Xiaomi has once again taken the tech world by storm with its latest innovation, the Xiaomi 14, and its groundbreaking storage expansion feature. In this article, we’ll delve into the details of this impressive development and address the concerns it has raised in the tech community.
1. The Revelation
Last week, Xiaomi officially released the Xiaomi 14, and it’s not just the hardware upgrades that have caught our attention. The PentaOS introduced a game-changing feature – storage expansion. According to Lei Jun, Xiaomi’s engineers made a remarkable discovery during in-depth research. They found that the 256GB chip had at least an additional 10GB of space, far more than initially thought. Xiaomi immediately went to work, creating a prototype product that confirmed the feasibility of this expansion. Suppliers who examined Xiaomi’s samples were equally astounded and conducted extensive experiments to verify that this expansion had no negative impact on quality or performance. As a result, the suppliers adopted Xiaomi’s solution. What’s truly remarkable is that a nominal 256GB storage can be expanded to 264GB, and a 512GB storage can now reach a staggering 528 GB. It’s a game-changer, to say the least!
2. Addressing Concerns
This extraordinary storage expansion does come with some concerns, particularly regarding security and lifespan. Some skeptics have voiced their worries, suggesting that it sacrifices redundancy and may shorten the storage chip’s lifespan. Is this expansion, in essence, an unauthorized modification? Xiaomi’s technical expert, Zhang Guoquan, has provided a detailed explanation to put these concerns to rest.
3. The Purpose of Storage Expansion
Why did Xiaomi implement this feature? Over the years, Xiaomi’s MIUI has faced criticism for being “bulky.” To address this, Xiaomi introduced the Razor Plan, aimed at eliminating bulkiness. Razor Plan 1.0 targeted the removal of all system applications except for essential functions based on user preferences. Razor Plan 2.0, on the other hand, focuses on minimizing the system firmware, introducing storage expansion, and ensuring maximum user space. Apart from the 8GB hardware expansion, users gain nearly 20GB of additional space compared to other flagship models.
4. Enhanced Efficiency
Xiaomi has not only expanded storage but also improved its efficiency. File deduplication and dynamic compression functions in the OS make storage not only larger but also more durable. In the long run, after the storage is filled, users can store more than 30 or even 40GB of additional data.
5. Ensuring Lifespan
To address concerns about the storage chip’s lifespan, Xiaomi ensures that it is not at risk. The company optimizes cache management to reduce erasures and bad block generation, supporting cloud-controlled adjustment of bad block reserves based on user usage. According to Xiaomi, the 256GB expanded chip can still guarantee more than 10 years of use under heavy usage conditions, with the 512GB chip exceeding 20 years.
6. Technical Coordination
Deep coordination between the host file system and UFS is essential for the best storage experience. Xiaomi has demonstrated this in the previous FBO Refresh Storage feature, optimizing UFS resource management based on file management to reduce write volume and improve wear-leveling, and WAF.
7. Compatibility
Can older models be upgraded to support this feature? Unfortunately, older models do not support it. Cooperation between mobile phone manufacturers and supply chain manufacturers, along with calibration during the production of the mobile phone, is required.
8. Supply Chain Variety
Why do some versions of the same Xiaomi 14 not support this feature? Xiaomi purchased storage chips from multiple suppliers to ensure supply chain security. While Xiaomi shared the technology with its suppliers, some manufacturers have not had time to adapt. Xiaomi aims to promote this technology, and with time, mainstream storage chip manufacturers at home and abroad will adapt to it.
9. Wider Adoption
Can other manufacturers use this technology? Xiaomi has already contributed the standard to the UFS Association. To respect originality, chip manufacturers must observe a certain protection period. In the near future, major mobile phone manufacturers should all be able to adapt to this feature.
In conclusion, Xiaomi’s storage expansion is a remarkable leap forward in smartphone technology, providing users with additional storage space and enhanced efficiency without compromising on security or lifespan. As technology continues to advance, we can expect more manufacturers to embrace this innovative solution, ensuring that users benefit from the latest developments in the industry.
10. FAQs
1. Is storage expansion safe for my data? Yes, Xiaomi has taken measures to ensure the security and integrity of your data when implementing storage expansion.
2. How much additional space can I gain with storage expansion? With Xiaomi’s storage expansion, you can gain up to 8GB of extra space for a 256GB chip and 16GB for a 512GB chip.
3. Can older Xiaomi models support storage expansion? Unfortunately, older models do not support this feature due to the need for cooperation during production.
4. Will other smartphone manufacturers adopt this technology? Xiaomi has contributed the standard to the UFS Association, and other manufacturers are expected to adopt this feature in the near future.
5. What is the expected lifespan of the expanded storage chips? Under heavy usage conditions, the 256GB expanded chip can last more than 10 years, and the 512GB chip can exceed 20 years, ensuring long-term usability.
