Smartphones supporting microSD disappear from the market — why?

Not only flagship and mid-range models, but also budget smartphones, no longer have a microSD slot. It's no secret why manufacturers are unanimously abandoning such a seemingly useful memory expansion option.

GSMinfo writes about it.

Why the market is abandoning microSD slots

A few years ago, 32 or 64 GB was the standard, but now even inexpensive phones have two to three times the storage capacity. In stores, you can now find more than a thousand current models with 128 or 256 GB, about five hundred — 512 GB, while 64 GB is still available in about three hundred devices, and 32 and 16 GB account for less than a hundred items.

The second reason is security. Users often store photos, videos, or documents on the card, and if the phone is lost, anyone can remove the microSD and view private files without knowing the password to the smartphone itself.

Speed is another compelling argument. The new standard's built-in memory is much faster, so programs and files open instantly. A slow microSD causes delays, and the owner tends to blame the phone itself for the delay, which hurts the brand's reputation.

Eliminating a separate slot also simplifies design. Manufacturers can use the free space for thinner cases, larger batteries, or additional sensors. At the same time, companies are actively promoting cloud services: Google offers Drive, and Apple relies on iCloud to keep basic storage on the iPhone to a minimum.

The final factor is economics. A buyer who previously would have chosen a 32 GB or 64 GB model with a slot will now either pay extra for a version with more storage or will soon replace the smartphone when it runs out of space. Either way, the manufacturer makes additional profit, and if they also sell a cloud subscription, they get a double benefit.

As a reminder, if your iPhone suddenly runs out of free space, don't panic — there are simple but little-known ways to free up space and keep your device in tip-top shape. Every Apple smartphone has a hidden storage system that invisibly accumulates files and takes up a lot of space.

We also wrote that a USB drive is the most convenient way to quickly exchange files between computers or transfer data from your phone to a PC without using cloud services. But be careful: cheap flash drives often create more problems than they solve.