Imagine buying extra storage for your PS5… and then finding out that the storage itself costs more than the console it's meant to upgrade.

SanDisk has launched its PlayStation-licensed Optimus GX PRO 850P SSD, designed specifically for PS5 and PS5 Pro consoles . With capacities going all the way up to 8TB, it sounds like a dream for digital hoarders. But then you look at the price… and suddenly deleting games doesn't sound so bad.

Let's break down the numbers and whether this premium storage is actually worth it.

The Price Breakdown: KSH 400,000 for Storage

SanDisk's new Optimus GX PRO 850P SSD lineup comes in four capacities, with pricing that will make your wallet weep .

To put that in perspective, the 8TB model costs more than three PS5 Pro consoles . Even the 2TB model is more expensive than a standard PS5 with a disc drive . And the regular retail prices are even higher than the "discounted" launch prices .

What You're Actually Getting

To be fair, you're getting serious hardware . The Optimus GX PRO 850P offers:

• Massive Capacity: Up to 8TB can store roughly 200 games (based on an average install size of 36GB) .

• PCIe Gen4 Performance: Sequential read speeds up to 7,300 MB/s and write speeds up to 6,600 MB/s .

• Official PlayStation License: Tested and certified for PS5 and PS5 Pro .

• Custom Heatsink: Designed specifically for the PS5's M.2 expansion bay with PlayStation branding .

• 5-Year Limited Warranty .

The hardware is impressive. The question is whether you actually need to spend anywhere near that much to solve your storage problem.

The Smarter Alternative: WD_Black SN850P

This is where something like the WD_BLACK SN850P NVMe SSD makes a lot more sense .

Why It's a Better Choice:

• Officially Licensed for PS5: Just like the SanDisk drive .

• Integrated Heatsink: Designed for the PS5 M.2 slot .

• Same Gen4 Performance: Up to ~7,300 MB/s read and ~6,600 MB/s write speeds .

• Available in Practical Capacities: 1TB and 2TB options are widely available in Kenya .

• Far More Affordable: The WD_Black SN850P 2TB is priced around Ksh 28,000 in Kenya .

Here's the Kenyan pricing breakdown:

For the price of one 8TB SanDisk drive (Ksh 400,000), you could buy over 14 1TB WD_Black drives or one 2TB drive and spend the rest on games.

The Reality Check

Most of us don't need eight terabytes sitting inside the console. We just need enough space to stop deleting a game every time something new comes out.

Modern games are massive. One game can take up more than 100GB, then you've got updates, DLC, and suddenly your storage is fighting for its life . But for the vast majority of players, a 1TB or 2TB expansion is more than enough to keep a healthy rotation of games installed .

Our Take:

• Skip the 8TB: The price-to-value ratio is terrible. You can buy a PS5 Pro and multiple games for the same money.

• Consider the 1TB or 2TB: A WD_Black SN850P in 1TB or 2TB gives you the same performance at a fraction of the cost .

• Alternative Options: Lexar and other brands also offer PS5-compatible SSDs at competitive prices .

The Verdict

SanDisk's new Optimus GX PRO 850P SSD is a technical marvel. But at Ksh 400,000 for the 8TB model, it's a luxury item that very few players actually need.

For the average gamer, a 1TB or 2TB WD_Black SN850P will give you the storage you need with the same official licensing, heatsink, and performance without destroying your budget.

So here's the real question…

Would you spend Ksh 400,000 on 8TB of storage… or take a 1TB or 2TB WD_Black and spend the rest of that money on games?