Revolutionary Mini SSDs: Gaming Handhelds' Next Big Thing
In recent developments, Nintendo has spearheaded the push for advanced storage technology by mandating the use of the microSD Express standard in their latest Switch 2 console. This move thrusts the microSD Express into the limelight, a specification introduced in 2019 but had remained largely underutilized. The standard's revival comes on the back of needs for heightened performance akin to internal SSDs, essential for seamless gaming experiences across platforms like PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S and X, and modern PCs.
The narrative surrounding fast, removable storage expands further with Biwin's introduction of the Mini SSD. Reported by The Verge, this innovative card packs a punch with read speeds reaching up to 3,700MB per second, benefitting from a dual-lane PCIe 4.0 interface. Contrasting with contemporary storage cards peaking around 900MB per second, Biwin’s efforts set a new precedent for gaming portables.
First showcased in March, the Mini SSD leverages LGA packaging technology to embed NAND chips and an SSD controller into a compact form factor. These are designed to be inserted into devices via small metal trays similar to a SIM card insertion. Noteworthy gaming portables like the GPD Win 5 and OneXPlayer Super X are already advertising compatibility with these cards, offering storage sizes between 500GB and 2TB.
While the Mini SSD has yet to achieve official standardization, its conceptualization addresses crucial challenges for portable gaming systems – rapidly loading content with the simplicity of easy swaps, thereby eliminating the cumbersome task of dismantling devices for upgrades.
An analysis by TechSpot highlights the rising game sizes over the past decade, citing advancements in graphics and comprehensive localization as factors behind this growth. For instance, titles like The Last of Us Part 1 and Cyberpunk 2077 see inflated storage sizes due in part to extensive audio files and multilingual support. This trend solidifies the demand for faster, more accessible storage solutions that Mini SSDs promise to fulfill.
