Performance: 37 out of 40.
Under normal circumstances potential buyers of the M.2 version of the MX500 can expect a drive that acts just like the 2.5-inch version. That is to say very good for a SATA based device. However, if your system has above average cooling for its M.2 slot(s) this variant can actually run a smidgen faster. It still will not be ‘NVMe fast’ but every little bit does help.
Technological Innovation: 16 out of 20
Once again Crucial is pushing the boundaries and while we would love to see this NAND in a NVMe drive there is no denying it is extremely fast for its class. This really is a nice model that more than justifies using a M.2 slot instead of a SATA port.
Build Quality & Warranty: 18 out of 20
While some will be less than enthused with the use of TLC instead MLC this NAND does run cool and we have zero hesitations over using the M.2 variant even in a cooling restricted environment… just as we would have no qualms about using the 2.5-inch MX500. Mix in a five-year warranty with generous Total Bytes Written specification and few will find it wanting in either area.
Value: 19 out of 20
The Crucial always has been the value trendsetter for the rest of the market and the MX500 M.2 1TB shows exactly how they keep this sterling reputation. The combination of good performance, good build quality with an excellent warranty really is a winning one.
Final Score: 89 out of 100
We are not fans of M.2 SATA based devices and yet the MX500 M.2 variant is the exception that proves the rule. This drive is perfectly suited for numerous builds and the fact that you can actually get it slightly cheaper than the 2.5-inch version makes it a veritable no-brainer.
