PS4 and PS4 Pro Hard Drive Buyer's Guide

The default hard drive included with the PlayStation 4 and PS4 Pro can fill up quickly. Major releases from 2019 such as Days Gone, Death Stranding, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order consume significant space, and with titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and The Last of Us Part II on the horizon for 2020, managing storage is a primary concern for many players. Upgrading the console’s storage is the most effective solution.

There are two main paths for increasing storage capacity on a PS4 system: replacing the internal drive or adding an external drive. An internal upgrade offers a clean, integrated solution without extra hardware outside the console, while an external drive provides a simpler, plug-and-play experience that makes it easy to take games on the go.

Internal Hard Drive Upgrades

Replacing the PS4’s internal hard drive is a more involved process that requires backing up data, physically swapping the drives, and reinstalling the PlayStation system software from a USB stick. However, it keeps the setup tidy and allows for the use of faster drive technologies like Solid State Hybrid Drives (SSHDs) and Solid State Drives (SSDs) as the main system disk.

Any replacement internal drive must meet specific physical requirements. It needs to be a 2.5-inch SATA drive with a maximum height of 9.5mm. While many drives fit, some higher-capacity 2.5-inch models are thicker (up to 15mm) and will not fit inside the PS4’s drive bay. Always check the drive’s specifications before purchasing.

Internal Hard Disk Drives (HDDs)

Standard HDDs are the most cost-effective way to increase internal storage. They use spinning magnetic platters to store data, offering large capacities at a low price per gigabyte. While they won’t dramatically improve loading times compared to the stock drive, they provide the needed space for a large game library.

• Seagate Barracuda: A popular choice for console upgrades, available in various sizes. The 2.5-inch versions suitable for the PS4 came in capacities up to 2 TB while maintaining the required slim profile.
• Western Digital Blue: Another reliable option, the WD Blue series offers a range of capacities. The 1 TB and 2 TB models were common choices for PS4 owners looking for a straightforward capacity boost.

Internal Solid State Hybrid Drives (SSHDs)

SSHDs represent a compromise between the capacity of an HDD and the speed of an SSD. These drives combine a traditional spinning hard drive with a small amount of fast NAND flash memory. The drive’s firmware learns which files are accessed most frequently—such as system files and data from favorite games—and moves them to the flash portion for faster loading. This provides a noticeable speed boost for common tasks and games without the high cost of a large SSD.

• Seagate FireCuda Gaming SSHD: This was the leading SSHD option for consoles. It was available in 500 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB capacities that fit the PS4’s internal bay, offering a good balance of performance and price.

Internal Solid State Drives (SSDs)

For the best possible performance, an SSD is the top choice. SSDs use flash memory with no moving parts, resulting in significantly faster read and write speeds. This translates to shorter system boot times, faster game loading screens, and in some open-world games, quicker texture streaming. The PS4 Pro benefits most from an SSD due to its SATA III interface, which allows the drive to operate at higher speeds than the standard PS4’s SATA II connection. Even on a base PS4, an SSD provides a substantial improvement.

• Samsung 860 EVO: A highly regarded SSD known for its reliability and performance. It was available in a wide range of sizes, from 250 GB up to 4 TB.
• SanDisk Ultra SSD: A solid and often more affordable alternative that still delivers a major speed upgrade over any mechanical drive. Common capacities included 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB.
• Crucial MX500: Known for offering excellent performance for its price, the MX500 was another popular choice for console gamers. It was available in capacities from 250 GB to 2 TB.

External Storage Options

Using an external drive is the easiest way to add storage to a PS4 or PS4 Pro. The console’s system software allows any compatible USB 3.0 drive to be formatted as extended storage. Games and applications can be stored and run directly from the external drive. The only requirements are that the drive uses USB 3.0, has a capacity between 250 GB and 8 TB, and is connected directly to one of the console’s USB ports.

External Desktop HDDs

Desktop external drives require their own AC power adapter but offer the largest available capacities. They are a great set-it-and-forget-it solution for players who want to build a massive digital library.

• Seagate Expansion Desktop: Offered capacities ranging from 2 TB to 8 TB.
• Toshiba Canvio for Desktop: Available in sizes from 3 TB to 6 TB.
• Western Digital My Book Desktop: Provided the largest options, with models up to 10 TB.

External Portable HDDs

Portable external drives are powered solely by the USB port, making them compact and convenient. They are easy to move between consoles, allowing a user to take their game library to a friend’s house.

• Seagate Expansion Portable: Available in 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB models.
• Toshiba Canvio Basics: Offered a range of sizes from 500 GB to 3 TB.
• Western Digital Elements Portable: A popular line with capacities of 1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB, and 4 TB.

External SSDs

For those who want maximum performance with minimal hassle, an external SSD is the ideal choice. It combines the speed benefits of a solid-state drive with the plug-and-play simplicity of a USB connection. Loading times for games stored on an external SSD are dramatically reduced.

• Samsung T5 Portable SSD: A compact and fast external SSD that was available in sizes from 250 GB to 2 TB.
• SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD: A durable, high-speed option also offered in 250 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB capacities.
• Western Digital My Passport SSD: Another portable SSD choice that came in sizes ranging from 250 GB to 2 TB.