The Kioxia Exceria Pro G2 arrives with a compelling hardware configuration, featuring Silicon Motion's SM2508 controller and Kioxia's own 218-layer BiCS8 TLC NAND. This combination promises high performance, with rated speeds of 14,900 MB/s sustained read and 13,400 MB/s sustained write. The drive also boasts a 1,200 TBW endurance rating and a five-year warranty, all packed into a single-sided M.2-2280 form factor.

A Challenging Market for SSDs

Reviewing storage hardware has become increasingly difficult due to volatile pricing, inconsistent component revisions, and manufacturers withdrawing review samples amidst challenging market conditions. Kioxia's decision to launch and provide review units for the Exceria Pro G2 in this environment is a notable move, earning respect for its commitment.

Performance Metrics

While the hardware specifications are impressive, the real-world performance of the Exceria Pro G2, particularly in benchmarks like 3DMark Storage, falls short of some contemporaries. In 3DMark, it recorded significantly lower scores and bandwidth compared to drives like the Kingston Fury Renegade G5, with performance more aligned with older models using the same NAND. Sequential speeds reach respectable figures of approximately 14.7 GB/s read and 13.3 GB/s write, and random 4K performance is rated at 90 MB/s read and 311 MB/s write. However, these numbers are not as strong as those achieved by predecessors like the SanDisk WD Black SN8100.

The drive's performance in game load times, specifically tested with Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers, is also a point of concern. The Exceria Pro G2 logged a total load time of 8.332 seconds, placing it among the slower drives tested and notably behind the SN8100, which completed the same test in 6.575 seconds.

Pricing and Availability

Pricing for the Exceria Pro G2 has been inconsistent, with availability issues exacerbating the situation. While listed at £350 in the UK for pre-order, US resellers have priced it as high as $750, a significant markup. This scarcity suggests that the high-end components used in these drives may be in short supply, potentially impacting performance due to less selective binning or the use of available rather than top-tier NAND.

Conclusion

The Kioxia Exceria Pro G2 is a solid, dependable SSD that performs adequately in most tasks. Its strength lies in its availability, a rare commodity in the current SSD market, and its PCIe 5.0 sequential speeds. While it does not match the peak performance of some older high-end drives, its launch in the current climate is commendable. For users needing a capable PCIe 5.0 SSD, the Exceria Pro G2 is a viable option, especially if found at a reasonable price, though it falls short of the performance benchmarks set by its predecessors.