For approximately two decades, traditional microSD cards were the choice of choice for portable devices such as mobile phones and mobile consoles.
However, the evolution of storage solutions has led to the development of Microsd Express, progress compared to its predecessor.
While the microSD and microSD express cards appear the same, their specifications and applications differ. You may be wondering why you have not heard of microSD Express – it is because technology is not only relatively new, but that its adoption has been quite slow.
MicroSD express vs microSD card – bases
MicroSD Express is an advanced version of microSD which uses PCIe and NVME interfaces similar to high -end SSD storage solutions to reach much faster transfer speeds up to 985 MB / s.
This storage format was published for the first time by the SD Association in 2019, and since then, several brands have developed cards with guaranteed minimum speeds of 150 MB / s, 300 MB / s, 450 MB / s or 600 MB / s, as indicated by the symbol “E” on the label of the card. These cards, however, have not seen wide use until recently, when Nintendo has announced its intention to use them for extended storage in the next Switch 2.
On the other hand, a microSD card is a small removable storage device that has been widely used in smartphones, tablets, cameras and play consoles. Originally launched in 2005, the format has evolved into SDHC, SDXC and SDUD variants, with capacities up to 2 TB.
These cards use the SD interface and are classified according to the speed. Most consumer devices are taking care of UHS-I cards today, with reading speeds up to 100 MB / s. UHS-II and less common UHS and UHS-III cards can reach speeds up to 300 MB / s and 600 MB / s, respectively.
Speed and performance
The obvious advantage of microSD Express on microSD is the transfer speed. Its interfaces allow faster writing speeds, allowing transparent recording and faster file transfers. Another key advantage is reduced latency, thanks to NVME technology.
Unlike traditional microSD cards, which are based on older interfaces, Microsd Express offers lower response times when accessing data. This leads to faster system responsiveness, especially when opening important files, application execution or switching between stored supports.
Concerns for compatibility behind
A major downside of MicroSD Express is its complete lack of compatibility backwards. If you use a microSD Express card in an older device with a traditional microSD location, the transfer speed falls into UHS-I levels, which can be disappointing. In addition, the devices designed for MicroSD Express are exclusive, which means that regular microSD cards will not work.
This compatibility problem is clear with the Nintendo Switch 2, which only supports microSD Express cards. Users must now buy new storage solutions, even if they have a lot of data on older microSD cards from previous switching models. This change caused the frustration of users who expected that compatibility behind it was preserved.
Use and adoption cases
MicroSD Express cards are not designed for all use cases. If you mainly store regular photos and videos on mobile phones or cameras, a standard microSD card will do very well.
MicroSD Express shines in scenarios where the high -speed data transfer is essential, with a key example being the game.
The games are with a high data intensity and the faster reading / writing speeds reduce loading times, improve performance and make the gameplay more fluid. This is probably one of the main reasons why the Nintendo Switch 2 adopted MicroSD Express.
Standard microSD cards often fight with voluminous files, leading to abandoned frames or slow transfers when processing high data speeds, such as 4K or 8K video. This makes MicroSD Express particularly precious for filmmakers and content creators.
Cost and availability
All this said, getting a microSD express card is not easy. Few brands currently produce them and availability can be limited in certain regions.
In addition, as technology still develops and uses more advanced components, microSD Express cards tend to be more expensive. For example, a microSD Express 1 TB card costs around $ 200, while a standard 1 TB microSD card of the same brand is at less than $ 70.
Should you go to MicroSD Express?
The transition to MicroSD Express depends on your needs and your compatibility of the devices. If your device requires it, such as the Nintendo Switch 2, the upgrade is necessary. But if your device only supports standard microSD cards, there are few advantages, because speeds will drop by almost 90%. That said, if the low latency is a priority, it can still be interesting.
For general users who want affordable storage for smartphones, cameras or other devices, traditional microSD cards remain a practical choice. Professionals working with high -speed applications can find that MicroSD Express is an interesting investment.
Future of Microsd Express
Portable IT devices, including laptops, tablets and portable play PCs, now use high -grade equipment and often count on extensible storage for more important applications and supports. For example, some mobile phones and cameras can now record in 8K, which exerts a lot of pressure on storage performance.
An 8K video of one minute can reach 20 GB. Recording on an ordinary microSD card could take about four minutes, while a microSD Express card could do so in about 30 seconds. It is a significant difference that could stimulate the adoption of microSD Express.
However, the future of MicroSD Express really depends on the number of manufacturers of devices choose to take care of it. If more consoles, cameras and portable devices incorporate the format, prices can drop and the market could develop.
