Samsung Electronics has announced the start of sampling for its industry-first 256GB SD Express microSD card, which boasts impressive read speeds up to 800 megabytes per second (MB/s). Concurrently, the company has begun mass production of its 1-terabyte (TB) UHS-1 microSD card, utilizing its latest V-NAND technology. As a global leader in advanced memory technology, Samsung is setting its sights on meeting the increasing demands of future mobile computing and on-device AI with these advanced memory solutions.
The newly introduced SD Express microSD cards from Samsung represent a significant advancement in storage performance, with speeds substantially outpacing those of conventional UHS-1 interface-based cards, which were capped at 104MB/s. Leveraging the PCIe Gen3x1 interface and based on the SD 7.1 specification, the new SD Express model has achieved up to 800MB/s read speeds. This leap in performance, facilitated by enhanced firmware optimization and low-power design, places these cards in the realm of SSD-like speeds, yet in a diminutive form factor.
Samsung’s 256GB SD Express microSD card not only promises superior speeds that exceed those of SATA SSDs but also features Dynamic Thermal Guard (DTG) technology for optimal thermal management and consistent performance, even during extended use. Meanwhile, the 1TB UHS-1 microSD card encompasses Samsung’s 8th generation 1-terabit (Tb) V-NAND in a microSD package, boasting a high-capacity previously only attainable in SSD form factors. These cards come with robust protection against various environmental stressors, including water, extreme temperatures, and physical impacts, ensuring reliability in a wide spectrum of conditions.
The upcoming 256GB SD Express microSD will be available for purchase later in the year, while the 1TB UHS-1 microSD card is expected to hit the market in the third quarter. These advanced storage options might significantly enhance the capabilities of devices like the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, granting users unprecedented levels of storage and performance tailored to cope with the needs of modern and forward-looking applications.
It is important to note that while the actual usable capacity for these microSD cards may vary from their stated capacity, the benefits they bring to storage-intensive devices are undeniable. With such advancements in microSD card technology, Samsung continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in portable electronic devices.
