ThePCEnthusiast is supported by its readers. Our articles usually contain affiliate links.
As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases. See our site disclosure here.

Samsung 860 QVO vs 860 EVO vs 860 PRO: 1TB SSD Comparison – Which One Should You Buy?

Today we are going to check out, review and compare Samsung’s current SATA SSD lineup. Samsung released the 860 PRO and 860 EVO SSD Series early last year. Both SSD lineup are very solid and the 860 EVO became one of the most, if not the most, popular SATA SSD that the market has to offer. Late last year, Samsung released a more “budget friendly” SATA SSD – the 860 QVO SSD series; featuring the companyโ€™s high-density 4-bit multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash architecture. Now, we basically have three 860 SSD series to choose from. I usually get questions like; “which of the Samsung 860 SSD is the best / fastest?“, “which one is has the best value for money?“, or “which Samsung 860 SSD is the best for an OS drive or gaming driver?“. In this review, we are going to compare the Samsung 860 QVO vs 860 EVO vs 860 PRO SSDs. We’ll be comparing their respective 1TB SSD capacity since it’s the more popular or commonly used capacity nowadays. Each of us has different needs and different budget. So go ahead and check out the review below and find out which of the Samsung 860 SSD series is the best one for you.

Samsung 860 QVO vs 860 EVO vs 860 PRO 1TB SSD Review

Samsung 860 QVO vs 860 EVO vs 860 PRO SSD Review – Features

Let’s discuss the Samsung 860 PRO SSD series first. The 860 PRO is currently the company’s flagship SATA SSD. It features Samsung MJX controller paired with Samsung’s 64-layer 3D 2bit MLC V-NAND flash memory. It’s available from 256GB and up to 4TB capacity. The speed is similar across the capacity; with a sequential read speed of 560MB/s and a sequential write speed of 530MB/s. Speed and the endurance rating or Total Bytes Written (TBW) is what separates the PRO series from the EVO and QVO. But it’s also the most expensive one as well. Although its warranty period is similar with the 860 EVO series, its TBW is doubled. You can check it from the tables below.

Up next is the Samsung 860 EVO SSD series; it’s undeniable the most popular SSD series in the market. It offers similar or near the performance of the 860 PRO SSD series, but at a more affordable price. The Samsung 860 EVO also features the MJX controller, but it is paired with a 3bit MLC (a.k.a TLC) 64-layer 3D V-NAND flash memory from Samsung. It has the same DRAM cache memory configuration per capacity with the 860 PRO series, but it has a slightly slower speed. The 860 EVO SSD series features a sequential read speed of 550MB/s and a sequential write speed of 520MB/s. The endurance rating or Total Bytes Written is also halved. The 860 EVO 250GB capacity has a TBW of 150TB only and the 860 EVO 4TB has a 2,400TB of TBW only. Though, it has the same 5 year limited warranty period with the 860 PRO. This means, that the 860 PRO could handle double the amount of data written compared to the 860 EVO series; making the 860 PRO a more suitable storage solution for write-intensive applications or setup.

Finally, the newest member of the 860 series is the Samsung 860 QVO SSD series. It features the same MJX controller paired with Samsung’s 4bit MLC (a.k.a QLC) 64-layer 3D V-NAND flash memory. It’s only available in three capacities: 1TB, 2TB and 4TB; with a DRAM cache of 1GB, 2GB and 4GB LPDDR4 respectively. It has the same sequential read and write speed with the 860 EVO, but 4KB random read and write speeds are quite slower compared to the 860 EVO’s 4KB random read/write speeds. On top of that, the Samsung 860 QVO’s endurance rating or TBW is almost half (60% to be exact) from the TBW offered in the 860 EVO with the same capacity. See specifications below. Aside from the endurance rating being lower, the warranty period is down to 3 year limited as well. The only good thing that went down with the 860 QVO is the price. The 860 QVO is cheaper compared to the 860 EVO, at the expense of speed, endurance/reliability and warranty.

All the Samsung 860 SSD series features AES 256-bit Full Disk Encryption, TCG/Opal V2.0, and Encrypted Drive (IEEE1667); and supports TRIM, Garbage Collection and S.M.A.R.T as well.

Another thing worth mentioning is that both the Samsung 860 EVO and 860 QVO features Intelligent TurboWrite technology. This significantly accelerates the write speed of the drive during data transfer. However, after the buffer has been maximized, the TurboWrite will exit resulting to a significant drop in write speed.

The 860 QVO has the same TurboWrite capacity for the 1TB and 4TB with the 860 EVO, but has a larger TurboWrite capacity for the 2TB capacity. Unfortunately, once the TurboWrite Size has been maximized, the write speed can go as slow as 80MB/s for the 860 QVO.

