SanDisk launches Optimus GX Pro 850P SSDs for PS5 and PS5 Pro, including an 8TB model nearing three thousand dollars. See specs, pricing, and market context.
SanDisk has introduced its new Optimus GX Pro 850P SSD line, officially licensed for the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro, and the pricing of the top tier model is already causing widespread disbelief. The 8TB version of the drive costs nearly three thousand dollars in the United States, a figure that is more than three times the price of a PS5 Pro, which already includes a 2TB SSD from the factory.
Table of Contents
- What Is the SanDisk Optimus GX Pro 850P SSD Line
- How Much Do the Optimus GX Pro 850P Models Cost
- What Are the Technical Specifications
- How Does Pricing Compare to Competing SSDs
- Why Are SSD Prices Increasing
- How Are Console Prices Affected
What Is the SanDisk Optimus GX Pro 850P SSD Line
The Optimus GX Pro 850P is SanDisk’s new officially licensed SSD family for Sony’s latest consoles. It replaces the WD_Black branding after SanDisk announced a transition to the Optimus identity for its consumer storage products.
The lineup includes four capacities:
- 1TB
- 2TB
- 4TB
- 8TB
All models are designed to fit directly into the PS5 and PS5 Pro M.2 slot and include a dedicated heatsink for optimal performance.
How Much Do the Optimus GX Pro 850P Models Cost
Pricing has become the main talking point surrounding the launch.
- 8TB model: $2,960 promotional price, with a list price of $3,700
- 4TB model: Not yet discounted, priced significantly above market averages
- 2TB model: Around $760, more than a standard PS5 with a disc drive
- 1TB model: Still priced above competing PCIe 4.0 options
Even the smallest capacities are drawing criticism for their premium pricing.
What Are the Technical Specifications
The Optimus GX Pro 850P is a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD with:
- 7,300 MB per second read speed
- 6,300 MB per second write speed
These specifications are nearly identical to the older WD_Black SN850X, the drive this model effectively replaces. The SN850X offered the same 8TB capacity last year for under six hundred dollars, highlighting the dramatic price jump.
How Does Pricing Compare to Competing SSDs
The market comparison is stark:
- WD_Black SN850X 8TB: Around $1,470 on Amazon
- Samsung 9100 Pro 8TB (PCIe Gen5): Around $2,159
- SanDisk Optimus GX Pro 850P 8TB: $2,960 promotional price
Even next generation PCIe Gen5 drives cost significantly less than SanDisk’s new model.
Why Are SSD Prices Increasing
The launch arrives during a global memory component shortage, driven largely by the surge in demand for chips used in artificial intelligence data centers. This shortage has pushed storage prices upward across the industry.
If SanDisk were to return the 8TB model to the $600 price point of its predecessor, it would represent an 84 percent discount from the current promotional price.
How Are Console Prices Affected
The SSD market is not the only segment experiencing price hikes. Recent increases include:
- Sony: Raised prices of the PS5, PS5 Pro, and PS Portal
- Microsoft: Increased Xbox Series console prices twice in 2025
- Nintendo: Announced a Switch 2 price increase effective September
- Valve: Raised Steam Deck OLED 1TB pricing by up to $300 in May
The Optimus GX Pro 850P launch reflects a broader trend of rising hardware costs across the gaming industry.