Chinese manufacturer Biwin is preparing to launch a Mini SSD measuring 15×17×1.4 mm, which is inserted into a slot according to the SIM card principle. Despite its tiny size, it provides read speeds of up to 3700 MB/s and write speeds of up to 3400 MB/s (PCIe 4×2) and is available in 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB versions, The Verge reports.
The device is only slightly larger than a microSD, but is three times faster than a MicroSD Express and almost matches the performance of an SD Express at half the size. Biwin promises IP68 water and dust protection, three-meter drop resistance, and compatibility with laptops, tablets, smartphones, and cameras.
The first devices to support the new format will be the GPD Win 5 portable console and the OneXPlayer Super X hybrid laptop-tablet from OneNetbook — both will be equipped with a slot for a Mini SSD. The start date of sales and the cost of the drive are not yet disclosed.