# Apacer AS2280F4 4 TB: maximum capacity with active cooling (2026)

The Apacer AS2280F4 4 TB is the top-capacity model in the AS2280F4 lineup, pairing the Phison PS5026-E26 controller with Micron 232-layer TLC NAND on a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface and delivering 3,000 TBW rated endurance.

Quick answer: The Apacer AS2280F4 4 TB makes a strong case as the top-capacity Phison E26 drive for power users and content creators who need both volume and endurance. The 3,000 TBW rating exceeds competing 4 TB PCIe 5.0 options including the Crucial T705 4 TB (2,400 TBW), the bundled active-cooling heatsink addresses the E26's thermal sensitivity directly, and the 5-year warranty covers it well beyond any realistic daily write workload.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 4 TB |
| Interface | M.2 5.0 |
| Controller | Phison PS5026-E26 8 Channel |
| Memory type | Micron 232-L TLC |
| DRAM cache | Yes |
| Sequential read | 12000 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 11800 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 1400000 |
| Random write IOPS | 1400000 |
| Endurance | 3000 TBW |
| MTBF | 1600000 |
| Warranty | 5 years |

## Performance

The Apacer AS2280F4 4 TB is rated at 12,000 MB/s sequential reads and 11,800 MB/s sequential writes over PCIe 5.0 x4. Random performance is rated at 1,400,000 IOPS for both 4K read and 4K write at appropriate queue depth.

The 4 TB capacity benefits directly from higher NAND die parallelism compared to the 1 TB and 2 TB models. With all eight E26 channels fully loaded, the controller can stripe writes across more dies simultaneously, resulting in a larger dynamic SLC write cache and better-sustained out-of-cache write performance. In practical terms, this means the 4 TB model maintains its rated write speed across longer continuous write sessions before TLC write penalties become visible — an important advantage for video capture workflows or large file transfers that would exhaust the SLC buffer on a 1 TB or 2 TB drive.

Sequential read at 12,000 MB/s places the AS2280F4 4 TB within the first generation of Phison E26 performance range. Apacer's product page lists a 12,400 MB/s headline figure for the lineup, which may reflect the 4 TB's higher parallelism at a specific queue depth — in either case the bandwidth exceeds what any PCIe 4.0 drive can deliver and provides headroom for DirectStorage-enabled game titles and GPU-direct asset streaming pipelines. The 1,400,000 IOPS random read figure is appropriate for mixed desktop workloads including NLE project opens, database queries, and concurrent application access.

Thermal management is directly relevant at 4 TB. The active-cooling heatsink that ships with the drive helps maintain the E26 below its throttle threshold, preserving the rated 11,800 MB/s write speed for longer sustained runs than passive designs on competing drives.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

Apacer covers the AS2280F4 with a 5-year global warranty. The 4 TB model carries a rated endurance of 3,000 TBW — the total cumulative write budget before warranty coverage expires. Coverage ends at whichever threshold arrives first: the 5-year time limit or 3,000 TBW of cumulative writes.

At a daily write rate of 50 GB — a realistic figure for a content creator actively editing and exporting — reaching 3,000 TBW on the 4 TB model would take approximately 164 years, so the 5-year warranty clock will expire long before the endurance limit becomes relevant. Even at 500 GB per day of sustained writes, a figure that represents heavy professional video encoding or continuous data ingestion, the drive would reach its TBW limit in roughly 16 years. Only workloads sustaining 1,500 GB of writes or more every day would approach the 3,000 TBW boundary within a 5-year period. This positions the AS2280F4 4 TB's endurance coverage as effectively unconditional for any consumer or prosumer use case. Warranty service is handled through Apacer's regional authorised support network.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- 3,000 TBW endurance — highest in the AS2280F4 lineup and above Crucial T705 4TB
- 12,000 MB/s sequential reads on PCIe 5.0 x4
- 11,800 MB/s sequential writes rated at 4TB capacity
- Maximum NAND die parallelism: larger SLC cache and better sustained writes than 1TB/2TB siblings
- Phison PS5026-E26 with LPDDR4 DRAM cache
- Bundled active-cooling heatsink with integrated fan
- 5-year global warranty
**Cons:**

- Requires a PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slot — no speed advantage on Gen4 or Gen3 platforms
- Active fan adds noise compared to passive designs
- 4TB capacity means double-sided PCB — check motherboard clearance for nearby components
- Early-generation E26 firmware maturity — check for latest firmware before deployment
- Premium price tier versus PCIe 4.0 alternatives at 4TB


## Verdict

The Apacer AS2280F4 4 TB makes a strong case as the top-capacity Phison E26 drive for power users and content creators who need both volume and endurance. The 3,000 TBW rating exceeds competing 4 TB PCIe 5.0 options including the Crucial T705 4 TB (2,400 TBW), the bundled active-cooling heatsink addresses the E26's thermal sensitivity directly, and the 5-year warranty covers it well beyond any realistic daily write workload.

Buy it if you need 4 TB of fast NVMe storage on a PCIe 5.0 platform, regularly write large volumes of data, and want the highest rated endurance at this capacity in the Gen5 tier. Creative professionals consolidating project storage onto a single high-capacity NVMe will find the performance-to-TBW ratio unusually favourable here.

Skip it if your motherboard only supports PCIe 4.0 — the WD Black SN850X 4 TB delivers strong Gen4 performance at lower cost, and none of the AS2280F4's bandwidth advantage transfers to a Gen4 slot. Users with lighter workloads who do not need 4 TB should consider the AS2280F4 1 TB or 2 TB instead.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the TBW endurance of the Apacer AS2280F4 4 TB?