Samsung 860 QVO vs EVO vs PRO SSD Specifications

SSD SeriesSamsung 860 QVOSamsung 860 EVOSamsung 860 PRO
InterfaceSATA 6 GB/s, compatible with SATA 3 GB/s and 1.5
Capacity1TB, 2TB, 4TB250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
ControllerSamsung MJX Controller
NAND Flash MemorySamsung V-NAND 4bit MLC (QLC)Samsung V-NAND 3bit MLC (TLC)Samsung V-NAND 2bit MLC
DRAM Cache Memory1GB, 2GB, 4GB LPDDR4512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB LPDD4
Sequential Read550 MB/s550 MB/s560 MB/s
Sequential Write520 MB/s520 MB/s530 MB/s
Total Bytes Written360TB, 720TB, 1.44PB150TB, 300TB, 600TB, 1.2PB, 2.4PB300TB, 600TB, 1.2PB, 2.4PB, 4.8PB
Warranty Period3 years5 years
Additional FeaturesTRIM (Required OS support), Garbage Collection, S.M.A.R.T
Data SecurityAES 256-bit Full Disk Encryption, TCG/Opal V2.0, Encrypted Drive(IEEE1667)
Release DateNovember 2018January 2018January 2018

Samsung 860 SSD Series latest pricing and availability:
Samsung 860 QVO: available at Amazon.com, Newegg.com or Amazon UK here
Samsung 860 EVO: available at Amazon.com, Newegg.com or Amazon UK here
Samsung 860 PRO: available at Amazon.com, Newegg.com or Amazon UK here

Samsung 860 QVO vs 860 EVO vs 860 PRO – Test Setup


In testing the Samsung 860 QVO, 860 EVO and 860 PRO SSD series, I am using an MSI MEG Z390 ACE motherboard powered with an Intel Core i7-8700K CPU. It’s the same system I used to test and benchmark the other components we review for consistency. Below are the rest of the systemโ€™s specifications:

Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 64bit
Motherboard: MSI MEG Z390 ACE
Processor: Intel Core i7-8700K
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i RGB Platinum
Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR4-3000 16GB
Graphics card: MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Gaming X
Storage Drives: WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD 1TB
Power Supply: Seasonic 850W Prime Titanium
Chassis: Thermaltake Core P5

Now let’s proceed to the next page and check out the results that we got.

Samsung 860 QVO vs 860 EVO vs 860 PRO SSD AJA Benchmark Results

With the AJA System Test 2.1, we can see that the Samsung 860 PRO 1TB SSD takes the lead, followed by the 860 EVO when it comes to write speed. Surprisingly the 860 QVO is a tiny bit faster, more or less just on par with the 860 EVO when it comes to read speed.

Samsung 860 QVO vs EVO vs PRO SSD Anvilโ€™s Storage Benchmark Results

However, with Anvil’s Storage benchmark, we can see that the Samsung 860 QVO 1TB SSD generally falls behind the 860 PRO and 860 EVO. I’m not really surprised since generally speaking the 860 PRO should come on top, followed by the 860 EVO and finally the 860 QVO in terms of performance.

Samsung 860 QVO vs EVO vs PRO SSD ATTO Disk Benchmark Results

With the ATTO Disk benchmark, we can see the maximum sequential read/write speeds that a certain storage drive can achieve. The Samsung 860 PRO again takes the lead, but the 860 EVO is just a hairline behind the 860 PRO. The 860 QVO 1TB SSD falls behind, but if you look at the numbers, it’s not that far behind at all.

Next page, let’s compare the Samsung 860 QVO vs 860 EVO and 860 PRO using AS SSD, CrystalDiskMark and ezIOmeter benchmark tests.

Samsung 860 QVO vs 860 EVO vs 860 PRO SSD AS SSD Benchmark Results

Using the AS SSD benchmark tool, we tested the Samsung 860 QVO, 860 EVO and 860 PRO 1TB SSDs and compare their sequential and 4K random speeds. With the sequential speeds, we can see just the “general” performance of a storage drive. But with 4K random tests, that’s where we can see how an SSD handles multiple transfers simultaneously. The higher the 4K performance of an SSD, the better the drive is.

Below we can see that their sequential speeds are not that far from one another; with the 860 PRO leading, followed by the 860 EVO and finally the 860 QVO.

Samsung 860 QVO vs EVO vs PRO SSD CrystalDiskMark Benchmark Results

The performance difference between the 860 QVO vs 860 EVO and 860 PRO 1TB SSDs are not that far when it comes to sequential speeds. However, if you look at their 4K performance, you can see a steady decline in the 4K read/write speeds. Now we can see a wider gap in the performance between the 1TB 860 PRO vs the 860 QVO SSD.

