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This is a buyer's guide compiled from manufacturer specifications and published reviews. GameRath did not test this product.
The Kingston NV3 is a budget PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD aimed at buyers who want Gen4 speeds without paying for a DRAM-equipped drive. It is a DRAM-less design, and published reviews point out that the exact controller and flash can differ between units, which is worth knowing before you compare it with rivals.
Key specs
- Form factor and interface: M.2 2280 (22 x 80 x 2.3mm), PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe, per Kingston's launch announcement
- Capacities: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
- Rated sequential read/write: 5,000/3,000MB/s (500GB), 6,000/4,000MB/s (1TB), 6,000/5,000MB/s (2TB and 4TB)
- Rated endurance: 160TBW (500GB), 320TBW (1TB), 640TBW (2TB), 1,280TBW (4TB)
- Cache design: no DRAM, uses Host Memory Buffer (Tom's Hardware)
- Controller and flash: Tom's Hardware found either an SMI SM2268XT2 or a Phison E27T controller, with BiCS6 TLC or QLC flash being the most common at launch. Back2Gaming's sample used a TenaFE controller with YMTC QLC flash.
- Warranty: Kingston's announcement lists a 3-year limited warranty. Tom's Hardware listed 5 years for its later NV3 2230 model, so confirm the term on the specific listing.
- Software: Acronis True Image offer and Kingston SSD Manager, per Kingston
What published reviews found
Tom's Hardware called the NV3 a clear improvement over the NV2, with good power efficiency and cool operation. Its main criticisms were weak sustained performance, the variation in parts from one unit to the next, and a launch price that it considered high for the competition it faces from drives like the Patriot Viper VP4300 Lite and TeamGroup MP44.
Impulse Gamer's 2TB sample matched its advertised speeds in CrystalDiskMark, booted Windows 11 in about 20 seconds, and copied 100GB in 125 seconds, though it scored toward the low end in PCMark and 3DMark compared with mid-range and high-end drives.
Back2Gaming awarded the drive its recommended seal as a balance of price and performance for budget Gen4 upgrades. It also warned that the bare drive can run hot and throttle without a heatsink, and it said that once the cache fills, sustained write speeds drop hard because of the QLC flash in its sample, making the drive a poor choice for video editing.
The shared takeaway is that the NV3 is quick for game loading and everyday use, but it is not built for long, heavy writes.
Price and availability
Tom's Hardware listed MSRPs in September 2024 of $42.99 for 500GB, $64.99 for 1TB, and $124.99 for 2TB, with the 4TB not yet priced at that point. For the later NV3 2230 version, Tom's Hardware listed $50.23, $79.99, and $139.69 for 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB. Those are snapshots, not current prices. Street prices move with retailer sales, so check live listings. Our SSD deals page is a good place to compare.
Who it's for
The NV3 fits a budget or mid-range build where the drive mostly holds installed games, or an upgrade from an older Gen3 drive. Tom's Hardware's review of the 2230 version stressed its power efficiency for portable devices such as the Steam Deck. It also fits the cost-saving advice in our budget gaming PC build guide.
Skip it if you edit video, move big files often, or want consistent performance across units, since parts can vary. For a TLC alternative, look at the Samsung 990 EVO Plus, which uses Samsung's in-house controller and TLC flash. If you need heavy write endurance, the Seagate FireCuda 530 carries a much higher endurance rating, at a higher price. Buyers weighing capacity alone may also compare the Crucial P3 Plus.
Bottom line
The Kingston NV3 is a low-cost way to get Gen4 speeds, and reviewers generally agree that it is fine for gaming and general use. The catches are weak sustained writes and parts that vary between units. It is a sensible pick when the price is clearly below that of TLC rivals, and a poor one when it is close.
Still choosing storage? Our Best Gaming Hardware in 2026 hub places the Kingston NV3 next to the other four SSD guides and explains what matters beyond the headline speed.
Sources: Tom's Hardware - Kingston NV3 SSD Review: A solid, affordable SSD, Tom's Hardware - Kingston NV3 2230 2TB SSD Review: The Budget King is Back, Kingston - Kingston Brings Next-Gen Performance with NV3 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, Back2Gaming - Kingston NV3 SSD Review, Impulse Gamer - Kingston NV3 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD Review (2TB)
Pros
- Rated up to 6,000MB/s reads on PCIe 4.0 x4, and Impulse Gamer's 2TB sample matched the advertised speeds in CrystalDiskMark
- Tom's Hardware called it a clear improvement over the NV2, with good power efficiency
- Back2Gaming recommended it as a balanced budget Gen4 upgrade
- Runs cool, per Tom's Hardware
Cons
- Weak sustained write performance, per Tom's Hardware and Back2Gaming
- Controller and flash vary between units, per Tom's Hardware
- Launch MSRP considered high by Tom's Hardware
- Back2Gaming warned it can run hot and throttle without a heatsink
