# Addlink S95 2TB Review — Phison E18 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD (2026)

The Addlink S95 2 TB is the fully populated Phison E18 drive that smaller brands use to punch above their weight — 7,100 MB/s reads, 6,800 MB/s writes, and 1,400 TBW of endurance at a price that makes the Sabrent and Corsair equivalents look like brand taxes.

Quick answer: The Addlink S95 2 TB is a full-speed Phison E18 drive sold at a price that reflects the brand, not the silicon. It delivers the same controller, DRAM, and PCIe 4.0 throughput as drives that cost 20—40% more from Sabrent and Corsair, with an endurance rating that beats Samsung and WD's 2 TB flagships. Buy the S95 if you want maximum E18 performance per dollar and are comfortable with a smaller brand's support ecosystem. Skip it if you prioritise firmware update longevity, seamless warranty claims, or the peace of mind that comes with a Samsung or WD logo on your boot drive — those premiums buy real value in post-purchase support. The S95 is a spec-sheet specialist, and at 2 TB it is the capacity that lets that Phison silicon stretch its legs.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 2 TB |
| Interface | M.2 4.0 x 4 |
| Controller | Phison PS5018-E18 |
| Memory type | Micron 3D TLC |
| DRAM cache | DDR4 Cache |
| Sequential read | 7100 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 6800 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 650000 |
| Random write IOPS | 700000 |
| Endurance | 1400 TBW |
| MTBF | 1.8 |
| Warranty | 5 years |

## Performance

Addlink rates the S95 2 TB at up to 7,100 MB/s sequential reads and 6,800 MB/s sequential writes — the practical ceiling of the Phison E18 platform on PCIe 4.0 x4. Random performance is rated at up to 650,000 read IOPS and 700,000 write IOPS. In practice, game loads, OS boots, and application launches are indistinguishable from any high-end NVMe drive — the measurable differences between the S95 and a Samsung 990 Pro exist only in synthetic benchmarks and sustained sequential transfers.

The 2 TB capacity benefits from a larger SLC write cache than the 1 TB — roughly 300—350 GB based on independent testing of the E18 platform — after which direct-to-TLC writes settle in the 1,500—2,000 MB/s range. This means even large game installs, 4K video ingest, and backup jobs stay at full speed across meaningful transfer sizes. The E18 controller is more thermally efficient than its E16 predecessor but still requires a heatsink for sustained workloads: without one, sequential writes can push the controller past 75 °C and trigger throttling within 5—10 minutes. A motherboard M.2 heatsink resolves this on any desktop board with case airflow.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

The 2 TB Addlink S95 carries a 1,400 TBW endurance rating and a 5-year limited warranty, whichever limit is reached first. At a typical desktop write rate of 20—50 GB per day, this translates to roughly 75 to 190 years of usable life. The MTBF is rated at 1.8 million hours. For context, the Samsung 980 Pro 2 TB is rated at 1,200 TBW and the WD Black SN850X 2 TB at 1,200 TBW — the S95 offers roughly 17% more rated endurance. The 1 TB variant is rated at 700 TBW. Addlink handles warranty claims through its distribution network; as a smaller brand, turnaround times may not match the instant-advance-RMA programs that Samsung and WD offer.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- 7,100 MB/s reads and 6,800 MB/s writes on the Phison E18
- 1,400 TBW endurance — beats Samsung 980 Pro 2 TB by 17%
- DDR4 DRAM cache for consistent mixed-workload latency
- 5-year warranty on a proven flagship controller
- Larger SLC cache than the 1 TB variant for sustained writes
- Costs less than brand-name E18 equivalents
**Cons:**

- No factory heatsink — must budget for one separately
- Smaller brand — warranty and firmware support less certain
- Double-sided PCB may conflict with some thin M.2 slots
- Phison E18 requires a heatsink for sustained write workloads
- Limited retail availability outside select online channels


## Verdict

The Addlink S95 2 TB is a full-speed Phison E18 drive sold at a price that reflects the brand, not the silicon. It delivers the same controller, DRAM, and PCIe 4.0 throughput as drives that cost 20—40% more from Sabrent and Corsair, with an endurance rating that beats Samsung and WD's 2 TB flagships. Buy the S95 if you want maximum E18 performance per dollar and are comfortable with a smaller brand's support ecosystem. Skip it if you prioritise firmware update longevity, seamless warranty claims, or the peace of mind that comes with a Samsung or WD logo on your boot drive — those premiums buy real value in post-purchase support. The S95 is a spec-sheet specialist, and at 2 TB it is the capacity that lets that Phison silicon stretch its legs.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does the Addlink S95 2TB have a DRAM cache?

