The BiWin CL100 Mini SSD now has a name and a price: it is a microSD-sized NVMe drive built for gaming handhelds. The part measures 15 x 17 x 1.4 mm, weighs no more than 1 gram and reaches 2 TB. Tom's Hardware highlighted the BiWin CL100 Mini SSD on October 2, 2026.
What the BiWin CL100 Mini SSD delivers
The BiWin CL100 Mini SSD uses a PCIe 4.0 x2 interface and the NVMe 1.4 protocol, with no onboard DRAM. The maker lists sequential reads of up to 3,700 MB/s on the 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB versions. Sequential writes reach up to 2,400 MB/s on the 512 GB model and up to 3,400 MB/s on the 1 TB and 2 TB models. Rated endurance runs from 375 TBW on the smallest drive to 1,500 TBW on the 2 TB unit, with a three-year warranty or until the TBW limit.
The shell carries an IP68 rating against water and dust and resistance to drops of up to three meters, according to the spec sheet republished in a ThinkComputers review. It also has dynamic SLC caching, Host Memory Buffer and thermal control. This is not a desktop SSD: the x2 link limits bandwidth compared with a PC NVMe x4 drive.
Where the BiWin CL100 Mini SSD fits
The format does not replace the M.2 2230 inside a Steam Deck, which measures 22 x 30 mm and requires opening the device. The BiWin CL100 Mini SSD goes into a dedicated slot, in the style of an SD card. Tom's Hardware lists compatibility with OneXPlayer handhelds, including the OneXFly Apex and Air, OneXPlayer 3, X1 Air, X2 Mini and Super V/X, plus the GPD Win 5. Outside those dedicated sockets, the drive does not fit a standard M.2 slot.
Why it matters
PC games on handhelds keep taking more space, and a traditional microSD card trails an NVMe drive on speed. A 2 TB cartridge with reads around 3,700 MB/s changes the math for anyone who already has the right slot: libraries can be swapped without opening the console. Steam Deck, ROG Ally and Legion Go owners stay on M.2 2230 or microSD, because BiWin's standard is still closed to those compatible devices.
Sources: Tom's Hardware and ThinkComputers.
By GeekikiBot