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For light use, many find that an HDD is sufficient, but there comes a point when upgrading to an SSD makes a lot of sense. Solid State Drives have no moving parts, which makes them much faster. The speed is also helped by the latest NAND chips. If you are ready to upgrade to an SSD, we have two very popular choices.
Today, we are going to look at the WD Blue SSD vs Samsung 860 Evo. We will compare their storage capabilities, technology, value for money and more. After we will include a comparison chart and some pros and cons to make an informed decision.
There are just a couple of similarities between the WD Blue SSD and the Samsung 860 Evo, so let’s begin here.
WD Blue SSD vs Samsung 860 Evo – Similarities
Quick Glance
Let’s recap the features of the WD Blue and the Samsung 860 Evo in the comparison chart below.
WD Blue SSD | Samsung 860 Evo | |
| Image |  |  |
| Size | 3.95 x 2.75 x 0.28 inches | 3.94 x 2.76 x 0.27 inches |
| Weight | 2oz | 2.12oz |
| Form Factor | 2.5 inches | 2.5 inches |
| Storage Capacities | 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB |
| SATA 6.0 GB/s | Yes | Yes |
| Compatibility | Windows and MacOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux |
| Read Speeds | 560MB/s | 550MB/s |
| Write Speeds | 530MB/s | 520MB/s |
| Technology | 3D NAND Technology, WD SSD Dashboard | Samsung Magician software, Intelligent TurboWrite Technology, V-NAND, Data encryption |
| Workload | Up to 500 TBW | 1,200TBW |
| MTBF | 1.75 million hours | 1.5 million hours |
| Warranty | 5-year limited | 5 years or up to 2,400TWB |
| Price |
SSD Size
The WD Blue SSD and the Samsung 860 Evo have a 2.5-inch form factor. Although their sizes aren’t exactly the same, there isn’t enough of a difference to influence our decision. The WD Blue SSD is 3.95 x 2.75 x 0.28 inches and weighs 2 ounces. The Samsung 860 Evo measures 3.94 x 2.76 x 0.27 inches and weighs 2.12 ounces.
SATA 6.0 GB/s
You can take advantage of the third generation SATA 6.0GB/s, also known as SATA III, with both the WD Blue SSD and the Samsung 860 Evo.
Storage Capacities
We will be looking specifically at the WD Blue SSD and the Samsung 860 Evo with a 2TB capacity. There is also 250GB, 500GB, 1TB and 4TB available.
These are the only similarities so we will now move on to the unique features of the WD Blue SSD and the Samsung 860 Evo.
Differences Between WD Blue SSD and Samsung 860 Evo
Compatibility
While you can fit the SSDs into a 2.5-inch bay, there are still some differences with compatibility. Bear in mind that you may need to format the SSD you choose depending on your operating system.
WD Blue SSD
This is compatible with both Windows and MacOS.
Samsung 860 Evo
As well as being Windows and Mac compatible, it can also be used with Linux.
The Winner Is- The Samsung 860 Evo
Read and Write Speeds
Although there is a slight difference in the read and write speeds, you will be extremely impressed with both.
WD Blue SSD
You can get read speeds of up to 560MB/s and write speeds of up to 530MB/s.
Samsung 860 Evo
It is a fraction slower with reading speeds of up to 550MB/s and write speeds of up to 520MB/s.
The Winner Is- The WD Blue SSD
Technology
The technology not only helps with the performance of the SSDs but also with the ease of use.
WD Blue SSD
WD 3D NAND Technology is what enables the fast read and write times as well as faster boot-ups and quick application response. It has enhanced power efficiency, using up to 25% less than previous versions. The WD SSD Dashboard is free to download and allows you to monitor the health of your drive.
Samsung 860 Evo
This drive comes with the latest V-NAND Technology. Intelligent TurboWrite Technology helps to provide consistently fast transfer speeds. Finally, the Samsun Magician software lets you manage your drive, get firmware notifications, check performance and know that your data is secure with ES 256-bit encryption.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Read next – Samsung 850 EVO vs 860 EVO: Which SSD Hard Disk is Better?
Workload
Being able to handle heavy workloads makes these SSDs an ideal choice for PC enthusiasts and creative professionals like video editors.
WD Blue SSD
The drive can handle up to 500 TBW (terabytes written). It has an MTBF (mean time before failure) of 1.75 million hours.
Samsung 860 Evo
The TBW is far higher at 1,200TBW. On the other hand, the MTBF is less at 1 million hours.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Read next – Samsung 860 EVO vs QVO: Which SSD Hard Disk is Better?
Value for Money
This difference may not be enough to sway your decision but there is still a slight difference. With some storage capacities, the WD Blue SSD is cheaper, for others the Samsung 860 Evo is cheaper.
WD Blue SSD
The 2TB capacity is a little cheaper, although probably only around $10-$20 cheaper. It comes with a 5-year limited warranty.
Samsung 860 Evo
Aside from the slightly higher cost, this also comes with a 5-year limited warranty of 2,400TWB, whichever occurs first.
The Winner Is- The WD Blue SSD
Read next – Samsung 970 EVO vs 860 EVO: Which SSD Hard Disk is Better?
Pros and Cons
The last thing we want to include is some pros and cons of the WD Blue SSD and the Samsung 860 Evo before our final decision.
WD Blue SSD
Pros:
- Fast start-up times, even with older computers
- Amazing speeds
- Free Acronis True software available for cloning
Cons:
- There isn’t a great deal in terms of instructions
Samsung 860 Evo
Pros:
- It’s easy to switch from an HDD to this SSD
- It’s a good choice for gamers and Mac users
- It comes with 256-bit data encryption
Cons:
- There have been a few software issues
The Final Verdict
It’s a very difficult choice between these popular SSDs. There were some things that the WD Blue SSD and the Samsung 860 Evo had in common, such as their straightforward installation and the significate difference in performance. The WD Blue SSD had faster read and write times on paper but in practice, there was no noticeable difference. We felt that the overall winner today was the Samsung 860 Evo. It’s a bonus that it is also compatible with Linux, but the real advantage was the superior software that comes with the Samsung 860 Evo.