Okay, so hear me out… what if I told you there’s a new storage option that’s about the size of a microSD card but offers speeds way faster than what we have now? And it’s not just for phones – this could be a game-changer for those handheld gaming PCs.
We’re talking about “mini SSDs.” These new standards are bringing PCIe speeds, which are seriously fast, into a form factor that’s incredibly compact. China has already started showing off 2TB versions of these mini SSDs, and they’re way smaller and quicker than the M.2 NVMe SSDs we currently use in many gaming handhelds.
Think about it: your favorite portable gaming device could potentially store way more games, and load them up significantly faster, all within a smaller footprint. Right now, expanding storage on devices like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally often means either dealing with slower microSD cards or relying on internal upgrades which can be a bit more involved.
These mini SSDs, sometimes referred to by standards like M.2 1620 or even smaller, are designed to fit into tighter spaces. For handheld gaming PCs, which are already pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in a portable form factor, this kind of storage innovation is huge. It means developers can pack more powerful components and larger batteries without sacrificing storage capacity, or simply make the devices even sleeker.
The speed increase is also a big deal. PCIe Gen 4 or even Gen 5 speeds in something this small? That translates to much faster game loading times, quicker asset streaming in open-world games, and generally a smoother experience. No more waiting around for textures to pop in!
We’re still in the early days, and it’ll be interesting to see how widely adopted these mini SSDs become, especially in Western markets. But the potential is undeniable. If manufacturers can integrate these into future handhelds, or if upgrade kits become readily available, it could seriously level up the portable gaming experience. Imagine having your entire AAA game library on a tiny card that fits in your pocket, with load times that are almost non-existent.
I’m definitely keeping an eye on this. Faster, smaller storage in our portable gaming rigs? Yes, please. This could be one of those quiet tech advancements that ends up making a massive difference to how we game on the go.