Kioxia EXCERIA Plus G4 Review
After looking closely at the spec sheet, performance class, and how this type of SSD fits into gaming and creator workloads, the EXCERIA Plus G4 stands out as a more balanced Gen5 option rather than an extreme flagship drive. It aims to give you next-gen storage speed without the usual drawbacks that make some early PCIe 5.0 SSDs harder to recommend for normal desktop builds.
In this review, I will break down its design, real-world use cases, strengths, limitations, and who should actually buy it.
Quick Overview about Kioxia EXCERIA Plus G4
Yes, the KIOXIA EXCERIA Plus G4 is worth buying if you want a fast PCIe 5.0 SSD that feels modern, runs efficiently, and makes more sense for a gaming or productivity PC than many overly aggressive Gen5 drives.
- Best for: Gamers, everyday power users, and creators who want strong Gen5 performance without chasing extreme benchmark records
- Main strength: Excellent balance of speed, thermals, efficiency, and usability
- Main weakness: It is not the fastest Gen5 SSD on the market, and some buyers may want clearer controller and DRAM details before purchasing
Product Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | KIOXIA EXCERIA Plus G4 |
| Capacities | 1TB, 2TB |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 |
| Interface | PCIe 5.0 x4 |
| Protocol | NVMe 2.0c |
| NAND Type | BiCS FLASH TLC |
| Max Sequential Read | Up to 10,000 MB/s |
| Max Sequential Write | Up to 7,900 MB/s (1TB), up to 8,200 MB/s (2TB) |
| Max Random Read | Up to 1,300,000 IOPS |
| Max Random Write | Up to 1,400,000 IOPS |
| Endurance | 600 TBW (1TB), 1,200 TBW (2TB) |
| MTTF | 1.5 million hours |
| Active Power | 5.3W typical |
| Warranty | Up to 5 years |
| Supported Features | TRIM, Idle Time Garbage Collection, Host Memory Buffer |
Design and Build Quality
The EXCERIA Plus G4 keeps things simple, and honestly, that works in its favor. This is a single-sided M.2 2280 drive with a slim profile that should fit easily in most modern desktops and laptops that support PCIe NVMe storage. It does not try to win people over with a flashy heatsink or gamer-heavy styling. Instead, it feels like a drive designed for builders who care more about compatibility and clean installation than cosmetic extras.
That matters more than many buyers realize. Some high-end Gen5 SSDs are bulky, run hot, or practically expect a large motherboard heatsink to stay comfortable under load. The EXCERIA Plus G4 looks like it was built with mainstream practicality in mind. For someone assembling a compact gaming PC or upgrading a work machine, that is a real advantage.
The low weight and thin design also make it suitable for laptops, though you still need to make sure your system supports PCIe 5.0 or at least has a compatible M.2 M-key slot.
Kioxia EXCERIA Plus G4 Performance
This is the section most buyers care about, and the good news is that the EXCERIA Plus G4 makes a strong case for itself.
In pure spec-sheet terms, the drive reaches up to 10,000 MB/s read and up to 8,200 MB/s write on the 2TB version. That already puts it in serious high-performance territory. In real usage, though, the more important question is how it feels when installed as your primary OS and game drive.
That is where this SSD makes sense. For boot times, game loading, large file transfers, application launches, and moving around heavy media assets, it should feel extremely quick. In a modern gaming desktop, this is the kind of drive that removes storage as a bottleneck for almost everything most users do day to day.
Read More: Kioxia Exceria Pro G2 1TB SSD
What I like here is that it does not seem to chase meaningless benchmark bragging rights at the expense of usability. There are faster Gen5 drives on paper, especially premium flagship models designed to dominate synthetic tests. But for real-world use, the EXCERIA Plus G4 sits in the sweet spot where performance is already more than enough for gaming, editing, multitasking, and heavy desktop workflows.
If your current system still uses an older PCIe 3.0 SSD, SATA SSD, or worse, a hard drive, the jump will feel massive. Even compared with strong PCIe 4.0 drives, the difference may not always transform every task, but large transfers and sustained workloads still benefit from the added headroom.
