Just why not?

[Amol S.]

As you may already know, that there are already flash drives in the market that can store about 512 GB of data, which is nearly as much data a regular laptop that runs on a SSD has. My question is why aren't smartphone manufacturers using the storage chips that these flash drives use on the phones?

Using such storage chips, on phones would be the first step to making phones that can run full versions of desktop computer operating systems. Also at the same time, many phone manufacturers are starting to stop the support of memory cards. The only way to allocate the data of a memory card on to a phone, would be to extend the phones internal memory.

Currently for the last 2 to 5 years the max storage that cellphones usually have is 64GB.

 

[mikegg]

Probably two reasons:

1. Profit. Charging for a few more GBs of storage is extremely profitable.
2. SSDs in iPhones and MacBooks are much faster and more reliable than flash drives.

 

[Red Storm]

Not all flash storage is the same. If it was, we'd all be buying and using the el-cheapo flash cards/drives you see on Amazon.

 

[pete6032]

Do we need phones to run full fledged desktop operating systems?

 

[JeffMD]

Like mentioned, the flash storage on the phones is faster and more reliable then a simple storage card. Still though the tech has OBVIOUSLY become cheaper and yet 64-128GB are still treated as premium levels despite having the option for many years now.

So for the most part, it is greed. Just don't compare it to external flash memory.

 

[jhansman]

Do we need phones to run full fledged desktop operating systems?

Oooh, good question. I'm going to go with...."No." Top-end phones these days are no longer "phones," but really handheld computers. Makers are just running out of things to put in them, so the devices just become more and more powerful. Me, I'm done; when my Galaxy S7 Edge (which does waaay more than I need) is paid for, it becomes my last phone. Heh, my brother in law is rocking an S3 and just remembered it had an SD card in it, which he has never used.

 

[Zaap]

Samsung is rolling out 512GB capacity smartphone chips.

https://www.engadget.com/2017/12/05/samsungs-512gb-chip-will-give-your-phone-pc-like-storage/

I'll take a Note 9 with 512 onboard and still a slot for a 256GB SD!

I'd still keep my photos, videos and music on an SD card if they remain around (I feel it's beyond just capacity, it just makes more sense to me to keep created media on separate removable storage from apps and other data) but I'm glad things are moving forward on the internal storage front.

 

[Oyeve]

My Note 8 has a 400gb sd card in it on top of the 64gb built in. I would love a 512gb built in with my 400gb. near 1TB of storage! Yes, I have tons of movies on my phone because I can.

 

[Zaap]

I didnt know they made 400GB cards now! (hasn't been paying close attention to tech).

Wow! I'm tempted......

Maybe I'll buy one with Litecoin later on. (heh!)

I can just see those *pretending* to naysay about having 400GB along for the ride in a device they carry with them anyway. "B-but... WHAT do I need all that for??! I HATE choice and options and more USE for my mobile device rather than less for more!"

Or my personal fave. "B-but, it'd make the device weight 0000.1 oz more!! And be 1/2000th of an inch thicker!!"