As handheld gaming consoles surge in popularity, gamers are increasingly looking for ways to expand their storage without compromising performance or portability. Enter the M.2 2230 NVMe SSD - a compact, high-speed storage solution that’s become a go-to upgrade for handhelds.
What is an M.2 2230 NVMe SSD?
The ‘2230’ refers to the physical size of the SSD: 22mm wide and 30mm long. These drives use the NVMe interface over PCIe, offering blazing-fast read/write speeds in a form factor small enough to fit inside ultra-compact devices, perfect for handheld gaming consoles.
Console Compatibility: What Works at PB Tech
Here’s a breakdown of compatibility with some popular handhelds at PB Tech:
ASUS ROG Ally
The ROG Ally includes an M.2 2230 slot, making it upgrade-friendly.
MSI Claw
All variants of the MSI Claw currently available at PB Tech also support M.2 2230 NVMe SSDs, with easy access for upgrades.
Lenovo Legion Go & Legion Go S
Both models have M.2 2242 slots, meaning they don’t support M.2 2230 NVMe SSDs. The good news is that there are many M.2 2242 SSDs available at PB Tech too!
Note: There are also other handheld gaming consoles, such as the Steam Deck and other portable gaming PCs, that support M.2 2230 NVMe SSDs, making these drives a versatile upgrade option. Just be sure to check your console’s specifications or reach out to PB Tech’s support team for guidance. Whatever your storage requirements, PB Tech can help!
Quick Look: 2230 SSDs Available at PB Tech
Here are five standout SSDs you can buy right now:
Crucial P310 1TB
Read/Write: Up to 7100/6000 MB/s
Interface: PCIe NVMe 4.0 x4
Crucial P310 2TB NVMe M.2 Gen4 Internal 2230 SSD
Same blazing speeds as the 1TB model, with double the capacity.
Perfect for gamers who want to carry their entire library on the go.
Kingston NV3 1TB M.2 2230 NVMe Internal SSD
Read/Write: Up to 6000/4000 MB/s
Budget-friendly and reliable for everyday gaming.
Kingston NV3 2TB M.2 2230 NVMe Internal SSD
Read/Write: Up to 6000/5000 MB/s
Slightly better performance than the 1TB version, with more room for AAA titles and media.
ADATA SGAMMIXS55-1T-C XPG Gammix S55 PCIe Gen4x4 M.2 2230 SSD 1TB
Read/Write: Up to 5000/3700 MB/s
Installation Tips
Upgrading your handheld’s SSD is generally straightforward. Be sure to check the manufacturer's guide for your device. For example, this is a guide from ROG for the ROG Ally.
- Back up your data.
- Power off and open the console carefully (check manufacturer's guides).
- Swap the SSD and then boot into a recovery tool to install or restore your operating system.
- Enjoy faster load times and more storage.
Final Thoughts
Whatever your handheld of choice, PB Tech has you covered. If your console uses this compact, high-speed form factor, you’ll find a range of upgrade options that deliver the performance, capacity, and reliability you need. From expanding your game library to speeding up load times, a 2230 NVMe SSD is a smart upgrade to make, and PB Tech NZ makes it easy to find the right one.
