Expandable storage can be a very useful tool to have and a very desirable trait in a mobile device. For the longest time, Samsung’s Android devices have supported expandable storage, up until last year when they released the Galaxy S6 lineup. Things changed again this year when Samsung introduced their latest flagship, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge which re-introduced expandable storage into the fold and was paired with the faster UFS 2.0 internal storage. Now it looks like Samsung is aiming to improve upon expandable storage by making it faster as well, having recently announced the UFS 1.0 external memory cards back on July 7th. With new expandable storage tech in Samsung’s UFS 1.0 cards, it left some wondering whether or not they would support existing microSD card slots.
Samsung has officially stated that microSD card slots that are being used on device as of now will not support these new cards, which means that those with existing devices will not be able to use them. What’s more, that also means that to take advantage of the new cards, you’ll need a new device. While current devices won’t be forward compatible, Samsung states that they are already working with partners on next-generation devices on an expandable storage slot which will support both the new UFS 1.0 cards and microSD cards, so that users will have the choice on which cards to use, which is essentially good news for anyone that will be upgrading to one of those devices once they launch, whenever they may be and whoever manufactures them.
Right now it is unclear who the partners are that Samsung is currently working with, but there is a chance and perhaps it’s a good one, that the upcoming Galaxy Note 7 will support new UFS 1.0 cards, although Samsung has not stated as much. Once these new expandable memory slots are picked up and used by other brands, users will of course, be able to continue using their existing microSD cards so they don’t go to waste, unless, they’re simply old enough that it warrants picking up something new, or they’re be malfunctioning and need a replacement anyway. Although there are no devices on the market which support both card types, perhaps the new crop of devices leading into 2017 will be among the first.