The Vi550 S3 uses 3D NAND flash technology and a Phison controller — a combination that prioritises stability and consistent performance over headline-chasing specs. Read speeds reach up to 560MB/s and writes up to 460MB/s, which is more than adequate for snappy boot times, fast application launches, and responsive day-to-day computing. The write speed is slightly lower than some competing 256GB drives, but real-world performance for typical workloads won’t feel any different.

3D NAND — More Reliable Than Older Flash

The Vi550 uses the latest 3D NAND technology, offering an ideal way to upgrade from either a hard drive or an older SSD based on legacy 2D NAND. 3D NAND stacks memory cells vertically rather than spreading them flat, which improves density, endurance, and power efficiency compared to the older planar designs found in earlier-generation budget drives.

A Brand With Decades Behind It

Verbatim has been in the data storage business for over 50 years, with a reputation built on quality and reliability. The Vi550 S3 reflects that — it’s not the flashiest drive in the lineup, but it’s designed to be dependable, and it’s backed by a proper warranty rather than a bare-minimum guarantee.

S.M.A.R.T. Support

The Vi550 S3 supports S.M.A.R.T. health monitoring, giving your system and drive management tools visibility into drive condition over time — useful for catching early warning signs before they become data loss events.

SATA only — this is a 2.5″ SATA III drive, not NVMe. It will not fit an M.2 slot. Confirm your system has a 2.5″ SATA bay before ordering.

Write speed note — the 256GB Vi550 S3 is rated at 460MB/s write, which is slightly behind some competing drives at this capacity. For write-heavy workloads or primary OS use where sustained write performance matters, consider the Kingston KC600 256GB as an alternative.

TBW note — the 256GB Vi550 S3 is rated at 150TBW, consistent with most competing drives at this capacity, and covered by a 2-year limited warranty.

Key Highlights

• Capacity: 256GB
• Form Factor: 2.5″ (7mm height)
• Interface: SATA III (6Gb/s, Rev 3.2), backwards compatible with SATA 1.5Gb/s and 3Gb/s
• Sequential Read/Write: Up to 560 / 460 MB/s
• NAND: 3D NAND
• Controller: Phison
• S.M.A.R.T.: Supported
• TBW: 150TB
• Warranty: 2-year limited

Proudly sold by the Ringwood Digital Store.