The Samsung 870 EVO 2TB is the objective winner of this comparison, securing more individual specification victories than its competitor. While both drives share several identical performance metrics, the Samsung 870 EVO 2TB holds a significant lead in long-term reliability. Its most impactful advantage is a 71% higher endurance rating in terms of total bytes written, which provides a substantial benefit for users who prioritize drive longevity and write-heavy workloads over other considerations.

The Crucial MX500 2TB is the better choice for budget-conscious buyers, as it offers a 23% advantage in MSRP compared to the Samsung 870 EVO 2TB. Conversely, the Samsung 870 EVO 2TB is the superior option for power users or professionals who require the highest possible endurance for their storage solution. Choosing between these two drives depends entirely on whether your priority is minimizing initial costs or maximizing the total write capacity over the life of the hardware.