The Samsung 990 Pro 4TB is the objective winner of this comparison, securing four out of six total specification victories. Its most impactful advantage is its sequential write speed, which outperforms the alternative by 1253%. While the Crucial MX500 1TB remains competitive in one specific area and ties in another, it cannot match the high-performance capabilities demonstrated by the Samsung 990 Pro 4TB across the majority of the measured technical categories.

Users prioritizing maximum storage capacity and superior sequential write performance should choose the Samsung 990 Pro 4TB for their system. Conversely, those focused on budget efficiency should select the Crucial MX500 1TB, as it offers an 84% better MSRP. This choice depends entirely on whether the user requires the significant speed and capacity gains provided by the Samsung drive or the cost-saving advantage offered by the Crucial alternative.