The ultra-tiny hard drive would accommodate between 512 GB and 2 TB data.

A new wave of storage innovation is coming from China, where local manufacturer Biwin has introduced an SSD so small it can be inserted into devices like a SIM card.

Dubbed the “Mini SSD” due to its 15 × 17 × 1.4 mm dimensions, the new drive is smaller than a U.S. penny and only slightly larger than a microSD card. Despite its tiny footprint, the Mini SSD promises desktop-grade performance, offering sequential read speeds up to 3,700 MB/s and write speeds up to 3,400 MB/s via a PCIe 4 × 2 interface, the company claims on its website.

Biwin plans to release the drive in 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB capacities.

Compact design, serious power

The Mini SSD is designed to offer a balance between portability and performance, effectively bridging the gap between microSD cards and traditional NVMe drives.

By comparison, MicroSD Express cards — the latest in removable storage for portable devices — typically max out at around 985 MB/s, roughly one-third of the Mini SSD’s speed.

Even full-size SD Express cards, which can theoretically reach 3,940 MB/s, are nearly twice as large.

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While standard M.2 NVMe drives remain faster overall, their size makes them impractical for ultra-portable electronics.

A SIM-style slot for storage

One of the Mini SSD’s most distinctive features is its tray-based slot, similar to how smartphones house SIM cards. This design could make upgrading or replacing storage far simpler for handheld devices, tablets, or compact laptops.

Biwin claims the drive is IP68-rated, offering protection against water and dust, and can withstand drops of up to three meters. Such durability could make it an appealing choice for mobile computing devices and gaming consoles.

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Two upcoming Chinese gaming handhelds — the GPD Win 5 and the OneXPlayer Super X — are expected to support the Mini SSD format. Both devices use AMD’s upcoming Strix Halo processors and are likely to feature a dedicated slot for the new drive, according to The Verge.

Questions remain

While the Mini SSD’s technical promise is clear, some key details are still missing. Biwin has not yet revealed pricing or release dates, and it remains uncertain whether the format will become a new industry standard or remain a proprietary solution for a handful of Chinese manufacturers.

So, its success will depend on broader adoption, long-term durability tests, and real-world performance once the drives reach consumers.

This latest innovation is one of the series of technology miniaturization processes in the data storage area.