Micron 1TB SSD PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280

OEM sleeper with enthusiast-grade random reads. Buy it if the price is right, skip it if you want software or endurance bragging rights.

The random read performance genuinely surprised us. 630K IOPS puts this drive in the 89th percentile of everything we've tested, which means it's trading blows with enthusiast drives like the SN850X and 990 PRO in real-world tasks like game loads and OS boots. Sequential writes at 5000 MB/s are solid but not chart-topping, landing around the 79th percentile for speed. For a drive that often shows up in prebuilt systems and OEM channels, that's more than respectable. It's the kind of performance you feel when everything just opens instantly, even if the spec sheet doesn't scream about it.

Stacked against the WD Black SN850X and Samsung 990 PRO, the Micron 3400 holds its own in random reads but gives up ground in sequential writes and endurance. The SN850X hits higher write speeds and comes with better software, while the 990 PRO is the endurance king with a higher TBW rating. The Crucial T500 is probably the closest match in terms of price-to-performance, but it edges out the Micron in features. If you're gaming, the Kingston Fury Renegade is also worth a look for its aggressive pricing. The Micron's real advantage is availability in OEM channels and that sneaky-good random read performance.

Pricing is all over the map depending on where you shop. US listings hover around $229-250, which is actually pretty reasonable for a 1TB PCIe 4.0 drive with this level of random performance. But those CAD and EUR prices are rough, and at that point you're better off grabbing a Samsung 990 PRO or WD SN850X when they go on sale. If you can find the Micron 3400 at a discount or pulled from an OEM system, it's a steal. At full retail in some regions, it's a harder sell.

The Micron 3400 is one of those drives that flies under the radar because it's not a flashy consumer brand, but the hardware inside is legit. You're getting 6600 MB/s reads and 5000 MB/s writes on PCIe 4.0, which puts it right up there with drives that cost more and get way more hype. The one thing to know? This is an OEM-style workhorse that punches above its weight in raw speed, but it's not the drive you buy for bragging rights or bundled software.

If you're looking for a drive with high endurance for constant write-heavy workloads, this isn't it. Go grab a Samsung 990 PRO or a WD Black SN850X instead. And if you want bundled cloning software or RGB heatsinks, you'll be disappointed here. This is a bare drive for people who just want speed without the frills.

The Micron 3400 is a genuinely fast drive that most people will never consider because it doesn't have the marketing machine behind it. If you find one at a good price, especially in the US, it's a smart buy for a laptop or desktop upgrade. Just don't expect any extras, and keep an eye on endurance if you're hammering it with writes daily.