Tiny, removable "mini SSD" could eventually be a big deal for gaming handhelds

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Game size, bloat, and download options

  • Several comments argue the core problem isn’t storage media but bloated game sizes (hi‑res textures, 4K assets, uncompressed media) that handhelds can’t fully utilize anyway.
  • People want “SD download options” akin to video quality choices: lower‑res textures/audio packs or modular content as DLC.
  • Examples are given of games that added hi‑res textures as optional DLC and older titles that streamed levels in the background.

What actually fills game storage

  • A breakdown from the thread: executable code is tiny; most space goes to world data, then audio, then textures, with video dominating at the high end.
  • This leads to the view that AAA size inflation is mostly art assets, not code, and driven by cheap, fast storage and weak incentives to optimize.

Throughput vs latency for games

  • Some argue disk speed “isn’t that important” for many games, pointing to HDD-era titles and Deck performance from microSD.
  • Others counter that fast SSDs are essential for seamless worlds with no loading screens (e.g., PS5‑class design).
  • There’s a sub‑discussion on whether low latency or high throughput matters more when using smaller, compressed assets that don’t fit entirely in RAM.

Mini SSD vs existing standards (microSD Express, CFexpress)

  • Multiple comments note that microSD Express already is “a tiny NVMe SSD,” offering PCIe lanes and multi‑GB/s potential, with the Switch 2 cited as a shipping example.
  • CFexpress Type B is mentioned as a “step up” form factor already used in cameras; some see the Mini SSD as redundant or just marketing.
  • One commenter calls the article misleading for comparing Mini SSD peak speeds to first‑gen SD Express numbers and ignoring that SD Express scales with PCIe generation and lane count.

Handheld and Steam Deck storage design

  • Some users are happy with Steam Deck performance from microSD despite its ~100 MB/s cap; others call that limit and the lack of easy M.2 access “consumer‑hostile” and tied to storage‑upsell pricing.
  • Counterarguments cite thermal constraints, limited PCIe lanes, and first‑gen design tradeoffs rather than malice.

Phones and removable storage

  • There’s demand for phones (and handhelds) with fast, removable storage, especially now that SD Express exists.
  • Others argue manufacturers deliberately avoid this to preserve high‑margin internal storage tiers.
  • One commenter lists hardware reasons against SD slots: waterproofing challenges, power spikes, thermal issues, counterfeit/low‑quality cards, and added BOM complexity. Opponents say these are solvable and secondary to business incentives.

Reliability, heat, and trust in SD

  • Some don’t trust SD at all due to past corruption experiences and worry about tiny, fast cards overheating.
  • Others reply this is mostly about NAND quality and controllers, not the SD concept, and note “industrial” and endurance‑focused SD lines.

Cartridges and ROM nostalgia

  • Several comments observe that tiny removable SSDs are effectively “game cartridges” returning.
  • Mask ROM cartridges are remembered fondly for durability, but noted as expensive and small by modern standards, which is why contemporary carts use flash instead.