Gaming Performance
For gaming, this is a very attractive SSD. Modern games continue to grow in size, and open-world titles stream more assets than ever. A drive like this helps reduce level load times, texture pop-in, and the general sluggishness that cheaper storage can introduce in large games.
In practical terms, gamers are likely to notice:
- Faster game installs and updates
- Quicker launch times for large titles
- Smoother asset streaming in demanding games
- Better responsiveness when the drive is also handling background tasks
Independent testing also suggests it performs very well in gaming-oriented storage workloads, which supports the idea that this is a smart primary drive for gamers who want Gen5 without overspending on an extreme model.
Creator and Workstation Use
The EXCERIA Plus G4 is also a strong fit for video editors, photographers, and users who work with large project files. Moving raw footage, opening large Adobe project folders, exporting assets, and managing big game libraries are exactly the sort of jobs where fast NVMe storage helps keep the whole system feeling sharp.
For light to moderate creator work, the drive should be more than enough. For heavier professional users doing constant high-volume writes every day, there are still premium SSDs with more aggressive sustained performance tuning, but the Kioxia drive remains a very capable option for mixed workloads.
Features and Technology
The biggest story here is not just that this is a PCIe 5.0 SSD. It is how Kioxia appears to position it.
Rather than pushing insane power draw or requiring oversized cooling just to hit impressive benchmarks, the EXCERIA Plus G4 seems tuned for a better overall balance. That is important because many buyers do not actually need the absolute fastest Gen5 SSD. They need one that is fast, stable, efficient, and easy to live with.
Useful features include:
- BiCS FLASH TLC NAND for stronger long-term value than lower-tier QLC solutions
- NVMe 2.0c support for modern platform compatibility
- Host Memory Buffer support to improve efficiency and cache behavior
- TRIM and garbage collection support for healthier long-term maintenance
- 5-year warranty for better buyer confidence
One point worth mentioning honestly: buyers specifically searching for Kioxia Exceria Plus G4 DRAM details may notice that Kioxia markets this drive more around efficiency and performance balance than around a dedicated DRAM cache. If that is a deal-breaker for your workload, check retailer documentation carefully before buying.
Thermals, Power Consumption, and Noise
This is one of the most interesting parts of the drive.
Early Gen5 SSDs often came with a reputation for running too hot for comfort, especially in compact systems. The EXCERIA Plus G4 looks more sensible. Kioxia specifically talks about reduced heat generation and improved power efficiency, and that matters in real PC building.
With typical active power listed at 5.3W, this drive should be easier to cool than many of the more aggressive Gen5 options. That makes it a better fit for:
- Motherboards with standard built-in M.2 heatsinks
- Compact gaming PCs
- Laptops with proper Gen5 support
- Users who want Gen5 speeds without thermal drama
Since this is an SSD, there is no drive noise. The only thermal concern is whether your motherboard or laptop cooling is adequate. In a desktop with a normal M.2 heatsink, it should be a far easier drive to live with than some hotter flagship PCIe 5.0 models.
Real User Experience
If I were building around this SSD today, I would treat it as a premium daily driver rather than a benchmark trophy. That is the best way to understand it.
For example, imagine using the 2TB model in a gaming rig with Windows installed, a few large modern games, Adobe apps, and a folder full of video assets. This is exactly the kind of setup where the EXCERIA Plus G4 makes sense. The system should boot quickly, apps should open fast, game installs should move along nicely, and large file copies should feel properly high-end.
What stands out most is the lack of obvious compromise for typical users. You are not giving up mainstream practicality just to say you own a Gen5 SSD. That is a big plus.