Yes. The Phison PS5018-E18 is an 8-channel controller that uses dedicated DDR4-2666 DRAM for the flash translation layer mapping table. This provides lower and more consistent latency than DRAM-less HMB designs under sustained mixed read/write workloads, high queue depth operations, and long-duration transfers. For content creation, virtual machines, or database workloads running directly from the drive, the DRAM cache is a measurable advantage over budget HMB alternatives.

### What is the TBW endurance of the 2 TB Addlink S95?

The 2 TB capacity is rated for 1,400 TBW, backed by a 5-year limited warranty. At a typical 50 GB/day write rate, this works out to roughly 75 years of continuous use. For comparison, the Samsung 980 Pro 2 TB and WD Black SN850X 2 TB are each rated at 1,200 TBW — the S95 offers about 17% more rated endurance. The 1 TB variant is rated at 700 TBW. These endurance figures are standard across the Phison E18 platform and reflect conservative NAND management with adequate over-provisioning.

### Does the Addlink S95 2TB need a heatsink?

It does not ship with one, and you should plan to provide one. The Phison E18 runs cooler than the first-gen E16 but still generates substantial heat under sustained sequential writes. Without a heatsink, thermal throttling can begin within 5—10 minutes of continuous writes as the controller exceeds 75 °C. Most desktop motherboards include an M.2 heatsink that is sufficient. If your motherboard does not, or if the M.2 slot sits under a GPU with limited airflow, a third-party M.2 heatsink is a necessary purchase. For bursty gaming and desktop use, the drive may stay within safe temperatures even without active cooling.

### Is the Addlink S95 2TB good for video editing?

Yes — the S95 2 TB is well-suited to content creation workflows. The 6,800 MB/s sustained writes and large SLC cache (roughly 300—350 GB on the 2 TB model) handle 4K and 8K footage ingest, timeline rendering, and project exports without bottlenecking. The DRAM-equipped 8-channel controller maintains consistent throughput under the mixed read/write patterns typical of editing software. The 1,400 TBW endurance rating means heavy daily write workloads will not approach the endurance limit within the warranty period. Just ensure you pair the drive with a heatsink — sustained exports can run for long enough to trigger thermal throttling on a bare drive.

### How does the Addlink S95 compare to the Samsung 980 Pro 2TB?

Both are high-end PCIe 4.0 drives with DRAM and 5-year warranties. The S95 uses the Phison E18 controller with Micron TLC and DDR4 DRAM, rated at 7,100/6,800 MB/s. The 980 Pro uses Samsung's Elpis controller with Samsung V-NAND and LPDDR4, rated at 7,000/5,100 MB/s. The S95 has a significantly higher write speed ceiling on paper (6,800 vs 5,100 MB/s) and higher endurance (1,400 vs 1,200 TBW). In real-world gaming and desktop use, the two are indistinguishable. The Samsung wins on brand trust, firmware support, and warranty ease. The Addlink wins on peak throughput, endurance, and cost. Choose the 980 Pro for peace of mind; choose the S95 for maximum E18 performance per dollar.

### Is the Addlink S95 compatible with the PS5?

Yes. The S95 meets Sony's PS5 expansion requirements: PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280, with a rated read speed of 7,100 MB/s — well above the 5,500 MB/s recommended minimum. However, the S95 ships as a bare drive without a heatsink. The PS5 requires that the total assembly fit within 110 x 25 x 11.25 mm including the heatsink. You will need to purchase a PS5-compatible low-profile heatsink separately. Several third-party options are designed specifically to fit the PS5 expansion bay's tight clearance. Ensure the combined height of the drive plus heatsink does not exceed 11.25 mm.

### Is the 2 TB version faster than the 1 TB Addlink S95?

The S95 2 TB is rated at 7,100 MB/s read and 6,800 MB/s write — the full-speed ceiling of the Phison E18 platform. The 1 TB variant shares the same controller but the 6,800 MB/s write figure may represent the 2 TB's ceiling due to the additional NAND parallelism from more populated channels. In practice, the 2 TB model has the larger SLC write cache (roughly 300—350 GB vs 150—200 GB) and doubles the endurance to 1,400 TBW. For bursty workloads the two capacities feel identical; the 2 TB pulls ahead in sustained throughput and capacity headroom.

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Last updated: 2026-05-17. Source: https://ssdrive.net/addlink-s95-2-tb