# Lexar NM610 1TB NVMe SSD Review (2026)

The Lexar NM610 1TB pairs Intel 3D TLC NAND with the Silicon Motion SM2263XT controller to deliver budget NVMe storage with 500 TBW endurance — enough capacity and durability for a boot drive plus a healthy game library.

Quick answer: The Lexar NM610 1TB is a budget NVMe SSD that delivers on its promises — 2,100 MB/s reads, 500 TBW endurance, and enough capacity for a full system plus game library at a competitive price. The three-year warranty is the main compromise versus the newer NM620 1TB, which offers faster speeds and five-year coverage for a modest premium. Buyers prioritizing capacity per dollar over warranty length will find the NM610 a practical pick; those planning to keep the drive for five or more years should spend the extra on the NM620.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 1 TB |
| Interface | M.2 3.0 x 4 |
| Controller | Silicon Motion SM2263XT |
| Memory type | Intel TLC |
| DRAM cache | HMB |
| Sequential read | 2100 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 1600 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 188000 |
| Random write IOPS | 156000 |
| Endurance | 500 TBW |
| MTBF | 1.5 |
| Warranty | 3 years |

## Performance

Lexar rates the NM610 1TB at up to 2,100 MB/s sequential reads and 1,600 MB/s sequential writes, with 188,000 read IOPS and 156,000 write IOPS. eTeknix's testing of the 1TB model found sequential speeds close to the rated figures, with reads hitting 2,100 MB/s and writes approaching 1,600 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark.

In PCMark 8 and PCMark 10 storage benchmarks, the NM610 1TB landed in the middle of the budget NVMe pack — ahead of SATA drives by a wide margin but behind higher-end NVMe models. The SM2263XT controller delivers consistent if unspectacular performance for everyday workloads. The SLC cache on the 1TB model is generous enough to handle typical desktop write bursts without cache eviction. For sustained large-file transfers, expect speeds to settle to native TLC levels after the cache fills.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

The NM610 1TB carries a 500 TBW endurance rating backed by a three-year limited warranty. At 0.46 drive writes per day, this translates to writing roughly 460 GB per day, every day, for three years before hitting the endurance ceiling. A typical consumer writing 20 to 50 GB per day would take 27 to 68 years to exhaust the TBW. The drive carries a 1.5 million hour MTBF rating. The three-year warranty is shorter than the five-year coverage Lexar offers on the successor NM620.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- 2,100 MB/s reads, 1,600 MB/s writes on PCIe 3.0
- 500 TBW endurance with Intel 3D TLC
- Single-sided M.2 2280 fits slim laptops
- Larger SLC cache than smaller NM610 capacities
- Low power consumption for laptop use
**Cons:**

- Only three-year warranty
- Trails pricier NVMe drives in real-world benchmarks
- DRAM-less SM2263XT limits heavy-workload performance
- No bundled software or heatsink


## Verdict

The Lexar NM610 1TB is a budget NVMe SSD that delivers on its promises — 2,100 MB/s reads, 500 TBW endurance, and enough capacity for a full system plus game library at a competitive price. The three-year warranty is the main compromise versus the newer NM620 1TB, which offers faster speeds and five-year coverage for a modest premium. Buyers prioritizing capacity per dollar over warranty length will find the NM610 a practical pick; those planning to keep the drive for five or more years should spend the extra on the NM620.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is the Lexar NM610 1TB good for gaming?

Yes. The 2,100 MB/s reads and 156K write IOPS handle game loading comfortably, and the 1TB capacity fits a full OS installation plus a large game library. It is a clear upgrade over SATA SSDs for game load times. For competitive gaming or heavy productivity workloads, higher-end NVMe drives offer better sustained performance, but the difference in game load times is marginal.

### Does the Lexar NM610 1TB have DRAM cache?

No. The NM610 uses a DRAM-less Silicon Motion SM2263XT controller that relies on the NVMe Host Memory Buffer (HMB) protocol to store flash mapping data in a small portion of system RAM. This is a cost-saving measure common to entry-level NVMe drives and has minimal impact on everyday consumer workloads.

### What is the TBW endurance of the Lexar NM610 1TB?

The NM610 1TB is rated at 500 TBW (Terabytes Written), covered by a three-year limited warranty. This works out to approximately 460 GB of writes per day over the warranty period. At a typical consumer workload of 20 to 50 GB per day, the drive would take 27 to 68 years to exhaust its endurance rating.

### How does the Lexar NM610 1TB compare to the WD Blue SN550 1TB?

Both are budget PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs with DRAM-less designs. The SN550 1TB offers slightly higher rated write speeds (1,750 MB/s versus 1,600 MB/s), higher endurance (600 TBW versus 500 TBW), and a five-year warranty versus the NM610's three years. The NM610 typically sells for less. If warranty and endurance matter, the SN550 has the edge; for pure value, the NM610 is competitive.

### Does the Lexar NM610 1TB work in a laptop?

Yes. The NM610 1TB uses a single-sided M.2 2280 PCB with components on only one side. This makes it compatible with virtually all laptops that have an M.2 NVMe slot, including thin-and-light models with limited clearance above the SSD bay.

### Is the Lexar NM610 1TB good for video editing?

For light video editing, it works. The 1TB capacity and 2,100 MB/s reads handle scrubbing through timeline footage and loading project files faster than SATA. However, the 1,600 MB/s write ceiling and DRAM-less controller mean sustained writes of large video files will slow down once the SLC cache fills. Professional video editors working with 4K footage should consider a higher-end NVMe drive with DRAM cache and faster sustained writes.

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Last updated: 2026-05-23. Source: https://ssdrive.net/lexar-nm610-1-tb