At the same time, I would be honest with buyers: if you already own a high-end PCIe 4.0 drive such as a Samsung 990 Pro or WD Black SN850X, the day-to-day difference may not feel dramatic in every task. This is a stronger upgrade for users coming from older storage or building a new machine from scratch.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Very fast real-world performance for gaming and everyday high-end use
- PCIe 5.0 support without the usual thermal excess
- Strong 2TB option for modern game libraries and creator work
- TLC NAND is a plus for buyers who care about better storage quality
- Good endurance ratings and 5-year warranty
- Compact, practical design for desktops and many laptops
Cons
- Not the absolute fastest Gen5 SSD available
- Real-world gains over top PCIe 4.0 drives may be smaller than expected for some users
- DRAM details are not a major headline feature in its marketing
- Availability and pricing may vary by region
Comparison With Competitors
KIOXIA EXCERIA Plus G4 vs WD Black SN850X
The WD Black SN850X remains one of the easiest SSDs to recommend for pure gaming value. It is a PCIe 4.0 drive, but it is still extremely quick and widely trusted. If the WD drive is much cheaper in your market, it may offer better value for gamers who do not specifically need Gen5.
The EXCERIA Plus G4 has the advantage in interface generation and headline sequential speed. It also feels more future-facing. If you are building a fresh AM5 or Intel system with Gen5 support, Kioxia makes more sense as the longer-term choice.
KIOXIA EXCERIA Plus G4 vs Samsung 990 Pro
The Samsung 990 Pro is still one of the best premium PCIe 4.0 SSDs around, with proven performance and strong software support. It is a very safe buy. However, the EXCERIA Plus G4 gives you Gen5 capability and higher top-end sequential throughput.
If price is similar, I would lean toward the EXCERIA Plus G4 for a new Gen5-ready build. If the Samsung model is notably cheaper, it stays a very strong alternative that will still feel excellent for gaming and productivity.
Who Should Buy This?
- Buy it if you are a gamer building a new mid-range or high-end PC and want fast, modern storage without paying extra for a flagship Gen5 monster
- Buy it if you are a creator handling large files, game captures, or editing workloads and want a responsive SSD with strong transfer speed
- Buy it if you are upgrading from SATA or PCIe 3.0 because the jump will feel substantial
- Skip it if you already own a top-end PCIe 4.0 SSD and were hoping for a huge everyday difference
- Skip it if you only care about the fastest benchmark numbers because more aggressive Gen5 drives still exist above it
Conclusion
The KIOXIA EXCERIA Plus G4 gets the important things right. It offers the speed people expect from a modern PCIe 5.0 SSD, but it does so in a way that feels practical rather than excessive. That alone makes it easier to recommend than some Gen5 drives that push huge numbers but come with more heat, more cost, or less balance.
For gamers, PC builders, and tech users who want a premium SSD that feels fast in the real world, the EXCERIA Plus G4 is a smart option. It is not trying to be the most extreme drive in the category. It is trying to be one of the most sensible. For many buyers, that is exactly why it is worth a serious look.
Bottom line: If the price is competitive in your region, the EXCERIA Plus G4 is a very solid Gen5 SSD buy in 2026.
FAQ
Is the KIOXIA EXCERIA Plus G4 good for gaming?
Yes. It is a strong gaming SSD with fast load times, quick installs, and enough performance for large modern titles.
Is KIOXIA EXCERIA Plus G4 a PCIe 5.0 SSD?
Yes. It uses a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface and supports NVMe 2.0c.
What is the maximum speed of the KIOXIA EXCERIA Plus G4?
It offers up to 10,000 MB/s sequential read and up to 8,200 MB/s sequential write on the 2TB version.
Does the KIOXIA EXCERIA Plus G4 come in 2TB?
Yes. It is available in both 1TB and 2TB capacities.
Is the KIOXIA EXCERIA Plus G4 worth upgrading to from a PCIe 4.0 SSD?
It depends. If you already own a high-end PCIe 4.0 SSD, the upgrade may not feel huge in daily use. It makes more sense for new builds or older SSD upgrades.
Does the KIOXIA EXCERIA Plus G4 run hot?
It appears more efficient than many early Gen5 SSDs, so thermals should be easier to manage with a standard motherboard heatsink.
How long is the warranty?
Kioxia offers up to a 5-year manufacturer warranty.
Is this SSD good for video editing?
Yes. It is well-suited for large file transfers, editing projects, and general creator workloads.
