A few years ago, adding high-speed storage to your PS5 or gaming rig meant coughing up a small fortune — sometimes nearly half the price of the console itself. Back then, PCIe Gen4 NVMe drives were bleeding-edge tech, and prices reflected that. But now that the dust has settled, more affordable options are emerging without compromising performance. One of those options is the XPG Mars 980 Blade, and it’s a drive that gets the job done without the unnecessary frills.

We tested the 980 Blade primarily as a PS5 storage expansion, and the experience was so seamless, it was almost forgettable — in the best way. Games launched quickly, performance remained stable, and the system treated it as if it were native storage. That’s a high compliment for any aftermarket SSD.

But beyond raw performance, what makes the Mars 980 Blade stand out is how reasonably priced it is. The 1TB model goes for $135 USD, while the 2TB version has an SRP of $205 USD. That’s a far cry from the $400+ Gen4 SSD we purchased just a year into the PS5’s life cycle. In many ways, this is the drive we wished we had back then.

Designed to disappear (in a good way)

The Mars 980 Blade isn’t flashy, and that’s part of its appeal. There’s no RGB, no oversized heat pipes, and no branding overload. Instead, you get a low-profile aluminum heatsink that makes it compatible with the PS5’s expansion slot — no modification required. It slid in easily and was recognized by the system almost instantly. The included heatsink keeps things cool enough without getting in the way, which also makes it a strong contender for slim laptops or handhelds.

There’s something refreshing about a component that’s meant to be installed once and forgotten. The Mars 980 Blade leans into that philosophy — performance where it matters, no extra distractions.

Real-World PS5 Use

The real test was daily usage. I moved a few of my heavier titles — including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Spider-Man 2 — from the PS5’s internal SSD onto the Mars 980 Blade. The result? No noticeable difference in performance. Boot times, in-game loading, and texture streaming all felt identical.

This is what makes the Mars 980 Blade a smart buy. You don’t have to sacrifice performance for price. And if you’ve been juggling which games to keep installed, this SSD becomes an easy way to expand your library without babysitting your storage every week.

It also helps that the Mars 980 Blade supports sequential read speeds of up to 7400 MB/s — more than enough to meet Sony’s requirements for PS5-compatible drives. And for those who care about durability, XPG uses TLC NAND, which typically offers better endurance and sustained speed than cheaper QLC-based alternatives.

What about Gaming Laptops and Handhelds?

While we focused our testing on the PS5, it’s not hard to project how this SSD will perform on modern gaming laptops and handhelds like the Legion Go 7 Gen9. With its PCIe Gen4 x4 interface and slim thermal profile, the Mars 980 Blade should integrate seamlessly into most M.2 slots — even in space-constrained builds.

Games installed on internal NVMe drives typically launch faster, stream assets more smoothly, and reduce system hiccups, especially in open-world or live-service titles. That’s exactly where the Mars 980 Blade fits in. Whether you’re booting into Windows or loading up a massive game like Starfield or Cyberpunk 2077, you’ll benefit from the fast sequential speeds and consistent write performance.

Plus, unlike relying on microSD cards or external drives, having a fast internal Gen4 SSD means you’re getting the full performance potential of your hardware. For power users who multitask with game capture, editing, or large file transfers, the Mars 980 Blade should hold its own.

Price vs Performance: A turning point

Let’s talk value — because that’s where this drive really shines. When the PS5 launched, the earliest compatible SSDs often sold for well over $300 to $400 USD, especially if you wanted 2TB with a heatsink. Now, we’re finally seeing drives like the Mars 980 Blade deliver that same tier of performance at nearly half the cost.

At $205 USD for 2TB, this drive undercuts many premium-branded options while offering the same Gen4 speed, excellent thermal control, and broad compatibility. You’re not paying for flashy marketing — just solid performance. For comparison, popular alternatives like the WD_BLACK SN850X or Samsung 980 Pro may come with slightly faster random read/write speeds or longer warranties, but for everyday gaming use, the difference is marginal at best.

The Mars 980 Blade hits a practical sweet spot for gamers who just want more room to play — whether they’re on a console, laptop, or handheld.

Is the XPG Mars 980 Blade your storage expansion Match?

The XPG Mars 980 Blade isn’t trying to reinvent storage. Instead, it focuses on what matters: delivering fast, stable performance at a price that makes sense in 2025. Whether you’re upgrading your PS5 or adding more muscle to a handheld gaming PC, this drive holds its own.

It may not come with flashy extras or aggressive marketing claims, but it doesn’t need to. It performs exactly how you want it to — and at a price that doesn’t feel like a punch to the gut.

The XPG Mars 980 Blade is one of the best-value Gen4 SSDs for console and PC gamers who just want to play more — and worry less.

Buy the XPG Mars 980 Blade here.