The standard for embedded MultiMediaCards (eMMCs) was finalized by JEDEC in 2006 and has been designed for portable devices or IoT sensors. It integrates the controller and the flash memory in a single IC so the controller and the related firmware take care of placing data into storage.
This takes away the burden of raw flash management (i.e. wear leveling, error correction). Due to this It is the ideal replacement for raw flash in many applications.
Designed for a wide range of applications (consumer electronics, mobile phones, handheld computers, navigational systems, etc), the small BGA package sizes and low power consumption make eMMC an excellent low-cost memory solution for any space-constrained applications such as mobile devices.
• Compact form factor
• High-capacity, high-performance storage
• Easy to integrate
• Cost-effective memory
• Overcomes limitations of conventional/raw NAND flash (short P/E cycles), high error rates, poor stability)
• No flash management necessary
| Feature | eMMC (embedded MultiMediaCard) | NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express SSD) | SATA SSD (Solid State Drive) | UFS (Universal Flash Storage) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interface | Parallel (typically 8-bit) | PCIe (NVMe Protocol) | SATA (AHCI Protocol) | Serial LVDS (full-duplex) |
| Speed | Slower | Fastest | Faster than HDD, slower than NVMe | Significantly faster read/write, enhances performance |
| Latency | Higher | Lowest | Lower than HDD, higher than NVMe | Lower (due to command queuing), better responsiveness |
| Cost | Cheapest | Most Expensive | Mid-range | More expensive, mid-range to high-end devices |
| Form Factor | Embedded chip | M.2, PCIe Card, U.2 | 2.5 inch, M.2, mSATA | Embedded UFS & UFS Card |
| Use Cases | Budget smartphones, tablets, Chromebooks, and basic embedded systems | High-end PCs, gaming laptops, workstations, and servers | Mainstream laptops, desktops, upgrades from HDD | Laptops, Smartphones & Tablets, Camera and Drones |
eMMC typically lasts for 5 to 10 years, depending on how often it's used. Like all flash memory, it wears out over time, especially with frequent writing and deleting of data.
Not completely, but it's being replaced in many devices. eMMC is still used in budget smartphones, tablets, and IoT devices, but newer tech like UFS offers much better speed and performance.
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