Samsung 860 QVO brings QLC to the masses in 1TB to 4TB capacities

With the introduction of the Samsung 860 QVO, we're seeing the first major consumer product with QLC NAND flash memory. This 2.5" disk uses the SATA 6Gbps interface and features Samsung V-NAND 4-bit memory in combination with the Samsung MJX controller.

These disks are offered in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities, with prices starting at $149.99 for the 1TB version. The 2TB model has a MSRP of $299.99 and the 4TB edition will set you back $599.99. Performance is rated at up to 550MB/s read speed, 520MB/s write speed, up to 97k random read IOPS, and up to 89K random write IOPS. Availability is expected on December 16, 2018.

Initial reviews aren't that great . At the moment, the 860 QVO 1TB doesn't seem to make much sense as you can buy the much faster 860 EVO 1TB for $127.98 on Amazon, and that disk also offers higher endurance.

Samsung Electronics America, today unveiled its new consumer solid state drive (SSD) lineup — the Samsung 860 QVO SSD — featuring up to four terabytes (TB) of storage capacity with exceptional speed and reliability. Built on the company’s high-density 4-bit multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash architecture, the 860 QVO makes terabyte capacities more accessible to the masses at approachable price points.

“Samsung continues to lead the move toward multi-terabyte SSDs with the introduction of the Samsung 860 QVO, delivering fast performance, reliability and value to more consumers around the world.”

“Today’s consumers are using, producing and storing more high-resolution files than ever, including 4K videos and graphics-intensive games, escalating demand for greater capacities and performance in storage devices,” said Dr. Mike Mang, vice president of Brand Product Marketing, Memory Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung continues to lead the move toward multi-terabyte SSDs with the introduction of the Samsung 860 QVO, delivering fast performance, reliability and value to more consumers around the world.”

Mainstream PC users handling large multi-media content often need to upgrade their PC’s storage to improve everyday computing experience. Based on the commonly used SATA interface and 2.5-inch form factor, the 860 QVO fits perfectly in most standard laptops or desktops. Also, by offering both high capacity and performance in a single, affordable drive, the 860 QVO eliminates the need to use a combination of an SSD and an HDD for booting and storage.

Featuring sequential read and write speeds of up to 550 megabytes per second (MB/s) and 520 MB/s, respectively, the 860 QVO achieves the same level of performance as today’s 3-bit MLC SSD, thanks to Samsung’s latest 4-bit V-NAND and the proven MJX controller. The drive is also integrated with Intelligent TurboWrite technology, which helps to accelerate speeds while maintaining high performance for longer periods of time.

Based on a thorough analysis of consumers’ SSD usage patterns, Samsung has designed the drive for optimal reliability: a three-year limited warranty or up to 1,440 terabytes written (TBW) for the 4TB version, and 720 TBW and 360 TBW for the 2TB and 1TB versions, respectively.