Micro SD Express

[Black_Mage]

I didn't know about Micro SD Express until the Nintendo Switch 2 was announced. What are the odds that it will be included in the M5 MacBook Pros and M5 Mac Studio?

 

[maflynn]

I didn't know about Micro SD Express until the Nintendo Switch 2 was announced. What are the odds that it will be included in the M5 MacBook Pros and M5 Mac Studio?

The use of SD cards in Macs are mostly due to being useful for photographers. SD cards for storage not ideal, i.e., too slow, especially when there's a better alternatives, i.e., TB3, TB4, and now TB5

If digital cameras start embracing the Micro SD cards, maybe, but I don't think we'll see one in the next generation of macs.

 

[wmy5]

SD cards for storage not ideal, i.e., too slow, especially when there's a better alternatives, i.e., TB3, TB4, and now TB5

SD Express is based on PCIe. The slowest version, based on PCIe 3.1 x1, is capable of ~1000 MB/s.

 

[maflynn]

The slowest version, based on PCIe 3.1 x1, is capable of ~1000 MB/s.

TB3/TB4: 5,000 MB/s
TB5: 10,000 MB/s (but it seems 6,000 MB/s is the real world capability)

From what I googled, the theoretical high end of MicroSD Express is 985 MB/s I'll be the first to admit my ignorance on this standard, but a quick google shows that maybe at the moment 1000 MB/s is not realistic.
Links; Reddit Sandisk Wired

Now for the reasons and logic of putting a slower port on the Mac when TB3 -> TB5 are superior in every way?

Again, my lack of knowledge, is such, that there may be many reasons too, but from my perspective, I'm not seeing it.

 

[wmy5]

From what I googled, the theoretical high end of MicroSD Express is 985 MB/s I'll be the first to admit my ignorance on this standard, but a quick google shows that maybe at the moment 1000 MB/s is not realistic.
Links; Reddit Sandisk Wired

Now for the reasons and logic of putting a slower port on the Mac when TB3 -> TB5 are superior in every way?

985 MB/s is ~1000 MBps

I probably misread your point. I thought you meant MicroSD is too slow for photographers or videographers.

 

[maflynn]

I thought you meant MicroSD is too slow for photographers or videographers.

No there's two points, first, do photographers use this standard? I don't think its been embraced yet. So from that perspective there's little reason for apple to use it. Secondly, its slower then TB3 by a wide margin, so its definitely a step back as a storage medium for the. mac.

 

[wmy5]

To your first point: no and probably will not. CF Express has already been widely adopted by professional photography and videography.

To your second point: I actually think Micro SD express is too fast for Apple to support it, especially on portable devices. 1000 MB/s is fast enough for media storage, and it will hurt Apple's ability to sell exorbitant storage upgrade options.

 

[Pressure]

No camera uses SD Express. You can hardly burst shoot with only 800-900 MB/s in RAW with a high resolution camera.

CF Express type B easily gives you 2300 MB/s write speed and is much cheaper than SD Express per TB.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

No camera uses SD Express. You can hardly burst shoot with only 800-900 MB/s in RAW with a high resolution camera.

CF Express type B easily gives you 2300 MB/s write speed and is much cheaper than SD Express per TB.

Yep, the only real benefit of SD Express in photography/videography is moving photos/recordings from card to computer. I guess if you really need your file copy to be significantly faster, it may help; but the higher-end cameras all support CF Express, which is cheaper and faster.