# Lexar NM610 250GB NVMe SSD Review (2026)

The Lexar NM610 250GB is an entry-level PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD designed as a drop-in upgrade from SATA, offering 2,100 MB/s reads at a budget price point.

Quick answer: The Lexar NM610 250GB is a straightforward budget NVMe upgrade from SATA storage. It delivers the expected PCIe 3.0 entry-level performance without surprises. Buyers who plan to keep the drive beyond three years or want longer warranty coverage should step up to the Lexar NM620, which adds two more years of coverage and higher sequential speeds at a modest price increase. For a spare boot drive or a tight-budget build, the NM610 250GB does the job without unnecessary cost.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 250 GB |
| 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 | 125 TBW |
| MTBF | 1.5 |
| Warranty | 3 years |

## Performance

Lexar rates the NM610 250GB 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. These are the same rated speeds across all three NM610 capacities, which is unusual — most SSD lines scale writes upward with capacity.

Independent reviewers testing the 1TB model found real-world CrystalDiskMark results close to rated specs for sequential reads, though the NM610 lagged behind pricier NVMe drives in PCMark storage benchmarks. The 250GB model, with fewer NAND packages, is likely to show slightly lower sustained write performance once the SLC cache fills. For boot times, application launches, and general desktop responsiveness, the NM610 is a substantial upgrade over any SATA SSD. For heavy sustained writes or professional content creation, the gap to higher-tier drives becomes visible.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

The Lexar NM610 250GB carries a 125 TBW endurance rating with a three-year limited warranty. At a typical consumer workload of 20 to 40 GB per day, the endurance ceiling would take roughly 8 to 17 years to reach — well beyond the warranty period. The MTBF is rated at 1.5 million hours. The three-year warranty is shorter than the five-year coverage Lexar offers on the newer NM620, which is worth considering if warranty length is a priority.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- 2,100 MB/s reads — roughly 4x faster than SATA SSDs
- Single-sided M.2 2280 fits any compatible system
- Intel 64-layer 3D TLC for reliable flash
- Low power draw suits laptop upgrades
- NVMe 1.3 support with HMB
**Cons:**

- Only three-year warranty
- 1,600 MB/s writes — modest for NVMe
- 125 TBW endurance is low for TLC
- No included heatsink or management software


## Verdict

The Lexar NM610 250GB is a straightforward budget NVMe upgrade from SATA storage. It delivers the expected PCIe 3.0 entry-level performance without surprises. Buyers who plan to keep the drive beyond three years or want longer warranty coverage should step up to the Lexar NM620, which adds two more years of coverage and higher sequential speeds at a modest price increase. For a spare boot drive or a tight-budget build, the NM610 250GB does the job without unnecessary cost.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is the Lexar NM610 250GB good for gaming?

It handles game loading well enough, with 2,100 MB/s sequential reads and solid 4K random performance that beats any SATA SSD. The 250GB capacity limits you to the operating system plus two or three large AAA games. If you need more game storage, the 500GB or 1TB model is a better fit. For a boot drive that also holds a few titles, the NM610 250GB works.

### Does the Lexar NM610 250GB have DRAM cache?

No. The NM610 uses the Silicon Motion SM2263XT controller in a DRAM-less configuration. It relies on SLC caching and the NVMe Host Memory Buffer (HMB) feature to maintain mapping tables in system RAM. This is standard for entry-level NVMe drives and has minimal impact on everyday performance.

### What is the TBW endurance of the Lexar NM610 250GB?

The NM610 250GB is rated at 125 TBW (Terabytes Written), covered by a three-year limited warranty. At 20 to 40 GB of writes per day — typical for a desktop user — it would take 8 to 17 years to exhaust the endurance. Heavy users writing 100 GB per day would reach the limit in about 3.4 years.

### How does the Lexar NM610 compare to the Lexar NM620?

The NM620 is the direct successor. It uses a newer Lexar DM620 controller with Micron 96-layer TLC, supports NVMe 1.4 instead of 1.3, and offers faster sequential speeds (up to 3,300 MB/s reads versus 2,100 MB/s). The NM620 also carries a five-year warranty compared to the NM610's three years. If the price difference is small, the NM620 is the better pick on all fronts.

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

Yes. The NM610 is a single-sided M.2 2280 SSD, meaning all components sit on one side of the PCB. This ensures compatibility with virtually all laptops that have an M.2 NVMe slot, including thin-and-light models where double-sided drives may not fit.

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Last updated: 2026-05-23. Source: https://ssdrive.net/lexar-nm610-250-gb