Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Lexar - NM800 Pro 2TB | Samsung - 980 PRO 2TB |
|---|---|---|
| Sequential write | 6500 MB/s | 5100 MB/s |
| Endurance (TBW) | 1500 | 1200 |
| Sequential read | 7500 MB/s | 7000 MB/s |
Between the NM800 Pro 2TB and 980 PRO 2TB, the NM800 Pro 2TB comes out ahead in sequential write / endurance (tbw), while the 980 PRO 2TB wins on several specs. Overall, the NM800 Pro 2TB scores 68.8 and the 980 PRO 2TB scores 66.7 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (68.8 vs 66.7). The decision is not about overall quality — both clear the bar — it is about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
Pick the NM800 Pro 2TB if you care most about sequential write / endurance (tbw). The biggest gaps in its favor are sequential write, endurance (tbw), sequential read. The single most decisive one: Sequential write — 27.45% more. 6500 MB/s vs 5100 MB/s.
The 980 PRO 2TB similarly does not carry a headline advantage on the popular specs — look at the full table for category-specific deltas.
Both ship with comparable capacity, interface, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Lexar - NM800 Pro 2TB or Samsung - 980 PRO 2TB?
Lexar - NM800 Pro 2TB leads the current Mars Score by 2.1 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare sequential read, sequential write against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Lexar - NM800 Pro 2TB if…
Lexar - NM800 Pro 2TB has the measurable edge on write mbps, tbw, read mbps.
Choose Samsung - 980 PRO 2TB if…
Samsung - 980 PRO 2TB does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Lexar - NM800 Pro 2TB wins
- ▲Sequential write — 27.45% more. 6500 MB/s vs 5100 MB/s.
- ▲Endurance (TBW) — 25.00% more. 1500 vs 1200.
- ▲Sequential read — 7.14% more. 7500 MB/s vs 7000 MB/s.
Why Samsung - 980 PRO 2TB wins
- No decisive advantages.
Spec comparison
Capacity
| Spec | Lexar - NM800 Pro 2TB | Samsung - 980 PRO 2TB |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 2000 GB | 2000 GB |
Performance
| Spec | Lexar - NM800 Pro 2TB | Samsung - 980 PRO 2TB |
|---|---|---|
| Sequential read | 7500 MB/slead | 7000 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 6500 MB/slead | 5100 MB/s |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Form factor | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
Endurance
| Spec | Lexar - NM800 Pro 2TB | Samsung - 980 PRO 2TB |
|---|---|---|
| Endurance (TBW)ⓘ | 1500lead | 1200 |
| Warranty | 5 yrs | 5 yrs |