There’s now an alternative to microSD Express if you want ultra-fast storage in a tiny form factor. Meet BIWIN Mini SSD storage with a size (17x15mm) only slightly bigger than a microSD Card and a read speed of up to 3700 MB/s.
The new Mini SSD form factor was introduced at Embedded World 2025 last March, but it only recently got some news coverage as mini SSD slots will be found in the upcoming GPD Win 5 handheld gaming PC and ONEXPLAYER Super X gaming tablet.
BIWIN Mini SSD highlights:
- 3D TLC NAND technology
- Integrates the controller and flash memory modules
- Interface – PCIe Gen4x2 with NVMe 1.4 protocol
- Read speeds up to 3700 MB/s
- Write speeds up to 3400 MB/s
- Capacity – 512 GB to 2 TB
- Features – Dynamic SLC caching, wear leveling, TRIM, and garbage collection
- Dimensions – 17 x 15 x 1.4mm; note: a microSD card measures 15 x 11 x 1 mm
- IP Rating – IP68 rating for dust and water protection
- Resistance to shock, vibration (up to 3-meter drop)
The video below shows a Mini SSD being inserted and removed from the GPD Win 5 very much like a SIM card on a phone, using a SIM card removal tool. While theoretical performance is said to be 3700 MB/s (read) and 3400 MB/s (write), the real-life performance of the 512GB mini SSD above was measured at about 1600 MB/s (read) and 1100 MB/s (write). Not too bad, although not quite as fast as a typical M.2 NVMe SSD.
BIWIN expects mini SSDs to be found in laptops, tablets, smartphones, cameras, NAS systems, smart albums, and portable SSDs. Since BIWIN is a Chinese company, mini SSD slots will likely be found in hardware designed and made in China at first. Despite the MicroSD Express standard being introduced several years ago, such cards are not overly popular, although the Nintendo Switch 2 offers a microSD Express card slot. Time will tell if one standard wins over the other, or both end up coexisting.
Via Liliputing
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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