Toshiba introduces smaller and faster memory for smartphones and tablets

The Japanese manufacturer Toshiba is going to release memory modules that would be among the smallest in the world. The memory is made on a 15nm process, making the component in total a quarter smaller than current modules from the memory maker.

Toshiba also claims that read speeds are around 8 percent faster than current memory, while write speeds are up to 20 percent faster. Toshiba does not mention speeds, but with current products it claims 270MB/s for reading and 90MB/s for writing; so for the new generation memory that would be around 290MB/s and 110MB/s respectively.

The memory is made at 15nm, so that the entire memory is a maximum of 11.5x13mm. There are variants from 8GB to a storage of 128GB. That’s the first time; current products go up to 64GB. There are still few smartphones and tablets with 128GB onboard storage. The Chinese manufacturer Meizu has a smartphone with 128GB, while the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, and the iPad also have 128GB options.

Toshiba started sampling the 16GB variants this week. The 8GB and 128GB versions will be released next spring, the rest should be ready for mass production early next year. Toshiba makes nand memory that can be used by other manufacturers in smartphones and tablets, among other things.