
Save $40 on 1TB of Switch 2 storage at Costco — Lexar's Play Pro microSD Express card drops to $179.99
China introduces up to 2TB 'Mini SSD' that's 3X faster than the microSD Express used in the Switch 2, but smaller
MicroSD Express uses the PCIe 3.0 x1 interface, enabling significantly enhanced transfer performance. A ballpark figure is approximately 4X faster than standard microSD UHS-1 cards. As with all microSD cards, microSD Express cards are also backward-compatible with older devices. Nevertheless, this compatibility limits speeds to UHS-1, or, in the case of the P9 Express, to up to 90 MB/s for sequential reads and 2,000 IOPS for random reads and writes.
Samsung's P9 Express cards demonstrate durability comparable to that of microSD Express cards from other manufacturers. They are temperature-, magnet-, X-ray-, drop-, water-, and wearout-proof, so the P9 Express should survive even in the most rigorous conditions. While the P9 Express card is highly resilient, it is advisable to handle devices, such as the Switch 2, with care and avoid using them in adverse weather conditions.
A distinguishing feature of the P9 Express is the incorporation of Samsung's Dynamic Thermal Guard (DTG) technology, originally developed for its SSDs. The manufacturer claims that this advanced technology intelligently monitors and regulates the card's temperature, effectively preventing overheating and ensuring consistent performance during long gaming sessions.
(Image credit: Samsung) (Image credit: Samsung) The P9 Express is compatible with the Samsung Magician software, which is included with Samsung's SSD product line. This software provides several crucial features, including verifying the authenticity of the P9 Express, monitoring the card's health, and benchmarking its performance. Given the prevalence of counterfeit Samsung products in the market, the authenticity verification feature is particularly valuable.
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Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/microsd-cards/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/microsd-cards/samsung-unleashes-high-speed-p9-express-microsd-express-cards-for-the-switch-2-at-highly-competitive-prices-256gb-and-512gb-available-for-usd54-and-usd99#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.