SanDisk is stepping into the Gen 5.0 SSD market with the launch of the WD_Black SN8100, offering blazing-fast read speeds of up to 14,900 MB/s and write speeds of up to 14,000 MB/s. It’s available in 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB versions—heatsink optional—with an 8 TB model expected later in 2025. With performance like this, it’s shaping up to be one of the best SSD for video editing and rendering, especially for creators who need speed without compromise.
SanDisk has introduced the best SSD for video editing and rendering under the WD_Black brand. WD_Black designed the SN8100 NVMe SSD to utilize the PCIe Gen 5.0 interface, targeting demanding PC users such as hardcore gamers, content creators, and professionals who seek extremely high storage performance.
According to the manufacturer, the SSD in the M.2 2280 form factor achieves read speeds of up to 14,900 MB/s and write speeds of up to 14,000 MB/s. This makes the SSD one of the fastest models currently on the market and offers a significant performance improvement compared to PCIe 4.0-based SSDs. Read speeds, in particular, are said to have more than doubled compared to the previous SanDisk PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD.
The SN8100 also achieves high random performance values, with over 2,300,000 IOPS for the 2 TB and 4 TB models, which are relevant for fast access times for small data packets. SanDisk relies on its proprietary BiCS8 TLC 3D CBA NAND technology. In addition to its speed, reports claim that the SSD is more than 100% more energy efficient than the previous generation, and it typically consumes less than 7 watts of power during operation.
SanDisk WD Black SN8100 Price and Release Date
At launch, the WD Black SN8100 will be available on Amazon.com, B&H Photo and Amazon.co.uk for $179.99 in capacities of 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB. The company plans to release a larger 8 TB version, with or without a heatsink, by the end of 2025. It will cost approximately $20 more than the version without a heatsink. SanDisk offers a five-year warranty on the WD Black SN8100.
The manufacturer specifies an endurance value of up to 2,400 TBW (terabytes written) for the 4 TB version. High-end SSDs typically endure this level of use, making it suitable even for intensive gaming, video editing, and AI applications.
Angelbird introduced two portable SSD drives with 2TB and 4TB capacities in March this year. Manufacturers designed them for mirrorless and cinema cameras that record directly to the SSD via USB Type-C. The model, called Angelbird SSD2GO PKT, delivers a constant write speed of 1600 MB/s.
