive.
- The best PS5 external hard drives in 2021
- How to upgrade PS5 internal storage
- Plus: PS5 system update finally lets you add more storage space
Today's best PS5 hard drive deals
Internal PS5 hard drive deals
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(opens in new tab)External PS5 hard drive deals
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(opens in new tab)Do you need an internal or external PS5 hard drive?
Before you can pick up an additional PS5 hard drive you need to decide if you want an internal or external drive.
The biggest benefit of an external drive is that they are typically significantly cheaper than an internal drive. Several of the best PS5 external hard drives are regularly available with a very deep discount. Though if you opt for an HDD drive rather than an SSD loading and transfer times will be significantly slower.
However, the major drawback is that you can’t play native PS5 games off an external hard drive. While you can play PS4 games from an external hard drive, PS5 games can only be stored on an external drive.
Being able to temporarily store PS5 games on a hard drive is still an extremely useful function. It’s generally quicker to transfer a game from an external drive to the PS5’s standard internal SSD than fully re-download it, especially if the game’s file size is 100GB+.
Do note, if you opt for an external HDD drive rather than an external SSD loading times (when playing a PS4 game from the drive directly) and game transfer times will be significantly slower. We recommend getting an SSD drive, even if they are more expensive.
If you’re okay with regularly transferring games between storage locations, then picking up an external drive is a great way to boost your PS5's hard drive without breaking the bank. However, if you’re the impatient type then you might want to opt for an internal SSD.
The latest PS5 system update has unlocked the ability to upgrade the console’s internal storage via the SSD expansion slot found underneath one of the PS5's plastic faceplates. This has been a much-requested feature since the console launched.
However, it’s very important to note that Sony has not released an official compatibility list or given any drive its seal of approval. In fact, the PlayStation website even states: "[Sony Interactive Entertainment] cannot guarantee that all M.2 SSD devices meeting the described specifications will work with your console and assumes no responsibility for the selection, performance or use of third-party products."
Sony has released a pretty comprehensive specification list (opens in new tab) which allows us to determine which drives will are compatible. Plus, some manufacturers have even started promoting products as PS5-compatible. But, if you decide to buy an internal SSD for your PS5 make sure to check it hits all the required benchmarks before slotting it into your console.
