Lexar PLAY 2230
The Essential Upgrade for Steam Deck & ROG Ally
Compact Powerhouse | Steam Deck Ready | 5200 MB/s Speed
Introduction
If you are running out of space on your Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, or Surface Pro, the Lexar PLAY 2230 is built specifically for you. While most SSDs are long "sticks" (2280) designed for desktops, this drive uses the compact M.2 2230 form factor, making it the perfect drop-in upgrade for handheld gaming PCs and ultra-thin laptops.
As a PCIe Gen 4.0 drive, it offers a significant speed jump over older Gen 3 options found in many budget laptops. It sits comfortably in the "mid-range" of the Gen 4 market—fast enough for modern gaming but optimized for power efficiency and value rather than breaking world speed records.
Product Overview
The defining feature of this drive is its M.2 2230 form factor (30mm length), which is significantly smaller than the standard M.2 2280 drives used in desktop PCs. It utilizes the Silicon Motion SM2269XT controller paired with high-quality Micron 176-layer 3D TLC NAND. This is a crucial detail: unlike cheaper drives that use QLC NAND (which wears out faster and is slower), the use of TLC ensures better long-term reliability and sustained performance during large game installs.
Performance & "Real World" Speed
The Lexar PLAY 2230 is rated for sequential speeds of up to 5,200 MB/s read and 4,700 MB/s write.
Gaming: In real-world terms, this speed is more than sufficient to saturate the bus of the Steam Deck (which is limited to Gen 3 speeds anyway) and offers snappy load times on the Gen 4-enabled ROG Ally.
Daily Use: For Windows booting and file transfers, it feels instantaneous. While it doesn't hit the 7,000+ MB/s of flagship desktop drives, you likely won't notice the difference unless you are transferring hundreds of gigabytes of 4K video footage daily.
Thermal Management
Heat is a major factor for Gen 4 drives, especially in cramped handheld shells. The Lexar PLAY 2230 is designed to run relatively cool, but it does not come with a pre-installed heatsink due to space constraints in devices like the Steam Deck.
Handhelds: It relies on the device's internal thermal shielding (like the EMI foil in the Steam Deck) for cooling.
Desktops: If you install this in a desktop PC using an extender, you should ensure your motherboard's M.2 slot has a thermal pad or heatsink to maintain peak performance during long write sessions.
Compatibility: PC, PS5 & Consoles
PlayStation 5: This drive IS compatible with the PS5, as the console accepts M.2 2230 drives. However, there are two critical caveats: you will need an adapter bracket to extend it to 2280 or 22110 size for the mounting screw, and a heatsink is mandatory for safe operation. Note that its 5,200 MB/s speed is slightly below Sony's recommended 5,500 MB/s, though most games will run without issues.
Xbox Series X/S: This drive is NOT compatible with the internal storage expansion slot of the Xbox Series X or S, which requires proprietary expansion cards.
PC & Laptops: Fully compatible with any motherboard taking M.2 NVMe drives. Ideally suited for Microsoft Surface Pros (Pro 7+, 8, 9, X) and Dell XPS 13 models that require the shorter 2230 drives.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros:
Perfect Fit: Ideal form factor for Valve Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go.
TLC Reliability: Uses durable 3D TLC NAND instead of cheaper QLC found in some competitors.
Efficiency: Designed for low power consumption, which is vital for battery life in handhelds.
Cons:
DRAM-less: Like most 2230 drives, it lacks a dedicated DRAM cache (uses HMB), which can slightly impact sustained heavy write performance.
Capacity limits: Currently maxes out at 1TB, whereas some 2280 drives go up to 4TB or 8TB.
PS5 Fussiness: Requires extra hardware (adapter/heatsink) to fit properly in a console.
Verdict: Should You Buy It?
Buy this if: You own a Steam Deck, ROG Ally, or Surface Pro and need a reliable, high-capacity 1TB upgrade. It strikes an excellent balance between price, performance, and power efficiency, making it one of the best value upgrades for the handheld market.
Skip this if: You are building a high-end desktop PC or upgrading a PS5. For these standard slots, you should buy a dedicated 2280 drive like the Lexar NM790 or Samsung 990 Pro, which offer faster speeds (7,400+ MB/s), better heat dissipation, and easier installation without adapters.
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