ADATA Falcon 1TB PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD Review (2026)
The ADATA Falcon 1TB is a budget NVMe SSD with a Realtek controller and Host Memory Buffer design, offering 3,100 MB/s reads at the largest commonly available capacity for the Falcon line.
Controller & Memory
The 1 TB ADATA Falcon uses the Realtek RTS5762D controller with 3D TLC NAND and no dedicated DRAM, relying on the NVMe Host Memory Buffer (HMB) for the flash translation layer. The drive ships in an M.2 2280 form factor.
ADATA rates the 1 TB model at 3,100 MB/s sequential reads and 1,500 MB/s sequential writes, with 180,000 random read and write IOPS. The five-year warranty is standard across the Falcon line. The 1 TB capacity is the most practical in the range, providing enough space for a full OS, applications, and a game library.
The Falcon's main weakness is its write speed. At 1,500 MB/s, it trails most PCIe 3.0 NVMe competitors, which typically offer 2,000 to 3,000 MB/s at 1 TB. The Samsung 980 1TB writes at 3,000 MB/s and the ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB writes at 3,000 MB/s with DRAM, both for a similar price. The Falcon's value proposition depends on it being noticeably cheaper than these alternatives.
Storage Comparisons:
Falcon Performance & Benchmarks
The Falcon 1TB is rated for 3,100 MB/s sequential reads and 1,500 MB/s sequential writes, with 180,000 random read and write IOPS. The 1 TB capacity provides a larger SLC write cache than the smaller models, which helps in sustained burst writes, but the underlying TLC write speed remains modest.
ADATA Falcon 1 TB vs M.2 3.0 x 4 peers
Switch between sequential throughput and random IOPS to see how this drive stacks up against other M.2 3.0 x 4 SSDs in our database. The highlighted bar is the drive on this page — click any other bar to open that drive.
- ADATA SX 8800 Pro 512 GB: 3,500 MB/s read, 2,700 MB/s write
- ADATA SX 8800 Pro 1 TB: 3,500 MB/s read, 2,700 MB/s write
- ADATA XPG Spectrix S40G RGB 256 GB: 3,500 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- ADATA XPG Spectrix S40G RGB 512 GB: 3,500 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- ADATA Falcon 1 TB (this drive): 3,100 MB/s read, 1,500 MB/s write
For read-heavy workloads like gaming, the 3,100 MB/s reads are adequate though below the PCIe 3.0 ceiling of 3,500 MB/s. Write-heavy tasks like game installations, large file transfers, and video encoding are where the 1,500 MB/s write limitation becomes noticeable. Independent reviewers found the Falcon competitive only on price, trailing most competitors in raw performance metrics.
ADATA Falcon vs Competitors
See how the Falcon stacks up against other M.2 3.0 x 4 drives in our database:
Compare with rival drives:
Endurance, TBW & Warranty
ADATA covers the Falcon with a five-year limited warranty. The drive's endurance rating varies by capacity. ADATA's SSD Toolbox software provides health monitoring and firmware updates. Warranty claims are processed through ADATA's support portal or the original retailer.
ADATA Falcon 1 TB Specifications
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Capacity [?] | 1 TB |
| Interface [?] | M.2 3.0 x 4 |
| Controller [?] | Realtek RTS5762D |
| Memory type [?] | 3D TLC |
| DRAM [?] | SLC Caching Host Memory Buffer |
| Read speed (MB/s) [?] | 3100 |
| Write speed (MB/s) [?] | 1500 |
| Read IOPS [?] | 180000 |
| Write IOPS [?] | 180000 |
| Endurance (TBW) [?] | 600 |
| MTBF (million hours) [?] | 1.8 |
| Warranty (years) [?] | 5 |
Verdict: Is the Falcon Worth It in 2026?
The ADATA Falcon 1TB is a budget NVMe SSD that makes sense only at a meaningfully lower price than faster alternatives. The Samsung 980 1TB offers double the write speed (3,000 vs 1,500 MB/s) and higher reads (3,500 vs 3,100 MB/s) at a similar cost. The ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB adds DRAM and matches the 980's writes. Unless the Falcon is priced well below these alternatives, it is hard to recommend over them.
+ Pros
- 3,100 MB/s sequential reads at budget pricing
- 1 TB capacity for OS, games, and applications
- Five-year warranty from ADATA
- Low power draw suits laptops
- Cons
- Only 1,500 MB/s sequential writes, well below average
- DRAM-less with HMB dependency
- Trails Samsung 980 and SX8200 Pro in every metric
- Realtek RTS5762D is a budget controller
Buy this or similar SSD Storage:
Video Review
ADATA FALCON NVMe 512GB Review | Thermal + Transfer Benchmark Test
