The pros and cons of flash memory

image via Engadget

August 28, 2026, 1:00 PM

• •The article explains that NAND flash is widely used in SSDs, smartphones and memory cards because it keeps data without power and fits high storage density into small devices.
• •It says flash memory still has key drawbacks: higher cost per gigabyte than hard drives, finite program-and-erase cycles and much slower performance than system RAM.
• •The piece describes how 3D NAND, TLC and QLC designs increase density and lower cost, but storing more bits per cell can reduce endurance and performance.
• •It notes that SSD controllers mitigate flash weaknesses through wear leveling, error correction, spare capacity, TRIM and garbage collection.
• •The article cites Samsung's 1TB 990 Pro warranty of five years or 600TB written as an example of how endurance is managed for typical users.
• •It also says hard drives remain cheaper for bulk storage, while no successor technology has yet displaced NAND despite work on Optane, MRAM and other alternatives.

The article examines why NAND flash memory became dominant in consumer electronics despite long-standing technical compromises. It explains that flash offers compact, shock-resistant, non-volatile storage for SSDs, phones and memory cards, but still costs more per gigabyte than hard drives and cannot match RAM for speed. The piece also outlines how denser designs such as 3D NAND, TLC and QLC lower costs while increasing tradeoffs around endurance and performance. It concludes that controller techniques have made flash reliable enough for most users, but cheaper hard drives and the lack of a clear successor mean NAND remains the mainstream standard.

Read original article