Samsung 860 QVO vs EVO vs PRO SSD ezIOmeter Benchmark Results

The ezIOmeter is like an easy to use version of the IOmeter. It also gives you a more realistic scenario and what kind of performance to expect from a storage drive. Here we can see that the three SSDs are not that far from one another when it comes to 128KB sequential performance. However, we can see here that the 860 QVO falls behind when it comes to 4KB random performance with a more sizable performance difference.

This would suggest that the 860 QVO may be good when it comes to copying single (large) files at one time, but may fall behind when it comes to copying several or multiple files with varying sizes at the same time.

Finally, let’s see what we got with PCMark 8 Storage Benchmark result and conclude this review comparison.

Samsung 860 QVO vs EVO vs PRO SSD PCMark 8 Storage Benchmark Results

“The PCMark 8 Storage benchmark tests the performance of SSDs, HDDs and hybrid drives with traces recorded from Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office and a selection of popular games. It can test the system drive or any other recognized storage device, including local external drives. The PCMark 8 Storage benchmark also highlights real-world performance differences between storage devices unlike synthetic storage tests.”

As you can see from the results below, the Samsung 860 PRO and 860 EVO 1TB SSDs are not really far from one another. The real difference between the two are the endurance rating and reliability. We can’t see that here, but it’s more of a test of time. On the other hand, the Samsung 860 QVO 1TB is noticeably slower compared to the two SSDs. The storage score of the 860 QVO falls behind, and its bandwidth speed is almost 50% slower compared to the 860 PRO and 860 EVO.

Now that we know how each SSD series performs, let’s add one more crucial factor in deciding which Samsung 860 SSD is the best for you – the price.

Samsung 860 QVO vs EVO vs PRO SSD: Pricing and Availability

The Samsung 860 QVO, Samsung 860 EVO and Samsung 860 PRO are now available. The Samsung 860 PRO and EVO comes with a limited 5 year warranty, while the 860 QVO comes with a limited 3 year warranty only. At the time this review was published, the price of the 1TB 860 QVO is around $108 USD, while the 1TB 860 EVO is retailed at around $148, and finally the 1TB 860 PRO is priced at $297. However, SSD prices do change frequently. They can go up or down, and right now SSD prices seems to be going down. But generally speaking, the Samsung 860 QVO is the cheapest, followed by the 860 EVO by a few more dollars, and a significant price jump (double) for the Samsung 860 PRO on the same capacity. So for the updated pricing and availability be sure to check them out via the links below.

Samsung 860 SSD Series latest pricing and availability:
Samsung 860 QVO: available at Amazon.com, Newegg.com or Amazon UK here
Samsung 860 EVO: available at Amazon.com, Newegg.com or Amazon UK here
Samsung 860 PRO: available at Amazon.com, Newegg.com or Amazon UK here

Samsung 860 QVO vs 860 EVO vs 860 PRO SSD Review: Conclusion

Letโ€™s talk about the general aspects of the drives first. The new 3D NAND technology makes these Samsung 860 SSD series more efficient and consumes less power. If you open these drives, you can see that there is only a small PCB inside their shell. There are fewer components used compared to other SSDs in the market. (Warningopening the SSD will void the warranty). Built quality is great and you can expect to get top-notch Samsung quality with their SSDs. They have a really good track record and you simply canโ€™t go wrong with any of their recent SSDs, unless you have a specific need or target.

I also like the Samsung Data Migration software because you can migrate or clone a drive to a new Samsung SSD flawlessly without any problem (at least in my experience). I think itโ€™s better and more polished compared to Acronis True Image software or other third-party cloning tools that you can get with other SSDs or download from the web. The Samsung Magician Software is also a great tool; not really required but it can help you with your SSDโ€™s status, enabling RAPID mode, SSD information, firmware updates, and the likes.

Now letโ€™s talk about performance. In terms of performance, there is no doubt that the Samsung 860 PRO is the fastest SATA SSD. It already maxed out the potential speed/bandwidth of a SATA SSD. However, if youโ€™re just looking for a fast SSD, better get a newย Samsung 970 EVO Plusย or theย 970 EVO M.2 NVMe SSD. Both drives are significantly faster than the 860 PRO. We are talking about read/write speeds above 3,000MB/s. Thatโ€™s simply way faster than any SATA-based SSD in the market. And surprisingly, the 1TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus and 1TB 970 EVO are cheaper compared to the Samsung 860 PRO 1TB SSD (at the time I wrote this review). Itโ€™s simply a no-brainer to get the 970 series if you want the fastest SSDs, not unless your motherboard doesnโ€™t support NVMe SSDs or doesnโ€™t have an M.2 slot for NVME SSDs. If thatโ€™s the case, you may want to get an M.2 to PCIe adapter.

