Testing the new Crucial MX500 500GB SSD showed that the evolution of the TLC-based MX series is a worthy option to consider in case you are seeking to buy a new SATA SSD.

Crucial has managed to refine their new 3D TLC NAND technology and fine-tune SMI controllers in order to take the most out of the new type of memory, while also leaving the write slowing issues met in some TLC SSDs behind.

The MX500 500GB SSD is offering a solid performance in the 400/500MB write ranges, matching the figures we had previously measured with the BX300 1TB model, and leaving - in some cases - the Samsung 850 EVO SSD behind. However, Samsung has refined both their controller and their NAND, and we expect the 860 EVO to improve over the 850 EVO in both performance and power consumption, posing a good competitor to the MX500.

In addition, the drive comes with decent write endurance levels, and the warranty matches Samsung's SSDs.

Everything is relative to pricing, and the MX500 500GB offers a value at it's best. It is priced to beat all the other SATA SSDs using 64L 3D NAND, and it more or less matches the older and slower models that are still available. The MX500 is one of the cheapest SSDs on the market, and it offers real-world performance very close to the Samsung 850 EVO. The drive has a lot to offer in terms of performance, features, package and reliability, if you are still looking for a SATA SSD for your next upgrade.