A wave of counterfeit SSDs is hitting the market in 2026, and it traces back to the same chip squeeze that has already pushed up RAM and laptop prices this year. As manufacturers redirect NAND flash and DRAM production toward AI data-center demand, counterfeiters have moved in to fill the gap with fake or relabelled drives -- some good enough to pass a casual glance.
What's Actually Happening
Tom's Hardware has documented several waves of counterfeit Samsung 990 Pro drives showing up at retailers and in secondhand listings, some with convincing packaging that hides a completely different, much slower drive underneath. In one benchmarked case, a fake drive that looked identical to a genuine Samsung SSD ran at speeds closer to a basic USB 2.0 flash drive. Other counterfeits have gotten good enough to nearly match genuine performance, making them far harder to catch on sight (Tom's Hardware).
The free diagnostic tool CrystalDiskInfo responded by adding a fake-drive detector in its 9.9.0 release, which flags a drive when its PCI Vendor ID doesn't match its labelled brand -- a detail that's much harder for counterfeiters to fake than a sticker or a Windows device name (Tom's Hardware).
Why This Matters More When Buying Refurbished or Used
Any buyer picking up storage separately or a machine from an unfamiliar seller is exposed to this, but it's a bigger concern in the used laptop and desktop PC market specifically, since parts can change hands multiple times before reaching a buyer. A counterfeit or degraded drive slipped into a machine before resale is much harder to catch than one bought new and sealed, which is exactly why storage authenticity and health need to be verified at the point of refurbishment, not left to the buyer to discover later.
How to Check If a Drive Is Genuine
1. Run a free diagnostic tool
CrystalDiskInfo (Windows, free) reads the drive's controller and firmware information directly and will flag a mismatch against the labelled brand. It's the fastest first check on any machine, new or used.
2. Compare real-world speed against the spec sheet
A genuine NVMe SSD should perform close to its rated sequential read/write speed. A drive running dramatically slower than advertised, even if it shows the right model name in Windows, is a red flag.
3. Check the PCI Vendor ID, not just the label
Packaging and on-screen model names are easy to fake; the underlying controller identifier is not. This is the check CrystalDiskInfo now automates.
4. Buy from a seller who grades storage before listing it
The most reliable fix isn't a tool you run after the fact -- it's not having to run one, because the drive was verified before the listing went up.
How GetLikeNew Grades Storage Before Listing
Every refurbished laptop on GetLikeNew is graded Good or Fair before it's listed, and configurations are standardised at 256GB or 512GB SSD paired with 8GB or 16GB RAM, so what's advertised is what ships -- across our business and student ranges alike. Unboxed laptops and unboxed gaming laptops carry a 1-year brand warranty, refurbished laptops carry 6 months, and unboxed phones carry 6 months. We'd also flag that we don't stock or recommend Chromebooks or Celeron-based machines at any grade, since they're a poor fit for the kind of everyday multitasking most buyers actually need.
If a drive or any other component turns out defective, there are no change-of-mind returns, but genuine defects and transit damage are covered under our defect remedy (an unboxing video is required to claim it). There's also a buyback option: we'll repurchase a machine at 80% of its purchase price within 15 days if it's not working out for you. Orders above Rs 5,000 ship free, with 1-2 business days of processing and 7-10 business days for delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if an SSD is counterfeit?
Run a free tool like CrystalDiskInfo, which checks the drive's PCI Vendor ID and firmware against its labelled brand. You can also compare its real-world read/write speed to the manufacturer's rated spec -- a big gap is a warning sign even if the model name looks correct.
Does GetLikeNew check storage before selling a refurbished laptop?
Yes. Every refurbished laptop is graded Good or Fair before listing, with standardised 256GB/512GB SSD and 8GB/16GB RAM configurations, so the storage you see listed is what you receive.
What warranty applies if a refurbished laptop's SSD fails?
Refurbished laptops carry a 6-month warranty. Unboxed laptops, unboxed gaming laptops carry 1 year, and unboxed phones carry 6 months.
Can I return a laptop if I find a fake or faulty drive after unboxing?
There are no change-of-mind returns, but genuine defects and transit damage are covered through our defect remedy process, which requires an unboxing video. A buyback option is also available at 80% of the purchase price within 15 days of delivery.
Why are counterfeit SSDs becoming more common in 2026?
NAND flash and DRAM manufacturers have been shifting production capacity toward high-bandwidth memory for AI data centers, tightening supply of everyday consumer storage. That squeeze has created an opening for counterfeiters to sell relabelled or degraded drives at premium-brand prices.