The Apacer AS2280F4 4 TB is rated at 3,000 TBW (terabytes written), confirmed from Apacer's official consumer TBW document. This is the highest endurance in the AS2280F4 lineup: the 2 TB carries 1,400 TBW and the 1 TB carries 700 TBW. For comparison, the Crucial T705 4 TB — a direct PCIe 5.0 competitor — is rated at 2,400 TBW, making the AS2280F4 4 TB the stronger choice on endurance alone. At 50 GB of writes per day, reaching 3,000 TBW would take roughly 164 years, so the 5-year warranty expires long before the endurance limit for any realistic use case.

### How does the 4 TB AS2280F4 perform compared to the 1 TB and 2 TB models?

All three capacities use the same Phison PS5026-E26 controller and Micron 232-layer TLC NAND, with rated read and write speeds of 12,000 MB/s and 11,800 MB/s across the lineup. The key difference is NAND die count: the 4 TB populates all eight E26 channels at full die density, giving it the largest dynamic SLC write cache and the best sustained write performance of the three. This matters most for workflows that write hundreds of gigabytes in a continuous session — video export, large file transfers, disk imaging. For gaming and OS use the difference between capacities is negligible since workloads rarely exhaust the SLC buffer. The 4 TB also carries the highest TBW at 3,000, versus 1,400 for the 2 TB and 700 for the 1 TB.

### Does the Apacer AS2280F4 4 TB come with a heatsink?

Yes. The AS2280F4 4 TB ships with an active-cooling heatsink that combines high-conductivity aluminium fins with an integrated mini-fan. Apacer rates this design at up to 25% lower operating temperatures compared to passive heatsink alternatives. This is directly relevant to the Phison E26 controller, which generates more heat than typical Gen4 controllers and can throttle under sustained write loads when temperatures climb. The included active cooler helps maintain the E26 below its thermal throttle threshold during extended sequential write operations, preserving the rated 11,800 MB/s write performance for longer than a passive solution would. Most competing 4 TB PCIe 5.0 drives include only passive heatsinks.

### Does the Apacer AS2280F4 4 TB work in a PCIe 4.0 slot?

Yes, the AS2280F4 is backward-compatible with PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 3.0 M.2 slots. However, the link speed caps at the slot's maximum: approximately 7,000 MB/s on a PCIe 4.0 x4 slot, or 3,500 MB/s on PCIe 3.0 x4. None of the drive's 12,000 MB/s read or 11,800 MB/s write rating is accessible on a Gen4 platform. If your motherboard supports only PCIe 4.0, a similarly-priced PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive — such as the WD Black SN850X 4 TB — delivers equivalent real-world throughput at a lower cost and is a better fit.

### How does the Apacer AS2280F4 4 TB compare to the Crucial T705 4 TB?

Both are PCIe 5.0 x4 drives using Micron 232-layer TLC NAND, but they differ in rated performance and endurance. The Crucial T705 4 TB is rated at 14,100 MB/s reads and 12,600 MB/s writes with 1,800,000 write IOPS — higher peak figures than the AS2280F4's 12,000/11,800 MB/s and 1,400,000 IOPS. However, the T705 4 TB carries 2,400 TBW versus the AS2280F4's 3,000 TBW, giving the Apacer a significant endurance advantage. Both include active cooling. The T705 is the better pick if peak sequential bandwidth is the priority; the AS2280F4 4 TB is the better pick if rated endurance and TBW margin are the deciding factors.

### What NAND memory does the Apacer AS2280F4 4 TB use?

The AS2280F4 uses Micron 232-layer TLC NAND, known internally as the B58R die. This is the same NAND found in the Crucial T705, as both are Micron-based products leveraging Micron's third-generation 3D NAND stack. At 232 layers, the B58R achieves higher density per die than earlier 176-layer and 128-layer Micron NAND, allowing 4 TB to fit within the M.2 2280 double-sided form factor. TLC NAND writes data in three bits per cell, which is the standard for high-capacity consumer drives balancing performance, cost, and endurance against the lower write cycles of QLC designs.

### What is the warranty on the Apacer AS2280F4 4 TB?

The AS2280F4 carries a 5-year global warranty. The 4 TB model's warranty is subject to a 3,000 TBW endurance limit — coverage expires at whichever threshold arrives first: five years from purchase or 3,000 TBW of cumulative writes. For reference, reaching 3,000 TBW at 50 GB per day of writes would take approximately 164 years, so the time limit is the relevant boundary for virtually all buyers. An earlier database entry listed a 3-year warranty; the correct manufacturer-stated term is 5 years for all AS2280F4 capacities.

### Is the Apacer AS2280F4 4 TB suitable for video editing?

Yes, it is one of the better-suited drives at this tier for sustained video workloads. The 4 TB capacity means all eight Phison E26 channels carry maximum NAND die density, which produces the largest SLC write cache in the lineup and the best sustained write throughput before TLC write penalties appear. This matters when exporting long-form video projects — a 1 TB or 2 TB Phison E26 drive exhausts its SLC cache faster and shows a more pronounced throughput drop during sustained writes. The 3,000 TBW endurance rating is also appropriate for editors who write heavily on a daily basis. The bundled active-cooling heatsink helps sustain performance during extended export sessions.

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Last updated: 2026-08-17. Source: https://ssdrive.net/apacer-as2280f4-4-tb