Embedded Flash Drive iNAND 7132 by SanDisk for Tablets and Smartphones

SanDisk Corporation introduced the iNAND 7132 storage solution.

Designed for use in mobile devices, the iNAND 7132 storage solution features iNAND Accelerator Architecture with SmartSLC technology, a storage architecture that responds on-demand to mobile users’ needs and gives superior experiences to the data-intensive applications. Available in capacities up to 64GB, iNAND 7132 enables OEMs to introduce a generation of high-capacity smartphones, tablets and connected devices that offer exceptional user experiences.

“iNAND 7132 is the perfect high capacity storage solution for the next generation of smartphones, tablets and smart devices,” said Drew Henry, SVP and GM, mobile and connected solutions, SanDisk. “Featuring our new iNAND Accelerator Architecture with SmartSLC, our best-in-class iNAND 7132 storage solution delivers amazing performance for faster burst photography and 4K Ultra HD video capture, supports the newest 802.11 standards with ease, and enables blazingly fast data side-loading.“

Designed for performance, capacity and endurance
iNAND 7132 is built with SanDisk’s 1Y nm 3-bit-per-cell (X3) NAND flash storage. When combined with the drive’s SmartSLC technology, this solution offers near single-level-cell performance when the user need demands it, with the storage solution boasting sequential write speeds of up to 1Gb/s and beyond⁾. It brings performance to the most data-intensive business, video, photography and mobile gaming applications, as well as supports 802.11ac and 802.11ad network standards.

The speed of the iNAND 7132 enables device makers to push the design boundaries of smartphone photography and video functionality. When used in optimized smartphones, the performance supports professional grade digital photography capabilities, including image capture in RAW format, thereby expanding the possibilities of image capture and processing. In addition, 4K Ultra HD video can be captured and played back with ease.

SanDisk-commissioned testing and analysis conducted by Granite River Labs, Inc., in engineering services and test solutions for high speed connectivity, found iNAND Accelerator to have a significant impact on smartphone performance.

“In our tests, the iNAND 7132 storage solution with iNAND Accelerator featuring SmartSLC technology measurably boosted sequential write speeds. Specifically, we’ve validated download speeds up to and above 1Gb/s,” said Miki Takahashi, director engineering, Granite River Lab.

In addition to its advanced architecture, iNAND 7132 uses e.MMC 5.0+ specification and incorporates an error correction hardware and software technology that enhances its endurance and responsiveness, and reduces latency. This enables devices with the storage solution to perform at high levels throughout the life of the device, even as the storage continues to fill up.

Optimized for mobile ecosystem
SanDisk, which works with major smartphone and tablet manufacturers, optimized the iNAND 7132  to work with application processors and bring performance to Android, Chrome and Windows based smartphones, tablets and connected devices.

In addition to improving the performance on popular system platforms and applications, it helps reduce performance restrictions for application developers, enabling new possibilities in mobile device design.

iNAND 7132 storage solution is supported by simulation, trouble-shooting and engineering tools that enable mobile manufacturers to integrate the device into mobile device designs. This offers the potential to reduce the time from product development to product availability.

Specific features and specs include:

• Built on the e.MMC 5.0+ HS400 specification

• Sequential write/read speeds up to 125/280MB/s

• Features application architecture enhancements that reduce latency and support consistent performance

• Supports up to 3 fps of RAW image capture

• Available in packages 11.5x13mm in size and 0.8mm thin enabling integration in slim host devices

Market research analyst perspective:
“There is a rising data appetite among smartphone users, which largely driven by advanced media creation and consumption – the capture of million-megapixels images and 4K video capture, digital book downloads, tons of emails, offline music, documents storage and retrieval all done on the smartphone itself. This has marked an imminent need for flash storage that is not only higher capacity, but also offers better performance delivery and greater reliability compared to a traditional MLC flash storage. SanDisk is delivering on all these three important fronts with its innovative new iNAND 7132 EFD. It not only comes in higher capacity configurations, but also supercharges performance right at the application peaks and opens the door for an entire new range of application experiences,” said Neil Shah, research director, devices and ecosystems, Counterpoint Research.

Samples of the iNAND 7132 storage solution are available to customers in capacities up to 64GB.