Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Samsung - 980 PRO 2TB | Samsung - 990 PRO 2TB |
|---|---|---|
| Sequential write | 5100 MB/s | 6900 MB/s |
| Sequential read | 7000 MB/s | 7450 MB/s |
Between the 980 PRO 2TB and 990 PRO 2TB, the 980 PRO 2TB comes out ahead in several specs, while the 990 PRO 2TB wins on sequential write / sequential read. Overall, the 980 PRO 2TB scores 66.7 and the 990 PRO 2TB scores 69.2 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (66.7 vs 69.2). The decision is not about overall quality — both clear the bar — it is about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
The 980 PRO 2TB does not pull ahead on any single popular-comparison spec — its strengths sit in the spec-table groups rather than the headline advantages.
Pick the 990 PRO 2TB if you care most about sequential write / sequential read. Its strongest claims are sequential write, sequential read. The single most decisive one: Sequential write — 35.29% more. 6900 MB/s vs 5100 MB/s.
Both ship with comparable capacity, interface, endurance (tbw), 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: Samsung - 980 PRO 2TB or Samsung - 990 PRO 2TB?
Samsung - 990 PRO 2TB leads the current Mars Score by 2.5 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 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.
Choose Samsung - 990 PRO 2TB if…
Samsung - 990 PRO 2TB has the measurable edge on write mbps, read mbps.
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 Samsung - 980 PRO 2TB wins
- No decisive advantages.
Why Samsung - 990 PRO 2TB wins
- ▲Sequential write — 35.29% more. 6900 MB/s vs 5100 MB/s.
- ▲Sequential read — 6.43% more. 7450 MB/s vs 7000 MB/s.
Spec comparison
Capacity
| Spec | Samsung - 980 PRO 2TB | Samsung - 990 PRO 2TB |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 2000 GB | 2000 GB |
Performance
| Spec | Samsung - 980 PRO 2TB | Samsung - 990 PRO 2TB |
|---|---|---|
| Sequential read | 7000 MB/s | 7450 MB/slead |
| Sequential write | 5100 MB/s | 6900 MB/slead |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Form factor | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
Endurance
| Spec | Samsung - 980 PRO 2TB | Samsung - 990 PRO 2TB |
|---|---|---|
| Endurance (TBW)ⓘ | 1200 | 1200 |
| Warranty | 5 yrs | 5 yrs |