The Samsung 860 EVO and the 860 QVO are the more reasonable choice. Both offer a good price to performance ratio. Itโ€™s true that you only get half of the endurance of the 860 PRO has to offer; but for most of us who use our computer on a regular basis for normal desktop operation, browsing the web, typing, gaming, encoding, etc; the 860 EVO or 860 QVO are more than enough and capable of handling these operations. The endurance (TBW) that both drives offer is enough for daily basis use and expect that it will last for years.

I think the Samsung 860 PRO would be an ideal option for those who care about longevity and needs a higher endurance rating. Perhaps, you require an SSD that can handle (constant) write-intensive applications or scenarios. Whereas, if you simply want a good solid SSD that offers a balance between speed and endurance, reliability and performance, the Samsung 860 EVO is perhaps the best choice. Finally, if youโ€™re on a tight budget or you simply want to upgrade from an (old) mechanical hard drive or give your laptop an โ€œSSD-boostโ€, the Samsung 860 QVO is not a bad choice either.

thepcenthusiast editor's choice award

Note: Article originally published on May 10, 2019

Photo of author
Author
Peter Paul
Peter is a PC enthusiast and avid gamer with several years of hands-on experience in testing and reviewing PC components, audio equipment, and various tech devices. He offers a genuine, no-nonsense perspective, helping consumers make informed choices in the ever-changing world of technology.

21 thoughts on “Samsung 860 QVO vs 860 EVO vs 860 PRO: 1TB SSD Comparison – Which One Should You Buy?”

  1. Good review, I found it really helpful as I am trying to upgrade my current 256GB SSd from my laptop. This definitely helped so thank you a lot and keep up the good work.

    Reply
  2. I replaced my 1TB HHD with an 860 QVO 1TB. The time the laptop took to initialize and open all my app in the task bar was phenomenal. However, after the third or fourth time turning on my Dell laptop, I began noticing the laptop was not booting when turned on. The only way I could get the 860 QVO to communicate with the main board was to remove all power supply, open the cover to the SSD drive, pull 15/7 pin from the SSD and reattach it; then then power up the laptop. Usually the Dell laptop booted upon turning on the power. Unfortunately I need to do this procedure almost every second time. I ended up replacing the SSD with the old and much slower HHD.

    Reply
  3. Thanks for taking the time and effort to produce this review, it helped me to decide to go with an EVO 1 TB.

    Reply
    • Actually it is the opposite. It isnt great for storage because it has a much lower tbw and slower write speed. The QVO is perfect for installing your OS, games, and programs that will permanently be installed. all of the save files, temp folders, cache and downloads should be saved on a different drive such as a HDD or the EVO. Using it the way I suggested it should last you a lifetime and will have basically identical performance for a way lower price point, which is what Samsung intended.

      Reply
      • That is valid as well, especially on a tight budget. But personally, I wouldn’t use a QVO for an OS drive. I’m not going to use a less reliable drive for something critical or with important files on it.
        Also in my case, the OS drive is also my “working drive”, where files are constantly being written / copied and deleted. And it’s not just a 1MB or 10MB of files, it’s GB of files.

        Reply
  4. Right now I’m running a 1TB Samsung EVO SSD and 2 other Samsung 500 GB’s which are a few years older and running my OS on a 970 EVO Plus 500GB.. I also have an old 1TB Hitachi HDD that I use for cold storage. I see that the QVO 1TB is on sale and I’m thinking it would be the natural fit to retire my last HDD.

    Reply
    • Just remember that it may take a while for you to transfer all your files from the HDD to QVO, since QVO has lower sustained right speed. Once it max out its cache, write speed drastically drops.
      I don’t use SSD for cold / long storage, specially if the files are considered (very) important. I would get something like a WD Red (Pro) for that. Problem with SSD, is that when they fail, they just fail and all files are lost.

      Reply
  5. Was wondering if, between the QVO and EVO, if there would be much of a performance difference when used inside of a standard ps4? PS4 is suspected to be sata2(I guess, and if that matters), and is a pretty obsolete 500gb HDD. Thanks in advance for any helpful response

    Reply
    • Hello there,

      Im actually searching for a drive for my PS4, and I figured out that the Sata II conection of the PS4 will probably limit the any SSD’s speed, which will make either EVO or QVO the same. But, if you are like me, you will probably aquire the PS5 when it comes out (or soon enough), which has a Sata III conection. In that case, you will use you recently purchased SSD and migrate it to the new PS5, in which you will see a notizable difference between the 2 samsung’s SSD. So, for 43 $ difference, I will purchase the EVO, making it future proof for the PS5.

      Hope this helps.

      Regards,

      DC

      Reply

Leave a Comment